RELIAS PACU RN A V1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (2025) (VERIFIED ANSWERS)

What set of findings indicates a patient is likely to be ready for phase 1 discharge? - ***C) Drowsy, oxygen saturation of 96%, able to cough, and move all extremities Meperidine (Demerol) 12.5mg every 15 minutes, IV prn is ordered for shivering in the PACU. Meperidine is available in 50mg/1ml. How many mililiters should be given? - 0.25 mililiters Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the catheter. What should you do? - ***D) Contact the anesthesia provider What do you consider to be a safe dose of intravenous fentanyl for an adult who does not have tolerance to opioids? - ***B) 25 micrograms Your patient in the PACU has a blood pressure of 171/92 mmHg, a heart rate of 120, respiratory rate of 24, is grimacing, restless, and moaning in bed. What medication should you prepare to give FIRST? - ***B) 50 mcg fentanyl IV push You are about to discharge a day surgery patient with aphasia and you discover the family members are not available for the discharge instructions and are not responding to your phone calls. Business hours are over and the PACU is about to close. How will you handle the situation? - ***A) Wait until the family returns You received a patient from OR post hip replacement surgery. The anesthesiologist is planning a nerve block in PACU, but the patient did not sign the consent for the nerve block. How will you proceed? - ***C) Obtain the consent from medical POA What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc, succinylcholine)? - C) Decreased respiratory effort What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia? - ***D) Flat to supine The surgeon has ordered ampicillin (Ancef) for a patient. When you check their chart, you see an allergy to penicillin. What is the BEST action? - ***D) Contact the provider to question the order You are receiving report for a patient who had a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease and is now recovering in the PACU. What type of surgical dressing do you expect to find for this patient? - ***C) Clear dressing applied to the right groin You are receiving a report on a post op patients from the OR nurse and during the report when you asked for clarifications, the OR nurse became angry, belligerent, and rude. She ended up not answering your question. How will you proceed? - ***A) Report the incident to your charge nurse You are reviewing your orders for you 8 year-old patient that recently arrive in PACU. Which PRN pain order would you question? - C) PO ketorolac What is a physiologic effect related to unrelieved pain? - ***D) Decreased healing You are caring for a patient after placement of a percutaneous J tube. A student nurse asks you, " Where does this tube go in the patient?" How should you answer? - ***A) The tube is placed into the Jejunum When caring for a patient who is recovering from placement of a new arteriovenous fistula in their right arm, you observe the presence of mild edema at the site. What should you do? - B) Elevate the right arm above the heart 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? - ***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? - ***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? - D) Insert an oral airway Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? - ***A) Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial assessment is MOST important? - ***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? - 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? - ***B) End Stage Renal Disease