Relias PACU RN A volume 1:2025 well
resolved for a pass
What set of findings indicates a patient is likely to be ready for phase 1 discharge? -
ANSWERS***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? -
ANSWERS0.25 mililiters
Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the
catheter. What should you do? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***C) Obtain the consent from medical POA
What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc, succinylcholine)? -
ANSWERSC) Decreased respiratory effort
What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia? -
ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? -
ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERSC) PO ketorolac
What is a physiologic effect related to unrelieved pain? - ANSWERS***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? -
ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERSB) 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? - ANSWERS***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? -
ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERSD) Insert an oral
airway
Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? -
ANSWERS***A) Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line
A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial assessment is
MOST important? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERSB) The patient who is
alert but disoriented to time
resolved for a pass
What set of findings indicates a patient is likely to be ready for phase 1 discharge? -
ANSWERS***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? -
ANSWERS0.25 mililiters
Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the
catheter. What should you do? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***C) Obtain the consent from medical POA
What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc, succinylcholine)? -
ANSWERSC) Decreased respiratory effort
What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia? -
ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERS***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? -
ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERSC) PO ketorolac
What is a physiologic effect related to unrelieved pain? - ANSWERS***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? -
ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERSB) 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? - ANSWERS***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? -
ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERSD) Insert an oral
airway
Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? -
ANSWERS***A) Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line
A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial assessment is
MOST important? - ANSWERS***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? - ANSWERSB) The patient who is
alert but disoriented to time
