PCC Exam 1 Questions, 2026 – Law & Ethics Study and
Practice Material
An overweight patient (BMI 28.1 kg/m2) is scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy at an
outpatient surgery setting. The nurse knows that
a. surgery will involve multiple small incisions.
b. this setting is not appropriate for this procedure.
c. surgery will involve removing a portion of the liver.
d. the patient will need special preparation because of obesity. - correct answer ✔✔ a
The patient tells the nurse in the preoperative setting that she has noticed she has a reaction
when wearing rubber gloves. What is the most appropriate intervention?
a. Notify the surgeon so the case can be cancelled.
b. Ask additional questions to assess for a possible latex allergy.
c. Notify the OR staff immediately so that latex-free supplies can be used.
d. No intervention is needed because the patient's rubber sensitivity has no bearing on surgery.
- correct answer ✔✔ b
,A 59-year-old man is scheduled for a herniorrhaphy in 2 days. During the preoperative
evaluation he reports that he takes ginkgo daily. What is the priority intervention?
a. Inform the surgeon, since the procedure may need to be rescheduled.
b. Notify the anesthesia care provider, since this herb interferes with anesthetics.
c. Ask the patient if he has noticed any side effects from taking this herbal supplement.
d. Tell the patient to continue to take the herbal supplement up to the day before surgery. -
correct answer ✔✔ a
A 17-year-old patient with a leg fracture is scheduled for surgery. She reports that she is living
with a friend and is an emancipated minor. She has a statement from the court for verification.
Which intervention is most appropriate?
a. Witness the permit after consent is obtained by the surgeon.
b. Call a parent or legal guardian to sign the permit, since the patient is under 18.
c. Obtain verbal consent, since written consent is not necessary for emancipated minors.
d. Investigate your state's nurse practice act related to emancipated minors and informed
consent. - correct answer ✔✔ a
A priority nursing intervention to assist a preoperative patient in coping with fear of
postoperative pain would be to
,a. inform the patient that pain medication will be available.
b. teach the patient to use guided imagery to help manage pain.
c. describe the type of pain expected with the patient's particular surgery.
d. explain the pain management plan, including the use of a pain rating scale. - correct answer
✔✔ d
A patient is scheduled for surgery requiring general anesthesia at an ambulatory surgical center.
The nurse asks him when he ate last. He replies that he had a light breakfast a couple of hours
before coming to the surgery center. What should the nurse do first?
a. Tell the patient to come back tomorrow, since he ate a meal.
b. Proceed with the preoperative checklist, including site identification.
c. Notify the anesthesia care provider of when and what the patient last ate.
d. Have the patient void before administering any preoperative medications. - correct answer
✔✔ c
A patient who normally takes 40 units of glargine insulin (long acting) at bedtime asks the nurse
what to do about her dose the night before surgery. The best response would be to have her
a. skip her insulin altogether the night before surgery.
b. take her usual dose at bedtime and eat a light breakfast in the morning.
, c. eat a moderate meal before bedtime and then take half her usual insulin dose.
d. get instructions from her surgeon or health care provider on any insulin adjustments. -
correct answer ✔✔ d
Preoperative considerations for older adults include (select all that apply)
a. only using large-print educational materials.
b. speaking louder for patients with hearing aids.
c. recognizing that sensory deficits may be present.
d. providing warm blankets to prevent hypothermia.
e. teaching important information early in the morning. - correct answer ✔✔ c,d
Five minutes after receiving a preoperative sedative medication by IV injection, a patient asks to
get up to go to the bathroom to urinate. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to
take?
A. Offer the patient to use the urinal/bedpan after explaining the need to maintain safety.
B. Assist the patient to the bathroom and stay next to the door to assist patient back to bed
when done.
Practice Material
An overweight patient (BMI 28.1 kg/m2) is scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy at an
outpatient surgery setting. The nurse knows that
a. surgery will involve multiple small incisions.
b. this setting is not appropriate for this procedure.
c. surgery will involve removing a portion of the liver.
d. the patient will need special preparation because of obesity. - correct answer ✔✔ a
The patient tells the nurse in the preoperative setting that she has noticed she has a reaction
when wearing rubber gloves. What is the most appropriate intervention?
a. Notify the surgeon so the case can be cancelled.
b. Ask additional questions to assess for a possible latex allergy.
c. Notify the OR staff immediately so that latex-free supplies can be used.
d. No intervention is needed because the patient's rubber sensitivity has no bearing on surgery.
- correct answer ✔✔ b
,A 59-year-old man is scheduled for a herniorrhaphy in 2 days. During the preoperative
evaluation he reports that he takes ginkgo daily. What is the priority intervention?
a. Inform the surgeon, since the procedure may need to be rescheduled.
b. Notify the anesthesia care provider, since this herb interferes with anesthetics.
c. Ask the patient if he has noticed any side effects from taking this herbal supplement.
d. Tell the patient to continue to take the herbal supplement up to the day before surgery. -
correct answer ✔✔ a
A 17-year-old patient with a leg fracture is scheduled for surgery. She reports that she is living
with a friend and is an emancipated minor. She has a statement from the court for verification.
Which intervention is most appropriate?
a. Witness the permit after consent is obtained by the surgeon.
b. Call a parent or legal guardian to sign the permit, since the patient is under 18.
c. Obtain verbal consent, since written consent is not necessary for emancipated minors.
d. Investigate your state's nurse practice act related to emancipated minors and informed
consent. - correct answer ✔✔ a
A priority nursing intervention to assist a preoperative patient in coping with fear of
postoperative pain would be to
,a. inform the patient that pain medication will be available.
b. teach the patient to use guided imagery to help manage pain.
c. describe the type of pain expected with the patient's particular surgery.
d. explain the pain management plan, including the use of a pain rating scale. - correct answer
✔✔ d
A patient is scheduled for surgery requiring general anesthesia at an ambulatory surgical center.
The nurse asks him when he ate last. He replies that he had a light breakfast a couple of hours
before coming to the surgery center. What should the nurse do first?
a. Tell the patient to come back tomorrow, since he ate a meal.
b. Proceed with the preoperative checklist, including site identification.
c. Notify the anesthesia care provider of when and what the patient last ate.
d. Have the patient void before administering any preoperative medications. - correct answer
✔✔ c
A patient who normally takes 40 units of glargine insulin (long acting) at bedtime asks the nurse
what to do about her dose the night before surgery. The best response would be to have her
a. skip her insulin altogether the night before surgery.
b. take her usual dose at bedtime and eat a light breakfast in the morning.
, c. eat a moderate meal before bedtime and then take half her usual insulin dose.
d. get instructions from her surgeon or health care provider on any insulin adjustments. -
correct answer ✔✔ d
Preoperative considerations for older adults include (select all that apply)
a. only using large-print educational materials.
b. speaking louder for patients with hearing aids.
c. recognizing that sensory deficits may be present.
d. providing warm blankets to prevent hypothermia.
e. teaching important information early in the morning. - correct answer ✔✔ c,d
Five minutes after receiving a preoperative sedative medication by IV injection, a patient asks to
get up to go to the bathroom to urinate. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to
take?
A. Offer the patient to use the urinal/bedpan after explaining the need to maintain safety.
B. Assist the patient to the bathroom and stay next to the door to assist patient back to bed
when done.
