Comprehensive Nursing Exam: Perioperative and
Postoperative Care Questions with ANSWERs and
Rationales 2026
Question 1: A patient is scheduled for surgery and has a history of malignant hyperthermia. Which
preoperative intervention is most important for this patient?
A) Administer dantrolene sodium as prescribed
B) Place the patient on seizure precautions
C) Ensure the patient receives beta-blockers
D) Provide Parkinson's medications preoperatively
ANSWER: A
Rationale:
Option A (Correct): Dantrolene sodium is the specific treatment for malignant hyperthermia and should
be given preoperatively to patients with a history or family history of this condition. It works by
inhibiting calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle cells, preventing the
hypermetabolic state characteristic of malignant hyperthermia.
Option B (Incorrect): While seizure precautions may be necessary for some patients, they are not the
priority intervention for malignant hyperthermia prevention.
Option C (Incorrect): Beta-blockers are not directly related to malignant hyperthermia management and
are used for other cardiac conditions.
,Option D (Incorrect): Parkinson's medications are not indicated for malignant hyperthermia prevention
and would not address the underlying pathophysiology.
Question 2: The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a postoperative patient. When should discharge
teaching begin?
A) On the day of discharge
B) After the patient is fully recovered from anesthesia
C) At the time of admission
D) When the family members are present
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Beginning teaching on discharge day does not allow sufficient time for the patient
to process information or ask questions about complex care instructions.
Option B (Incorrect): Waiting until the patient is fully recovered from anesthesia delays important
teaching and may result in missed opportunities for reinforcement.
Option C (Correct): Discharge teaching begins at admission to allow for continuous reinforcement
throughout the hospitalization. This approach ensures the patient and family have adequate time to
learn and understand necessary information.
Option D (Incorrect): While family presence is valuable, waiting for them may delay essential teaching
that should begin immediately.
Question 3: A patient undergoing conscious sedation begins to lose responsiveness to verbal stimuli.
What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Increase the sedation medication
,B) Assess the patient's airway and vital signs
C) Prepare for emergency intubation
D) Document the finding and continue monitoring
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Increasing sedation would further depress the patient's level of consciousness and
could compromise respiratory function.
Option B (Correct): The priority action is to assess the airway and vital signs to ensure the patient
remains stable. Maintaining airway patency and adequate ventilation is crucial during conscious
sedation.
Option C (Incorrect): Preparation for intubation may be necessary if the airway becomes compromised,
but this is not the immediate priority.
Option D (Incorrect): Documentation is important but should not delay assessment and intervention for
potential respiratory depression.
Question 4: A patient has just undergone a spinal tap. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate
for the immediate post-procedure period?
A) Position the patient flat
B) Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
C) Encourage the patient to ambulate
D) Place the patient in a high Fowler's position
ANSWER: A
, Rationale:
Option A (Correct): The patient should be placed flat after a spinal tap to reduce the risk of spinal
headache. This position helps maintain cerebrospinal fluid pressure and prevents leakage from the
puncture site.
Option B (Incorrect): Elevating the head of bed increases the risk of spinal headache by allowing
cerebrospinal fluid to leak through the dural puncture site.
Option C (Incorrect): Ambulation after a spinal tap would increase the risk of headache and should be
avoided initially.
Option D (Incorrect): High Fowler's position would significantly increase the risk of post-dural puncture
headache.
Question 5: The nurse is preparing a sterile field for a wound packing procedure. The nurse drops a
sterile gauze on the floor. What should the nurse do?
A) Pick up the gauze immediately and continue using it
B) Wipe the gauze with alcohol and continue
C) Start over with new sterile supplies
D) Cover the gauze with sterile gloves and use it
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Using a contaminated gauze would introduce microorganisms into the wound,
increasing infection risk.
Option B (Incorrect): Alcohol wipes are not sufficient to sterilize a gauze that has touched the floor;
sterilization requires specific processes.
Postoperative Care Questions with ANSWERs and
Rationales 2026
Question 1: A patient is scheduled for surgery and has a history of malignant hyperthermia. Which
preoperative intervention is most important for this patient?
A) Administer dantrolene sodium as prescribed
B) Place the patient on seizure precautions
C) Ensure the patient receives beta-blockers
D) Provide Parkinson's medications preoperatively
ANSWER: A
Rationale:
Option A (Correct): Dantrolene sodium is the specific treatment for malignant hyperthermia and should
be given preoperatively to patients with a history or family history of this condition. It works by
inhibiting calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle cells, preventing the
hypermetabolic state characteristic of malignant hyperthermia.
Option B (Incorrect): While seizure precautions may be necessary for some patients, they are not the
priority intervention for malignant hyperthermia prevention.
Option C (Incorrect): Beta-blockers are not directly related to malignant hyperthermia management and
are used for other cardiac conditions.
,Option D (Incorrect): Parkinson's medications are not indicated for malignant hyperthermia prevention
and would not address the underlying pathophysiology.
Question 2: The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a postoperative patient. When should discharge
teaching begin?
A) On the day of discharge
B) After the patient is fully recovered from anesthesia
C) At the time of admission
D) When the family members are present
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Beginning teaching on discharge day does not allow sufficient time for the patient
to process information or ask questions about complex care instructions.
Option B (Incorrect): Waiting until the patient is fully recovered from anesthesia delays important
teaching and may result in missed opportunities for reinforcement.
Option C (Correct): Discharge teaching begins at admission to allow for continuous reinforcement
throughout the hospitalization. This approach ensures the patient and family have adequate time to
learn and understand necessary information.
Option D (Incorrect): While family presence is valuable, waiting for them may delay essential teaching
that should begin immediately.
Question 3: A patient undergoing conscious sedation begins to lose responsiveness to verbal stimuli.
What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Increase the sedation medication
,B) Assess the patient's airway and vital signs
C) Prepare for emergency intubation
D) Document the finding and continue monitoring
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Increasing sedation would further depress the patient's level of consciousness and
could compromise respiratory function.
Option B (Correct): The priority action is to assess the airway and vital signs to ensure the patient
remains stable. Maintaining airway patency and adequate ventilation is crucial during conscious
sedation.
Option C (Incorrect): Preparation for intubation may be necessary if the airway becomes compromised,
but this is not the immediate priority.
Option D (Incorrect): Documentation is important but should not delay assessment and intervention for
potential respiratory depression.
Question 4: A patient has just undergone a spinal tap. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate
for the immediate post-procedure period?
A) Position the patient flat
B) Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
C) Encourage the patient to ambulate
D) Place the patient in a high Fowler's position
ANSWER: A
, Rationale:
Option A (Correct): The patient should be placed flat after a spinal tap to reduce the risk of spinal
headache. This position helps maintain cerebrospinal fluid pressure and prevents leakage from the
puncture site.
Option B (Incorrect): Elevating the head of bed increases the risk of spinal headache by allowing
cerebrospinal fluid to leak through the dural puncture site.
Option C (Incorrect): Ambulation after a spinal tap would increase the risk of headache and should be
avoided initially.
Option D (Incorrect): High Fowler's position would significantly increase the risk of post-dural puncture
headache.
Question 5: The nurse is preparing a sterile field for a wound packing procedure. The nurse drops a
sterile gauze on the floor. What should the nurse do?
A) Pick up the gauze immediately and continue using it
B) Wipe the gauze with alcohol and continue
C) Start over with new sterile supplies
D) Cover the gauze with sterile gloves and use it
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Option A (Incorrect): Using a contaminated gauze would introduce microorganisms into the wound,
increasing infection risk.
Option B (Incorrect): Alcohol wipes are not sufficient to sterilize a gauze that has touched the floor;
sterilization requires specific processes.
