PNH 401 WEEKS 1-4 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
What is malignant hyperthermia risk? - Answer- Life-threatening reaction to certain
anesthetics
When is blood transfusion consent needed? - Answer- Separate consent, may be
included in surgical consent
What is a Penrose drain used for? - Answer- Passive drainage of fluid
What is atelectasis? - Answer- Collapse of lung alveoli
How to prevent atelectasis? - Answer- Deep breathing, coughing, incentive spirometer,
early mobility
What is ileus? - Answer- Post-operative absence of bowel motility
Signs of ileus: - Answer- Absent bowel sounds, abdominal distention, nausea/vomiting
What is urinary retention? - Answer- Inability to empty bladder fully
Intervention for urinary retention: - Answer- Catheterization, bladder scanning
What is dehiscence? - Answer- Partial or total separation of wound layers
What is evisceration? - Answer- Protrusion of internal organs through wound opening
Emergency action for evisceration: - Answer- Cover with sterile saline dressing, call for
help, keep patient NPO
What is a stoma? - Answer- Surgical opening in abdomen for waste elimination
Teaching for patient with stoma: - Answer- Pouch care, skin protection, signs of
complications
What is an advance directive? - Answer- Legal document stating patient's wishes for
medical care
Example of an advance directive: - Answer- Living will, durable power of attorney for
healthcare
, What is HIPAA? - Answer- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (patient
privacy)
What is SBAR? - Answer- Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
(communication tool)
When is SBAR used? - Answer- During handoff, calling provider, reporting changes
What is a never event in surgery? - Answer- Serious preventable error (e.g., wrong-site
surgery)
How to prevent wrong-site surgery? - Answer- Time-out, site marking, verification
checklist
What is a sentinel event? - Answer- Unexpected event causing serious harm or death
What is the nurse's role in sentinel event? - Answer- Report immediately, participate in
root cause analysis
What are the three phases of surgical patient care? - Answer- Pre-operative, intra-
operative, post-operative
What type of surgery does not require an overnight stay? - Answer- Ambulatory / day
surgery
What is a key nursing role in ambulatory surgery? - Answer- Patient teaching (incision
care, pain, diet, activity, drains)
Name three pre-operative risk factors. - Answer- Bleeding disorders, diabetes, heart
disease, sleep apnea, kidney dysfunction, immunosuppression, etc.
What should be included in a pre-op head-to-toe assessment? - Answer- Neurological,
cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, integumentary, endocrine, immune,
fluids/electrolytes, GI
List three common pre-operative tests. - Answer- CBC, electrolytes, coagulation
studies, creatinine/BUN, fasting blood sugar, chest X-ray, ECG
Who is responsible for obtaining informed consent? - Answer- The surgeon
What is the purpose of pre-operative benzodiazepines? - Answer- To reduce anxiety
What are the four main types of anesthesia? - Answer- General, regional, local,
procedural/conscious sedation
What does PACU stand for? - Answer- Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
AND ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
What is malignant hyperthermia risk? - Answer- Life-threatening reaction to certain
anesthetics
When is blood transfusion consent needed? - Answer- Separate consent, may be
included in surgical consent
What is a Penrose drain used for? - Answer- Passive drainage of fluid
What is atelectasis? - Answer- Collapse of lung alveoli
How to prevent atelectasis? - Answer- Deep breathing, coughing, incentive spirometer,
early mobility
What is ileus? - Answer- Post-operative absence of bowel motility
Signs of ileus: - Answer- Absent bowel sounds, abdominal distention, nausea/vomiting
What is urinary retention? - Answer- Inability to empty bladder fully
Intervention for urinary retention: - Answer- Catheterization, bladder scanning
What is dehiscence? - Answer- Partial or total separation of wound layers
What is evisceration? - Answer- Protrusion of internal organs through wound opening
Emergency action for evisceration: - Answer- Cover with sterile saline dressing, call for
help, keep patient NPO
What is a stoma? - Answer- Surgical opening in abdomen for waste elimination
Teaching for patient with stoma: - Answer- Pouch care, skin protection, signs of
complications
What is an advance directive? - Answer- Legal document stating patient's wishes for
medical care
Example of an advance directive: - Answer- Living will, durable power of attorney for
healthcare
, What is HIPAA? - Answer- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (patient
privacy)
What is SBAR? - Answer- Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
(communication tool)
When is SBAR used? - Answer- During handoff, calling provider, reporting changes
What is a never event in surgery? - Answer- Serious preventable error (e.g., wrong-site
surgery)
How to prevent wrong-site surgery? - Answer- Time-out, site marking, verification
checklist
What is a sentinel event? - Answer- Unexpected event causing serious harm or death
What is the nurse's role in sentinel event? - Answer- Report immediately, participate in
root cause analysis
What are the three phases of surgical patient care? - Answer- Pre-operative, intra-
operative, post-operative
What type of surgery does not require an overnight stay? - Answer- Ambulatory / day
surgery
What is a key nursing role in ambulatory surgery? - Answer- Patient teaching (incision
care, pain, diet, activity, drains)
Name three pre-operative risk factors. - Answer- Bleeding disorders, diabetes, heart
disease, sleep apnea, kidney dysfunction, immunosuppression, etc.
What should be included in a pre-op head-to-toe assessment? - Answer- Neurological,
cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, integumentary, endocrine, immune,
fluids/electrolytes, GI
List three common pre-operative tests. - Answer- CBC, electrolytes, coagulation
studies, creatinine/BUN, fasting blood sugar, chest X-ray, ECG
Who is responsible for obtaining informed consent? - Answer- The surgeon
What is the purpose of pre-operative benzodiazepines? - Answer- To reduce anxiety
What are the four main types of anesthesia? - Answer- General, regional, local,
procedural/conscious sedation
What does PACU stand for? - Answer- Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
