NURS 2124 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
A+ 2022/2023 UPDATE ASSUARED SUCCESS
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient scheduled for an elective hysterectomy tells the nurse, I am afraid that I
will die in surgery like my mother did! Which response by the nurse is most
appropriate?
a. Tell me more about what happened to your mother.
b. You will receive medications to reduce your anxiety.
ANS: A
The patients statement may indicate an unusually high anxiety level or a family
history of problems such as malignant hyperthermia, which will require precautions
during surgery. The other statements may also address the patients concerns, but
further assessment is needed first.
2. A patient arrives at the ambulatory surgery center for a scheduled laparoscopy
procedure in outpatient surgery. Which information is of most concern to the
nurse?
a. The patient is planning to drive home after surgery.
b. The patient had a sip of water 4 hours before arriving.
c. The patients insurance does not cover outpatient surgery.
d. The patient has not had surgery using general anesthesia before.
ANS: A
After outpatient surgery, the patient should not drive home and will need assistance
with transportation and home care. The patients experience with surgery is assessed,
but it does not have as much application to the patients physiologic safety. The
patients insurance coverage is important to establish, but this is not usually the nurses
role or a priority in nursing care. Having clear liquids a few hours before surgery
does not usually increase risk for aspiration.
3. A 38-year-old female is admitted for an elective surgical procedure. Which
,NURS 2124 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
A+ 2022/2023 UPDATE ASSUARED SUCCESS
information obtained by the nurse during the preoperative assessment is most
important to report to the anesthesiologist before surgery?
a. The patients lack of knowledge about postoperative pain
control measures
b. The patients statement that her last menstrual period was 8
weeks previously
c. The patients history of a postoperative infection following a
prior cholecystectomy
d. The patients concern that she will be unable to care for her
children postoperatively
ANS: B
This statement suggests that the patient may be pregnant, and pregnancy testing is
needed before administration of anesthetic agents. Although the other data may also
be communicated with the surgeon and anesthesiologist, they will affect
postoperative care and do not indicate a need for further assessment before surgery.
4. A patient who has never had any prior surgeries tells the nurse doing the
preoperative assessment about an allergy to bananas and avocados. Which action
is most important for the nurse to take?
a. Notify the dietitian about the food allergies.
b. Alert the surgery center about a possible latex allergy.
c. Reassure the patient that all allergies are noted on the medical record.
d. Ask whether the patient uses antihistamines to reduce allergic reactions.
ANS: B
Certain food allergies (e.g., eggs, avocados, bananas, chestnuts, potatoes, peaches)
are related to latex allergies. When a patient is allergic to latex, special nonlatex
materials are used during surgical procedures, and the staff will need to know about
the allergy in advance to obtain appropriate nonlatex materials and have them
available during surgery. The other actions also may be appropriate, but prevention of
allergic reaction during surgery is the most important action.
,NURS 2124 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
A+ 2022/2023 UPDATE ASSUARED SUCCESS
5. A patient who is scheduled for a therapeutic abortion tells the nurse, Having an
abortion is not right. Which functional health pattern should the nurse further
assess?
a. Value-belief
ANS: A
The value-belief pattern includes information about conflicts between a patients
values and proposed medical care. In the cognitive-perceptual pattern, the nurse will
ask questions about pain and sensory intactness. The sexuality-reproductive pattern
includes data about the impact of the surgery on the patients sexuality. The coping-
stress tolerance pattern assessment will elicit information about how the patient feels
about the surgery.
6. A patient undergoing an emergency appendectomy has been using St. Johns wort to
prevent depression. Which complication would the nurse expect in the postanesthesia
care unit?
a. Increased pain
b. Hypertensive episodes
c. Longer time to recover from anesthesia
d. Increased risk for postoperative bleeding
ANS: C
St. Johns wort may prolong the effects of anesthetic agents and increase the time to
waken completely after surgery. It is not associated with increased bleeding risk,
hypertension, or increased pain.
7. The surgical unit nurse has just received a patient with a history of smoking
from the postanesthesia care unit. Which action is most important at this time?
a. Auscultate for adventitious breath sounds.
, NURS 2124 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
A+ 2022/2023 UPDATE ASSUARED SUCCESS
b. Obtain the patients blood pressure and temperature.
c. Remind the patient about harmful effects of smoking.
d. Ask the health care provider about prescribing a nicotine patch.
ANS: A
The nurse should first ensure a patent airway and check for breathing and circulation
(airway, breathing, and circulation [ABCs]). Circulation and temperature can be
assessed after a patent airway and breathing have been established. The immediate
postoperative period is not the optimal time for patient teaching about the harmful
effects of surgery. Requesting a nicotine patch may be appropriate, but is not a
priority at this time.
8. The nurse obtains a health history from a patient who is scheduled for elective hip
surgery in 1 week. The patient reports use of garlic and ginkgo biloba. Which action
by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Ascertain that there will be no interactions with anesthetic agents.
b. Teach the patient that these products may be continued preoperatively.
c. Advise the patient to stop the use of all herbs and supplements
at this time.
d. Discuss the herb and supplement use with the patients health
care provider.
ANS: D
Both garlic and ginkgo biloba increase a patients risk for bleeding. The nurse should
discuss the herb and supplement use with the patients health care provider. The nurse
should not advise the patient to stop the supplements or to continue them without
consulting with the health care provider. Determining the interactions between the
supplements and anesthetics is not within the nurses scope of practice.
A+ 2022/2023 UPDATE ASSUARED SUCCESS
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient scheduled for an elective hysterectomy tells the nurse, I am afraid that I
will die in surgery like my mother did! Which response by the nurse is most
appropriate?
a. Tell me more about what happened to your mother.
b. You will receive medications to reduce your anxiety.
ANS: A
The patients statement may indicate an unusually high anxiety level or a family
history of problems such as malignant hyperthermia, which will require precautions
during surgery. The other statements may also address the patients concerns, but
further assessment is needed first.
2. A patient arrives at the ambulatory surgery center for a scheduled laparoscopy
procedure in outpatient surgery. Which information is of most concern to the
nurse?
a. The patient is planning to drive home after surgery.
b. The patient had a sip of water 4 hours before arriving.
c. The patients insurance does not cover outpatient surgery.
d. The patient has not had surgery using general anesthesia before.
ANS: A
After outpatient surgery, the patient should not drive home and will need assistance
with transportation and home care. The patients experience with surgery is assessed,
but it does not have as much application to the patients physiologic safety. The
patients insurance coverage is important to establish, but this is not usually the nurses
role or a priority in nursing care. Having clear liquids a few hours before surgery
does not usually increase risk for aspiration.
3. A 38-year-old female is admitted for an elective surgical procedure. Which
,NURS 2124 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
A+ 2022/2023 UPDATE ASSUARED SUCCESS
information obtained by the nurse during the preoperative assessment is most
important to report to the anesthesiologist before surgery?
a. The patients lack of knowledge about postoperative pain
control measures
b. The patients statement that her last menstrual period was 8
weeks previously
c. The patients history of a postoperative infection following a
prior cholecystectomy
d. The patients concern that she will be unable to care for her
children postoperatively
ANS: B
This statement suggests that the patient may be pregnant, and pregnancy testing is
needed before administration of anesthetic agents. Although the other data may also
be communicated with the surgeon and anesthesiologist, they will affect
postoperative care and do not indicate a need for further assessment before surgery.
4. A patient who has never had any prior surgeries tells the nurse doing the
preoperative assessment about an allergy to bananas and avocados. Which action
is most important for the nurse to take?
a. Notify the dietitian about the food allergies.
b. Alert the surgery center about a possible latex allergy.
c. Reassure the patient that all allergies are noted on the medical record.
d. Ask whether the patient uses antihistamines to reduce allergic reactions.
ANS: B
Certain food allergies (e.g., eggs, avocados, bananas, chestnuts, potatoes, peaches)
are related to latex allergies. When a patient is allergic to latex, special nonlatex
materials are used during surgical procedures, and the staff will need to know about
the allergy in advance to obtain appropriate nonlatex materials and have them
available during surgery. The other actions also may be appropriate, but prevention of
allergic reaction during surgery is the most important action.
,NURS 2124 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
A+ 2022/2023 UPDATE ASSUARED SUCCESS
5. A patient who is scheduled for a therapeutic abortion tells the nurse, Having an
abortion is not right. Which functional health pattern should the nurse further
assess?
a. Value-belief
ANS: A
The value-belief pattern includes information about conflicts between a patients
values and proposed medical care. In the cognitive-perceptual pattern, the nurse will
ask questions about pain and sensory intactness. The sexuality-reproductive pattern
includes data about the impact of the surgery on the patients sexuality. The coping-
stress tolerance pattern assessment will elicit information about how the patient feels
about the surgery.
6. A patient undergoing an emergency appendectomy has been using St. Johns wort to
prevent depression. Which complication would the nurse expect in the postanesthesia
care unit?
a. Increased pain
b. Hypertensive episodes
c. Longer time to recover from anesthesia
d. Increased risk for postoperative bleeding
ANS: C
St. Johns wort may prolong the effects of anesthetic agents and increase the time to
waken completely after surgery. It is not associated with increased bleeding risk,
hypertension, or increased pain.
7. The surgical unit nurse has just received a patient with a history of smoking
from the postanesthesia care unit. Which action is most important at this time?
a. Auscultate for adventitious breath sounds.
, NURS 2124 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
A+ 2022/2023 UPDATE ASSUARED SUCCESS
b. Obtain the patients blood pressure and temperature.
c. Remind the patient about harmful effects of smoking.
d. Ask the health care provider about prescribing a nicotine patch.
ANS: A
The nurse should first ensure a patent airway and check for breathing and circulation
(airway, breathing, and circulation [ABCs]). Circulation and temperature can be
assessed after a patent airway and breathing have been established. The immediate
postoperative period is not the optimal time for patient teaching about the harmful
effects of surgery. Requesting a nicotine patch may be appropriate, but is not a
priority at this time.
8. The nurse obtains a health history from a patient who is scheduled for elective hip
surgery in 1 week. The patient reports use of garlic and ginkgo biloba. Which action
by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Ascertain that there will be no interactions with anesthetic agents.
b. Teach the patient that these products may be continued preoperatively.
c. Advise the patient to stop the use of all herbs and supplements
at this time.
d. Discuss the herb and supplement use with the patients health
care provider.
ANS: D
Both garlic and ginkgo biloba increase a patients risk for bleeding. The nurse should
discuss the herb and supplement use with the patients health care provider. The nurse
should not advise the patient to stop the supplements or to continue them without
consulting with the health care provider. Determining the interactions between the
supplements and anesthetics is not within the nurses scope of practice.
