Perioperative Nursing (Test Bank)
ANS: C
Perioperative nursing care occurs before, during, and after surgery. Preadmission
testing occurs before surgery and is considered preoperative. Nursing care provided
during the surgical procedure is considered intraoperative, and in the postanesthesia
care unit, it is considered postoperative. All of these are parts of the perioperative
phase, but each individual phase does not explain the term completely. - ANS 1. The
nurse is caring for a surgical patient, when the family member asks what perioperative
nursing means. How should the nurse respond?
a. Perioperative nursing occurs in preadmission testing.
b. Perioperative nursing occurs primarily in the post-anesthesia care unit.
c. Perioperative nursing includes activities before, during, and after surgery.
d. Perioperative nursing includes activities only during the surgical procedure.
ANS: B
Reviewing the patient's laboratory tests and allergies is done before surgery in the
preoperative phase. Perioperative means before, during, and after surgery.
Intraoperative means during the surgical procedure in the operating suite; postoperative
means after the surgery and could occur in the postanesthesia care unit, in the
ambulatory surgical area, or on the hospital unit. - ANS 2. The nurse is caring for a
patient who is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure. The nurse is completing an
assessment and reviews the patient's laboratory tests and allergies and prepares the
patient for surgery. In which perioperative nursing phase is the nurse working?
a. Perioperative
b. Preoperative
c. Intraoperative
d. Postoperative
ANS: D
An emergency procedure must be done immediately to save a life or preserve the
function of a body part. An example would be repair of a perforated appendix, repair of
a traumatic amputation, or control of internal hemorrhaging. An urgent procedure is
necessary for a patient's health and often prevents additional problems from developing.
An example would be excision of a cancerous tumor, removal of a gallbladder for
,stones, or vascular repair for an obstructed artery. An elective procedure is performed
on the basis of the patient's choice; it is not essential and is not always necessary for
health. An example would be a bunionectomy, plastic surgery, or hernia reconstruction.
A major procedure involves extensive reconstruction or alteration in body parts; it poses
great risks to well-being. An example would be a coronary artery bypass or colon
resection. - ANS 3. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit.
The patient has developed profuse bleeding from the surgical site, and the surgeon has
determined the need to return to the operative area. How will the nurse classify this
procedure?
a. Major
b. Urgent
c. Elective
d. Emergency
ANS: C
An ASA III rating is a patient with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly controlled
hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy patient with no
major illnesses or conditions. ASA II is a patient with mild systemic disease. ASA V is a
moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation and includes
patients with ruptured abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or massive trauma. - ANS 4. The
nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The patient has been assigned a
physical status classification by the American Society of Anesthesiologists of ASA III.
Which assessment will support this classification?
a. Normal, healthy patient
b. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions
c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker
d. Moribund patient not expected to survive without the operation
ANS: B
Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) is used routinely for procedures that do not
require complete anesthesia but rather a depressed level of consciousness. Not all
patients who are treated on an outpatient basis receive moderate sedation. Regional
anesthesia such as local anesthesia provides loss of sensation in an area of the body.
General anesthesia is used for patients who need to be immobile and to not remember
the surgical procedure. - ANS 5. The patient has presented to the ambulatory surgery
center to have a colonoscopy. The patient is scheduled to receive moderate sedation
(conscious sedation) during the procedure. How will the nurse interpret this information?
, a. The procedure results in loss of sensation in an area of the body.
b. The procedure requires a depressed level of consciousness.
c. The procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis.
d. The procedure necessitates the patient to be immobile.
ANS: A
Induction of regional anesthesia results in loss of sensation in an area of the body—in
this case, the left leg. The peripheral nerve block influences the portions of sensory
pathways that are anesthetized in the targeted area of the body. Decreased pulse, toes
cool to touch, and cyanosis are indications of decreased blood flow and are not
expected findings. Reports of pain in the left foot may indicate that the block is not
working or is subsiding and is not an expected finding in the immediate postoperative
period. - ANS 6. The nurse is caring for a patient in the post-anesthesia care unit who
has undergone a left total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia provider has indicated that
the patient received a left femoral peripheral nerve block. Which assessment will be an
expected finding for this patient?
a. Sensation decreased in the left leg
b. Patient report of pain in the left foot
c. Pulse decreased at the left posterior tibia
d. Left toes cool to touch and slightly cyanotic
ANS: B
The goal of the preoperative assessment is to identify a patient's normal preoperative
function and the presence of any risks to recognize, prevent, and minimize possible
postoperative complications. Gathering appropriate equipment, planning care, and
educating the patient and family are all important interventions that must be provided for
the surgical patient; they are part of the nursing process but are not the priority
reason/goal for completing an assessment of the surgical patient. - ANS 7. The nurse is
preparing a patient for surgery. Which goal is a priority for assessing the patient before
surgery?
a. Plan for care after the procedure.
b. Establish a patient's baseline of normal function.
c. Educate the patient and family about the procedure. d. Gather appropriate equipment
for the patient's needs.
ANS: A
Medications such as warfarin or aspirin alter normal clotting factors and thus increase
the risk of hemorrhaging. Discontinue at least 48 hours before surgery. Acetaminophen
ANS: C
Perioperative nursing care occurs before, during, and after surgery. Preadmission
testing occurs before surgery and is considered preoperative. Nursing care provided
during the surgical procedure is considered intraoperative, and in the postanesthesia
care unit, it is considered postoperative. All of these are parts of the perioperative
phase, but each individual phase does not explain the term completely. - ANS 1. The
nurse is caring for a surgical patient, when the family member asks what perioperative
nursing means. How should the nurse respond?
a. Perioperative nursing occurs in preadmission testing.
b. Perioperative nursing occurs primarily in the post-anesthesia care unit.
c. Perioperative nursing includes activities before, during, and after surgery.
d. Perioperative nursing includes activities only during the surgical procedure.
ANS: B
Reviewing the patient's laboratory tests and allergies is done before surgery in the
preoperative phase. Perioperative means before, during, and after surgery.
Intraoperative means during the surgical procedure in the operating suite; postoperative
means after the surgery and could occur in the postanesthesia care unit, in the
ambulatory surgical area, or on the hospital unit. - ANS 2. The nurse is caring for a
patient who is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure. The nurse is completing an
assessment and reviews the patient's laboratory tests and allergies and prepares the
patient for surgery. In which perioperative nursing phase is the nurse working?
a. Perioperative
b. Preoperative
c. Intraoperative
d. Postoperative
ANS: D
An emergency procedure must be done immediately to save a life or preserve the
function of a body part. An example would be repair of a perforated appendix, repair of
a traumatic amputation, or control of internal hemorrhaging. An urgent procedure is
necessary for a patient's health and often prevents additional problems from developing.
An example would be excision of a cancerous tumor, removal of a gallbladder for
,stones, or vascular repair for an obstructed artery. An elective procedure is performed
on the basis of the patient's choice; it is not essential and is not always necessary for
health. An example would be a bunionectomy, plastic surgery, or hernia reconstruction.
A major procedure involves extensive reconstruction or alteration in body parts; it poses
great risks to well-being. An example would be a coronary artery bypass or colon
resection. - ANS 3. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit.
The patient has developed profuse bleeding from the surgical site, and the surgeon has
determined the need to return to the operative area. How will the nurse classify this
procedure?
a. Major
b. Urgent
c. Elective
d. Emergency
ANS: C
An ASA III rating is a patient with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly controlled
hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy patient with no
major illnesses or conditions. ASA II is a patient with mild systemic disease. ASA V is a
moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation and includes
patients with ruptured abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or massive trauma. - ANS 4. The
nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The patient has been assigned a
physical status classification by the American Society of Anesthesiologists of ASA III.
Which assessment will support this classification?
a. Normal, healthy patient
b. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions
c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker
d. Moribund patient not expected to survive without the operation
ANS: B
Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) is used routinely for procedures that do not
require complete anesthesia but rather a depressed level of consciousness. Not all
patients who are treated on an outpatient basis receive moderate sedation. Regional
anesthesia such as local anesthesia provides loss of sensation in an area of the body.
General anesthesia is used for patients who need to be immobile and to not remember
the surgical procedure. - ANS 5. The patient has presented to the ambulatory surgery
center to have a colonoscopy. The patient is scheduled to receive moderate sedation
(conscious sedation) during the procedure. How will the nurse interpret this information?
, a. The procedure results in loss of sensation in an area of the body.
b. The procedure requires a depressed level of consciousness.
c. The procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis.
d. The procedure necessitates the patient to be immobile.
ANS: A
Induction of regional anesthesia results in loss of sensation in an area of the body—in
this case, the left leg. The peripheral nerve block influences the portions of sensory
pathways that are anesthetized in the targeted area of the body. Decreased pulse, toes
cool to touch, and cyanosis are indications of decreased blood flow and are not
expected findings. Reports of pain in the left foot may indicate that the block is not
working or is subsiding and is not an expected finding in the immediate postoperative
period. - ANS 6. The nurse is caring for a patient in the post-anesthesia care unit who
has undergone a left total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia provider has indicated that
the patient received a left femoral peripheral nerve block. Which assessment will be an
expected finding for this patient?
a. Sensation decreased in the left leg
b. Patient report of pain in the left foot
c. Pulse decreased at the left posterior tibia
d. Left toes cool to touch and slightly cyanotic
ANS: B
The goal of the preoperative assessment is to identify a patient's normal preoperative
function and the presence of any risks to recognize, prevent, and minimize possible
postoperative complications. Gathering appropriate equipment, planning care, and
educating the patient and family are all important interventions that must be provided for
the surgical patient; they are part of the nursing process but are not the priority
reason/goal for completing an assessment of the surgical patient. - ANS 7. The nurse is
preparing a patient for surgery. Which goal is a priority for assessing the patient before
surgery?
a. Plan for care after the procedure.
b. Establish a patient's baseline of normal function.
c. Educate the patient and family about the procedure. d. Gather appropriate equipment
for the patient's needs.
ANS: A
Medications such as warfarin or aspirin alter normal clotting factors and thus increase
the risk of hemorrhaging. Discontinue at least 48 hours before surgery. Acetaminophen
