Med/Surg - Preoperative Care Questions With Complete
Solutions
A cognitively impaired patient requires surgery. Can the patient
give consent? Correct Answers No, incompetent patients cannot
give or withhold consent.
See hospital policy for who is *power of attorney*
Can patients with active chronic infections like hep B or C,
AIDS, & TB have surgery? Correct Answers They may have
surgery if indicated; just take proper infection control
precautions for both the patient & staff
Corticosteroids used in immunosuppressive doses may be ___
before surgery Correct Answers tapered
Describe some medications that potentially affect the surgical
experience Correct Answers use of anticoagulants;
the need for insulin, since the stress of surgery increases blood
sugar;
whether antibiotics are needed prophylactically;
& corticosteroids, since they don't let people heal as well.
These all depend on the diagnosis, the patient may need the
med, so check w/ the surgeon.
During & post surgery, smokers who have been smoking for a
long time may have a harder time doing what? Correct Answers
coming off the ventilator
,During pre-op assessment, the nurse should give special
considerations to past medical histories such as Correct Answers
obesity, disabilities, etc.
During the pre-op assessment, the nurse should consider the
presence of liver disease if the history includes: Correct
Answers jaundice,
hepatitis,
alcohol abuse,
or obesity
During the pre-op assessment, you know that your diabetic
patient is particularly at risk for: Correct Answers hypo or
hyperglycemia,
cardiovascular alterations,
delayed wound healing,
& infection
For the patient diagnosed with diabetes that is currently
controlled w/ an oral agent & diet, what baseline assessment is
important? Correct Answers baseline vital signs;
fasting blood glucose;
& whether the patient took the medication today
Hepatic dysfunction may increase risk of what postoperative
complications? Correct Answers clotting abnormalities &
adverse responses to medications
How does obesity affect the patient perioperatively? Correct
Answers Obesity stresses cardiac & pulmonary systems;
, increased risk of wound dehiscence, infection, & incisional
hernia;
slower recovery from anesthesia;
& slower wound healing
How does the ACP use the patient's history & physical prior to
surgery? Correct Answers The ACP uses the findings to rate the
patient for anesthesia administration; get an indicator of
perioperative risk & overall outcome
How does the patient prepare on the day of surgery? Correct
Answers Wear a hospital gown;
not wear any cosmetics or nail polish;
Valuables are returned to family member or locked up;
Dentures, contacts, & prostheses are removed;
ID & allergy bands are on wrist
How is the patient transported to the OR? Correct Answers Via
stretcher or wheelchair
In anticipation of surgery, patients may have fear of anesthesia.
How can the nurse handle this fear? Correct Answers Ask the
anesthesia care provider to speak with the patient to provide
more information & clarification.
In anticipation of surgery, patients may have fear of death or
pain. What can the nurse do to help ease the fear of pain?
Correct Answers the nurse can encourage the patient to ask for
*pain medications* following surgery. Teach the patient to use
the pain intensity scale & to request pain meds *before* the pain
becomes severe
Solutions
A cognitively impaired patient requires surgery. Can the patient
give consent? Correct Answers No, incompetent patients cannot
give or withhold consent.
See hospital policy for who is *power of attorney*
Can patients with active chronic infections like hep B or C,
AIDS, & TB have surgery? Correct Answers They may have
surgery if indicated; just take proper infection control
precautions for both the patient & staff
Corticosteroids used in immunosuppressive doses may be ___
before surgery Correct Answers tapered
Describe some medications that potentially affect the surgical
experience Correct Answers use of anticoagulants;
the need for insulin, since the stress of surgery increases blood
sugar;
whether antibiotics are needed prophylactically;
& corticosteroids, since they don't let people heal as well.
These all depend on the diagnosis, the patient may need the
med, so check w/ the surgeon.
During & post surgery, smokers who have been smoking for a
long time may have a harder time doing what? Correct Answers
coming off the ventilator
,During pre-op assessment, the nurse should give special
considerations to past medical histories such as Correct Answers
obesity, disabilities, etc.
During the pre-op assessment, the nurse should consider the
presence of liver disease if the history includes: Correct
Answers jaundice,
hepatitis,
alcohol abuse,
or obesity
During the pre-op assessment, you know that your diabetic
patient is particularly at risk for: Correct Answers hypo or
hyperglycemia,
cardiovascular alterations,
delayed wound healing,
& infection
For the patient diagnosed with diabetes that is currently
controlled w/ an oral agent & diet, what baseline assessment is
important? Correct Answers baseline vital signs;
fasting blood glucose;
& whether the patient took the medication today
Hepatic dysfunction may increase risk of what postoperative
complications? Correct Answers clotting abnormalities &
adverse responses to medications
How does obesity affect the patient perioperatively? Correct
Answers Obesity stresses cardiac & pulmonary systems;
, increased risk of wound dehiscence, infection, & incisional
hernia;
slower recovery from anesthesia;
& slower wound healing
How does the ACP use the patient's history & physical prior to
surgery? Correct Answers The ACP uses the findings to rate the
patient for anesthesia administration; get an indicator of
perioperative risk & overall outcome
How does the patient prepare on the day of surgery? Correct
Answers Wear a hospital gown;
not wear any cosmetics or nail polish;
Valuables are returned to family member or locked up;
Dentures, contacts, & prostheses are removed;
ID & allergy bands are on wrist
How is the patient transported to the OR? Correct Answers Via
stretcher or wheelchair
In anticipation of surgery, patients may have fear of anesthesia.
How can the nurse handle this fear? Correct Answers Ask the
anesthesia care provider to speak with the patient to provide
more information & clarification.
In anticipation of surgery, patients may have fear of death or
pain. What can the nurse do to help ease the fear of pain?
Correct Answers the nurse can encourage the patient to ask for
*pain medications* following surgery. Teach the patient to use
the pain intensity scale & to request pain meds *before* the pain
becomes severe
