NURS 120 | Medical-Surgical Nursing Week 8 Quiz - Advanced Surgical
Care 2026 |WCU
1. A patient is scheduled for surgery. When witnessing the signing of the
informed consent, which action is the primary responsibility of the nurse?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure.
B. Ensuring the surgeon has described the procedure accurately.
C. Providing alternative treatment options to the patient.
D. Verifying that the patient is competent and the signature is authentic.
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse acts as a witness to verify that the signature is authentic, the patient
is competent, and the consent was given voluntarily. The surgeon is responsible for
explaining the procedure and its risks.
2. A patient in the PACU has a suspected case of malignant hyperthermia. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate administering immediately?
A. Succinylcholine
B. Atropine
C. Epinephrine
D. Dantrolene sodium
Answer: D
Rationale: Dantrolene sodium is a skeletal muscle relaxant and the only specific drug used
to treat malignant hyperthermia by inhibiting calcium release from the sarcoplasmic
reticulum.
,3. Following abdominal surgery, a patient’s wound eviscerates. What is the
nurse’s immediate priority action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity.
B. Place the patient in High Fowler’s position.
C. Cover the protruding organs with sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline.
D. Administer prescribed pain medication immediately.
Answer: C
Rationale: Evisceration is a surgical emergency. The nurse must cover the exposed organs
with sterile saline-soaked dressings to prevent tissue drying and infection while calling for
the surgeon.
4. Which assessment finding in a post-operative patient would be the earliest
indicator of hypovolemic shock?
A. Decreased blood pressure
B. Increased heart rate
C. Decreased urine output
D. Cold, clammy skin
Answer: B
Rationale: Tachycardia is often the earliest sign of hypovolemic shock as the heart
attempts to compensate for reduced circulating volume before the blood pressure begins to
drop.
5. A nurse is performing a ‘Time-Out’ in the operating room. What is the primary
purpose of this protocol?
A. To allow the surgeon to rest before starting.
B. To verify that all surgical instruments are sterile.
C. To ensure the correct patient, correct site, and correct procedure.
D. To check the patient’s insurance authorization.
Answer: C
, Rationale: The universal protocol ‘Time-Out’ is a safety pause performed by the entire
surgical team to verify the identity of the patient and confirm the site and procedure to
prevent errors.
6. Which member of the surgical team remains in the unsterile field and is
responsible for documentation and patient safety monitoring?
A. Scrub Nurse
B. Surgeon
C. Circulating Nurse
D. Surgical Technologist
Answer: C
Rationale: The circulating nurse works in the non-sterile field, manages the nursing care in
the OR, coordinates the team, and maintains the documentation of the procedure.
7. A patient is 12 hours post-op and has not voided. What is the nurse’s first
action?
A. Perform a bladder scan to assess for volume.
B. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter immediately.
C. Increase the IV fluid rate.
D. Notify the surgeon of possible renal failure.
Answer: A
Rationale: A bladder scan is a non-invasive first step to determine if the patient has
urinary retention (full bladder) before proceeding to invasive catheterization.
Care 2026 |WCU
1. A patient is scheduled for surgery. When witnessing the signing of the
informed consent, which action is the primary responsibility of the nurse?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure.
B. Ensuring the surgeon has described the procedure accurately.
C. Providing alternative treatment options to the patient.
D. Verifying that the patient is competent and the signature is authentic.
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse acts as a witness to verify that the signature is authentic, the patient
is competent, and the consent was given voluntarily. The surgeon is responsible for
explaining the procedure and its risks.
2. A patient in the PACU has a suspected case of malignant hyperthermia. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate administering immediately?
A. Succinylcholine
B. Atropine
C. Epinephrine
D. Dantrolene sodium
Answer: D
Rationale: Dantrolene sodium is a skeletal muscle relaxant and the only specific drug used
to treat malignant hyperthermia by inhibiting calcium release from the sarcoplasmic
reticulum.
,3. Following abdominal surgery, a patient’s wound eviscerates. What is the
nurse’s immediate priority action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity.
B. Place the patient in High Fowler’s position.
C. Cover the protruding organs with sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline.
D. Administer prescribed pain medication immediately.
Answer: C
Rationale: Evisceration is a surgical emergency. The nurse must cover the exposed organs
with sterile saline-soaked dressings to prevent tissue drying and infection while calling for
the surgeon.
4. Which assessment finding in a post-operative patient would be the earliest
indicator of hypovolemic shock?
A. Decreased blood pressure
B. Increased heart rate
C. Decreased urine output
D. Cold, clammy skin
Answer: B
Rationale: Tachycardia is often the earliest sign of hypovolemic shock as the heart
attempts to compensate for reduced circulating volume before the blood pressure begins to
drop.
5. A nurse is performing a ‘Time-Out’ in the operating room. What is the primary
purpose of this protocol?
A. To allow the surgeon to rest before starting.
B. To verify that all surgical instruments are sterile.
C. To ensure the correct patient, correct site, and correct procedure.
D. To check the patient’s insurance authorization.
Answer: C
, Rationale: The universal protocol ‘Time-Out’ is a safety pause performed by the entire
surgical team to verify the identity of the patient and confirm the site and procedure to
prevent errors.
6. Which member of the surgical team remains in the unsterile field and is
responsible for documentation and patient safety monitoring?
A. Scrub Nurse
B. Surgeon
C. Circulating Nurse
D. Surgical Technologist
Answer: C
Rationale: The circulating nurse works in the non-sterile field, manages the nursing care in
the OR, coordinates the team, and maintains the documentation of the procedure.
7. A patient is 12 hours post-op and has not voided. What is the nurse’s first
action?
A. Perform a bladder scan to assess for volume.
B. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter immediately.
C. Increase the IV fluid rate.
D. Notify the surgeon of possible renal failure.
Answer: A
Rationale: A bladder scan is a non-invasive first step to determine if the patient has
urinary retention (full bladder) before proceeding to invasive catheterization.
