Deck 17: Priorities for the Postoperative Patient

Question 1

Which nursing action is appropriate when providing care to a patient who is exhibiting low oxygen saturation levels in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

A) Monitor breath sounds
B) Administer prescribed heparin
C) Hold prescribed opioid analgesics
D) Assess for malignant hyperthermia

Answer 1

Monitor breath sounds

Question 2

The postanesthesia care nurse is providing care to a patient with fluid volume overload who is experiencing cardiac dysrhythmias.Which laboratory test should the nurse monitor for this patient?

A) Serum glucose
B) Serum potassium
C) Prothrombin (PT)time
D) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Answer 2

Serum potassium

Question 3

The patient arrives at the surgeon's office one week after surgery to have the sutures removed.Which classification would the nurse use when documenting care for this patient?

A) Preoperative
B) Postoperative
C) Perioperative
D) Intraoperative

Answer 3

Postoperative

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a patient with a drain connected to a portable drainage suction device shaped like a grenade made of plastic.Which term will the nurse use when describing this system during end-of-shift report?

A) Closed wound drainage system
B) Hemovac
C) Jackson-Pratt
D) Reinfusion drain

Question 5

Which is the priority initial assessment for a patient who is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU)?

A) Heart rate
B) Temperature
C) Respirations
D) Blood pressure

Question 6

The medical-surgical nurse is providing care to a postoperative patient who is experiencing an elevated temperature.Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor to gather more information?

A) Platelet count
B) Serum glucose
C) Red blood cell (RBC)count
D) White blood cell (WBC)
Count

Question 7

The nurse is providing care to a postoperative patient who is experiencing pain.The patient rates the pain at a 4 on a 1 to 10 numeric pain assessment scale.Which prescribed medication should the nurse administer to this patient?

A) Fentanyl
B) Morphine
C) Ibuprofen
D) Hydromorphone

Question 8

Which nursing action is appropriate when providing care to a patient who is exhibiting symptoms of a venous thromboembolism (VTE)?

A) Monitor breath sounds
B) Administer prescribed heparin
C) Hold prescribed opioid analgesics
D) Assess for malignant hyperthermia

Question 9

The nurse is providing care to a patient in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU)who lost a large amount of blood during a surgical procedure.Which assessment finding should the nurse monitor this patient for based on the current data?

A) Bradypnea
B) Tachycardia
C) Hypothermia
D) Hypertension

Question 10

Which nursing action is appropriate when providing care to a patient who is difficult to arouse in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU)?

A) Monitor breath sounds
B) Administer prescribed heparin
C) Hold prescribed opioid analgesics
D) Assess for malignant hyperthermia

Question 11

The nurse is assessing a patient's postoperative wound and finds it has separated from the suture line with extrusion of the bowel through the opening.When documenting this finding,which term will the nurse use?

A) Wound infection
B) Wound dehiscence
C) Wound evisceration
D) Wound tunneling

Question 12

Which patient finding would indicate the need for further monitoring rather than discharge home after an outpatient surgical procedure?

A) Pain management with opioid analgesics
B) Lethargy that resolves after several hours
C) Inability to void without fluid retention
D) Persistent nausea without vomiting

Question 13

The postoperative patient displays sudden chest pain,shortness of breath,cyanosis,tachycardia,and low blood pressure.The nurse suspects which postoperative complication?

A) Pneumonia
B) Atelectasis
C) Hypovolemia
D) Pulmonary embolism

Question 14

Which laboratory test should the postanesthesia care nurse monitor for a patient who is having difficulty regaining consciousness after a surgical procedure?

A) Serum glucose
B) Serum potassium
C) Prothrombin (PT)time
D) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Question 15

Upon receiving the patient from the postanesthesia care unit,which nursing action is the priority?

A) Apply clean linens to the bed
B) Assemble required equipment,such as suction,IV pole,or oxygen equipment
C) Assess the patient
D) Notify the family of the patient's return to the room

Question 16

How many providers from the operating room (OR)should participate in the hand-off communication that occurs with the postanesthesia care (PACU)nurse prior to patient transfer?

A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four

Question 17

Which is the priority laboratory test that the postanesthesia care nurse should monitor closely for an older adult patient with renal disease who retained fluid during a surgical procedure?

A) Serum glucose
B) Serum potassium
C) Prothrombin (PT)time
D) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Question 18

Which laboratory test should the postanesthesia care nurse monitor closely for a patient who is prescribed warfarin in the treatment of atrial fibrillation?

A) Serum glucose
B) Serum potassium
C) Prothrombin (PT)time
D) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Question 19

The postanesthesia care unit (PACU)nurse is providing care for a patient who is exhibiting hypothermia.Which nursing action is appropriate?

A) Monitor breath sounds
B) Check serum glucose level
C) Hold prescribed opioid analgesics
D) Provide warm blankets or warming devices

Question 20

In the ongoing postoperative period,the nurse independently determines,within the protocols of the hospital,the need for which provision of care?

A) Type of diet
B) Activity level
C) Assessment intervals
D) Intravenous solutions