Question 1: The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which of the following is the
most important purpose of the preoperative assessment?
A. To ensure the patient's insurance coverage is verified.
B. To identify potential risks and complications that could arise during or after surgery.
C. To complete the admission paperwork.
D. To assign the patient to a room.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To identify potential risks and complications that could
arise during or after surgery.
Rationale: The primary goal of the preoperative assessment is to gather baseline data,
identify risk factors, and ensure the patient is optimized for surgery.
Question 2: A patient is scheduled for surgery. The nurse is reviewing the patient's
medication list. Which medication should the nurse notify the surgeon about, as it may
increase the risk of bleeding?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Aspirin
C. Lisinopril
D. Metformin
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Aspirin.
Rationale: Aspirin is an antiplatelet agent that inhibits platelet aggregation and can
significantly increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.
Question 3: The nurse is performing a preoperative assessment. Which finding is most
important to report to the surgeon and anesthesiologist?
A. A history of seasonal allergies.
B. An allergy to latex.
C. A family history of diabetes.
D. A social history of occasional alcohol use.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. An allergy to latex.
Rationale: A latex allergy is a critical finding as it necessitates the use of latex-free
supplies in the operating room to prevent a potentially life-threatening anaphylactic
reaction.
,Question 4: The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. The patient states, "I am scared
I won't wake up from the anesthesia." What is the nurse's best response?
A. "There is nothing to worry about."
B. "Your surgeon is very skilled."
C. "It is normal to be anxious. Can you tell me more about what concerns you?"
D. "If you are that scared, we can cancel the surgery."
CORRECT ANSWER: C. "It is normal to be anxious. Can you tell me more about what
concerns you?"
Rationale: This response acknowledges the patient's feelings, validates their anxiety,
and opens a dialogue for further discussion and support.
Question 5: The nurse is ensuring that the patient has signed the informed consent
form. The nurse understands that informed consent must be obtained by:
A. The nurse.
B. The patient's family member.
C. The healthcare provider performing the procedure.
D. The hospital administrator.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The healthcare provider performing the procedure.
Rationale: The healthcare provider (surgeon) is legally responsible for obtaining
informed consent. The nurse's role is to witness the signature and ensure the patient
understands the information.
Question 6: A patient is NPO (nothing by mouth) for surgery. The patient asks for a glass
of water. Which response is most appropriate?
A. "I can give you a small sip of water."
B. "I will get you some ice chips."
C. "I cannot give you anything to eat or drink because it could cause complications
during surgery."
D. "You can have a clear liquid."
CORRECT ANSWER: C. "I cannot give you anything to eat or drink because it could
cause complications during surgery."
Rationale: It is essential to maintain NPO status to reduce the risk of aspiration of
gastric contents during anesthesia.
,Question 7: The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery and is administering
preoperative medications. Which medication is most commonly administered to
reduce anxiety and promote sedation?
A. Atropine
B. Midazolam
C. Ondansetron
D. Cefazolin
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Midazolam.
Rationale: Midazolam is a benzodiazepine used preoperatively for its anxiolytic,
amnestic, and sedative properties.
Question 8: The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. The patient is to receive a dose
of preoperative antibiotics. The nurse understands that the primary purpose of this is to:
A. Treat an existing infection.
B. Prevent a surgical site infection.
C. Provide pain relief.
D. Reduce anxiety.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Prevent a surgical site infection.
Rationale: Prophylactic antibiotics are often given within 60 minutes before the surgical
incision to reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs).
Question 9: The nurse is preparing the patient for transfer to the operating room. Which
of the following is the most important action to ensure patient safety?
A. Ensuring the patient has voided.
B. Verifying the patient's identity with two identifiers.
C. Administering a sedative.
D. Removing the patient's dentures.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Verifying the patient's identity with two identifiers.
Rationale: Patient identification is a critical safety step to ensure the correct procedure
is performed on the correct patient.
Question 10: The nurse is preparing the preoperative holding area. The room should be
kept at which temperature to prevent hypothermia?
, A. 65°F - 68°F
B. 68°F - 72°F
C. 72°F - 76°F
D. 76°F - 80°F
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 65°F - 68°F.
Rationale: The operating room is kept cool (approximately 65-68°F) to reduce bacterial
growth and for surgeon comfort, but the preoperative holding area should be warmer to
prevent patient hypothermia.
Question 11: A patient is being prepared for surgery and is wearing a religious medal.
The nurse should:
A. Remove the medal and place it in the patient's belongings.
B. Ask the patient if they would like to keep it, and if so, tape it to their skin.
C. Tell the patient they cannot wear it in the operating room.
D. Ignore the medal.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ask the patient if they would like to keep it, and if so, tape it
to their skin.
Rationale: The nurse should respect the patient's spiritual needs. If the patient wishes
to keep the medal, it can be taped securely to their skin to prevent loss or injury during
surgery.
Question 12: The circulating nurse is counting sponges, needles, and instruments with
the scrub nurse. The purpose of this count is to:
A. Ensure the patient is billed correctly.
B. Ensure no foreign objects are retained in the patient.
C. Keep track of the cost of supplies.
D. Document the length of the surgery.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ensure no foreign objects are retained in the patient.
Rationale: The surgical count is a critical safety measure to prevent retained surgical
items (RSIs).
Question 13: The nurse is assisting the surgical team with "time out." The time out is
performed:
most important purpose of the preoperative assessment?
A. To ensure the patient's insurance coverage is verified.
B. To identify potential risks and complications that could arise during or after surgery.
C. To complete the admission paperwork.
D. To assign the patient to a room.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To identify potential risks and complications that could
arise during or after surgery.
Rationale: The primary goal of the preoperative assessment is to gather baseline data,
identify risk factors, and ensure the patient is optimized for surgery.
Question 2: A patient is scheduled for surgery. The nurse is reviewing the patient's
medication list. Which medication should the nurse notify the surgeon about, as it may
increase the risk of bleeding?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Aspirin
C. Lisinopril
D. Metformin
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Aspirin.
Rationale: Aspirin is an antiplatelet agent that inhibits platelet aggregation and can
significantly increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.
Question 3: The nurse is performing a preoperative assessment. Which finding is most
important to report to the surgeon and anesthesiologist?
A. A history of seasonal allergies.
B. An allergy to latex.
C. A family history of diabetes.
D. A social history of occasional alcohol use.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. An allergy to latex.
Rationale: A latex allergy is a critical finding as it necessitates the use of latex-free
supplies in the operating room to prevent a potentially life-threatening anaphylactic
reaction.
,Question 4: The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. The patient states, "I am scared
I won't wake up from the anesthesia." What is the nurse's best response?
A. "There is nothing to worry about."
B. "Your surgeon is very skilled."
C. "It is normal to be anxious. Can you tell me more about what concerns you?"
D. "If you are that scared, we can cancel the surgery."
CORRECT ANSWER: C. "It is normal to be anxious. Can you tell me more about what
concerns you?"
Rationale: This response acknowledges the patient's feelings, validates their anxiety,
and opens a dialogue for further discussion and support.
Question 5: The nurse is ensuring that the patient has signed the informed consent
form. The nurse understands that informed consent must be obtained by:
A. The nurse.
B. The patient's family member.
C. The healthcare provider performing the procedure.
D. The hospital administrator.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The healthcare provider performing the procedure.
Rationale: The healthcare provider (surgeon) is legally responsible for obtaining
informed consent. The nurse's role is to witness the signature and ensure the patient
understands the information.
Question 6: A patient is NPO (nothing by mouth) for surgery. The patient asks for a glass
of water. Which response is most appropriate?
A. "I can give you a small sip of water."
B. "I will get you some ice chips."
C. "I cannot give you anything to eat or drink because it could cause complications
during surgery."
D. "You can have a clear liquid."
CORRECT ANSWER: C. "I cannot give you anything to eat or drink because it could
cause complications during surgery."
Rationale: It is essential to maintain NPO status to reduce the risk of aspiration of
gastric contents during anesthesia.
,Question 7: The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery and is administering
preoperative medications. Which medication is most commonly administered to
reduce anxiety and promote sedation?
A. Atropine
B. Midazolam
C. Ondansetron
D. Cefazolin
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Midazolam.
Rationale: Midazolam is a benzodiazepine used preoperatively for its anxiolytic,
amnestic, and sedative properties.
Question 8: The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. The patient is to receive a dose
of preoperative antibiotics. The nurse understands that the primary purpose of this is to:
A. Treat an existing infection.
B. Prevent a surgical site infection.
C. Provide pain relief.
D. Reduce anxiety.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Prevent a surgical site infection.
Rationale: Prophylactic antibiotics are often given within 60 minutes before the surgical
incision to reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs).
Question 9: The nurse is preparing the patient for transfer to the operating room. Which
of the following is the most important action to ensure patient safety?
A. Ensuring the patient has voided.
B. Verifying the patient's identity with two identifiers.
C. Administering a sedative.
D. Removing the patient's dentures.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Verifying the patient's identity with two identifiers.
Rationale: Patient identification is a critical safety step to ensure the correct procedure
is performed on the correct patient.
Question 10: The nurse is preparing the preoperative holding area. The room should be
kept at which temperature to prevent hypothermia?
, A. 65°F - 68°F
B. 68°F - 72°F
C. 72°F - 76°F
D. 76°F - 80°F
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 65°F - 68°F.
Rationale: The operating room is kept cool (approximately 65-68°F) to reduce bacterial
growth and for surgeon comfort, but the preoperative holding area should be warmer to
prevent patient hypothermia.
Question 11: A patient is being prepared for surgery and is wearing a religious medal.
The nurse should:
A. Remove the medal and place it in the patient's belongings.
B. Ask the patient if they would like to keep it, and if so, tape it to their skin.
C. Tell the patient they cannot wear it in the operating room.
D. Ignore the medal.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ask the patient if they would like to keep it, and if so, tape it
to their skin.
Rationale: The nurse should respect the patient's spiritual needs. If the patient wishes
to keep the medal, it can be taped securely to their skin to prevent loss or injury during
surgery.
Question 12: The circulating nurse is counting sponges, needles, and instruments with
the scrub nurse. The purpose of this count is to:
A. Ensure the patient is billed correctly.
B. Ensure no foreign objects are retained in the patient.
C. Keep track of the cost of supplies.
D. Document the length of the surgery.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ensure no foreign objects are retained in the patient.
Rationale: The surgical count is a critical safety measure to prevent retained surgical
items (RSIs).
Question 13: The nurse is assisting the surgical team with "time out." The time out is
performed:
