Nursing 1331: Module 3 Pre op/Post op Exam
Questions Answers
Common Preoperative Medications: - answer 1) Benzodiazepines and barbiturates: for
sedation and amnesia
2) Anticholinergics: to reduce secretions
3) Opioids: to decrease intraoperative anesthetic requirements and pain
4) Additional drugs include antiemetics, antibiotics, eye drops, and regular prescription
drugs
Drug Use in Pre-Op setting:
Benzodiazepines and barbiturates - answer Drug used in pre-op setting for sedation and
amnesia
Drug Use in Pre-Op setting:
Anticholinergics - answer Drug used in pre-op setting to reduce secretions.
Drug Use in Pre-Op setting:
Opioids - answer Drug used in pre-op setting to decrease intraoperative anesthetic
requirements and pain.
Pre-Op patients should be screened for possible critical allergies? - answer Pre-Op pts
should be screened for critical allergies:
Latex, Iodine, and allergies to anesthesia that may result in Malignant Hyperthermia.
In the surgical setting, where is the center of the sterile field? - answer The center of the
sterile field is the site of the surgical incision.
While performing preoperative teaching, the patient asks when she needs to stop
drinking water before the surgery. Based on the most recent practice guidelines
established by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the nurse tells the patient
that:
A. She must be NPO after breakfast.
B. She needs to be NPO after midnight.
C. She can drink clear liquids up to 2 hours before surgery.
D. She can drink clear liquids up until she is taken to the OR. - answer C. She can drink
, clear liquids up to 2 hours before surgery.
Practice guidelines for preoperative fasting state the minimum fasting period for clear
liquids is 2 hours. Evidenced-based practice no longer supports the long-standing
practice of requiring patients to be NPO after midnight.
The nurse is admitting a patient to the same day surgery unit. The patient tells the nurse
that he was so nervous he had to take kava last evening to help him sleep. Which of the
following nursing actions would be most appropriate?
A. Inform the anesthesiologist of the patient's ingestion of kava.
B. Tell the patient that using kava to help sleep was a good idea.
C. Tell the patient that the kava should continue to help him relax before surgery.
D. Inform the patient about the dangers of taking herbal medicines without consulting
his health care provider. - answer A. Inform the anesthesiologist of the patient's
ingestion of kava.
Kava may prolong the effects of certain anesthetics. Thus the anesthesiologist needs to
be informed of recent ingestion of this herbal supplement.
The nurse would be alerted to the occurrence of malignant hyperthermia when the
patient demonstrates:
A. Hypocapnia
B. Muscle rigidity
C. Decreased body temperature
D. Confusion upon arousal from anesthesia - answer B. Muscle rigidity
Malignant hyperthermia is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperthermia with
rigidity of skeletal muscles occurring secondary to exposure to certain anesthetic
agents in susceptible patients. Hypoxemia, hypercarbia, and dysrhythmias may also be
seen with this disorder.
Which of the following nursing interventions should receive highest priority when a
patient is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit?
A. Positioning the patient
B. Observing the operative site
C. Checking the postoperative orders
Questions Answers
Common Preoperative Medications: - answer 1) Benzodiazepines and barbiturates: for
sedation and amnesia
2) Anticholinergics: to reduce secretions
3) Opioids: to decrease intraoperative anesthetic requirements and pain
4) Additional drugs include antiemetics, antibiotics, eye drops, and regular prescription
drugs
Drug Use in Pre-Op setting:
Benzodiazepines and barbiturates - answer Drug used in pre-op setting for sedation and
amnesia
Drug Use in Pre-Op setting:
Anticholinergics - answer Drug used in pre-op setting to reduce secretions.
Drug Use in Pre-Op setting:
Opioids - answer Drug used in pre-op setting to decrease intraoperative anesthetic
requirements and pain.
Pre-Op patients should be screened for possible critical allergies? - answer Pre-Op pts
should be screened for critical allergies:
Latex, Iodine, and allergies to anesthesia that may result in Malignant Hyperthermia.
In the surgical setting, where is the center of the sterile field? - answer The center of the
sterile field is the site of the surgical incision.
While performing preoperative teaching, the patient asks when she needs to stop
drinking water before the surgery. Based on the most recent practice guidelines
established by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the nurse tells the patient
that:
A. She must be NPO after breakfast.
B. She needs to be NPO after midnight.
C. She can drink clear liquids up to 2 hours before surgery.
D. She can drink clear liquids up until she is taken to the OR. - answer C. She can drink
, clear liquids up to 2 hours before surgery.
Practice guidelines for preoperative fasting state the minimum fasting period for clear
liquids is 2 hours. Evidenced-based practice no longer supports the long-standing
practice of requiring patients to be NPO after midnight.
The nurse is admitting a patient to the same day surgery unit. The patient tells the nurse
that he was so nervous he had to take kava last evening to help him sleep. Which of the
following nursing actions would be most appropriate?
A. Inform the anesthesiologist of the patient's ingestion of kava.
B. Tell the patient that using kava to help sleep was a good idea.
C. Tell the patient that the kava should continue to help him relax before surgery.
D. Inform the patient about the dangers of taking herbal medicines without consulting
his health care provider. - answer A. Inform the anesthesiologist of the patient's
ingestion of kava.
Kava may prolong the effects of certain anesthetics. Thus the anesthesiologist needs to
be informed of recent ingestion of this herbal supplement.
The nurse would be alerted to the occurrence of malignant hyperthermia when the
patient demonstrates:
A. Hypocapnia
B. Muscle rigidity
C. Decreased body temperature
D. Confusion upon arousal from anesthesia - answer B. Muscle rigidity
Malignant hyperthermia is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperthermia with
rigidity of skeletal muscles occurring secondary to exposure to certain anesthetic
agents in susceptible patients. Hypoxemia, hypercarbia, and dysrhythmias may also be
seen with this disorder.
Which of the following nursing interventions should receive highest priority when a
patient is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit?
A. Positioning the patient
B. Observing the operative site
C. Checking the postoperative orders
