1|Page
Care of the Surgical patient NCLEX review questions (NEW UPDATED
VERSION) LATEST ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS)- GUARANTEED PASS A+ UPDATED 2026-2027
Care of the Surgical Patient – NCLEX Practice
Preoperative Care
1. A client is scheduled for surgery and has not signed the consent form. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Explain the procedure
B. Notify the provider
C. Witness the signature
D. Administer pre-op medications
Rationale: Informed consent is the provider’s responsibility. The nurse cannot witness a form
that hasn’t been signed.
2. Select all that apply: Preoperative nursing assessments include:
A. Vital signs
B. Allergies
C. History of previous surgeries
D. Current medications
E. Preferred television channel
Rationale: Vital signs, allergies, history, and medications are essential for safety. Preferences
like TV are nonessential.
3. A client scheduled for surgery asks about NPO status. The nurse should teach:
A. Eat a light breakfast
B. Nothing by mouth for 8 hours prior to surgery
C. Only clear fluids allowed 1 hour before
D. Skip medications
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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Rationale: NPO status prevents aspiration during anesthesia.
4. Which client statement indicates understanding of pre-op teaching about deep-breathing
exercises?
A. “I should take shallow breaths after surgery.”
B. “I will use my incentive spirometer every hour while awake.”
C. “I should hold my breath as long as possible.”
D. “Breathing exercises are not necessary if I’m on oxygen.”
Rationale: Incentive spirometry prevents atelectasis and pneumonia postoperatively.
5. Select all that apply: The nurse confirms which items before sending the patient to surgery?
A. Identification band
B. Allergy band
C. Signed consent form
D. Pre-op labs
E. Last meal eaten
Rationale: Safety checks include ID, allergies, consent, labs. Last meal eaten is documented as
part of NPO status.
6. A client taking warfarin is scheduled for surgery. The nurse’s priority action is:
A. Administer the medication
B. Hold medication and notify the provider
C. Encourage high-vitamin K diet
D. Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Warfarin increases bleeding risk. Provider must determine when to hold/reverse it.
7. Which lab is most important to check preoperatively for a patient scheduled for elective
surgery?
A. Blood glucose
B. Hemoglobin/hematocrit
C. Cholesterol
D. Platelets
Rationale: Hemoglobin and hematocrit assess risk for bleeding or anemia.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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8. A patient with diabetes is scheduled for surgery. Which pre-op teaching is essential?
A. Hold all insulin the day before
B. Check blood glucose on arrival
C. Avoid all fluids
D. Double morning insulin dose
Rationale: Blood glucose monitoring is critical to prevent hypo/hyperglycemia
perioperatively.
9. Select all that apply: Preoperative teaching topics include:
A. Pain management
B. Deep-breathing exercises
C. Mobility and ambulation
D. Dietary preferences
E. Cosmetic appearance of incision
Rationale: Pain control, breathing, and mobility reduce complications. Preferences like
diet/cosmetics are secondary.
10. Which action is most important immediately before pre-op medications?
A. Verify NPO status
B. Administer antibiotics
C. Start IV fluids
D. Review discharge plan
Rationale: NPO status prevents aspiration; always verify before giving pre-op meds.
Intraoperative Care
11. Select all that apply: Key intraoperative safety measures include:
A. Surgical time-out
B. Correct patient and procedure
C. Sterile field maintenance
D. Patient family presence during surgery
E. Positioning to prevent injury
2026 2027 GRADED A+
Care of the Surgical patient NCLEX review questions (NEW UPDATED
VERSION) LATEST ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS)- GUARANTEED PASS A+ UPDATED 2026-2027
Care of the Surgical Patient – NCLEX Practice
Preoperative Care
1. A client is scheduled for surgery and has not signed the consent form. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Explain the procedure
B. Notify the provider
C. Witness the signature
D. Administer pre-op medications
Rationale: Informed consent is the provider’s responsibility. The nurse cannot witness a form
that hasn’t been signed.
2. Select all that apply: Preoperative nursing assessments include:
A. Vital signs
B. Allergies
C. History of previous surgeries
D. Current medications
E. Preferred television channel
Rationale: Vital signs, allergies, history, and medications are essential for safety. Preferences
like TV are nonessential.
3. A client scheduled for surgery asks about NPO status. The nurse should teach:
A. Eat a light breakfast
B. Nothing by mouth for 8 hours prior to surgery
C. Only clear fluids allowed 1 hour before
D. Skip medications
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,2|Page
Rationale: NPO status prevents aspiration during anesthesia.
4. Which client statement indicates understanding of pre-op teaching about deep-breathing
exercises?
A. “I should take shallow breaths after surgery.”
B. “I will use my incentive spirometer every hour while awake.”
C. “I should hold my breath as long as possible.”
D. “Breathing exercises are not necessary if I’m on oxygen.”
Rationale: Incentive spirometry prevents atelectasis and pneumonia postoperatively.
5. Select all that apply: The nurse confirms which items before sending the patient to surgery?
A. Identification band
B. Allergy band
C. Signed consent form
D. Pre-op labs
E. Last meal eaten
Rationale: Safety checks include ID, allergies, consent, labs. Last meal eaten is documented as
part of NPO status.
6. A client taking warfarin is scheduled for surgery. The nurse’s priority action is:
A. Administer the medication
B. Hold medication and notify the provider
C. Encourage high-vitamin K diet
D. Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Warfarin increases bleeding risk. Provider must determine when to hold/reverse it.
7. Which lab is most important to check preoperatively for a patient scheduled for elective
surgery?
A. Blood glucose
B. Hemoglobin/hematocrit
C. Cholesterol
D. Platelets
Rationale: Hemoglobin and hematocrit assess risk for bleeding or anemia.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 3|Page
8. A patient with diabetes is scheduled for surgery. Which pre-op teaching is essential?
A. Hold all insulin the day before
B. Check blood glucose on arrival
C. Avoid all fluids
D. Double morning insulin dose
Rationale: Blood glucose monitoring is critical to prevent hypo/hyperglycemia
perioperatively.
9. Select all that apply: Preoperative teaching topics include:
A. Pain management
B. Deep-breathing exercises
C. Mobility and ambulation
D. Dietary preferences
E. Cosmetic appearance of incision
Rationale: Pain control, breathing, and mobility reduce complications. Preferences like
diet/cosmetics are secondary.
10. Which action is most important immediately before pre-op medications?
A. Verify NPO status
B. Administer antibiotics
C. Start IV fluids
D. Review discharge plan
Rationale: NPO status prevents aspiration; always verify before giving pre-op meds.
Intraoperative Care
11. Select all that apply: Key intraoperative safety measures include:
A. Surgical time-out
B. Correct patient and procedure
C. Sterile field maintenance
D. Patient family presence during surgery
E. Positioning to prevent injury
2026 2027 GRADED A+
