Med Surg Nursing Exam 1 NU 301 | Verified study |
Spring 2026 | Questions and Answers
What common medications would the nurse be concerned about if seen on the medication list
of a patient about to have a surgical procedure? What are the risks? - ANSWER-Prescription
Medications: risk for bleeding, over sedation, or unstable blood glucose
Antiplatelet meds (warfarin)
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Anticonvulsants, tranquilizers
Antihypertensive meds
Diabetic meds
OTC (risk for bleeding)
NSAIDS (ibuprofen, motrin, advil, midol, naproxen)
ASSA (Ecotrin, baby aspirin, midol, excedrin)
Herbal Supplements (risk for bleeding)
Ginkgo biloba, st. john's wort, vitamin E
Describe the role anticipatory guidance has in preparing patients for the intraoperative and
postoperative experience. How can you as a nurse use anticipatory guidance to gain patient
understanding and compliance? - ANSWER-the preparation of a patient for an anticipated
development and/or situational crisis.
What is the purpose of NPO status prior to procedures utilizing sedation? Can a patient who is
NPO still take all morning medications with small sips of water? What about essential
medications such as beta blockers and anti-diabetic medications? - ANSWER-Usually NPO after
midnight
Some surgeries/procedures-clear liquids up to 2 hours before procedure
Necessary AM meds (with small sips of water) are still given (BP, BG)
NPO reduces risk of pulmonary aspiration (during or after surgery)
,Name the 3 components of Prehab and describe the nursing responsibility associated with each.
- ANSWER-1. Oral cleansing: perox-a-mint hydrogen peroxide solution
o 2.skin antisepsis: chlorhexidine gluconate cloths
o 3.Nasal Antisepsis: povidone iodine solution
How would you explain to a patient the purpose of Prehab? - ANSWER-To reduce the risk of SSI
and HAI in patients
Briefly explain the key roles of the OR team members. - ANSWER-Perioperative nurse/circulating
Nurse
Pt. advocate throughout the intraoperative experience
Scrub nurse or surg tech
Assists with sterile procedures
Surgeon
Performs procedure
Surgeon assistant (may be a nurse)
Assists surgeon wherever assistance is needed
Anesthesia care provider (ACP)
Anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
What is a surgical Time Out? What is verified during this safety procedure? (See Video) -
ANSWER-Surgical time out is when everyone in the OR pauses and take time to go over the five
rights so to speak. The make sure they have the right patient, are performing the right
procedure, doing the procedure in the correct place, verifying if the patient has any allergies,
and making sure everything needed is there.
Name the priority assessments in the PACU. - ANSWER-Airway
Breathing
Circulation-especially important in joint surgery
GI-nausea, vomiting, aspiration
, GU-output after surgery
Neuro-LOC, alertness, compared to baseline
Surgical Site-oozing and draining
v Discuss what is unique to general anesthesia assessments vs. spinal/epidural. - ANSWER-
General: complete assessment of respiratory, cardiovascular, & neuro status.
Expected findings: normal respiratory, cardiovascular and neuro status.
Spinal/epidural: assess respiratory, neuro & check HA, SCM's in lower extremities, ability to bear
weight on legs & spinal injection site (posterior back) dressing. Ability feel bladder fullness may
not be present.
Expected Findings: normal respiratory and neuro status, dressing on back dry and intact, report
any yellow drainage, injection site without s/sx infection/fever. Normal SCM's with return of full
lower leg sensations and ability to bear weight.
What are the 4 "Ps" associated with hourly rounds? - ANSWER-Position, Pain, Potty, Possession
List six different factors that can influence a patient's pain perception and expression of
discomfort (pain). - ANSWER-Misconceptions (it's supposed to hurt)
Fears of addiction
May not be honest
Can't communicate symptoms/condition well (dementia)
cultural/spiritual beliefs
Accessibility to medical care of meds
Write a pain assessment documentation using the 7 variables of symptom analysis. - ANSWER-
O~onset: when did the pain start?
L~location:where is the pain on your body?
D~duration:how long has the pain lasted?
C~Characteristics: what is the pain like? Is it sharp, shooting, aching, dull, throbbing,
burning...etc...
A~alleviating/aggravating: what are you doing to make the pain go away? What is happening to
make the pain worse?
R~Radiation: does the pain radiate to anywhere?
Spring 2026 | Questions and Answers
What common medications would the nurse be concerned about if seen on the medication list
of a patient about to have a surgical procedure? What are the risks? - ANSWER-Prescription
Medications: risk for bleeding, over sedation, or unstable blood glucose
Antiplatelet meds (warfarin)
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Anticonvulsants, tranquilizers
Antihypertensive meds
Diabetic meds
OTC (risk for bleeding)
NSAIDS (ibuprofen, motrin, advil, midol, naproxen)
ASSA (Ecotrin, baby aspirin, midol, excedrin)
Herbal Supplements (risk for bleeding)
Ginkgo biloba, st. john's wort, vitamin E
Describe the role anticipatory guidance has in preparing patients for the intraoperative and
postoperative experience. How can you as a nurse use anticipatory guidance to gain patient
understanding and compliance? - ANSWER-the preparation of a patient for an anticipated
development and/or situational crisis.
What is the purpose of NPO status prior to procedures utilizing sedation? Can a patient who is
NPO still take all morning medications with small sips of water? What about essential
medications such as beta blockers and anti-diabetic medications? - ANSWER-Usually NPO after
midnight
Some surgeries/procedures-clear liquids up to 2 hours before procedure
Necessary AM meds (with small sips of water) are still given (BP, BG)
NPO reduces risk of pulmonary aspiration (during or after surgery)
,Name the 3 components of Prehab and describe the nursing responsibility associated with each.
- ANSWER-1. Oral cleansing: perox-a-mint hydrogen peroxide solution
o 2.skin antisepsis: chlorhexidine gluconate cloths
o 3.Nasal Antisepsis: povidone iodine solution
How would you explain to a patient the purpose of Prehab? - ANSWER-To reduce the risk of SSI
and HAI in patients
Briefly explain the key roles of the OR team members. - ANSWER-Perioperative nurse/circulating
Nurse
Pt. advocate throughout the intraoperative experience
Scrub nurse or surg tech
Assists with sterile procedures
Surgeon
Performs procedure
Surgeon assistant (may be a nurse)
Assists surgeon wherever assistance is needed
Anesthesia care provider (ACP)
Anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
What is a surgical Time Out? What is verified during this safety procedure? (See Video) -
ANSWER-Surgical time out is when everyone in the OR pauses and take time to go over the five
rights so to speak. The make sure they have the right patient, are performing the right
procedure, doing the procedure in the correct place, verifying if the patient has any allergies,
and making sure everything needed is there.
Name the priority assessments in the PACU. - ANSWER-Airway
Breathing
Circulation-especially important in joint surgery
GI-nausea, vomiting, aspiration
, GU-output after surgery
Neuro-LOC, alertness, compared to baseline
Surgical Site-oozing and draining
v Discuss what is unique to general anesthesia assessments vs. spinal/epidural. - ANSWER-
General: complete assessment of respiratory, cardiovascular, & neuro status.
Expected findings: normal respiratory, cardiovascular and neuro status.
Spinal/epidural: assess respiratory, neuro & check HA, SCM's in lower extremities, ability to bear
weight on legs & spinal injection site (posterior back) dressing. Ability feel bladder fullness may
not be present.
Expected Findings: normal respiratory and neuro status, dressing on back dry and intact, report
any yellow drainage, injection site without s/sx infection/fever. Normal SCM's with return of full
lower leg sensations and ability to bear weight.
What are the 4 "Ps" associated with hourly rounds? - ANSWER-Position, Pain, Potty, Possession
List six different factors that can influence a patient's pain perception and expression of
discomfort (pain). - ANSWER-Misconceptions (it's supposed to hurt)
Fears of addiction
May not be honest
Can't communicate symptoms/condition well (dementia)
cultural/spiritual beliefs
Accessibility to medical care of meds
Write a pain assessment documentation using the 7 variables of symptom analysis. - ANSWER-
O~onset: when did the pain start?
L~location:where is the pain on your body?
D~duration:how long has the pain lasted?
C~Characteristics: what is the pain like? Is it sharp, shooting, aching, dull, throbbing,
burning...etc...
A~alleviating/aggravating: what are you doing to make the pain go away? What is happening to
make the pain worse?
R~Radiation: does the pain radiate to anywhere?
