PACU post op UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -b
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 - CORRECT ANSWER -d
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. - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT
ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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-colored output. Normal saline is
infusing at 150 mL/hr. The surgeon orders a bolus of 500 mL IV normal saline over 1 hour, two
sets of blood cultures, and culture draining from he Jackson-Pratt drain. The patient's history
includes vulvar cancer with a needle biopsy of the right groin, hypertension treated with
lisinopril 5 mg PO daily, and no known drug allergies. The patient is designated as a full code.
Using the Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) charting format, which
information should be included in assessment?
Questions and CORRECT Answers
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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -b
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 - CORRECT ANSWER -d
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. - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT
ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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 - CORRECT ANSWER -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-colored output. Normal saline is
infusing at 150 mL/hr. The surgeon orders a bolus of 500 mL IV normal saline over 1 hour, two
sets of blood cultures, and culture draining from he Jackson-Pratt drain. The patient's history
includes vulvar cancer with a needle biopsy of the right groin, hypertension treated with
lisinopril 5 mg PO daily, and no known drug allergies. The patient is designated as a full code.
Using the Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) charting format, which
information should be included in assessment?
