NUR 172 Final Exam Questions And Correct Verified Answers New Updated Version 2026 Graded A+
when are preoperative diagnostics performed? - answer-before admission to the hospital
Why are deep breathing & coughing exercises or incentive spirometry important postoperatively? -answer-to
prevent pneumonia
what three types of drugs are administered preoperatively? - answer--antibiotics
-antiemetics
-antianxiety
true or false: diabetics have increased risk for infections and complications after surgery - answer-true
postoperative phases - answer-begins with completion of surgical procedure and transfer to PACU or ICU
phase I- immediately after surgery, PACU or ICU
phase II- day surgery recovery, to the floor, or sometimes still in the PACU (1-2 hours, until baseline vitals are
stable)
phase III- med-surg unit, home, SNF, home health
how often should you assess lungs after surgery? - answer-every four hours (or more PRN)
what intervention should be implemented for a minor drop in oxygen saturation? - answer-have patient take a deep
breath
when assessing cardiovascular system after surgery, what are we looking for in regards to blood pressure and how
long should the patient have their antiembolism device(s) on? - answer-BP should not change by more than 25% of
baseline
antiembolism device(s) should stay on for at least 24 hr
, what are we looking for when assessing the neurologic system after surgery? - answer--cerebral function
and level of consciousness
-orientation to person, place and time
-motor and sensory function
what do you do if someone vomits after surgery? - answer-auscultate the lungs
when are bowel sounds nonexistent/absent after surgery? - answer-after abdomen surgery
true or false: you do not need to modify fluid, fiber, or laxative intake after surgery - answer-false,
increase fluids, fiber, and/or laxatives after surgery
what do we do to treat paralytic ileus (adverse reaction after surgery)? - answer-NG tube and enemas
what is the main concern regarding the urinary system after surgery? - answer-urine retention (report
urine output of <30 mL/hr)
When is impaired wound healing most commonly seen? - answer-Between 5th and 10th days after
surgery
Bursting open of a wound, especially a surgical abdominal wound - answer-dehiscence
The displacement of organs outside of the body. - answer-evisceration
what does the nurse do when evisceration happens? - answer-call RRT, cover with normal saline and
gauze (do not push back in)
what populations are at risk for evisceration? - answer-diabetics, obese people, people with certain
autoimmune disorders, malnutrition
,To advocate for safe transition in care, for which process will the nurse advocate? Select all that apply.
A.Providing patient history and current assessment information
B.Communicating updates and changes in condition
C.Verbally verifying that the receiving nurse understands the report
D.Using a standardized hand-off communication tool
E.Encouraging the receiving nurse to interrupt to ask questions during report - answer-A.Providing patient
history and current assessment information
B.Communicating updates and changes in condition
C.Verbally verifying that the receiving nurse understands the report
D.Using astandardized hand-off communication tool
As the nurse evaluates a laboratory report for a client scheduled for surgery, which finding requires nursing
intervention?
A. Hemoglobin 10.4 g/dL
B. Serum potassium 2.5 mEq/L
C. Serum sodium level 145 mEq/L
D. Fasting blood glucose 110 mg/dL - answer-B. Serum potassium 2.5 mEq/L
normal serum potassium levels - answer-3.5-5 mEq/L
While applying compression stockings and pneumatic compression devices, a client questions the purpose of
these devices. What is the appropriate nursing response?
a. "These will help to prevent blood clots"
b. "They make your legs feel more comfortable"
c. "These prevent skin breakdown from immobility"
d. "The use of these right after surgery makes it easier to start to ambulate" - answer-a. "These will help to prevent
blood clots"
The surgery for a client scheduled for an 8:00 a.m. procedure is delayed until 11:00 a.m. What is the appropriate
nursing action regarding administration of preoperative prophylactic antibiotic?
, A. Administer at 8:00 a.m. as originally prescribed.
B. Adjust the administration time to be given at 10:00a.m.
C. Do not administer, as preoperative prophylactic antibiotics are optional.
D. Hold the antibiotic until immediately following surgery, and then administer. - answer-B. Adjust the
administration time to be given at 10:00 a.m.
The nurse is caring for a client who is to undergo surgery at 6:00 a.m. today. Which assessment data will the nurse
communicate immediately to the surgeon and anesthesia provider? (SATA)
a. blood pressure 130/72 mm Hg
b. serum potassium 3.5 mEq/L
c. diffuse rash on upper torso
d. took 650 mg of aspirin yesterday
e. has not had food or water since 9:00 p.m. last night - answer-c. diffuse rash on upper torso
d. took 650 mg of aspirin yesterday
The nurse has prepared a client for transport from the medical-surgical unit to surgery. Which client statement
will the nurse respond to as the priority?
a. "When I eat shrimp, my tongue swells and I have trouble breathing"
b. "I'm feeling more anxious about my surgery than I thought I would be"
c. "I'm not sure what I will do if insurance doesn't cover this expensive hip replacement"
d."My sister had anesthesia a few months ago and she said she didn't like the way she felt" - answer-a."When I eat
shrimp, my tongue swells and I have trouble breathing"
The nurse is caring for a client who has been readmitted to the medical-surgical unit following surgery for a hernia
repair completed under general anesthesia. What is the priority nursing assessment?
a. perform thorough auscultation of the lungs
b. assess response to pinprick stimmulation from feet to mid-chest level
c. determine level of consciousness and response to environmental stimuli
d. compare blood pressure findings from preoperative assessment to the present - answer-a. perform thorough
auscultation of the lungs
when are preoperative diagnostics performed? - answer-before admission to the hospital
Why are deep breathing & coughing exercises or incentive spirometry important postoperatively? -answer-to
prevent pneumonia
what three types of drugs are administered preoperatively? - answer--antibiotics
-antiemetics
-antianxiety
true or false: diabetics have increased risk for infections and complications after surgery - answer-true
postoperative phases - answer-begins with completion of surgical procedure and transfer to PACU or ICU
phase I- immediately after surgery, PACU or ICU
phase II- day surgery recovery, to the floor, or sometimes still in the PACU (1-2 hours, until baseline vitals are
stable)
phase III- med-surg unit, home, SNF, home health
how often should you assess lungs after surgery? - answer-every four hours (or more PRN)
what intervention should be implemented for a minor drop in oxygen saturation? - answer-have patient take a deep
breath
when assessing cardiovascular system after surgery, what are we looking for in regards to blood pressure and how
long should the patient have their antiembolism device(s) on? - answer-BP should not change by more than 25% of
baseline
antiembolism device(s) should stay on for at least 24 hr
, what are we looking for when assessing the neurologic system after surgery? - answer--cerebral function
and level of consciousness
-orientation to person, place and time
-motor and sensory function
what do you do if someone vomits after surgery? - answer-auscultate the lungs
when are bowel sounds nonexistent/absent after surgery? - answer-after abdomen surgery
true or false: you do not need to modify fluid, fiber, or laxative intake after surgery - answer-false,
increase fluids, fiber, and/or laxatives after surgery
what do we do to treat paralytic ileus (adverse reaction after surgery)? - answer-NG tube and enemas
what is the main concern regarding the urinary system after surgery? - answer-urine retention (report
urine output of <30 mL/hr)
When is impaired wound healing most commonly seen? - answer-Between 5th and 10th days after
surgery
Bursting open of a wound, especially a surgical abdominal wound - answer-dehiscence
The displacement of organs outside of the body. - answer-evisceration
what does the nurse do when evisceration happens? - answer-call RRT, cover with normal saline and
gauze (do not push back in)
what populations are at risk for evisceration? - answer-diabetics, obese people, people with certain
autoimmune disorders, malnutrition
,To advocate for safe transition in care, for which process will the nurse advocate? Select all that apply.
A.Providing patient history and current assessment information
B.Communicating updates and changes in condition
C.Verbally verifying that the receiving nurse understands the report
D.Using a standardized hand-off communication tool
E.Encouraging the receiving nurse to interrupt to ask questions during report - answer-A.Providing patient
history and current assessment information
B.Communicating updates and changes in condition
C.Verbally verifying that the receiving nurse understands the report
D.Using astandardized hand-off communication tool
As the nurse evaluates a laboratory report for a client scheduled for surgery, which finding requires nursing
intervention?
A. Hemoglobin 10.4 g/dL
B. Serum potassium 2.5 mEq/L
C. Serum sodium level 145 mEq/L
D. Fasting blood glucose 110 mg/dL - answer-B. Serum potassium 2.5 mEq/L
normal serum potassium levels - answer-3.5-5 mEq/L
While applying compression stockings and pneumatic compression devices, a client questions the purpose of
these devices. What is the appropriate nursing response?
a. "These will help to prevent blood clots"
b. "They make your legs feel more comfortable"
c. "These prevent skin breakdown from immobility"
d. "The use of these right after surgery makes it easier to start to ambulate" - answer-a. "These will help to prevent
blood clots"
The surgery for a client scheduled for an 8:00 a.m. procedure is delayed until 11:00 a.m. What is the appropriate
nursing action regarding administration of preoperative prophylactic antibiotic?
, A. Administer at 8:00 a.m. as originally prescribed.
B. Adjust the administration time to be given at 10:00a.m.
C. Do not administer, as preoperative prophylactic antibiotics are optional.
D. Hold the antibiotic until immediately following surgery, and then administer. - answer-B. Adjust the
administration time to be given at 10:00 a.m.
The nurse is caring for a client who is to undergo surgery at 6:00 a.m. today. Which assessment data will the nurse
communicate immediately to the surgeon and anesthesia provider? (SATA)
a. blood pressure 130/72 mm Hg
b. serum potassium 3.5 mEq/L
c. diffuse rash on upper torso
d. took 650 mg of aspirin yesterday
e. has not had food or water since 9:00 p.m. last night - answer-c. diffuse rash on upper torso
d. took 650 mg of aspirin yesterday
The nurse has prepared a client for transport from the medical-surgical unit to surgery. Which client statement
will the nurse respond to as the priority?
a. "When I eat shrimp, my tongue swells and I have trouble breathing"
b. "I'm feeling more anxious about my surgery than I thought I would be"
c. "I'm not sure what I will do if insurance doesn't cover this expensive hip replacement"
d."My sister had anesthesia a few months ago and she said she didn't like the way she felt" - answer-a."When I eat
shrimp, my tongue swells and I have trouble breathing"
The nurse is caring for a client who has been readmitted to the medical-surgical unit following surgery for a hernia
repair completed under general anesthesia. What is the priority nursing assessment?
a. perform thorough auscultation of the lungs
b. assess response to pinprick stimmulation from feet to mid-chest level
c. determine level of consciousness and response to environmental stimuli
d. compare blood pressure findings from preoperative assessment to the present - answer-a. perform thorough
auscultation of the lungs
