"2025 Relias PACU RN A V1 Exam | Comprehensive 5-
in-1 Prep: Study Guide, Practice Questions,
Certification Tips, Review Sheets, and Exam
Readiness"
What set of findings indicates a patient is likely to be ready for phase 1
discharge? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer 0.25 mililiters
Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the
catheter. What should you do? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer
***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? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer ***C)
Obtain the consent from medical POA
What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc,
succinylcholine)? - Precise Answer C) Decreased respiratory
effort
What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia? -
Precise Answer ***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? - Precise
Answer ***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? - Precise Answer ***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?
- Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer
C) PO ketorolac
,What is a physiologic effect related to unrelieved pain? - Precise Answer
***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? - Precise 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? - Precise Answer 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? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer
D) Insert an oral airway
Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? -
Precise Answer ***A) Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line
A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial
assessment is MOST important? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise
Answer 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? - Precise Answer
***B) End Stage Renal Disease
While assessing your post-op patient with a new dialysis graft, what should the
PACU nurse monitor to evaluate the functionality of the graft? - Precise
Answer ***D) A palpable thrill and audible bruit
You are taking care of a 300lb male status post abdominal surgery, and he requests
to be repositioned. He is currently on a hover mat. What is the BEST way to achieve
this? - Precise Answer ***C) Wait for additional assistance
before moving the patient
What is an example of Phase 1 discharge criteria? - Precise Answer
***C) The patient can maintain their airway
You were called in at 2am and did not leave the hospital until 4am. However, your
regular shift starts at 7am, and you are extremely tired. What is the appropriate
action? - Precise Answer D) Call your manager and ask for the
unit protocol
You are caring for a patient in Phase 1 recovery and they appear ready to transfer
except that their blood pressure continues to stay 50mmHg above their pre-
anesthetic SBP. At home the patient takes a diuretic and beta-blocker for
hypertension. What should you do? - Precise Answer D) Contact
the anesthesia provider
You receive a patient to Phase I recovery from IR status post cerebral aneurysm
clipping. Which assessment is most important for you to perform? - Precise
Answer ***B) Pupil response, facial and extremity movement
in-1 Prep: Study Guide, Practice Questions,
Certification Tips, Review Sheets, and Exam
Readiness"
What set of findings indicates a patient is likely to be ready for phase 1
discharge? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer 0.25 mililiters
Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the
catheter. What should you do? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer
***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? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer ***C)
Obtain the consent from medical POA
What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc,
succinylcholine)? - Precise Answer C) Decreased respiratory
effort
What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia? -
Precise Answer ***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? - Precise
Answer ***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? - Precise Answer ***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?
- Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer
C) PO ketorolac
,What is a physiologic effect related to unrelieved pain? - Precise Answer
***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? - Precise 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? - Precise Answer 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? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise Answer
D) Insert an oral airway
Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? -
Precise Answer ***A) Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line
A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial
assessment is MOST important? - Precise Answer ***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? - Precise
Answer 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? - Precise Answer
***B) End Stage Renal Disease
While assessing your post-op patient with a new dialysis graft, what should the
PACU nurse monitor to evaluate the functionality of the graft? - Precise
Answer ***D) A palpable thrill and audible bruit
You are taking care of a 300lb male status post abdominal surgery, and he requests
to be repositioned. He is currently on a hover mat. What is the BEST way to achieve
this? - Precise Answer ***C) Wait for additional assistance
before moving the patient
What is an example of Phase 1 discharge criteria? - Precise Answer
***C) The patient can maintain their airway
You were called in at 2am and did not leave the hospital until 4am. However, your
regular shift starts at 7am, and you are extremely tired. What is the appropriate
action? - Precise Answer D) Call your manager and ask for the
unit protocol
You are caring for a patient in Phase 1 recovery and they appear ready to transfer
except that their blood pressure continues to stay 50mmHg above their pre-
anesthetic SBP. At home the patient takes a diuretic and beta-blocker for
hypertension. What should you do? - Precise Answer D) Contact
the anesthesia provider
You receive a patient to Phase I recovery from IR status post cerebral aneurysm
clipping. Which assessment is most important for you to perform? - Precise
Answer ***B) Pupil response, facial and extremity movement
