The patient tells the nurse in the preoperative setting that she has
noticed she has a reaction when wearing rubber gloves. What is the
most appropriate intervention?
a. Notify the surgeon so the case can be cancelled.
b. Ask additional questions to assess for a possible latex allergy.
c. Notify the OR staff immediately so that latex-free supplies can be used.
d. No intervention is needed because the patient's rubber sensitivity has no
bearing on surgery.
Correct answer: b
Rationale: The nurse should ask additional screening questions to determine
the patient's risk for a latex allergy. Latex precaution protocols should be
used for patients identified as having a positive latex allergy test result or a
history of signs and symptoms related to latex exposure. Many health care
facilities have created latex-free product carts that can be used for patients
with latex allergies.
A 59-year-old man is scheduled for a herniorrhaphy in 2 days.
During the preoperative evaluation, he reports that he takes ginkgo
daily. What is the priority intervention?
a. Inform the surgeon, since the procedure may need to be rescheduled.
b. Notify the anesthesia care provider, since this herb interferes with
anesthetics.
c. Ask the patient if he has noticed any side effects from taking this herbal
supplement.
d. Tell the patient to continue to take the herbal supplement up to the day
before surgery.
Correct answer: a
Rationale: Ginkgo can increase bleeding during and after surgery. The
surgeon should determine how long it should be discontinued before surgery.
A 17-year-old patient with a leg fracture is scheduled for surgery. She reports
that she is living with a friend and is an emancipated minor. She has a
statement from the court for verification. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
a. Witness the permit after consent is obtained by the surgeon.
, b. Call a parent or legal guardian to sign the permit, since the patient is
under 18.
c. Obtain verbal consent, since written consent is not necessary for
emancipated minors.
d. Investigate your state's nurse practice act related to emancipated minors
and informed consent.
Correct answer: a
Rationale: An emancipated minor may sign his or her own permit. The nurse
should be available to witness the signature, but no further action is
required.
A priority nursing intervention to assist a preoperative patient in coping with
fear of postoperative pain would be to
a. informs the patient that pain medication will be available.
b. teach the patient to use guided imagery to help manage pain.
c. describe the type of pain expected with the patient's particular surgery.
d. explain the pain management plan, including the use of a pain rating
scale.
Correct answer: d
Rationale: If a patient has fear of pain and discomfort after surgery, the
nurse should reassure the patient that a pain management plan will be in
place. The nurse should teach the patient to ask for medications after
surgery when pain is present and assure him or her that taking these
medications will not contribute to an addiction. The nurse should instruct the
patient on the use of some form of pain rating scale (e.g., 0 to 10, FACES)
and to request pain medication before the pain becomes severe.
A patient is scheduled for surgery requiring general anesthesia at an
ambulatory surgical center. The nurse asks him when he ate last. He replies
that he had a light breakfast a couple of hours before coming to the surgery
center. What should the nurse do first?
a. Tell the patient to come back tomorrow, since he ate a meal.
b. Proceed with the preoperative checklist, including site identification.
c. Notify the anesthesia care provider of when and what the patient last ate.
noticed she has a reaction when wearing rubber gloves. What is the
most appropriate intervention?
a. Notify the surgeon so the case can be cancelled.
b. Ask additional questions to assess for a possible latex allergy.
c. Notify the OR staff immediately so that latex-free supplies can be used.
d. No intervention is needed because the patient's rubber sensitivity has no
bearing on surgery.
Correct answer: b
Rationale: The nurse should ask additional screening questions to determine
the patient's risk for a latex allergy. Latex precaution protocols should be
used for patients identified as having a positive latex allergy test result or a
history of signs and symptoms related to latex exposure. Many health care
facilities have created latex-free product carts that can be used for patients
with latex allergies.
A 59-year-old man is scheduled for a herniorrhaphy in 2 days.
During the preoperative evaluation, he reports that he takes ginkgo
daily. What is the priority intervention?
a. Inform the surgeon, since the procedure may need to be rescheduled.
b. Notify the anesthesia care provider, since this herb interferes with
anesthetics.
c. Ask the patient if he has noticed any side effects from taking this herbal
supplement.
d. Tell the patient to continue to take the herbal supplement up to the day
before surgery.
Correct answer: a
Rationale: Ginkgo can increase bleeding during and after surgery. The
surgeon should determine how long it should be discontinued before surgery.
A 17-year-old patient with a leg fracture is scheduled for surgery. She reports
that she is living with a friend and is an emancipated minor. She has a
statement from the court for verification. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
a. Witness the permit after consent is obtained by the surgeon.
, b. Call a parent or legal guardian to sign the permit, since the patient is
under 18.
c. Obtain verbal consent, since written consent is not necessary for
emancipated minors.
d. Investigate your state's nurse practice act related to emancipated minors
and informed consent.
Correct answer: a
Rationale: An emancipated minor may sign his or her own permit. The nurse
should be available to witness the signature, but no further action is
required.
A priority nursing intervention to assist a preoperative patient in coping with
fear of postoperative pain would be to
a. informs the patient that pain medication will be available.
b. teach the patient to use guided imagery to help manage pain.
c. describe the type of pain expected with the patient's particular surgery.
d. explain the pain management plan, including the use of a pain rating
scale.
Correct answer: d
Rationale: If a patient has fear of pain and discomfort after surgery, the
nurse should reassure the patient that a pain management plan will be in
place. The nurse should teach the patient to ask for medications after
surgery when pain is present and assure him or her that taking these
medications will not contribute to an addiction. The nurse should instruct the
patient on the use of some form of pain rating scale (e.g., 0 to 10, FACES)
and to request pain medication before the pain becomes severe.
A patient is scheduled for surgery requiring general anesthesia at an
ambulatory surgical center. The nurse asks him when he ate last. He replies
that he had a light breakfast a couple of hours before coming to the surgery
center. What should the nurse do first?
a. Tell the patient to come back tomorrow, since he ate a meal.
b. Proceed with the preoperative checklist, including site identification.
c. Notify the anesthesia care provider of when and what the patient last ate.
