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Medical-Surgical Nursing

Review Questions

Medical-Surgical NursingReview Questions

Review Questions

1 .
In the immediate postoperative period in a PACU setting, what nursing task is most essential?
  1. administering postoperative medications
  2. discussing discharge instructions with the patient and family
  3. assessing vital signs and airway status
  4. giving an ISBAR to the receiving medical surgical unit nurse for future transfer
2 .
To help address PONV, what key aspects of nursing care will the nurse implement for postanesthetic recovery in PACUs?
  1. administering narcotics to help with pain control
  2. encouraging early ambulation
  3. advancing from a liquid diet to regular diet to decrease nausea
  4. assessing nausea and vomiting regularly and treating it promptly
3 .
What nursing duty is key when preparing patients to leave the PACU?
  1. administering antiemetic drugs at prescribed times
  2. assessing wound healing every hour
  3. sending patients to their next unit with an incentive spirometer
  4. communicating clear postoperative instructions to the patient and caregivers
4 .
What action by the nurse demonstrates competency in the assessment of postoperative pain management?
  1. employing a pain assessment tool regularly to evaluate both pain intensity and response to interventions
  2. administering pain medications on a fixed schedule without assessing patient pain level
  3. relying solely on self-report of pain without considering objective indicators
  4. asking the family member if the patient is in pain
5 .
What nursing intervention is appropriate when treating postoperative pain for patients who have shown prior opioid sensitivity?
  1. administering the same opioid dosage prescribed to other patients
  2. employing only nonpharmacological interventions
  3. conducting a thorough pain evaluation in conjunction with health-care team to devise alternative analgesic strategies
  4. performing a pain assessment and consulting with health-care team for alternative analgesic approaches
6 .
What action is appropriate for a nurse to take when managing a patient’s postoperative pain that considers the patient’s cultural background?
  1. administering the maximum of the doctor’s pain medication available regardless of the patient’s expression of pain
  2. encouraging the patient to only use a numerical scale as it’s the most objective
  3. considering both verbal and nonverbal expressions of pain
  4. relying on family members to describe the patient’s pain level
7 .
A postoperative patient is hesitant to report their pain and frequently states, “I can handle it,” despite grimacing and wincing. What should the nurse do next?
  1. Respect the patient’s wishes and withhold pain medication.
  2. Educate the patient about the importance of pain management for healing and encourage open communication about their pain.
  3. Increase the dosage of pain medication without informing the patient.
  4. Wait until the patient has severe pain and is willing to express it.
8 .
A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient who reports severe pain that rates as an 8 out of 10 and requests additional pain relief after receiving an opioid only one hour ago. What should the nurse do?
  1. Administer the additional dose as ordered even if before the scheduled time.
  2. Call the health-care provider to request earlier administration of the next dose.
  3. Inform the patient no additional can be administered due to the patient’s risk for substance use disorder.
  4. Explain to the patient the importance of adhering to the doctor’s prescribed medication schedule and offer nonpharmacological options to help control pain in between doses.
9 .
You are the nurse caring for a postoperative patient who complains of increasing pain despite receiving the prescribed analgesics. What is the best action?
  1. Administer an additional dose of the ordered pain medication.
  2. Assess the patient’s vital signs and surgical site and report findings to provider with pain issues.
  3. Educate the patient that postoperative pain is expected and teach nonpharmacological methods to deal with the pain.
  4. Document the pain and assess vital signs per routine on the unit.
10 .
After completing a physical assessment, the nurse notes that the breath sounds on one side are diminished and the patient reports difficulty breathing. What is the priority action of the nurse?
  1. Administer a bronchodilator of your choice to improve respiratory function.
  2. Encourage the patient to use an incentive spirometer.
  3. Document the findings and continue with the routine nursing care.
  4. Sit the patient up in bed and notify the health-care provider immediately.
11 .
What intervention should the nurse prioritize to prevent a deep vein thrombosis for a postoperative patient?
  1. Encourage early safe ambulation and mobility.
  2. Administer acetaminophen to decrease inflammation.
  3. Limit fluid intake to avoid overloading the heart.
  4. Apply heat packs to the lower calves to promote circulation.
12 .
A nurse is preparing to ambulate a postoperative patient for the first time. What interdisciplinary team member should the nurse collaborate with to ensure the patient’s safety?
  1. pharmacist
  2. dietitian
  3. physical therapist
  4. social worker
13 .
To prevent postoperative respiratory complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia, the nurse educates the patient on the use of an incentive spirometer. What QSEN competency is the nurse demonstrating?
  1. informatics
  2. safety
  3. quality improvement
  4. patient-centered care
14 .
What nursing intervention is essential for preventing a postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and involves the interdisciplinary team?
  1. administering antibiotics
  2. encouraging early ambulation and leg exercises
  3. providing high-protein diet recommendations
  4. teaching wound care techniques
15 .
A postoperative patient is at risk for infection. The nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to monitor and manage this risk. What specific role does the pharmacist play in this process?
  1. developing a mobility plan
  2. managing antibiotic therapy
  3. teaching wound care
  4. assessing nutritional needs
16 .
To ensure a patient understands the signs of postoperative complications and how to manage them at home, the nurse provides detailed discharge instructions. What QSEN competency does this action best represent?
  1. evidence-based practice
  2. teamwork and collaboration
  3. patient-centered care
  4. safety
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