NSG 123 Medical Surgical Nursing – Exam 1 Content: Perioperative Care,
Anesthesia, Informed Consent, PACU, Complications | Q&A | Grade A | 100%
Correct (Verified Answers) – Nursing Program
Subject: Medical-Surgical Nursing I – Perioperative Nursing: Surgery Classification (Emergent, Urgent,
Elective); Informed Consent (Elements, Who Can Sign); Preoperative Assessment (Nutrition, Smoking
Cessation 30 Days, Aspirin 7-10 Days, Diuretics, Diabetes); Intraoperative Phase (Scrub Nurse, Circulating
Nurse, RNFA Roles; Anesthesia Types – Local, Regional, General, Moderate Sedation; Malignant
Hyperthermia – Tachycardia First Sign, Late Sign Temperature Rise, Treatment); Postoperative Phase
(PACU Phases I, II, III; Aldrete Score; Primary Goal: Maintain Ventilation & Prevent
Hypoxemia/Hypercapnia); Complications (Atelectasis, Hemorrhage, DVT, Orthostatic Hypotension,
Decreased Cardiac Output)
Source: NSG 123 Exam 1 Lecture Questions – Latest 2026/2027 Curriculum
Format: Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationale
1. Surgery classification based on degree of urgency: emergent is scheduled within 24 to 30 hours (e.g., acute
gallbladder infection). True or False?
Correct Answer: False. Emergent is without delay; urgent is 24-30 hours.
1. Emergent surgery: life-threatening, immediate intervention (e.g., trauma, ruptured aneurysm).
2. Urgent surgery: within 24-30 hours (e.g., acute gallbladder infection).
3. Elective surgery: planned, can be scheduled weeks to months in advance.
2. It is the doctor's responsibility to provide appropriate information concerning surgery and obtain the written
surgical consent. True or False?
Correct Answer: True. Nurse witnesses confirmed consent. If patient does not understand, call doctor
back to re-educate them. Emergency and they are not awake is an exception.
1. Informed consent: patient must understand procedure, risks, benefits, alternatives.
2. Nurse signs as witness to patient's signature, not as provider of information.
3. What information needs to be included in valid informed consent?
Correct Answer: Patient signature, procedure, risks & benefits, what exactly is going to be done during
procedure.
1. Informed consent must be voluntary, given by a competent person, and include understanding.
2. Emergency exception: if patient unconscious and life-threatening, consent implied.
4. Who is able to sign their informed consent?
Correct Answer: Over age of 18 and mentally competent. Legally appointed representative of family
may consent if patient is a minor, unconscious, or mentally incompetent.
1. Emancipated minors can consent for themselves in some states.
2. Parental consent required for non-emancipated minors.
, 5. Any nutritional deficiency prior to surgery should be corrected before surgery to provide adequate protein for
tissue repair and collagen deposition. True or False?
Correct Answer: True. Check especially in patients who are on corticosteroids, diabetes, dehydration,
and malnourishment.
1. Malnutrition impairs wound healing and increases infection risk.
2. Protein, vitamin C, zinc are essential for collagen synthesis.
6. Patients who smoke are urged to stop 1 to 3 weeks before surgery to significantly reduce pulmonary and wound
healing complications. True or False?
Correct Answer: False. Stop smoking 30 days prior.
1. Smoking cessation at least 4-6 weeks recommended to improve ciliary function and reduce pulmonary complications.
2. Smoking impairs tissue oxygenation and wound healing.
7. Aspirin, a common over-the-counter (OTC) medication that inhibits platelet aggregation, should be prudently
discontinued 7 to 10 days before surgery or the patient may be at increased risk for bleeding. True or False?
Correct Answer: True. Anything that will cause clotting issues.
1. Aspirin irreversibly inhibits platelet function for 7-10 days.
2. Other antiplatelet agents (clopidogrel) also need to be held; NSAIDs may need to be held 24-48 hours.
8. Which medication classification must be assessed during the preoperative period because it can cause an
electrolyte imbalance during surgery?
Correct Answer: Diuretics.
1. Diuretics can cause hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and hypovolemia.
2. Electrolyte imbalances increase risk of cardiac dysrhythmias during anesthesia.
9. What are patients with diabetes at a higher risk for with surgery? & why?
Correct Answer: The patient with diabetes is at risk for hypoglycemia either during anesthesia or
postoperatively. WHY? Inadequate carbohydrates or excessive administration of insulin.
1. NPO status and stress of surgery affect blood glucose.
2. Monitor blood glucose closely; sliding scale insulin may be used.
10. Why is food and fluid withheld before surgery?
Correct Answer: The purpose of withholding food and fluid before surgery is to prevent aspiration.
1. NPO guidelines: clear liquids up to 2 hours before, light meal up to 6 hours, heavy meal up to 8 hours.
2. Aspiration pneumonitis (Mendelson syndrome) is a serious complication.
11. Obese patients are at higher risk for what kind of postoperative complications? & why?
Correct Answer: Pulmonary Complications. An obese patient tends to have shallow respirations when
supine, increasing the risk of hypoventilation and postoperative pulmonary complications.
1. Wound dehiscence, DVT, and surgical site infections also increased.
2. Positioning and transport may require specialized equipment.
Anesthesia, Informed Consent, PACU, Complications | Q&A | Grade A | 100%
Correct (Verified Answers) – Nursing Program
Subject: Medical-Surgical Nursing I – Perioperative Nursing: Surgery Classification (Emergent, Urgent,
Elective); Informed Consent (Elements, Who Can Sign); Preoperative Assessment (Nutrition, Smoking
Cessation 30 Days, Aspirin 7-10 Days, Diuretics, Diabetes); Intraoperative Phase (Scrub Nurse, Circulating
Nurse, RNFA Roles; Anesthesia Types – Local, Regional, General, Moderate Sedation; Malignant
Hyperthermia – Tachycardia First Sign, Late Sign Temperature Rise, Treatment); Postoperative Phase
(PACU Phases I, II, III; Aldrete Score; Primary Goal: Maintain Ventilation & Prevent
Hypoxemia/Hypercapnia); Complications (Atelectasis, Hemorrhage, DVT, Orthostatic Hypotension,
Decreased Cardiac Output)
Source: NSG 123 Exam 1 Lecture Questions – Latest 2026/2027 Curriculum
Format: Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationale
1. Surgery classification based on degree of urgency: emergent is scheduled within 24 to 30 hours (e.g., acute
gallbladder infection). True or False?
Correct Answer: False. Emergent is without delay; urgent is 24-30 hours.
1. Emergent surgery: life-threatening, immediate intervention (e.g., trauma, ruptured aneurysm).
2. Urgent surgery: within 24-30 hours (e.g., acute gallbladder infection).
3. Elective surgery: planned, can be scheduled weeks to months in advance.
2. It is the doctor's responsibility to provide appropriate information concerning surgery and obtain the written
surgical consent. True or False?
Correct Answer: True. Nurse witnesses confirmed consent. If patient does not understand, call doctor
back to re-educate them. Emergency and they are not awake is an exception.
1. Informed consent: patient must understand procedure, risks, benefits, alternatives.
2. Nurse signs as witness to patient's signature, not as provider of information.
3. What information needs to be included in valid informed consent?
Correct Answer: Patient signature, procedure, risks & benefits, what exactly is going to be done during
procedure.
1. Informed consent must be voluntary, given by a competent person, and include understanding.
2. Emergency exception: if patient unconscious and life-threatening, consent implied.
4. Who is able to sign their informed consent?
Correct Answer: Over age of 18 and mentally competent. Legally appointed representative of family
may consent if patient is a minor, unconscious, or mentally incompetent.
1. Emancipated minors can consent for themselves in some states.
2. Parental consent required for non-emancipated minors.
, 5. Any nutritional deficiency prior to surgery should be corrected before surgery to provide adequate protein for
tissue repair and collagen deposition. True or False?
Correct Answer: True. Check especially in patients who are on corticosteroids, diabetes, dehydration,
and malnourishment.
1. Malnutrition impairs wound healing and increases infection risk.
2. Protein, vitamin C, zinc are essential for collagen synthesis.
6. Patients who smoke are urged to stop 1 to 3 weeks before surgery to significantly reduce pulmonary and wound
healing complications. True or False?
Correct Answer: False. Stop smoking 30 days prior.
1. Smoking cessation at least 4-6 weeks recommended to improve ciliary function and reduce pulmonary complications.
2. Smoking impairs tissue oxygenation and wound healing.
7. Aspirin, a common over-the-counter (OTC) medication that inhibits platelet aggregation, should be prudently
discontinued 7 to 10 days before surgery or the patient may be at increased risk for bleeding. True or False?
Correct Answer: True. Anything that will cause clotting issues.
1. Aspirin irreversibly inhibits platelet function for 7-10 days.
2. Other antiplatelet agents (clopidogrel) also need to be held; NSAIDs may need to be held 24-48 hours.
8. Which medication classification must be assessed during the preoperative period because it can cause an
electrolyte imbalance during surgery?
Correct Answer: Diuretics.
1. Diuretics can cause hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and hypovolemia.
2. Electrolyte imbalances increase risk of cardiac dysrhythmias during anesthesia.
9. What are patients with diabetes at a higher risk for with surgery? & why?
Correct Answer: The patient with diabetes is at risk for hypoglycemia either during anesthesia or
postoperatively. WHY? Inadequate carbohydrates or excessive administration of insulin.
1. NPO status and stress of surgery affect blood glucose.
2. Monitor blood glucose closely; sliding scale insulin may be used.
10. Why is food and fluid withheld before surgery?
Correct Answer: The purpose of withholding food and fluid before surgery is to prevent aspiration.
1. NPO guidelines: clear liquids up to 2 hours before, light meal up to 6 hours, heavy meal up to 8 hours.
2. Aspiration pneumonitis (Mendelson syndrome) is a serious complication.
11. Obese patients are at higher risk for what kind of postoperative complications? & why?
Correct Answer: Pulmonary Complications. An obese patient tends to have shallow respirations when
supine, increasing the risk of hypoventilation and postoperative pulmonary complications.
1. Wound dehiscence, DVT, and surgical site infections also increased.
2. Positioning and transport may require specialized equipment.
