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NUR 176 EXAM 1 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
NUR 176 Exam 1 —Questions
SECTION 1: INFORMED CONSENT & PERIOPERATIVE NURSING (Questions 1–30)
1. A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which of the following tasks is the primary
responsibility of the nurse regarding informed consent?
A) Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure to the patient
B) Deciding whether the patient requires surgery
C) Witnessing the patient sign the consent form
D) Discussing alternative treatment options with the patient
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse's role in informed consent is limited to witnessing the patient's signature
and ensuring that the patient appears competent to provide consent. It is the surgeon's legal
responsibility to explain the procedure, risks, and benefits to the patient. If the nurse notes that
the patient does not understand the procedure, the nurse must notify the surgeon before the
signature is witnessed .
2. A post-operative patient reports a "popping" sensation at the abdominal incision site after
coughing. Upon inspection, the nurse notes that the wound has opened and internal organs
are visible. Which is the priority action?
A) Apply a dry sterile dressing immediately
B) Cover the wound with sterile dressings soaked in normal saline
C) Place the patient in a High-Fowler's position
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D) Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
Answer: B
Rationale: Evisceration is a surgical emergency where abdominal organs protrude through a
dehisced incision. The nurse should immediately cover the exposed organs with sterile dressings
moistened with sterile normal saline to prevent tissue drying and necrosis. The nurse should
also notify the surgeon immediately and maintain the patient in a low-Fowler's position with
knees flexed to minimize abdominal tension .
3. A nurse is teaching a preoperative client about postoperative leg exercises. What is the
primary purpose?
A) To strengthen leg muscles
B) To prevent deep vein thrombosis
C) To improve balance
D) To reduce pain
Answer: B
Rationale: Leg exercises promote venous return and prevent venous stasis, reducing the risk of
DVT.
4. A client is scheduled for surgery and reports taking aspirin daily. Which action should the
nurse take?
A) Continue aspirin as prescribed
B) Notify the surgeon because aspirin increases bleeding risk
C) Administer vitamin K
D) Increase the dose
Answer: B
Rationale: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and increases bleeding risk during surgery.
5. A postoperative client is at risk for atelectasis. Which nursing intervention is most effective
in preventing this complication?
A) Administering pain medication
B) Encouraging incentive spirometry every hour while awake
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C) Maintaining bed rest
D) Restricting fluid intake
Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes lung expansion and prevents alveolar collapse.
6. A client is NPO for surgery and requests water 1 hour before the procedure. What is the
nurse's best response?
A) Provide a small sip of water
B) Remind the client of NPO status and explain aspiration risk
C) Call the surgeon for permission
D) Give the water and document it
Answer: B
Rationale: NPO status prevents aspiration during anesthesia.
7. During surgery, a client develops muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and rising temperature.
Which medication should the nurse anticipate?
A) Naloxone
B) Dantrolene sodium
C) Atropine
D) Epinephrine
Answer: B
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is treated with dantrolene sodium.
8. A client is being prepared for surgery and asks why the nurse is marking the surgical site.
What is the nurse's best response?
A) "It helps the surgeon know where to make the incision."
B) "It is done to prevent wrong-site surgery."
C) "It is for billing purposes."
D) "It helps you know where the surgery will be."
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical site marking is a safety measure to prevent wrong-site surgery.
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9. A postoperative client is receiving PCA. Which nursing action is most important?
A) Assess pain level every 8 hours
B) Monitor respiratory rate and sedation level
C) Discontinue PCA if the client sleeps
D) Increase the basal rate if pain persists
Answer: B
Rationale: PCA can cause respiratory depression. Monitoring respiratory rate and sedation level
is essential.
10. A client is scheduled for outpatient surgery. Which instruction should the nurse include in
discharge teaching?
A) "You may drive yourself home."
B) "Do not make any important decisions for 24 hours."
C) "You can eat a heavy meal immediately after surgery."
D) "You do not need a responsible adult with you."
Answer: B
Rationale: Anesthesia can impair judgment and coordination for up to 24 hours.
11. A postoperative client has a nasogastric tube in place. Which nursing intervention is
appropriate?
A) Clamp the tube immediately after surgery
B) Maintain suction and monitor drainage
C) Remove the tube after 2 hours
D) Irrigate with large amounts of water
Answer: B
Rationale: NG tubes are maintained on suction to decompress the stomach.
12. A client is scheduled for surgery and reports taking warfarin. Which action should the
nurse take?
A) Continue warfarin as prescribed
B) Notify the surgeon because warfarin increases bleeding risk
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NUR 176 EXAM 1 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
NUR 176 Exam 1 —Questions
SECTION 1: INFORMED CONSENT & PERIOPERATIVE NURSING (Questions 1–30)
1. A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which of the following tasks is the primary
responsibility of the nurse regarding informed consent?
A) Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure to the patient
B) Deciding whether the patient requires surgery
C) Witnessing the patient sign the consent form
D) Discussing alternative treatment options with the patient
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse's role in informed consent is limited to witnessing the patient's signature
and ensuring that the patient appears competent to provide consent. It is the surgeon's legal
responsibility to explain the procedure, risks, and benefits to the patient. If the nurse notes that
the patient does not understand the procedure, the nurse must notify the surgeon before the
signature is witnessed .
2. A post-operative patient reports a "popping" sensation at the abdominal incision site after
coughing. Upon inspection, the nurse notes that the wound has opened and internal organs
are visible. Which is the priority action?
A) Apply a dry sterile dressing immediately
B) Cover the wound with sterile dressings soaked in normal saline
C) Place the patient in a High-Fowler's position
1|Page
,Page 2 of 85
D) Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
Answer: B
Rationale: Evisceration is a surgical emergency where abdominal organs protrude through a
dehisced incision. The nurse should immediately cover the exposed organs with sterile dressings
moistened with sterile normal saline to prevent tissue drying and necrosis. The nurse should
also notify the surgeon immediately and maintain the patient in a low-Fowler's position with
knees flexed to minimize abdominal tension .
3. A nurse is teaching a preoperative client about postoperative leg exercises. What is the
primary purpose?
A) To strengthen leg muscles
B) To prevent deep vein thrombosis
C) To improve balance
D) To reduce pain
Answer: B
Rationale: Leg exercises promote venous return and prevent venous stasis, reducing the risk of
DVT.
4. A client is scheduled for surgery and reports taking aspirin daily. Which action should the
nurse take?
A) Continue aspirin as prescribed
B) Notify the surgeon because aspirin increases bleeding risk
C) Administer vitamin K
D) Increase the dose
Answer: B
Rationale: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and increases bleeding risk during surgery.
5. A postoperative client is at risk for atelectasis. Which nursing intervention is most effective
in preventing this complication?
A) Administering pain medication
B) Encouraging incentive spirometry every hour while awake
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,Page 3 of 85
C) Maintaining bed rest
D) Restricting fluid intake
Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes lung expansion and prevents alveolar collapse.
6. A client is NPO for surgery and requests water 1 hour before the procedure. What is the
nurse's best response?
A) Provide a small sip of water
B) Remind the client of NPO status and explain aspiration risk
C) Call the surgeon for permission
D) Give the water and document it
Answer: B
Rationale: NPO status prevents aspiration during anesthesia.
7. During surgery, a client develops muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and rising temperature.
Which medication should the nurse anticipate?
A) Naloxone
B) Dantrolene sodium
C) Atropine
D) Epinephrine
Answer: B
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is treated with dantrolene sodium.
8. A client is being prepared for surgery and asks why the nurse is marking the surgical site.
What is the nurse's best response?
A) "It helps the surgeon know where to make the incision."
B) "It is done to prevent wrong-site surgery."
C) "It is for billing purposes."
D) "It helps you know where the surgery will be."
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical site marking is a safety measure to prevent wrong-site surgery.
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, Page 4 of 85
9. A postoperative client is receiving PCA. Which nursing action is most important?
A) Assess pain level every 8 hours
B) Monitor respiratory rate and sedation level
C) Discontinue PCA if the client sleeps
D) Increase the basal rate if pain persists
Answer: B
Rationale: PCA can cause respiratory depression. Monitoring respiratory rate and sedation level
is essential.
10. A client is scheduled for outpatient surgery. Which instruction should the nurse include in
discharge teaching?
A) "You may drive yourself home."
B) "Do not make any important decisions for 24 hours."
C) "You can eat a heavy meal immediately after surgery."
D) "You do not need a responsible adult with you."
Answer: B
Rationale: Anesthesia can impair judgment and coordination for up to 24 hours.
11. A postoperative client has a nasogastric tube in place. Which nursing intervention is
appropriate?
A) Clamp the tube immediately after surgery
B) Maintain suction and monitor drainage
C) Remove the tube after 2 hours
D) Irrigate with large amounts of water
Answer: B
Rationale: NG tubes are maintained on suction to decompress the stomach.
12. A client is scheduled for surgery and reports taking warfarin. Which action should the
nurse take?
A) Continue warfarin as prescribed
B) Notify the surgeon because warfarin increases bleeding risk
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