Brunner: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 11th Edition
Test Bank
Chapter 18: Preoperative Nursing Management
Multiple Choice
1. A patient who was admitted through emergency with a bowel obstruction will need surgery.
When can the patient anticipate the surgery will be scheduled?
A) Within 24 hours
B) Within the next week
C) Without delay because the bowel obstruction is emergent
D) Difficult to predict because the surgeon may be unavailable
Ans: C
Chapter: 18
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 6
Patient Needs: D-3
Feedback: A bowel obstruction is considered an emergency, and the patient requires immediate
attention because the disorder may be life threatening.
2. During the preoperative assessment, the patient informs the nurse that he ingests 5 to 10 oz of
alcohol each day and has for the last 15 years. What postoperative difficulties can the nurse
anticipate for this patient?
A) Delirium tremens immediately following surgery
B) Delirium tremens within 72 hours after his last alcohol drink
C) Delirium tremens upon administration of general anesthesia
D) Delirium tremens 1 week after his last alcohol drink
Ans: B
Chapter: 18
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Difficulty: Difficult
, Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 3
Patient Needs: D-3
Feedback: Alcohol withdrawal (delirium tremens) may be anticipated up to 72 hours after the
last alcohol drink. Delirium tremens has a high mortality rate when it occurs postoperatively.
3. How should a nurse teach a patient to perform diaphragmatic breathing?
A) The patient should take three deep breaths and cough hard 3 times.
B) The patient should take three deep breaths and exhale forcefully.
C) The patient should take a deep breath in through the mouth hold the breath for 5 seconds and
exhale all the air out through the nose and mouth.
D) The patient should rapidly inhale, hold for 30 seconds, and exhale slowly.
Ans: C
Chapter: 18
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
Objective: 5
Patient Needs: D-3
Feedback: When the nurse teaches the patient diaphragmatic breathing, the patient is instructed
to take a deep breath in through the mouth, hold the breath for 5 seconds, and exhale all the air
out through the nose and mouth.
4. What is the purpose of teaching leg exercises to a patient prior to surgery?
A) Leg exercises increase the patient's appetite postoperatively.
B) Leg exercises improve circulation and prevent blood clots.
C) Leg exercises help to prevent pressure sores to the sacrum.
D) Leg exercise help increase the patient's level of consciousness after surgery.
Ans: B
Chapter: 18
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
Objective: 5
Patient Needs: D-3
Feedback: When the patient does leg exercises postoperatively, circulation is increased, which
helps to prevent blood clots from forming.
Test Bank
Chapter 18: Preoperative Nursing Management
Multiple Choice
1. A patient who was admitted through emergency with a bowel obstruction will need surgery.
When can the patient anticipate the surgery will be scheduled?
A) Within 24 hours
B) Within the next week
C) Without delay because the bowel obstruction is emergent
D) Difficult to predict because the surgeon may be unavailable
Ans: C
Chapter: 18
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 6
Patient Needs: D-3
Feedback: A bowel obstruction is considered an emergency, and the patient requires immediate
attention because the disorder may be life threatening.
2. During the preoperative assessment, the patient informs the nurse that he ingests 5 to 10 oz of
alcohol each day and has for the last 15 years. What postoperative difficulties can the nurse
anticipate for this patient?
A) Delirium tremens immediately following surgery
B) Delirium tremens within 72 hours after his last alcohol drink
C) Delirium tremens upon administration of general anesthesia
D) Delirium tremens 1 week after his last alcohol drink
Ans: B
Chapter: 18
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Difficulty: Difficult
, Integrated Process: Nursing Process
Objective: 3
Patient Needs: D-3
Feedback: Alcohol withdrawal (delirium tremens) may be anticipated up to 72 hours after the
last alcohol drink. Delirium tremens has a high mortality rate when it occurs postoperatively.
3. How should a nurse teach a patient to perform diaphragmatic breathing?
A) The patient should take three deep breaths and cough hard 3 times.
B) The patient should take three deep breaths and exhale forcefully.
C) The patient should take a deep breath in through the mouth hold the breath for 5 seconds and
exhale all the air out through the nose and mouth.
D) The patient should rapidly inhale, hold for 30 seconds, and exhale slowly.
Ans: C
Chapter: 18
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
Objective: 5
Patient Needs: D-3
Feedback: When the nurse teaches the patient diaphragmatic breathing, the patient is instructed
to take a deep breath in through the mouth, hold the breath for 5 seconds, and exhale all the air
out through the nose and mouth.
4. What is the purpose of teaching leg exercises to a patient prior to surgery?
A) Leg exercises increase the patient's appetite postoperatively.
B) Leg exercises improve circulation and prevent blood clots.
C) Leg exercises help to prevent pressure sores to the sacrum.
D) Leg exercise help increase the patient's level of consciousness after surgery.
Ans: B
Chapter: 18
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
Objective: 5
Patient Needs: D-3
Feedback: When the patient does leg exercises postoperatively, circulation is increased, which
helps to prevent blood clots from forming.
