PACU post op Exam exam (Questions &
Answers) Rated 100%
A patient develops respiratory 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 - ✔️✔️d
Which description illustrates the 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 - ✔️✔️d
What is the primary purpose of a 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 - ✔️✔️b
Which statement best describes 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. - ✔️✔️a
The patient is recovering in a post 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 - ✔️✔️c
, Which signs/symptoms are 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 - ✔️✔️c, d, e, f
If a patient experiences a wound 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 - ✔️✔️c
A patient who is 2 days postoperative for abdominal surgery states, "I coughed and
heard something pop." The nurse's immediate assessment reveals an opened incision
with a portion of large intestine protruding. Which statements apply to this clinical
situation? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY
a. incision dehiscence has occurred
b. this is an emergency.
c. the wound must be kept moist with normal saline-soaked sterile dressings
d. this is an urgent situation.
e. incision evisceration has occurred.
f. a nasogastric (NG) tube may be ordered to decompress the stomach - ✔️✔️b, c, e, f
In the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), the nurse assesses that a patient is bleeding
profusely from an abdominal incision. What is the nurses best first action?
a. notify the surgeon
b. apply pressure to the wound dressing
c. instruct the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to get additional dressing supplies
d. request and draw a complete blood count - ✔️✔️b
Which members of the surgical team usually accompany a postoperative patient to the
post anesthesia care unit (PACU)?
a. anesthesia provider and circulating nurse
b. circulating nurse and surgeon
c. surgeon and anesthesia provider
d. surgical assistant and surgeon - ✔️✔️a
The nurse transfers a patient tot eh postanesthesia care unit (PACU) with an incision
and drainage of abscess in the right groin under general anesthesia. Blood pressure is
80/47 mmHg, heart rate 28/min, pulse oximetry reading 93% on oxygen at 3 L per nasal
cannula, and temp 101.3 F (38.5 C) The Jackson-Pratt drain has 70 mL of a cream-
Answers) Rated 100%
A patient develops respiratory 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 - ✔️✔️d
Which description illustrates the 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 - ✔️✔️d
What is the primary purpose of a 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 - ✔️✔️b
Which statement best describes 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. - ✔️✔️a
The patient is recovering in a post 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 - ✔️✔️c
, Which signs/symptoms are 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 - ✔️✔️c, d, e, f
If a patient experiences a wound 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 - ✔️✔️c
A patient who is 2 days postoperative for abdominal surgery states, "I coughed and
heard something pop." The nurse's immediate assessment reveals an opened incision
with a portion of large intestine protruding. Which statements apply to this clinical
situation? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY
a. incision dehiscence has occurred
b. this is an emergency.
c. the wound must be kept moist with normal saline-soaked sterile dressings
d. this is an urgent situation.
e. incision evisceration has occurred.
f. a nasogastric (NG) tube may be ordered to decompress the stomach - ✔️✔️b, c, e, f
In the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), the nurse assesses that a patient is bleeding
profusely from an abdominal incision. What is the nurses best first action?
a. notify the surgeon
b. apply pressure to the wound dressing
c. instruct the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to get additional dressing supplies
d. request and draw a complete blood count - ✔️✔️b
Which members of the surgical team usually accompany a postoperative patient to the
post anesthesia care unit (PACU)?
a. anesthesia provider and circulating nurse
b. circulating nurse and surgeon
c. surgeon and anesthesia provider
d. surgical assistant and surgeon - ✔️✔️a
The nurse transfers a patient tot eh postanesthesia care unit (PACU) with an incision
and drainage of abscess in the right groin under general anesthesia. Blood pressure is
80/47 mmHg, heart rate 28/min, pulse oximetry reading 93% on oxygen at 3 L per nasal
cannula, and temp 101.3 F (38.5 C) The Jackson-Pratt drain has 70 mL of a cream-
