Care of Intraoperative Patients (Concepts for
Interprofessional Collaborative Care College Test
, Care of Intraoperative Patients (Concepts for
Interprofessional Collaborative Care College Test
Chapter 15: Care of Intraoperative Patients
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The circulating nurse is plugging in a piece of equipment and notes that the cord is frayed. What action by
the nurse is best?
a. Call maintenance for repair.
b. Check the machine before using.
c. Get another piece of equipment.
d. Notify the charge nurse.
ANS: C
The circulating nurse is responsible for client safety. If an electrical cord is frayed, the risk of fire or sparking
increases. The nurse should obtain a replacement. The nurse should also tag the original equipment for repair
as per agency policy. Checking the equipment is not important as the nurse should not even attempt to use it.
Calling maintenance or requesting maintenance per facility protocol is important, but first ensure client safety
by having a properly working piece of equipment for the procedure about to take place. The charge nurse
probably does need to know of the need for equipment repair, but ensuring client safety is the priority.
2. The circulating nurse and preoperative nurse are reviewing the chart of a client scheduled for minimally
invasive surgery (MIS). What information on the chart needs to be reported to the surgeon as a priority?
a. Allergies noted and allergy band on
b. Consent for MIS procedure only
c. No prior anesthesia exposure
d. NPO status for the last 8 hours
ANS: B
All MIS procedures have the potential for becoming open procedures depending on findings and
complications. The clients consent should include this possibility. The nurse should report this finding to the
surgeon prior to surgery taking place. Having allergies noted and an allergy band applied is standard
procedure. Not having any prior surgical or anesthesia exposure is not the priority. Maintaining NPO status as
prescribed is standard procedure.
3. A client is having robotic surgery. The circulating nurse observes the instruments being inserted, then the
surgeon appears to break scrub when going to the console and sitting down. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Call a time-out to discuss sterile procedure and scrub technique.
b. Document the time the robotic portion of the procedure begins.
c. Inform the surgeon that the scrub preparation has been compromised.
d. Report the surgeons actions to the charge nurse and unit manager.
ANS: B
During a robotic operative procedure, the surgeon inserts the articulating arms into the client, then breaks scrub
to sit at the viewing console to perform the operation. The nurse should document the time the robotic portion
of the procedure began. There is no need for the other interventions.
Interprofessional Collaborative Care College Test
, Care of Intraoperative Patients (Concepts for
Interprofessional Collaborative Care College Test
Chapter 15: Care of Intraoperative Patients
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The circulating nurse is plugging in a piece of equipment and notes that the cord is frayed. What action by
the nurse is best?
a. Call maintenance for repair.
b. Check the machine before using.
c. Get another piece of equipment.
d. Notify the charge nurse.
ANS: C
The circulating nurse is responsible for client safety. If an electrical cord is frayed, the risk of fire or sparking
increases. The nurse should obtain a replacement. The nurse should also tag the original equipment for repair
as per agency policy. Checking the equipment is not important as the nurse should not even attempt to use it.
Calling maintenance or requesting maintenance per facility protocol is important, but first ensure client safety
by having a properly working piece of equipment for the procedure about to take place. The charge nurse
probably does need to know of the need for equipment repair, but ensuring client safety is the priority.
2. The circulating nurse and preoperative nurse are reviewing the chart of a client scheduled for minimally
invasive surgery (MIS). What information on the chart needs to be reported to the surgeon as a priority?
a. Allergies noted and allergy band on
b. Consent for MIS procedure only
c. No prior anesthesia exposure
d. NPO status for the last 8 hours
ANS: B
All MIS procedures have the potential for becoming open procedures depending on findings and
complications. The clients consent should include this possibility. The nurse should report this finding to the
surgeon prior to surgery taking place. Having allergies noted and an allergy band applied is standard
procedure. Not having any prior surgical or anesthesia exposure is not the priority. Maintaining NPO status as
prescribed is standard procedure.
3. A client is having robotic surgery. The circulating nurse observes the instruments being inserted, then the
surgeon appears to break scrub when going to the console and sitting down. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Call a time-out to discuss sterile procedure and scrub technique.
b. Document the time the robotic portion of the procedure begins.
c. Inform the surgeon that the scrub preparation has been compromised.
d. Report the surgeons actions to the charge nurse and unit manager.
ANS: B
During a robotic operative procedure, the surgeon inserts the articulating arms into the client, then breaks scrub
to sit at the viewing console to perform the operation. The nurse should document the time the robotic portion
of the procedure began. There is no need for the other interventions.
