ABSA SURGICAL ASSISTANT ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
2026
▶ The client is scheduled for treatment with betamethasone (Celestone).
The nurse anticipates that this medication will be administered via the
_____ route.
a. oral
b. intravenous
c. intramuscular
d. subcutaneous. Answer: c. intramuscular
▶ The client is scheduled for treatment with betamethasone (Celestone).
The nurse anticipates that the medication will be administered to the client
during which week _____ or before of her pregnancy.
a. 38
b. 36
c. 35
d. 33. Answer: d. 33
▶ The healthcare provider orders hydroxyzine (Vistaril) for a client in labor.
To achieve a positive outcome, the nurse plans to administer the drug via
which route?
a. Intradermally
b. Intravenously
c. Intramuscularly via Z-track technique
d. Subcutaneously via Z-track technique. Answer: c. Intramuscularly via Z-
track technique
▶ An epidural block is ordered for a primipara client in labor. The nurse
anticipates that this epidural block will be given when the cervix is dilated at
_____ centimeters.
a. 2 to 3
,b. 3 to 4
c. 4 to 5
d. 5 to 6. Answer: d. 5 to 6
▶ A client is being treated with an ergot alkaloid medication. Which
observation would cause the nurse to contact the primary healthcare
provider?
a. Hypertension
b. Itching
c. Jugular vein distention
d. Seizure activity. Answer: d. Seizure activity
▶ The client is scheduled for an epidural anesthetic as she delivers. What
will be the highest priority nursing intervention?
a. Administer 1 L of an isotonic IV solution and encourage use of a bedpan
after spinal anesthesia.
b. Administer 500 mL of a hypotonic IV solution and assess the level of
consciousness because the patient is sedated.
c. Administer 500 mL of a hypertonic IV solution and assess fetal heart rate
and progress of labor as per pregnancy protocol.
d. Administer 1 L of hypotonic IV solution and allow the client to ambulate
during the spinal anesthesia.. Answer: a. Administer 1 L of an isotonic IV
solution and encourage use of a bedpan after spinal anesthesia.
▶ The best candidate for treatment with dinoprostone (Cervidil) is the
woman who needs her:
a. labor stopped.
b. cervix ripened.
c. labor stimulated.
d. labor prolonged. Answer: b. cervix ripened.
▶ Which will most likely be part of the nursing care of a woman
postcaesarean section with spinal anesthesia?
a. Early ambulation to avoid constipation
b. Fluid restrictions to decrease blood volume
c. Lying flat 6 to 8 hours to avoid spinal headache
d. IV antibiotics to avoid postpartum infection. Answer: c. Lying flat 6 to 8
hours to avoid spinal headache
, ▶ The client is scheduled to be treated with Oxytocin by nasal spray. The
nurse plans to administer the drug:
a. 2 to 3 minutes after the client nurses her baby.
b. 2 to 3 minutes before the client nurses her baby.
c. after delivery of the placenta.
d. as delivery of the placenta is imminent.. Answer: b. 2 to 3 minutes
before the client nurses her baby.
▶ . A young women in labor, G1P0, is diagnosed with pregnancy-induced
hypertension (PIH). She is ordered to receive magnesium sulfate. What are
the other components of her nursing care? (Select all that apply.)
a. Maintaining a quiet environment
b. Assessing vital signs and fetal heart tones frequently
c. Providing large amounts of PO and IV fluids to maintain fluid volume
d. Allowing the woman to ambulate ad lib
e. Assessing for clonus and deep tendon reflexes
f. Monitoring urine hourly for protein. Answer: a. Maintaining a quiet
environment
b. Assessing vital signs and fetal heart tones frequently
e. Assessing for clonus and deep tendon reflexes
f. Monitoring urine hourly for protein
▶ Principles of prescribing for older adults include:
A. Avoiding prescribing any newer high-cost medications
B. Starting at a low dose and increasing the dose slowly
C. Keeping total dose at lower therapeutic range
D. All of the above. Answer: B. Starting at a low dose and increasing the
dose slowly
▶ Sadie is a 90-year-old patient who requires a new prescription. What
changes in drug distribution with aging would influence prescribing for
Sadie?
A. Increased volume of distribution
B. Decreased lipid solubility
C. Decreased plasma proteins
D. Increased muscle to fat ratio. Answer: C. Decreased plasma proteins
▶ Glen is an 82 year old who needs to be prescribed a new drug. What
changes in elimination should be taken into consideration when prescribing
QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
2026
▶ The client is scheduled for treatment with betamethasone (Celestone).
The nurse anticipates that this medication will be administered via the
_____ route.
a. oral
b. intravenous
c. intramuscular
d. subcutaneous. Answer: c. intramuscular
▶ The client is scheduled for treatment with betamethasone (Celestone).
The nurse anticipates that the medication will be administered to the client
during which week _____ or before of her pregnancy.
a. 38
b. 36
c. 35
d. 33. Answer: d. 33
▶ The healthcare provider orders hydroxyzine (Vistaril) for a client in labor.
To achieve a positive outcome, the nurse plans to administer the drug via
which route?
a. Intradermally
b. Intravenously
c. Intramuscularly via Z-track technique
d. Subcutaneously via Z-track technique. Answer: c. Intramuscularly via Z-
track technique
▶ An epidural block is ordered for a primipara client in labor. The nurse
anticipates that this epidural block will be given when the cervix is dilated at
_____ centimeters.
a. 2 to 3
,b. 3 to 4
c. 4 to 5
d. 5 to 6. Answer: d. 5 to 6
▶ A client is being treated with an ergot alkaloid medication. Which
observation would cause the nurse to contact the primary healthcare
provider?
a. Hypertension
b. Itching
c. Jugular vein distention
d. Seizure activity. Answer: d. Seizure activity
▶ The client is scheduled for an epidural anesthetic as she delivers. What
will be the highest priority nursing intervention?
a. Administer 1 L of an isotonic IV solution and encourage use of a bedpan
after spinal anesthesia.
b. Administer 500 mL of a hypotonic IV solution and assess the level of
consciousness because the patient is sedated.
c. Administer 500 mL of a hypertonic IV solution and assess fetal heart rate
and progress of labor as per pregnancy protocol.
d. Administer 1 L of hypotonic IV solution and allow the client to ambulate
during the spinal anesthesia.. Answer: a. Administer 1 L of an isotonic IV
solution and encourage use of a bedpan after spinal anesthesia.
▶ The best candidate for treatment with dinoprostone (Cervidil) is the
woman who needs her:
a. labor stopped.
b. cervix ripened.
c. labor stimulated.
d. labor prolonged. Answer: b. cervix ripened.
▶ Which will most likely be part of the nursing care of a woman
postcaesarean section with spinal anesthesia?
a. Early ambulation to avoid constipation
b. Fluid restrictions to decrease blood volume
c. Lying flat 6 to 8 hours to avoid spinal headache
d. IV antibiotics to avoid postpartum infection. Answer: c. Lying flat 6 to 8
hours to avoid spinal headache
, ▶ The client is scheduled to be treated with Oxytocin by nasal spray. The
nurse plans to administer the drug:
a. 2 to 3 minutes after the client nurses her baby.
b. 2 to 3 minutes before the client nurses her baby.
c. after delivery of the placenta.
d. as delivery of the placenta is imminent.. Answer: b. 2 to 3 minutes
before the client nurses her baby.
▶ . A young women in labor, G1P0, is diagnosed with pregnancy-induced
hypertension (PIH). She is ordered to receive magnesium sulfate. What are
the other components of her nursing care? (Select all that apply.)
a. Maintaining a quiet environment
b. Assessing vital signs and fetal heart tones frequently
c. Providing large amounts of PO and IV fluids to maintain fluid volume
d. Allowing the woman to ambulate ad lib
e. Assessing for clonus and deep tendon reflexes
f. Monitoring urine hourly for protein. Answer: a. Maintaining a quiet
environment
b. Assessing vital signs and fetal heart tones frequently
e. Assessing for clonus and deep tendon reflexes
f. Monitoring urine hourly for protein
▶ Principles of prescribing for older adults include:
A. Avoiding prescribing any newer high-cost medications
B. Starting at a low dose and increasing the dose slowly
C. Keeping total dose at lower therapeutic range
D. All of the above. Answer: B. Starting at a low dose and increasing the
dose slowly
▶ Sadie is a 90-year-old patient who requires a new prescription. What
changes in drug distribution with aging would influence prescribing for
Sadie?
A. Increased volume of distribution
B. Decreased lipid solubility
C. Decreased plasma proteins
D. Increased muscle to fat ratio. Answer: C. Decreased plasma proteins
▶ Glen is an 82 year old who needs to be prescribed a new drug. What
changes in elimination should be taken into consideration when prescribing
