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Potter-Perry Chapter 50 Care of Surgical
Patients Questions and Correct Answers
1. The nurse is precepting a student nurse and explains that
perioperative nursing care occurs
a. Before, during, and after surgery.
b. In preadmission testing.
c. During the surgical procedure.
d. In the postanesthesia care unit. Ans: — ANS: A
Perioperative nursing care occurs before, during, and after a
surgery. Preadmission testing occurs before surgery and is
considered preoperative. Nursing care provided during the surgical
procedure is considered intraoperative, and in the postanesthesia
care unit, it is considered postoperative. All of these are parts of
the perioperative phase, but each individual phase does not
explain the term completely.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled to undergo a
surgical procedure. The nurse is completing an assessment and
reviews the patient's laboratory tests and allergies. In which
perioperative nursing phase would this work be completed?
a. Perioperative
b. Preoperative
c. Intraoperative
d. Postoperative Ans: — ANS: B
Reviewing the patient's laboratory tests and allergies is done
before surgery in the preoperative phase. Perioperative means
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before, during, and after surgery. Intraoperative means during the
surgical procedure in the operating suite; postoperative means
after the surgery and could occur in the postanesthesia care unit,
in the ambulatory surgical area, or on the hospital unit.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit.
The patient has developed profuse bleeding from the surgical site,
and the surgeon has determined the need to return to the
operative area. This procedure would be classified as
a. Elective.
b. Urgent.
c. Emergency.
d. Major. Ans: — ANS: C
An emergency procedure must be done immediately to save life or
preserve function of a body part. An example would be repair of a
perforated appendix, repair of a traumatic amputation, or control
of internal hemorrhaging. An urgent procedure is necessary for a
patient's health and often prevents additional problems form
developing. An example would be excision of a cancerous tumor,
removal of a gallbladder for stones, or vascular repair for
obstructed artery. An elective procedure is performed on the basis
of the patient's choice; it is not essential and is not always
necessary for health. An example would be a bunionectomy,
plastic surgery, or hernia reconstruction. A major procedure
involves extensive reconstruction or alteration in body parts; it
poses great risks to well-being. An example would be a coronary
artery bypass or colon resection.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The
patient has been assigned a physical status classification by the
American Society of Anesthesiologist of P3. Which of the following
assessments would support this classification?
a. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions
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b. Normal, healthy patient
c. History of hypertension, 80 pounds overweight, history of
asthma
d. History of myocardial infarction that limits activity Ans: — ANS:
C
A P3 is a patient with a severe systemic disease. Patients with
hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and asthma fit into this
category. A P1 is a normal healthy patient. A P2 is a patient with
mild systemic disease. A P4 is a patient with severe systemic
disease that is a constant threat to life.
5. The patient has presented to the ambulatory surgery center to
have a colonoscopy. The patient is scheduled to receive moderate
sedation (conscious sedation) during the procedure. Moderate
sedation is used routinely for procedures that require
a. Performance on an outpatient basis.
b. A depressed level of consciousness.
c. Loss of sensation in an area of the body.
d. The patient to be immobile. Ans: — ANS: B
Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) is used routinely for
procedures that do not require complete anesthesia, but rather a
depressed level of consciousness. Not all patients who are treated
on an outpatient basis receive moderate sedation. Regional
anesthesia such as local anesthesia provides loss of sensation in
an area of the body. General anesthesia is used for patients who
need to be immobile and to not remember the surgical procedure.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit
who has undergone a left total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia
provider has indicated that the patient received a left femoral
© 2025 All rights reserved
Potter-Perry Chapter 50 Care of Surgical
Patients Questions and Correct Answers
1. The nurse is precepting a student nurse and explains that
perioperative nursing care occurs
a. Before, during, and after surgery.
b. In preadmission testing.
c. During the surgical procedure.
d. In the postanesthesia care unit. Ans: — ANS: A
Perioperative nursing care occurs before, during, and after a
surgery. Preadmission testing occurs before surgery and is
considered preoperative. Nursing care provided during the surgical
procedure is considered intraoperative, and in the postanesthesia
care unit, it is considered postoperative. All of these are parts of
the perioperative phase, but each individual phase does not
explain the term completely.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled to undergo a
surgical procedure. The nurse is completing an assessment and
reviews the patient's laboratory tests and allergies. In which
perioperative nursing phase would this work be completed?
a. Perioperative
b. Preoperative
c. Intraoperative
d. Postoperative Ans: — ANS: B
Reviewing the patient's laboratory tests and allergies is done
before surgery in the preoperative phase. Perioperative means
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
before, during, and after surgery. Intraoperative means during the
surgical procedure in the operating suite; postoperative means
after the surgery and could occur in the postanesthesia care unit,
in the ambulatory surgical area, or on the hospital unit.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit.
The patient has developed profuse bleeding from the surgical site,
and the surgeon has determined the need to return to the
operative area. This procedure would be classified as
a. Elective.
b. Urgent.
c. Emergency.
d. Major. Ans: — ANS: C
An emergency procedure must be done immediately to save life or
preserve function of a body part. An example would be repair of a
perforated appendix, repair of a traumatic amputation, or control
of internal hemorrhaging. An urgent procedure is necessary for a
patient's health and often prevents additional problems form
developing. An example would be excision of a cancerous tumor,
removal of a gallbladder for stones, or vascular repair for
obstructed artery. An elective procedure is performed on the basis
of the patient's choice; it is not essential and is not always
necessary for health. An example would be a bunionectomy,
plastic surgery, or hernia reconstruction. A major procedure
involves extensive reconstruction or alteration in body parts; it
poses great risks to well-being. An example would be a coronary
artery bypass or colon resection.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The
patient has been assigned a physical status classification by the
American Society of Anesthesiologist of P3. Which of the following
assessments would support this classification?
a. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
b. Normal, healthy patient
c. History of hypertension, 80 pounds overweight, history of
asthma
d. History of myocardial infarction that limits activity Ans: — ANS:
C
A P3 is a patient with a severe systemic disease. Patients with
hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and asthma fit into this
category. A P1 is a normal healthy patient. A P2 is a patient with
mild systemic disease. A P4 is a patient with severe systemic
disease that is a constant threat to life.
5. The patient has presented to the ambulatory surgery center to
have a colonoscopy. The patient is scheduled to receive moderate
sedation (conscious sedation) during the procedure. Moderate
sedation is used routinely for procedures that require
a. Performance on an outpatient basis.
b. A depressed level of consciousness.
c. Loss of sensation in an area of the body.
d. The patient to be immobile. Ans: — ANS: B
Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) is used routinely for
procedures that do not require complete anesthesia, but rather a
depressed level of consciousness. Not all patients who are treated
on an outpatient basis receive moderate sedation. Regional
anesthesia such as local anesthesia provides loss of sensation in
an area of the body. General anesthesia is used for patients who
need to be immobile and to not remember the surgical procedure.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit
who has undergone a left total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia
provider has indicated that the patient received a left femoral
© 2025 All rights reserved
