Medical Surgical Nursing Ch.42 Care of the surgical patient
Final Exam Questions and Answers (verified) Latest Update
2024/2025 | A Grade
QUESTION: A 73-year-old patient with diabetes was admitted for below-the-knee
amputation of his right leg. Removal of his right leg is an example of which type of surgery?
a. Palliative
b. Diagnostic
c. Reconstructive
d. Ablative ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: D
Ablative is a type of surgery where an amputation, excision of any part of the body, or
removal of a growth and harmful substance is performed.
REF: Page 1254, Table 42-1 TOP: Types of surgery
QUESTION: The Patient's Bill of Rights states that a patient must give his or her permission
for any specific test or procedure to be performed. What is the legal term for this
permission?
a. Verbal consent
b. Medical documentation
c. Informed consent
d. Informed decision ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: C
The Patient's Bill of Rights affirms that the patients must give informed consent (permission
obtained from the patient to perform a specific test or procedure) before the beginning of
any procedure.
REF: Page 1260
TOP: Informed consent
1|Page
, QUESTION: An informed consent was to be obtained from the patient for his scheduled
open cholecystectomy. Which circumstance could prevent the patient from signing his
informed consent?
a. Pain radiating to the scapula
b. An injection of Demerol, 75 mg IM, 1 hour ago
c. The presence of jaundice and scleral icterus
d. His concern over his insurance company not covering the procedure ✓✓Correct Answer:
ANS: B
Informed consent should not be obtained if the patient is disoriented and under the
influence of sedatives.
REF: Page 1261 TOP: Informed consent
QUESTION: The anesthesiologist provides anesthesia by inhalation and IV administration
routes.
a. general
b. regional
c. specific
d. preoperative ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: A
An anesthesiologist gives general anesthetics by IV and inhalation routes through four stages
of anesthesia.
REF: Page 1273 TOP: Anesthesia
QUESTION: A type of anesthesia that requires a depressed level of consciousness is
a. regional anesthesia.
b. specific anesthesia.
c. optional sedation.
d. conscious sedation. ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: D
2|Page
,Conscious sedation is routinely used for procedures that do not require complete anesthesia
but rather a depressed level of consciousness.
REF: Page 1276
TOP: Conscious sedation
QUESTION: The older adult patient may not respond to surgical treatment as well as a
younger adult because of
a. poor skin turgor resulting in dehydration.
b. disturbed body image related to surgical incision.
c. his or her body's response to physiological changes.
d. decreased peristalsis related to general anesthesia. ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: C
Of specific concern in older adults is the body's response to temperature changes,
cardiovascular shifts, respiratory needs, and renal function.
REF: Page 1256
TOP: Older adult patient
QUESTION: A 45-year-old patient has had a repair of a cerebral aneurysm and is presenting
signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Which postoperative nursing interventions
would be contraindicated?
a. Coughing every 2 hours
b. Leg exercises every 2 hours
c. Monitoring intravenous therapy at 50 ml/hr
d. Assessing vital signs every 2 hours ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: A
Coughing increases ICP.
REF: Page 1268, Box 42-6 TOP: Postoperative complications
3|Page
, QUESTION: A male patient, age 80, has had a total hip replacement. Anxiety, hypotension,
and jarring during transfer from the recovery room to his room can cause a postoperative
increase in which of his vital signs?
a. Pulse rate
b. Temperature
c. Blood pressure
d. Pain ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: A
An increase in pulse rate is an objective, detectable sign that the body is responding to
"pain." Other objective changes include a decrease in blood pressure in the immediate
postoperative period, restlessness, diaphoresis, and pallor.
REF: Page 1284, Box 42-8 TOP: Postoperative complications
QUESTION: A patient, age 65, underwent a right hemicolectomy. On postoperative day 4,
her surgical wound dehisced. This means that
a. there is partial or complete wound separation.
b. there has been inadequate wound closure.
c. abdominal viscera protrude through the walls.
d. the wound will not heal well when it is resutured. ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: A
A surgical incision may separate; this action of dehiscence (the separation of a surgical
incision or rupture of a wound closure) may occur within 3 days to over 2 weeks
postoperatively.
REF: Page 1284, Figure 42-15 TOP: Postoperative complications
QUESTION: Frequent monitoring of the postoperative patient's vital signs assesses which
body system?
a. Gastrointestinal
b. Endocrine
c. Neurological
4|Page
Final Exam Questions and Answers (verified) Latest Update
2024/2025 | A Grade
QUESTION: A 73-year-old patient with diabetes was admitted for below-the-knee
amputation of his right leg. Removal of his right leg is an example of which type of surgery?
a. Palliative
b. Diagnostic
c. Reconstructive
d. Ablative ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: D
Ablative is a type of surgery where an amputation, excision of any part of the body, or
removal of a growth and harmful substance is performed.
REF: Page 1254, Table 42-1 TOP: Types of surgery
QUESTION: The Patient's Bill of Rights states that a patient must give his or her permission
for any specific test or procedure to be performed. What is the legal term for this
permission?
a. Verbal consent
b. Medical documentation
c. Informed consent
d. Informed decision ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: C
The Patient's Bill of Rights affirms that the patients must give informed consent (permission
obtained from the patient to perform a specific test or procedure) before the beginning of
any procedure.
REF: Page 1260
TOP: Informed consent
1|Page
, QUESTION: An informed consent was to be obtained from the patient for his scheduled
open cholecystectomy. Which circumstance could prevent the patient from signing his
informed consent?
a. Pain radiating to the scapula
b. An injection of Demerol, 75 mg IM, 1 hour ago
c. The presence of jaundice and scleral icterus
d. His concern over his insurance company not covering the procedure ✓✓Correct Answer:
ANS: B
Informed consent should not be obtained if the patient is disoriented and under the
influence of sedatives.
REF: Page 1261 TOP: Informed consent
QUESTION: The anesthesiologist provides anesthesia by inhalation and IV administration
routes.
a. general
b. regional
c. specific
d. preoperative ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: A
An anesthesiologist gives general anesthetics by IV and inhalation routes through four stages
of anesthesia.
REF: Page 1273 TOP: Anesthesia
QUESTION: A type of anesthesia that requires a depressed level of consciousness is
a. regional anesthesia.
b. specific anesthesia.
c. optional sedation.
d. conscious sedation. ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: D
2|Page
,Conscious sedation is routinely used for procedures that do not require complete anesthesia
but rather a depressed level of consciousness.
REF: Page 1276
TOP: Conscious sedation
QUESTION: The older adult patient may not respond to surgical treatment as well as a
younger adult because of
a. poor skin turgor resulting in dehydration.
b. disturbed body image related to surgical incision.
c. his or her body's response to physiological changes.
d. decreased peristalsis related to general anesthesia. ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: C
Of specific concern in older adults is the body's response to temperature changes,
cardiovascular shifts, respiratory needs, and renal function.
REF: Page 1256
TOP: Older adult patient
QUESTION: A 45-year-old patient has had a repair of a cerebral aneurysm and is presenting
signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Which postoperative nursing interventions
would be contraindicated?
a. Coughing every 2 hours
b. Leg exercises every 2 hours
c. Monitoring intravenous therapy at 50 ml/hr
d. Assessing vital signs every 2 hours ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: A
Coughing increases ICP.
REF: Page 1268, Box 42-6 TOP: Postoperative complications
3|Page
, QUESTION: A male patient, age 80, has had a total hip replacement. Anxiety, hypotension,
and jarring during transfer from the recovery room to his room can cause a postoperative
increase in which of his vital signs?
a. Pulse rate
b. Temperature
c. Blood pressure
d. Pain ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: A
An increase in pulse rate is an objective, detectable sign that the body is responding to
"pain." Other objective changes include a decrease in blood pressure in the immediate
postoperative period, restlessness, diaphoresis, and pallor.
REF: Page 1284, Box 42-8 TOP: Postoperative complications
QUESTION: A patient, age 65, underwent a right hemicolectomy. On postoperative day 4,
her surgical wound dehisced. This means that
a. there is partial or complete wound separation.
b. there has been inadequate wound closure.
c. abdominal viscera protrude through the walls.
d. the wound will not heal well when it is resutured. ✓✓Correct Answer: ANS: A
A surgical incision may separate; this action of dehiscence (the separation of a surgical
incision or rupture of a wound closure) may occur within 3 days to over 2 weeks
postoperatively.
REF: Page 1284, Figure 42-15 TOP: Postoperative complications
QUESTION: Frequent monitoring of the postoperative patient's vital signs assesses which
body system?
a. Gastrointestinal
b. Endocrine
c. Neurological
4|Page
