ATI Pre and Post-operative Nursing Care
practice Questions & Answers-Updated for
2023
The nurse recognizes the value of leg exercises in the prevention of postoperative
thrombophlebtitis. When should the nurse teach the correct technique for leg exercises to a
patient?
a. upon transfer from post anesthetic care unit to the post surgical unit
b. prior to surgery
c. when early signs of venous stasis are evident
d. in post anesthetic recovery - Ans | >> B
The nurse is providing teaching to a patient regarding pain control after surgery. What time does
the nurse inform the patient is the best time to request pain medication?
a. before the pain becomes severe
b. after the pain becomes severe and relaxation techniques have failed
c. when the patient experiences pain rating of "10" on a 1-10 pain scale
d. when there is no pain, but it is time for the medication to be administered - Ans | >> A
Which of the following nursing interventions is most likely to prevent respiratory complications
such as pneumonia and atelectasis in a post surgical patient?
a. control of anxiety and agitation
b. adequate nutrition and fluids
c. adequate pain control
d. use of incentive spirometry - Ans | >> D
Which of the following patients most likely requires special preoperative assessment and
treatment as a result of his or her existing medication regimen?
a. a woman who take daily anticoagulants to treat atrial fib.
b. a woman who takes a daily thyroid supplement to treat her longstanding hypothyroidism.
c. a man who regularly treats his rehumatoid arthritis with OTC NSAIDs.
d. a man who takes an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor because he has hypertension -
Ans | >> A
A pediatric nurse is preparing a child for cleft palate repair surgery. The nurse recognizes that
this type of surgery is categorized as which of the following?
a. constructive surgery
b. transplantation surgery
c. palliative surgery
d. reconstructive surgery - Ans | >> A
,A PACU nurse has received a semiconscious patient form the operating room and reviews the
chart for orders related to positioning of the patient. There are no specific orders on the chart
related to specific orders for the patient's position. in this situation, in what position will the
nurse place the patient?
a. supine
b. prone
c. side-lying
d. trendelenburg - Ans | >> C
A patient is returning to the floor after orthopedic surgery is complaining of nausea. the nurse is
aware that an appropriate intervention is to do which of the following?
a. avoid strong smelling foods
b. hold all meds
c. provide clear liquids with a straw
d. avoid oral hygiene until nausea subsides - Ans | >> A
The operating room is aware that which of the following patients are at a greater risk related to a
surgical procedure?
a. an 8 year old boy
b. a 48 year old man
c. an 83 year old woman
d. a 34 year old woman - Ans | >> C
The nurse has entered the room of a patient who is postop day one and found the patient
grimacing and guarding her incision. The patient refuses the nurse's offer of PRN anlgesia and
on discussion, states that this refusal is motivated by his fear of becoming addicted to pain meds.
How should the nurse respond to the patient's concerns?
a. "Actually people who are not addicted to drugs before thier surgery never develop a tolerance
or addiction during recovery."
b. "The hospital has excellent resources for dealing with any addiction that might result from the
pain med you take."
c. "Research has shown that there is very little risk of patients becoming addicted to painkillers
after they have surgery."
d. "You should remind yourself that treating your pain is important now, and that dealing with
any resulting dependency can come later." - Ans | >> C
A 51 year old woman with a dx of breast cancer has been scheduled for a unilateral mastectomy.
Which of the following categorizations of surgical procedures are represented in this case?
a. diagnostic
b. constructive
c. reconstructive
d. palliative
e. ablative - Ans | >> A, E
The telemetry unit nurse is reviewing lab results for an operative procedure later in the day. The
nurse notes on the lab report that the pt has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. The nurse
,informs the physician of this lab result because the nurse recognizes this increases the pts risk for
which of the following?
a. infection
b. cardiac problems
c. bleeding and anemia
d. fluid imbalances - Ans | >> B
The nurse is preparing a pt for a colonoscopy. The nurse is familiar with the colonoscopy
procedures at the hospital and is are that which type of anesthesia is commonly used for this
procedure?
a. conscious sedation
b. spinal anesthesia
c. epidural anesthesia
d. nerve block - Ans | >> A
The nurse is preparing to send a patient to the operating room for an exploratory laparoscopy.
The nurse recognizes that there is no informed consent. The nurse informs the physician who is
performing the procedure. The physician asks the nurse to obtain the informed consent signature
from the pt. What is the nurses best action to the request?
a. Inform the physician that it is his or her responsibility to obtain the signature
b. inform the physician that the nurse manager will need to obtain the signature
c. call the house officer to obtain the signature
d. obtain the signature and ask another nurse to cosign the signature - Ans | >> A
A 54 year old female pt has been scheduled for a bunionectomy which will be conducted on an
ambulatory basis. Which of the following characteristics applies to this type of surgery?
a. the pt will be admitted the day of surgery and return home the same day
b. the surgery is classified as urgent rather than elective
c. the surgery will be conducted using moderate sedation rather than general anesthesia
d. the pt must be previously healthy with low surgical risks - Ans | >> A
Upon assessment, a pt reports that he drinks 5-6 beers every evening after work. Based upon this
information, the nurse is aware that the pt may require which of the following?
a. larger doses of anethetic agents and larger doses of post op analgesics
b. lower does of anesthetic agents and lower does of post op analgesics
c. larger does of anesthetic agents and lower does of post op analgesics
d. lower doses of anesthetic agents and larger doses of post op analgesics - Ans | >> A
Following a successful coronary artery bypass graft, a 71 year old male pt has been transferred to
the PACU. What is the priority for the pt's nursing care during this stage of recovery?
a. protecting and maintaining airway
b. positioning the pt to prevent skin breakdown
c. treating the pts pain
d. preventing incisional infection and monitoring for s/s of infection - Ans | >> A
, A pt has presented to a clinic for a presurgical consult, during which the pt has expressed
concern about having to fast before surgery. Current recommendations for preop fasting include
which of the following?
a. pts generally must eat or drink nothing after midnight the night before surgery
b. new recommendations allow eating and drinking until just prior to anesthetic being
administered
c. pts can usually eat or drink up to 2 hours prior to surgery
d. preop fasting is still often recommended, even though it is medically unnecessary - Ans | >> C
A pt had an open cholecystectomy 36 hours earlier, and the nurse's assessment this morning
confirms that the pt has not yet had a bowel movement since prior to surgery. How should the
nurse best respond to this assessment finding?
a. increase the rate of the pts IV infusion
b. contact the physician to come assess the pt
c. administer a cleansing enema
d. monitor the pt closely and promote fluid intake - Ans | >> D
In order to prevent the possibility of venous stasis, a nurse is teachning a surgical pt how to
perform leg exercises. Which of the pt's following statement indicates a sound understanding of
leg exercises?
a. "I'll practice these now and try to start them as soon as I can after my surgery."
b. "I'll make sure to do these, as long as my doctor doesn't tell me to stay on bedrest after my
operation.
c. "I'm pretty sure my stomach muscles are strong enough to lift both my legs off the bed at the
same time"
d. "I'll try to do these lying on my stomach so that I can bend my knees more fully." - Ans | >> A
Upon admission for an appendectomy, the pt provides the nurse with a document that specifies
instructions his healthcare team should follow in the event he is unable to communicate these
wishes post op. What is the document best known as?
a. informed consent
b. pt's bill of rights
c. insurance card
d. advance directive - Ans | >> D
1.A 67-year-old male patient is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) after abdominal
surgery. Which assessment, if made by the nurse, is the best indicator of respiratory depression?
Increased respiratory rate
Decreased oxygen saturation
Increased carbon dioxide pressure
Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) - Ans | >> Increased carbon dioxide
pressure
Transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (PtcCO2) monitoring is a sensitive indicator of
respiratory depression. Increased CO2 pressures would indicate respiratory depression. Clinical
practice Questions & Answers-Updated for
2023
The nurse recognizes the value of leg exercises in the prevention of postoperative
thrombophlebtitis. When should the nurse teach the correct technique for leg exercises to a
patient?
a. upon transfer from post anesthetic care unit to the post surgical unit
b. prior to surgery
c. when early signs of venous stasis are evident
d. in post anesthetic recovery - Ans | >> B
The nurse is providing teaching to a patient regarding pain control after surgery. What time does
the nurse inform the patient is the best time to request pain medication?
a. before the pain becomes severe
b. after the pain becomes severe and relaxation techniques have failed
c. when the patient experiences pain rating of "10" on a 1-10 pain scale
d. when there is no pain, but it is time for the medication to be administered - Ans | >> A
Which of the following nursing interventions is most likely to prevent respiratory complications
such as pneumonia and atelectasis in a post surgical patient?
a. control of anxiety and agitation
b. adequate nutrition and fluids
c. adequate pain control
d. use of incentive spirometry - Ans | >> D
Which of the following patients most likely requires special preoperative assessment and
treatment as a result of his or her existing medication regimen?
a. a woman who take daily anticoagulants to treat atrial fib.
b. a woman who takes a daily thyroid supplement to treat her longstanding hypothyroidism.
c. a man who regularly treats his rehumatoid arthritis with OTC NSAIDs.
d. a man who takes an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor because he has hypertension -
Ans | >> A
A pediatric nurse is preparing a child for cleft palate repair surgery. The nurse recognizes that
this type of surgery is categorized as which of the following?
a. constructive surgery
b. transplantation surgery
c. palliative surgery
d. reconstructive surgery - Ans | >> A
,A PACU nurse has received a semiconscious patient form the operating room and reviews the
chart for orders related to positioning of the patient. There are no specific orders on the chart
related to specific orders for the patient's position. in this situation, in what position will the
nurse place the patient?
a. supine
b. prone
c. side-lying
d. trendelenburg - Ans | >> C
A patient is returning to the floor after orthopedic surgery is complaining of nausea. the nurse is
aware that an appropriate intervention is to do which of the following?
a. avoid strong smelling foods
b. hold all meds
c. provide clear liquids with a straw
d. avoid oral hygiene until nausea subsides - Ans | >> A
The operating room is aware that which of the following patients are at a greater risk related to a
surgical procedure?
a. an 8 year old boy
b. a 48 year old man
c. an 83 year old woman
d. a 34 year old woman - Ans | >> C
The nurse has entered the room of a patient who is postop day one and found the patient
grimacing and guarding her incision. The patient refuses the nurse's offer of PRN anlgesia and
on discussion, states that this refusal is motivated by his fear of becoming addicted to pain meds.
How should the nurse respond to the patient's concerns?
a. "Actually people who are not addicted to drugs before thier surgery never develop a tolerance
or addiction during recovery."
b. "The hospital has excellent resources for dealing with any addiction that might result from the
pain med you take."
c. "Research has shown that there is very little risk of patients becoming addicted to painkillers
after they have surgery."
d. "You should remind yourself that treating your pain is important now, and that dealing with
any resulting dependency can come later." - Ans | >> C
A 51 year old woman with a dx of breast cancer has been scheduled for a unilateral mastectomy.
Which of the following categorizations of surgical procedures are represented in this case?
a. diagnostic
b. constructive
c. reconstructive
d. palliative
e. ablative - Ans | >> A, E
The telemetry unit nurse is reviewing lab results for an operative procedure later in the day. The
nurse notes on the lab report that the pt has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. The nurse
,informs the physician of this lab result because the nurse recognizes this increases the pts risk for
which of the following?
a. infection
b. cardiac problems
c. bleeding and anemia
d. fluid imbalances - Ans | >> B
The nurse is preparing a pt for a colonoscopy. The nurse is familiar with the colonoscopy
procedures at the hospital and is are that which type of anesthesia is commonly used for this
procedure?
a. conscious sedation
b. spinal anesthesia
c. epidural anesthesia
d. nerve block - Ans | >> A
The nurse is preparing to send a patient to the operating room for an exploratory laparoscopy.
The nurse recognizes that there is no informed consent. The nurse informs the physician who is
performing the procedure. The physician asks the nurse to obtain the informed consent signature
from the pt. What is the nurses best action to the request?
a. Inform the physician that it is his or her responsibility to obtain the signature
b. inform the physician that the nurse manager will need to obtain the signature
c. call the house officer to obtain the signature
d. obtain the signature and ask another nurse to cosign the signature - Ans | >> A
A 54 year old female pt has been scheduled for a bunionectomy which will be conducted on an
ambulatory basis. Which of the following characteristics applies to this type of surgery?
a. the pt will be admitted the day of surgery and return home the same day
b. the surgery is classified as urgent rather than elective
c. the surgery will be conducted using moderate sedation rather than general anesthesia
d. the pt must be previously healthy with low surgical risks - Ans | >> A
Upon assessment, a pt reports that he drinks 5-6 beers every evening after work. Based upon this
information, the nurse is aware that the pt may require which of the following?
a. larger doses of anethetic agents and larger doses of post op analgesics
b. lower does of anesthetic agents and lower does of post op analgesics
c. larger does of anesthetic agents and lower does of post op analgesics
d. lower doses of anesthetic agents and larger doses of post op analgesics - Ans | >> A
Following a successful coronary artery bypass graft, a 71 year old male pt has been transferred to
the PACU. What is the priority for the pt's nursing care during this stage of recovery?
a. protecting and maintaining airway
b. positioning the pt to prevent skin breakdown
c. treating the pts pain
d. preventing incisional infection and monitoring for s/s of infection - Ans | >> A
, A pt has presented to a clinic for a presurgical consult, during which the pt has expressed
concern about having to fast before surgery. Current recommendations for preop fasting include
which of the following?
a. pts generally must eat or drink nothing after midnight the night before surgery
b. new recommendations allow eating and drinking until just prior to anesthetic being
administered
c. pts can usually eat or drink up to 2 hours prior to surgery
d. preop fasting is still often recommended, even though it is medically unnecessary - Ans | >> C
A pt had an open cholecystectomy 36 hours earlier, and the nurse's assessment this morning
confirms that the pt has not yet had a bowel movement since prior to surgery. How should the
nurse best respond to this assessment finding?
a. increase the rate of the pts IV infusion
b. contact the physician to come assess the pt
c. administer a cleansing enema
d. monitor the pt closely and promote fluid intake - Ans | >> D
In order to prevent the possibility of venous stasis, a nurse is teachning a surgical pt how to
perform leg exercises. Which of the pt's following statement indicates a sound understanding of
leg exercises?
a. "I'll practice these now and try to start them as soon as I can after my surgery."
b. "I'll make sure to do these, as long as my doctor doesn't tell me to stay on bedrest after my
operation.
c. "I'm pretty sure my stomach muscles are strong enough to lift both my legs off the bed at the
same time"
d. "I'll try to do these lying on my stomach so that I can bend my knees more fully." - Ans | >> A
Upon admission for an appendectomy, the pt provides the nurse with a document that specifies
instructions his healthcare team should follow in the event he is unable to communicate these
wishes post op. What is the document best known as?
a. informed consent
b. pt's bill of rights
c. insurance card
d. advance directive - Ans | >> D
1.A 67-year-old male patient is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) after abdominal
surgery. Which assessment, if made by the nurse, is the best indicator of respiratory depression?
Increased respiratory rate
Decreased oxygen saturation
Increased carbon dioxide pressure
Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) - Ans | >> Increased carbon dioxide
pressure
Transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (PtcCO2) monitoring is a sensitive indicator of
respiratory depression. Increased CO2 pressures would indicate respiratory depression. Clinical
