RELIAS PACU RN A V1 EXAM 2026 UPDATE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
ALREADY GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW VISION)
You are caring for patient who is intubated, receiving ventilatory support, and is sedated
with a propofol infusion. Over the last 5 minutes you have decreased the propofol
infusion in preparation for extubation. The patient is now opening their eyes to voice and
following commands. What should you do NEXT to prepare the patient for immediate
extubation? - ANS-***C) Stop the propofol infusion
When caring for a patient who is receiving outpatient surgery, what is the BEST way to
know that a patient's post-operative blood pressure is sufficient for discharge to home? -
ANS-***B) It is +/- 20% of baseline pre-operative levels
After surgery, a sleepy yet responsive patient with an intact gag reflex has a large
amount of salivary secretions. What should you do? - ANS-D) Insert an oral airway
Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? - ANS-***A)
Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line
A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial assessment is
MOST important? - ANS-***A) pupil checks
There are 4 patients in PACU: A patient who is alert but disoriented to time, a patient
who reports dizziness upon sitting upright, a patient who has partial return of sensation
after spinal, and a patient who is drowsy but awakens to touch. Which patient is MOST
ready to transfer to phase 2 post-anesthesia care? - ANS-B) The patient who is alert
but disoriented to time
Your patient arrives to PACU with lactated ringer's ordered at 100ml/hr. Which pre-
existing condition would make you question this order? - ANS-***B) End Stage Renal
Disease
While assessing your post-op patient with a new dialysis graft, what should the PACU
nurse monitor to evaluate the functionality of the graft? - ANS-***D) A palpable thrill
and audible bruit
You are taking care of a 300lb male status post abdominal surgery, and he requests to
be repositioned. He is currently on a hover mat. What is the BEST way to achieve this?
- ANS-***C) Wait for additional assistance before moving the patient
, What is an example of Phase 1 discharge criteria? - ANS-***C) The patient can
maintain their airway
You were called in at 2am and did not leave the hospital until 4am. However, your
regular shift starts at 7am, and you are extremely tired. What is the appropriate action? -
ANS-D) Call your manager and ask for the unit protocol
You are caring for a patient in Phase 1 recovery and they appear ready to transfer
except that their blood pressure continues to stay 50mmHg above their pre-anesthetic
SBP. At home the patient takes a diuretic and beta-blocker for hypertension. What
should you do? - ANS-D) Contact the anesthesia provider
You receive a patient to Phase I recovery from IR status post cerebral aneurysm
clipping. Which assessment is most important for you to perform? - ANS-***B) Pupil
response, facial and extremity movement
Which patient is MOST at risk for developing postoperative cardiogenic shock? - ANS-
***B) Pt with recent MI
When setting up a morphine PCA pump for a 5'10'' female patient recovering from hip
surgery who is 49 years old, 180 lb, and has no history of sleep apnea, what is an
expected 4-hr dose limit? - ANS-B) 20 mg
You are caring for a postoperative thyroidectomy patient in the PACU. What is the least
likely finding for this patient? - ANS-***B) Low Hgb
After a 6-hour abdominal surgery during which a patient was on their back, a patient
reports persistent lower back pain. What should you do next? - ANS-C) Inspect their
lower back
What is a result of shivering? - ANS-***B) Increased oxygen demand
What combination of medications is an example of multi-modal pain management? -
ANS-C) IV hydromorphone and IV acetaminophen
You are caring for a patient with a brachial plexus block after surgery. The patient
begins to report chest discomfort on the side where the block was placed. A 12 lead
EKG was normal. What order do you expect to be completed NEXT for this patient? -
ANS-***D) Chest X-ray
You need to obtain consent from a sedated patient post hip replacement surgery for a
regional block. Two women showed up at bedside as next of kin. One has a child with
patient and the other is the patient's girlfriend. How will you obtain the consent? - ANS-
***B) Look for patient's parents or immediate family members
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
ALREADY GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW VISION)
You are caring for patient who is intubated, receiving ventilatory support, and is sedated
with a propofol infusion. Over the last 5 minutes you have decreased the propofol
infusion in preparation for extubation. The patient is now opening their eyes to voice and
following commands. What should you do NEXT to prepare the patient for immediate
extubation? - ANS-***C) Stop the propofol infusion
When caring for a patient who is receiving outpatient surgery, what is the BEST way to
know that a patient's post-operative blood pressure is sufficient for discharge to home? -
ANS-***B) It is +/- 20% of baseline pre-operative levels
After surgery, a sleepy yet responsive patient with an intact gag reflex has a large
amount of salivary secretions. What should you do? - ANS-D) Insert an oral airway
Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? - ANS-***A)
Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line
A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial assessment is
MOST important? - ANS-***A) pupil checks
There are 4 patients in PACU: A patient who is alert but disoriented to time, a patient
who reports dizziness upon sitting upright, a patient who has partial return of sensation
after spinal, and a patient who is drowsy but awakens to touch. Which patient is MOST
ready to transfer to phase 2 post-anesthesia care? - ANS-B) The patient who is alert
but disoriented to time
Your patient arrives to PACU with lactated ringer's ordered at 100ml/hr. Which pre-
existing condition would make you question this order? - ANS-***B) End Stage Renal
Disease
While assessing your post-op patient with a new dialysis graft, what should the PACU
nurse monitor to evaluate the functionality of the graft? - ANS-***D) A palpable thrill
and audible bruit
You are taking care of a 300lb male status post abdominal surgery, and he requests to
be repositioned. He is currently on a hover mat. What is the BEST way to achieve this?
- ANS-***C) Wait for additional assistance before moving the patient
, What is an example of Phase 1 discharge criteria? - ANS-***C) The patient can
maintain their airway
You were called in at 2am and did not leave the hospital until 4am. However, your
regular shift starts at 7am, and you are extremely tired. What is the appropriate action? -
ANS-D) Call your manager and ask for the unit protocol
You are caring for a patient in Phase 1 recovery and they appear ready to transfer
except that their blood pressure continues to stay 50mmHg above their pre-anesthetic
SBP. At home the patient takes a diuretic and beta-blocker for hypertension. What
should you do? - ANS-D) Contact the anesthesia provider
You receive a patient to Phase I recovery from IR status post cerebral aneurysm
clipping. Which assessment is most important for you to perform? - ANS-***B) Pupil
response, facial and extremity movement
Which patient is MOST at risk for developing postoperative cardiogenic shock? - ANS-
***B) Pt with recent MI
When setting up a morphine PCA pump for a 5'10'' female patient recovering from hip
surgery who is 49 years old, 180 lb, and has no history of sleep apnea, what is an
expected 4-hr dose limit? - ANS-B) 20 mg
You are caring for a postoperative thyroidectomy patient in the PACU. What is the least
likely finding for this patient? - ANS-***B) Low Hgb
After a 6-hour abdominal surgery during which a patient was on their back, a patient
reports persistent lower back pain. What should you do next? - ANS-C) Inspect their
lower back
What is a result of shivering? - ANS-***B) Increased oxygen demand
What combination of medications is an example of multi-modal pain management? -
ANS-C) IV hydromorphone and IV acetaminophen
You are caring for a patient with a brachial plexus block after surgery. The patient
begins to report chest discomfort on the side where the block was placed. A 12 lead
EKG was normal. What order do you expect to be completed NEXT for this patient? -
ANS-***D) Chest X-ray
You need to obtain consent from a sedated patient post hip replacement surgery for a
regional block. Two women showed up at bedside as next of kin. One has a child with
patient and the other is the patient's girlfriend. How will you obtain the consent? - ANS-
***B) Look for patient's parents or immediate family members
