PRE-CLINICAL EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
When a patient returns to the unit from the PACU, how would the nurse assess
possible urinary retention?
A. Straight-catheterize the patient.
B. Complete a bladder scan.
C. Encourage the patient to void.
D. Check the chart for lab values specific to urinary function. - Answer-B
Rationale: Performing a bladder scan identifies how much fluid is present in the
bladder, accurately identifying the retention. Before straight catheterization could be
considered, a bladder scan would need to be completed to see how much retention
is present. It is correct to encourage the patient to void, but doing so will not assess if
urinary retention is occurring. Although it is good to monitor kidney function after
surgery, such lab values will not specifically show urinary retention.
Why might a nurse teach a patient scheduled for surgery how to do postoperative
exercises?
A. To maximize a sense of well-being
B. To minimize postoperative complications
C. To identify cultural factors that reflect the patient's perception of pain
D. To evaluate the patient's ability to participate in postoperative activities - Answer-
B
Rationale: Teaching postoperative exercises can minimize the patient's risk for
injury. Promoting a sense of well-being is not why patients are taught postoperative
exercises, although doing so may have that effect. Cultural factors are unrelated to
postoperative exercise teaching. There is no link between teaching postoperative
exercises and evaluating the patient's ability to participate in postoperative activities.
Before teaching a patient postsurgical exercises, the nurse premedicates the patient
for pain. What benefit does this have specific to the patient's learning?
A. Reduced pain
B. Improved focus
C. Decreased relaxation
D. Decreased irritability - Answer-B
Rationale: When pain is controlled, the patient is better able to concentrate. Although
reduced pain is a desired outcome, this answer fails to address a specific effect on
patient learning. To decrease relaxation would mean that the patient would be less
relaxed and, with pain relief, the patient would be more relaxed. This option is also
unrelated to a patient's learning. Although reduced pain may make the patient less
irritable, this outcome is not directly related to learning.
What instruction might the nurse give to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) regarding
postoperative exercises?
A. "Find out if the patient has any language barriers."
B. "Let me know when the patient actually begins exercising."
C. "Please review a copy of the preoperative literature with the patient."
D. "Assess the method of learning the patient would prefer." - Answer-B
, Rationale: NAP may let the nurse know if the patient is exercising. No aspect of
patient assessment may be delegated to NAP. Patient education may not be
delegated to NAP. Because assessment of learning preferences is part of patient
education, NAP may not carry out this responsibility.
Which instruction might a nurse give a patient in order to protect a surgical incision
when turning in bed?
A. Hold your breath when turning.
B. Use a pillow to splint the incision.
C. Take pain medication 30 minutes before turning.
D. Keep both legs straight when turning. - Answer-B
Rationale: Using a pillow to splint the incision will protect the incision when turning in
bed. Holding one's breath when turning in bed is not appropriate technique and will
not protect the incision. Taking pain medication before turning in bed will not protect
the incision. Keeping both legs straight when turning in bed is not appropriate
technique and will not protect the incision.
Why does the nurse place a patient on bed rest after administering preoperative
medication?
A. To ensure that the surgical site is not injured
B. To protect the patient from injury
C. To maintain a calm environment
D. To maintain the intravenous infusion - Answer-B
Rationale: A patient is placed on bed rest after receiving preoperative medication to
ensure that he or she is not injured in a fall. Bed rest is not specifically required to
prevent injury to the surgical site. A patient is not placed on bed rest after receiving
preoperative medication in order to maintain a calm environment, although doing so
might have that effect. Bed rest is not required in order to maintain an intravenous
infusion.
At what point would the patient sign the consent form for a surgical procedure?
A. After the surgeon explains the procedure
B. During the preoperative consultation at the surgeon's office
C. After receiving preoperative medication
D. At the completion of the physical examination - Answer-A
Rationale: The consent form for a surgical procedure is signed after the surgeon
explains the procedure. The patient does not always have a preoperative
consultation at the surgeon's office. Even when such a consultation occurs, it is too
early for the patient to be asked to sign a surgical consent form. The consent form
for a surgical procedure could be considered invalid if the patient signs it after
receiving preoperative medication. The consent form for a surgical procedure is
signed after the surgeon explains the procedure. This occurs before a physical
examination is completed.
A patient scheduled for same-day surgery tells the nurse that he had a "few sips" of
coffee while driving to the hospital. What would the nurse do first with this
information?
A. Document that the patient had coffee
B. Notify the operating room
C. Notify the surgeon
QUESTIONS COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
When a patient returns to the unit from the PACU, how would the nurse assess
possible urinary retention?
A. Straight-catheterize the patient.
B. Complete a bladder scan.
C. Encourage the patient to void.
D. Check the chart for lab values specific to urinary function. - Answer-B
Rationale: Performing a bladder scan identifies how much fluid is present in the
bladder, accurately identifying the retention. Before straight catheterization could be
considered, a bladder scan would need to be completed to see how much retention
is present. It is correct to encourage the patient to void, but doing so will not assess if
urinary retention is occurring. Although it is good to monitor kidney function after
surgery, such lab values will not specifically show urinary retention.
Why might a nurse teach a patient scheduled for surgery how to do postoperative
exercises?
A. To maximize a sense of well-being
B. To minimize postoperative complications
C. To identify cultural factors that reflect the patient's perception of pain
D. To evaluate the patient's ability to participate in postoperative activities - Answer-
B
Rationale: Teaching postoperative exercises can minimize the patient's risk for
injury. Promoting a sense of well-being is not why patients are taught postoperative
exercises, although doing so may have that effect. Cultural factors are unrelated to
postoperative exercise teaching. There is no link between teaching postoperative
exercises and evaluating the patient's ability to participate in postoperative activities.
Before teaching a patient postsurgical exercises, the nurse premedicates the patient
for pain. What benefit does this have specific to the patient's learning?
A. Reduced pain
B. Improved focus
C. Decreased relaxation
D. Decreased irritability - Answer-B
Rationale: When pain is controlled, the patient is better able to concentrate. Although
reduced pain is a desired outcome, this answer fails to address a specific effect on
patient learning. To decrease relaxation would mean that the patient would be less
relaxed and, with pain relief, the patient would be more relaxed. This option is also
unrelated to a patient's learning. Although reduced pain may make the patient less
irritable, this outcome is not directly related to learning.
What instruction might the nurse give to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) regarding
postoperative exercises?
A. "Find out if the patient has any language barriers."
B. "Let me know when the patient actually begins exercising."
C. "Please review a copy of the preoperative literature with the patient."
D. "Assess the method of learning the patient would prefer." - Answer-B
, Rationale: NAP may let the nurse know if the patient is exercising. No aspect of
patient assessment may be delegated to NAP. Patient education may not be
delegated to NAP. Because assessment of learning preferences is part of patient
education, NAP may not carry out this responsibility.
Which instruction might a nurse give a patient in order to protect a surgical incision
when turning in bed?
A. Hold your breath when turning.
B. Use a pillow to splint the incision.
C. Take pain medication 30 minutes before turning.
D. Keep both legs straight when turning. - Answer-B
Rationale: Using a pillow to splint the incision will protect the incision when turning in
bed. Holding one's breath when turning in bed is not appropriate technique and will
not protect the incision. Taking pain medication before turning in bed will not protect
the incision. Keeping both legs straight when turning in bed is not appropriate
technique and will not protect the incision.
Why does the nurse place a patient on bed rest after administering preoperative
medication?
A. To ensure that the surgical site is not injured
B. To protect the patient from injury
C. To maintain a calm environment
D. To maintain the intravenous infusion - Answer-B
Rationale: A patient is placed on bed rest after receiving preoperative medication to
ensure that he or she is not injured in a fall. Bed rest is not specifically required to
prevent injury to the surgical site. A patient is not placed on bed rest after receiving
preoperative medication in order to maintain a calm environment, although doing so
might have that effect. Bed rest is not required in order to maintain an intravenous
infusion.
At what point would the patient sign the consent form for a surgical procedure?
A. After the surgeon explains the procedure
B. During the preoperative consultation at the surgeon's office
C. After receiving preoperative medication
D. At the completion of the physical examination - Answer-A
Rationale: The consent form for a surgical procedure is signed after the surgeon
explains the procedure. The patient does not always have a preoperative
consultation at the surgeon's office. Even when such a consultation occurs, it is too
early for the patient to be asked to sign a surgical consent form. The consent form
for a surgical procedure could be considered invalid if the patient signs it after
receiving preoperative medication. The consent form for a surgical procedure is
signed after the surgeon explains the procedure. This occurs before a physical
examination is completed.
A patient scheduled for same-day surgery tells the nurse that he had a "few sips" of
coffee while driving to the hospital. What would the nurse do first with this
information?
A. Document that the patient had coffee
B. Notify the operating room
C. Notify the surgeon
