TEST BANK FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING 6TH EDITION BY WILLIAMS
Test Bank - Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6e (Williams and Hopper) 167
Chapter 12. Nursing Care of Patients Having Surgery
Chapter 12. Nursing Care of Patients Having Surgery
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. A patient who is NPO (nothing by mouth) for scheduled surgery has been on long-term oral steroid
therapy and should receive a dose of Prednisone 10 mg by mouth at 0600. Which action should the nurse take?
a.Notify the registered nurse (RN).
b.Ask why the patient is taking steroid therapy.
c.Give the oral steroid with a small sip of water.
d.Contact the pharmacy to obtain an intravenous (IV) equivalent
dose.
____ 2. A patient recovering from an abdominal hysterectomy is experiencing abdominal gas pain. Which
action should the nurse take?
a.Offer a hot beverage.
b.Provide an extra blanket.
c.Help the patient ambulate.
d.Apply an abdominal
binder.
____ 3. A patient scheduled for surgery the next morning is withdrawn, sad and states a fear of the surgery.
How should the nurse respond to this patient?
a.Be happy because this surgery will help you.
b.I would be scared, too. You will make NURSINGKING.COM
it through.
c.Its normal to be scared. What is it that scares you?
d.Dont be so concerned. Everything will be all
right.
____ 4. A patient is prescribed to receive morphine sulfate 8 mg intramuscularly (IM) prior to surgery. The
medication available is 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse give to the patient?
a.0.25
mL
b.0.5 mL
c.0.8 mL
d.1.25
mL
____ 5. The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from surgery. Which outcome should the nurse identify as
being the most important to address the nursing diagnosis of Pain related to surgical incision?
a.Patient reports pain using a pain scale.
b.Patient states pain relief is satisfactory.
c.Patient states normal coping techniques for pain.
d.Patient states alternative techniques to minimize
pain.
____ 6. The nurse answers a patients call light and finds the patient sitting up in bed with a wound
evisceration. What action should the nurse take first?
a.Notify the physician immediately.
b.Apply gentle pressure over the wound.
c.Place the patient in low Fowlers position.
d.Cover the wound with sterile saline-soaked
NURSINGKING.COM
,TEST BANK FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING 6TH EDITION BY WILLIAMS
Test Bank - Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6e (Williams and Hopper) 168
towels.
____ 7. A patient recovering from surgery becomes restless, has a drop in blood pressure, increase in heart
rate, and is breathing at a rate of 30 per minute. Which action should the nurse take first?
a.Monitor vital signs.
b.Maintain a patent airway.
c.Notify the patients family.
d.Ensure physician is
informed.
____ 8. The nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a surgical patient. What should the nurse recognize as
the most common human response to the stress associated with surgery?
a.Fear
b.Anxiety
c.Delirium
d.Depression
____ 9. The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for surgery. Which nursing action should the nurse
use to address the patients psychological concerns?
a.Provide privacy to allow the patient to ask questions.
b.Use correct, technical medical terminology in explanations.
c.Instruct the patient to ask the surgeon all surgical questions.
d.Provide information to a patient who says, I do not want to
know.
____ 10. A patient scheduled for a nephrectomy states that the surgeon said this surgery is considered a
curative procedure. Which responses should the nurse make to the patient?
a.It is considered palliative surgery. NURSINGKING.COM
b.No, it is an exploratory procedure.
c.No, it is considered diagnostic surgery.
d.Yes, it can be classified as a curative
procedure.
____ 11. The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled fora liver biopsy. For which category of surgical
procedures should the nurse plan care for this patient?
a.Curative
b.Palliative
c.Diagnostic
d.Preventive
____ 12. The nurse identifies the diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance as appropriate for a patient
recovering from surgery. Which outcome should the nurse identify for this patient?
a.Explains coughing and deep breathing exercises
b.Explains rationale for coughing and deep breathing exercises
c.Correctly demonstrates coughing and deep breathing exercises
d.Observes demonstration of coughing and deep breathing
exercises
____ 13. The nurse is assisting in the preparation of patients for surgery. Which patient should the nurse
recognize as being in the best condition for surgery and at lower risk for complications?
a.A 66-year-old patient who is obese
b.A 55-year-old patient who is a marathon runner
c.A 23-year-old patient 30 pounds less than ideal weight
d.A 40-year-old patient who plans to quit smoking after
surgery
NURSINGKING.COM
, TEST BANK FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING 6TH EDITION BY WILLIAMS
Test Bank - Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6e (Williams and Hopper) 169
____ 14. A patient scheduled for surgery is to receive anesthesia that causes a total loss of sensation and a
complete loss of consciousness. What term should the nurse use to document this patients type of anesthesia?
a.Local anesthesia
b.Spinal anesthesia
c.General anesthesia
d.Epidural anesthesia
____ 15. The nurse is contributing to the preoperative patients plan of care. Which patient statement should
alert the nurse to plan interventions to help prevent postoperative complications?
a.I am 60 years old and in good health.
b.This is my second surgery in 2 years.
c.I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
d.I have not had anything to eat or drink for 8
hours.
____ 16. The nurse is caring for a patient who had spinal anesthesia. Which effect from spinal anesthesia may
influence the safety of the patient when getting out of bed for the first time after surgery?
a.Hypotension
b.Hypertension
c.Hypoventilation
d.Hyperventilation
____ 17. The nurse is caring for a patient 23 hours after abdominal surgery. Which finding would require the
nurse to take action?
a.Report of flatus
b.Lack of appetite
c.Abdominal distention
NURSINGKING.COM
d.Hypoactive bowel sounds in four quadrants
____ 18. The nurse is planning to witness an adult patients consent for a knee arthroscopy. What should the
nurse confirm before witnessing the consent?
a.Which is the operative knee
b.Who is driving the patient home
c.What type of job the patient has
d.When the patient last ate or
drank
____ 19. The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from surgery. When the patient is permitted to get out of
bed for the first time postoperatively, which measure should the nurse take to ensure patient safety?
a.Teach the patient to request help before rising.
b.Ensure that two caregivers assist the patient to stand.
c.Have the patient put on nonskid slippers before standing.
d.Dangle the patient at the bedside before standing is
attempted.
____ 20. The nurse is caring for a patient who has developed an increased temperature during the first 24 hours
postoperatively. Which action should the nurse take?
a.Restrict oral fluids.
b.Give antipyretic medication.
c.Encourage coughing and deep breathing.
d.Provide passive range of motion
exercises.
____ 21. A patient scheduled for surgery expresses a fear of dying. What action should the nurse take?
NURSINGKING.COM
Test Bank - Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6e (Williams and Hopper) 167
Chapter 12. Nursing Care of Patients Having Surgery
Chapter 12. Nursing Care of Patients Having Surgery
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. A patient who is NPO (nothing by mouth) for scheduled surgery has been on long-term oral steroid
therapy and should receive a dose of Prednisone 10 mg by mouth at 0600. Which action should the nurse take?
a.Notify the registered nurse (RN).
b.Ask why the patient is taking steroid therapy.
c.Give the oral steroid with a small sip of water.
d.Contact the pharmacy to obtain an intravenous (IV) equivalent
dose.
____ 2. A patient recovering from an abdominal hysterectomy is experiencing abdominal gas pain. Which
action should the nurse take?
a.Offer a hot beverage.
b.Provide an extra blanket.
c.Help the patient ambulate.
d.Apply an abdominal
binder.
____ 3. A patient scheduled for surgery the next morning is withdrawn, sad and states a fear of the surgery.
How should the nurse respond to this patient?
a.Be happy because this surgery will help you.
b.I would be scared, too. You will make NURSINGKING.COM
it through.
c.Its normal to be scared. What is it that scares you?
d.Dont be so concerned. Everything will be all
right.
____ 4. A patient is prescribed to receive morphine sulfate 8 mg intramuscularly (IM) prior to surgery. The
medication available is 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse give to the patient?
a.0.25
mL
b.0.5 mL
c.0.8 mL
d.1.25
mL
____ 5. The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from surgery. Which outcome should the nurse identify as
being the most important to address the nursing diagnosis of Pain related to surgical incision?
a.Patient reports pain using a pain scale.
b.Patient states pain relief is satisfactory.
c.Patient states normal coping techniques for pain.
d.Patient states alternative techniques to minimize
pain.
____ 6. The nurse answers a patients call light and finds the patient sitting up in bed with a wound
evisceration. What action should the nurse take first?
a.Notify the physician immediately.
b.Apply gentle pressure over the wound.
c.Place the patient in low Fowlers position.
d.Cover the wound with sterile saline-soaked
NURSINGKING.COM
,TEST BANK FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING 6TH EDITION BY WILLIAMS
Test Bank - Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6e (Williams and Hopper) 168
towels.
____ 7. A patient recovering from surgery becomes restless, has a drop in blood pressure, increase in heart
rate, and is breathing at a rate of 30 per minute. Which action should the nurse take first?
a.Monitor vital signs.
b.Maintain a patent airway.
c.Notify the patients family.
d.Ensure physician is
informed.
____ 8. The nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a surgical patient. What should the nurse recognize as
the most common human response to the stress associated with surgery?
a.Fear
b.Anxiety
c.Delirium
d.Depression
____ 9. The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for surgery. Which nursing action should the nurse
use to address the patients psychological concerns?
a.Provide privacy to allow the patient to ask questions.
b.Use correct, technical medical terminology in explanations.
c.Instruct the patient to ask the surgeon all surgical questions.
d.Provide information to a patient who says, I do not want to
know.
____ 10. A patient scheduled for a nephrectomy states that the surgeon said this surgery is considered a
curative procedure. Which responses should the nurse make to the patient?
a.It is considered palliative surgery. NURSINGKING.COM
b.No, it is an exploratory procedure.
c.No, it is considered diagnostic surgery.
d.Yes, it can be classified as a curative
procedure.
____ 11. The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled fora liver biopsy. For which category of surgical
procedures should the nurse plan care for this patient?
a.Curative
b.Palliative
c.Diagnostic
d.Preventive
____ 12. The nurse identifies the diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance as appropriate for a patient
recovering from surgery. Which outcome should the nurse identify for this patient?
a.Explains coughing and deep breathing exercises
b.Explains rationale for coughing and deep breathing exercises
c.Correctly demonstrates coughing and deep breathing exercises
d.Observes demonstration of coughing and deep breathing
exercises
____ 13. The nurse is assisting in the preparation of patients for surgery. Which patient should the nurse
recognize as being in the best condition for surgery and at lower risk for complications?
a.A 66-year-old patient who is obese
b.A 55-year-old patient who is a marathon runner
c.A 23-year-old patient 30 pounds less than ideal weight
d.A 40-year-old patient who plans to quit smoking after
surgery
NURSINGKING.COM
, TEST BANK FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING 6TH EDITION BY WILLIAMS
Test Bank - Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6e (Williams and Hopper) 169
____ 14. A patient scheduled for surgery is to receive anesthesia that causes a total loss of sensation and a
complete loss of consciousness. What term should the nurse use to document this patients type of anesthesia?
a.Local anesthesia
b.Spinal anesthesia
c.General anesthesia
d.Epidural anesthesia
____ 15. The nurse is contributing to the preoperative patients plan of care. Which patient statement should
alert the nurse to plan interventions to help prevent postoperative complications?
a.I am 60 years old and in good health.
b.This is my second surgery in 2 years.
c.I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
d.I have not had anything to eat or drink for 8
hours.
____ 16. The nurse is caring for a patient who had spinal anesthesia. Which effect from spinal anesthesia may
influence the safety of the patient when getting out of bed for the first time after surgery?
a.Hypotension
b.Hypertension
c.Hypoventilation
d.Hyperventilation
____ 17. The nurse is caring for a patient 23 hours after abdominal surgery. Which finding would require the
nurse to take action?
a.Report of flatus
b.Lack of appetite
c.Abdominal distention
NURSINGKING.COM
d.Hypoactive bowel sounds in four quadrants
____ 18. The nurse is planning to witness an adult patients consent for a knee arthroscopy. What should the
nurse confirm before witnessing the consent?
a.Which is the operative knee
b.Who is driving the patient home
c.What type of job the patient has
d.When the patient last ate or
drank
____ 19. The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from surgery. When the patient is permitted to get out of
bed for the first time postoperatively, which measure should the nurse take to ensure patient safety?
a.Teach the patient to request help before rising.
b.Ensure that two caregivers assist the patient to stand.
c.Have the patient put on nonskid slippers before standing.
d.Dangle the patient at the bedside before standing is
attempted.
____ 20. The nurse is caring for a patient who has developed an increased temperature during the first 24 hours
postoperatively. Which action should the nurse take?
a.Restrict oral fluids.
b.Give antipyretic medication.
c.Encourage coughing and deep breathing.
d.Provide passive range of motion
exercises.
____ 21. A patient scheduled for surgery expresses a fear of dying. What action should the nurse take?
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