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Chapter 37: Care of the Surgical Patient
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The circulating nurse notes that the anesthetized patient has tensed muscles and irregular
respirations. The nurse is aware that the patient has reached stage:
a. I and the patient’s hearing is amplified.
b. II and the surgical environment should be kept quiet.
c. III and the patient has depressed reflexes.
d. IV and the patient will not depend on the anesthesia machine of oxygenations.
ANS: B
Quiet must be maintained while the patient is in stage II, because noise may cause the patient
to become excited, resulting in instability of vital signs.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 736 OBJ: Theory #5
TOP: General Anesthesia KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
2. In order for the anesthesiologist to accurately calculate the amount of anesthesia needed for an
82-year-old patient, the nurse should have data available on the medical record, such as:
a. time of last meal.
b. pulse rate and blood pressure.
c. respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.
d. height and weight.
ANS: D
Accurate height and weight are significant for calculation of the anesthetic agents needed for
older adult patients.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 736 OBJ: Theory #3
TOP: Anesthesia KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies
3. The illiterate patient signs the surgical consent form with an “X.” The nurse is aware that this
“X” is:
a.not an acceptable signature.
b.required to be accompanied by a picture identification.
c.legal if it is witnessed.
d.acceptable if the surgeon is willing.
ANS: C
An “X” is an acceptable signature if it is witnessed.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 737 OBJ: Theory #8
TOP: Surgical Consent KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
4. A 16-year-old boy injured in a motorcycle accident is unconscious and cannot sign the
emergency surgical consent form; no family members can be located. The nurse anticipates
that:
a. the hospital social worker can sign the permit.
b. the surgeon will write a detailed note about the need for surgery and a registered
nurse will then sign the consent.
c. the opinion of a second surgeon is sought regarding the necessity of the surgery.
d. the hospital attorney must authorize the surgery and sign the consent form.
ANS: C
If no family can be found to sign the permit for an unconscious person, a second surgeon can
confirm the need for the immediate surgical intervention and the procedure will take place.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 737 OBJ: Theory #8
TOP: Surgical Consent KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
5. The nurse discovers that the signed operative permit has misspelled the patient’s name. The
nurse must:
a. request a corrected consent form to be signed.
b. inform the surgeon of the error.
c. have the new form attached to the old incorrect one and document it.
d. allow the patient to be taken to surgery after notifying the circulating nurse.
ANS: A
A new consent form must be made, signed, and witnessed, provided the patient has not been
sedated already.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 737 OBJ: Theory #8
TOP: Incorrect Surgical Consent Form KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
6. A patient who has recently arrived on the surgical unit after being transferred from the
postanesthesia care unit asks for a drink. The nurse should first check the:
a. status of the IV fluids.
b. ability to swallow.
c. nursing progress notes.
d. anesthesia record.
ANS: B
Before a postsurgical patient is offered anything to eat or drink, the ability of the patient to
swallow should be assessed.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 752 OBJ: Clinical Practice #3
TOP: NPO Status KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
7. A patient scheduled for surgery has an order for a preoperative surgical skin preparation. The
nurse may be required to:
a. shave the entire surgical site.
b. spray the surgical area with an antimicrobial solution.
c. scrub the surgical area for 1 minute with antibacterial solution.
Chapter 37: Care of the Surgical Patient
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The circulating nurse notes that the anesthetized patient has tensed muscles and irregular
respirations. The nurse is aware that the patient has reached stage:
a. I and the patient’s hearing is amplified.
b. II and the surgical environment should be kept quiet.
c. III and the patient has depressed reflexes.
d. IV and the patient will not depend on the anesthesia machine of oxygenations.
ANS: B
Quiet must be maintained while the patient is in stage II, because noise may cause the patient
to become excited, resulting in instability of vital signs.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 736 OBJ: Theory #5
TOP: General Anesthesia KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
2. In order for the anesthesiologist to accurately calculate the amount of anesthesia needed for an
82-year-old patient, the nurse should have data available on the medical record, such as:
a. time of last meal.
b. pulse rate and blood pressure.
c. respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.
d. height and weight.
ANS: D
Accurate height and weight are significant for calculation of the anesthetic agents needed for
older adult patients.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 736 OBJ: Theory #3
TOP: Anesthesia KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies
3. The illiterate patient signs the surgical consent form with an “X.” The nurse is aware that this
“X” is:
a.not an acceptable signature.
b.required to be accompanied by a picture identification.
c.legal if it is witnessed.
d.acceptable if the surgeon is willing.
ANS: C
An “X” is an acceptable signature if it is witnessed.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 737 OBJ: Theory #8
TOP: Surgical Consent KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
4. A 16-year-old boy injured in a motorcycle accident is unconscious and cannot sign the
emergency surgical consent form; no family members can be located. The nurse anticipates
that:
a. the hospital social worker can sign the permit.
b. the surgeon will write a detailed note about the need for surgery and a registered
nurse will then sign the consent.
c. the opinion of a second surgeon is sought regarding the necessity of the surgery.
d. the hospital attorney must authorize the surgery and sign the consent form.
ANS: C
If no family can be found to sign the permit for an unconscious person, a second surgeon can
confirm the need for the immediate surgical intervention and the procedure will take place.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 737 OBJ: Theory #8
TOP: Surgical Consent KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
5. The nurse discovers that the signed operative permit has misspelled the patient’s name. The
nurse must:
a. request a corrected consent form to be signed.
b. inform the surgeon of the error.
c. have the new form attached to the old incorrect one and document it.
d. allow the patient to be taken to surgery after notifying the circulating nurse.
ANS: A
A new consent form must be made, signed, and witnessed, provided the patient has not been
sedated already.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 737 OBJ: Theory #8
TOP: Incorrect Surgical Consent Form KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
6. A patient who has recently arrived on the surgical unit after being transferred from the
postanesthesia care unit asks for a drink. The nurse should first check the:
a. status of the IV fluids.
b. ability to swallow.
c. nursing progress notes.
d. anesthesia record.
ANS: B
Before a postsurgical patient is offered anything to eat or drink, the ability of the patient to
swallow should be assessed.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 752 OBJ: Clinical Practice #3
TOP: NPO Status KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
7. A patient scheduled for surgery has an order for a preoperative surgical skin preparation. The
nurse may be required to:
a. shave the entire surgical site.
b. spray the surgical area with an antimicrobial solution.
c. scrub the surgical area for 1 minute with antibacterial solution.
