INTRAOPERATIVE NCLEX QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION COMPLETE GRADED A+
A break in sterile technique during surgery would occur when the scrub nurse touches
a. the mask with gloved hands
b. gloves hands to the gown at chest level
c. the drape at the incision site with gloved hands
d. the lower arms to the instruments on the instrument tray - ansA- The mask covering the face is not
considered sterile, and if in contact with sterile gloved hands, contaminates the gloves. The gown at
chest level and to 2 inches above elbows is considered sterile, as is the drape placed at the surgical area.
A preopera�ve pa�ent reveals that an uncle died during surgery because of a fever and cardiac arrest.
The periopera�ve nurse alerts the surgical team, knowing that if the pa�ent is at risk for malignant
hyperthermia,
a. the surgery will have to be cancelled
b. specific precau�ons can be taken to safely anesthe�ze the pa�ent
c. dantrolene (Dantrium) must be given to prevent hyperthermia during surgery
d. the pa�ent should be placed on a cooling blanket during the surgical procedure - ansB- Although
malignant hyperthermia can result in cardiac arrest and death, if the pa�ent is known or suspected to be
at risk for the disorder, appropriate precau�ons taken by the ACP can provide for safe anesthesia for the
pa�ent. Because preven�ve measures are possible if the risk is known, it is cri�cal that the preopera�ve
assessment include a careful family history of surgical events
At the end of the surgical procedure, the periopera�ve nurse evaluates the pa�ent's response to the
nursing care delivered during the periopera�ve period. Which of the following criteria reflects an
outcome related to the pa�ent's physical status?
a. the pa�ent's right to privacy is maintained
b. the pa�ent's care is consistent with the periopera�ve plan of care
c. the pa�ent receives consistent and comparable care regardless of the se�ng
d. the pa�ent's respiratory func�on is consistent with or improved from baseline levels established
preopera�vely. - ansD- The Periopera�ve Nursing Data Set includes outcome statements that reflect
standards and recommended prac�ces or periopera�ve nursing. Outcomes related to physiologic
responses include those of physiologic func�on, such as respiratory func�on; periopera�ve safety
includes the pa�ent's freedom from any type of injury; and behavioral responses include knowledge and
ac�ons of the pa�ent and family, including the consistency of the pa�ent's care with the periopera�ve
plan and the pa�ent's right to privacy.
, INTRAOPERATIVE NCLEX QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION COMPLETE GRADED A+
Because of the rapid elimina�on of vola�le liquids used for general anesthesia, the nurse should
an�cipate that early in the anesthesia recovery period, the pa�ent will need
a. warm blankets
b. analgesic medica�on
c. observa�on for respiratory depression
d. airway protec�on in an�cipa�on of vomi�ng - ansB- The vola�le liquid inhala�on agents have very
litle residual analgesia, and pa�ents experience early onset of pain when the agents are discon�nued.
They are associated with a low incidence of nausea and vomi�ng. Prolonged respiratory depression is
not common because of their rapid elimina�on. Hypothermia is not related to use of these agents, but
they may precipitate malignant hyperthermia in conjunc�on with neuromuscular blocking agents.
During epidural and spinal anesthesia, the nurse should monitor the pa�ent for
a. spinal headache
b. hypotension and bradycardia
c. loss of consciousness
d. downward extension of nerve block - ansB. During epidural and spinal anesthesia, a sympathe�c
nervous system blockade may occur that results in hypotension, bradycardia, and nausea and vomi�ng.
A spinal headache may occur a�er, not during, spinal anesthesia, and unconsciousness and seizures are
indica�ve of IV absorp�on overdose. Upward extension of the effect of the anesthesia results in
inadequate respiratory excursion and apnea
During surgery, a pa�ent has a nursing diagnosis of risk for periopera�ve posi�oning injury. A common
risk factor for this nursing diagnosis is
a. skin lesions
b. break in sterile technique
c. musculoskeletal deformi�es
d. electrical or mechanical equipment failure - ansC- Musculoskeletal deformi�es can be a risk factor for
posi�oning injuries and require special padding and support on the opera�ng table. Skin lesions and
break in sterile technique are risk factors for infec�on, and electrical equipment failure may lead to other
types of injuries.
Epidural block - ansInjec�on of anesthe�c agent into space around the vertebrae
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION COMPLETE GRADED A+
A break in sterile technique during surgery would occur when the scrub nurse touches
a. the mask with gloved hands
b. gloves hands to the gown at chest level
c. the drape at the incision site with gloved hands
d. the lower arms to the instruments on the instrument tray - ansA- The mask covering the face is not
considered sterile, and if in contact with sterile gloved hands, contaminates the gloves. The gown at
chest level and to 2 inches above elbows is considered sterile, as is the drape placed at the surgical area.
A preopera�ve pa�ent reveals that an uncle died during surgery because of a fever and cardiac arrest.
The periopera�ve nurse alerts the surgical team, knowing that if the pa�ent is at risk for malignant
hyperthermia,
a. the surgery will have to be cancelled
b. specific precau�ons can be taken to safely anesthe�ze the pa�ent
c. dantrolene (Dantrium) must be given to prevent hyperthermia during surgery
d. the pa�ent should be placed on a cooling blanket during the surgical procedure - ansB- Although
malignant hyperthermia can result in cardiac arrest and death, if the pa�ent is known or suspected to be
at risk for the disorder, appropriate precau�ons taken by the ACP can provide for safe anesthesia for the
pa�ent. Because preven�ve measures are possible if the risk is known, it is cri�cal that the preopera�ve
assessment include a careful family history of surgical events
At the end of the surgical procedure, the periopera�ve nurse evaluates the pa�ent's response to the
nursing care delivered during the periopera�ve period. Which of the following criteria reflects an
outcome related to the pa�ent's physical status?
a. the pa�ent's right to privacy is maintained
b. the pa�ent's care is consistent with the periopera�ve plan of care
c. the pa�ent receives consistent and comparable care regardless of the se�ng
d. the pa�ent's respiratory func�on is consistent with or improved from baseline levels established
preopera�vely. - ansD- The Periopera�ve Nursing Data Set includes outcome statements that reflect
standards and recommended prac�ces or periopera�ve nursing. Outcomes related to physiologic
responses include those of physiologic func�on, such as respiratory func�on; periopera�ve safety
includes the pa�ent's freedom from any type of injury; and behavioral responses include knowledge and
ac�ons of the pa�ent and family, including the consistency of the pa�ent's care with the periopera�ve
plan and the pa�ent's right to privacy.
, INTRAOPERATIVE NCLEX QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION COMPLETE GRADED A+
Because of the rapid elimina�on of vola�le liquids used for general anesthesia, the nurse should
an�cipate that early in the anesthesia recovery period, the pa�ent will need
a. warm blankets
b. analgesic medica�on
c. observa�on for respiratory depression
d. airway protec�on in an�cipa�on of vomi�ng - ansB- The vola�le liquid inhala�on agents have very
litle residual analgesia, and pa�ents experience early onset of pain when the agents are discon�nued.
They are associated with a low incidence of nausea and vomi�ng. Prolonged respiratory depression is
not common because of their rapid elimina�on. Hypothermia is not related to use of these agents, but
they may precipitate malignant hyperthermia in conjunc�on with neuromuscular blocking agents.
During epidural and spinal anesthesia, the nurse should monitor the pa�ent for
a. spinal headache
b. hypotension and bradycardia
c. loss of consciousness
d. downward extension of nerve block - ansB. During epidural and spinal anesthesia, a sympathe�c
nervous system blockade may occur that results in hypotension, bradycardia, and nausea and vomi�ng.
A spinal headache may occur a�er, not during, spinal anesthesia, and unconsciousness and seizures are
indica�ve of IV absorp�on overdose. Upward extension of the effect of the anesthesia results in
inadequate respiratory excursion and apnea
During surgery, a pa�ent has a nursing diagnosis of risk for periopera�ve posi�oning injury. A common
risk factor for this nursing diagnosis is
a. skin lesions
b. break in sterile technique
c. musculoskeletal deformi�es
d. electrical or mechanical equipment failure - ansC- Musculoskeletal deformi�es can be a risk factor for
posi�oning injuries and require special padding and support on the opera�ng table. Skin lesions and
break in sterile technique are risk factors for infec�on, and electrical equipment failure may lead to other
types of injuries.
Epidural block - ansInjec�on of anesthe�c agent into space around the vertebrae
