PACU post op Exam Questions and Answers
with Verified Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
Which description illustrates the d
beginning of the postoperative
period?
a. completion of the surgical
procedure and arousal of the
patient
from anesthesia in the operating
room
b. Providing care before, during
and
after surgery
c. closure of the patients surgical
incision with sutures
d. Completion of the surgical
procedure and transfer of the
patient
to the post anesthesia care unit
(PACU
,What is the primary purpose of a b
post anesthesia care unit (PACU)?
a. follow-through on the surgeon's
postoperative orders
b. Ongoing critical evaluation and
stabilization of the patient
c. Prevention of lengthened
hospital
stay
d. Arousal of patient following the
use of conscious sedation
A patient develops respiratory d
distress after having a left total hip
replacement. The patient develops
labored breathing, and a pulse
oximetry reading is 83% on 2 L
oxygen via nasal cannula. Which
intervention is appropriate for the
nurse to delegate to unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP)?
a. Assess change in patient's
respiratory status
b. Order necessary medications to
be administered
c. Insert ora airway to maintain
open
airway
d. Check the patient's vital signs
,Which statement best describes a
phase I care after surgery?
a. Phase I care occurs
immediately
after surgery, most often in a post
anesthesia care unit (PACU).
b. Phase I care focuses on
preparing
the patient for care in an extended
care environment.
c. Phase I care discharge occurs
when pre surgery level of
consciousness has returned,
oxygen
saturation is at baseline, and vital
signs are stable.
The patient is recovering in a post c
anesthesia care unit (PACU)
environment that advances the
patient quickly from a Phase I care
level to a Phase III care level,
preparing for discharge to home.
What type of surgery is this patient
MOST likely having?
a. elective surgery
b. emergency surgery
c. same day surgery
d. urgent surgery
, Which signs/symptoms are c, d, e, f
considered post operative
complications? SELECT ALL
THAT
APPLY
a. sedation
b. pain at the surgical site
c. pulmonary embolism
d. hypothermia
e. wound evisceration
f. ostoperative ileus
If a patient experiences a wound c
dehiscence, which description best
characterizes what is happening
with
the wound?
a. purulent drainage is present at
incision site because of infection
b. extreme pain is present at
incision
site
c. a partial or complete separation
of
outer layers is present at incision
site
d. the inner and out layers of the
incision are separated
with Verified Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
Which description illustrates the d
beginning of the postoperative
period?
a. completion of the surgical
procedure and arousal of the
patient
from anesthesia in the operating
room
b. Providing care before, during
and
after surgery
c. closure of the patients surgical
incision with sutures
d. Completion of the surgical
procedure and transfer of the
patient
to the post anesthesia care unit
(PACU
,What is the primary purpose of a b
post anesthesia care unit (PACU)?
a. follow-through on the surgeon's
postoperative orders
b. Ongoing critical evaluation and
stabilization of the patient
c. Prevention of lengthened
hospital
stay
d. Arousal of patient following the
use of conscious sedation
A patient develops respiratory d
distress after having a left total hip
replacement. The patient develops
labored breathing, and a pulse
oximetry reading is 83% on 2 L
oxygen via nasal cannula. Which
intervention is appropriate for the
nurse to delegate to unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP)?
a. Assess change in patient's
respiratory status
b. Order necessary medications to
be administered
c. Insert ora airway to maintain
open
airway
d. Check the patient's vital signs
,Which statement best describes a
phase I care after surgery?
a. Phase I care occurs
immediately
after surgery, most often in a post
anesthesia care unit (PACU).
b. Phase I care focuses on
preparing
the patient for care in an extended
care environment.
c. Phase I care discharge occurs
when pre surgery level of
consciousness has returned,
oxygen
saturation is at baseline, and vital
signs are stable.
The patient is recovering in a post c
anesthesia care unit (PACU)
environment that advances the
patient quickly from a Phase I care
level to a Phase III care level,
preparing for discharge to home.
What type of surgery is this patient
MOST likely having?
a. elective surgery
b. emergency surgery
c. same day surgery
d. urgent surgery
, Which signs/symptoms are c, d, e, f
considered post operative
complications? SELECT ALL
THAT
APPLY
a. sedation
b. pain at the surgical site
c. pulmonary embolism
d. hypothermia
e. wound evisceration
f. ostoperative ileus
If a patient experiences a wound c
dehiscence, which description best
characterizes what is happening
with
the wound?
a. purulent drainage is present at
incision site because of infection
b. extreme pain is present at
incision
site
c. a partial or complete separation
of
outer layers is present at incision
site
d. the inner and out layers of the
incision are separated
