83. A client admitted to a local health care facility is to undergo surgery with spinal
anesthesia. Which of the following is the nurse most likely to observe when caring
for this client?
A) Moderate muscle relaxation
B) Loss of feeling in the lower abdomen
C) Hypotension as anesthesia deepens
D) Increase in the client's heart rate Answer: B
Response:
Spinal anesthesia involves the injection of a local anesthetic drug into the subarachnoid
space of the spinal cord. There is a loss of feeling (anesthesia) and movement in the
lower extremities, lower abdomen, and perineum. Spinal anesthesia is not known to
increase a client's heart rate. Spinal anesthesia also does not cause hypotension or
moderate muscle relaxation. Enflurane is a volatile liquid anesthetic that causes
hypotension once it deepens. Halothane, which is a volatile liquid anesthetic, produces
moderate muscle relaxation. Both halothane and enflurane are drugs used for general
anesthesia.
84. A client admitted to a health care facility for an appendectomy receives
methohexital as a general anesthetic. Which of the following would most likely
occur as a result of this medication?
a. Skeletal muscle relaxation
b. Profound analgesia C) CNS depression
D) Neuroleptanalgesia
Answer: C
Response:
Methohexital is an ultrashort-acting barbiturate that depresses the CNS to produce
hypnosis and anesthesia, but it does not produce analgesia. Skeletal muscle relaxation is
caused by skeletal muscle relaxants, halothane, and enflurane. An anesthetic state
characterized by profound analgesia is produced by ketamine, which is a rapid-acting
general anesthetic. Neuroleptanalgesia is caused by a combination of fentanyl and
droperidol.
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, 85. A client is prescribed preanesthetic drugs prior to surgery. Which of the following
nursing interventions should the nurse perform when caring for this client before the
administration of preanesthetic drugs?
a. Explain postoperative client activities.
b. Check the client every 5 to 15 minutes.
c. Assess the respiratory status of the client.
d. Admit the client to an appropriate unit. Answer: A Response:
When caring for a client prescribed preanesthetic drugs, the nurse should demonstrate,
describe, and explain postoperative client activities, such as deep breathing, coughing,
and leg exercises. The nurse should check the client every 5 to 15 minutes for
emergence from anesthesia, but this is done after the administration of anesthesia, not
before. Assessing the respiratory status of the client and admitting the client to an
appropriate unit are both postoperative interventions that a nurse should perform.
Therefore, these are not performed before the administration of preanesthetic drugs and
anesthesia.
86. A client admitted for surgery is to receive general anesthesia. Prior to administering
the prescribed preanesthetic, which of the following would the nurse do? A)
Review the client's surgical and anesthesia records.
B) Position the client to prevent aspiration of vomitus and secretions.
C) Check the chart for any abnormal laboratory test results.
D) Check the airway for patency and assess the respiratory status. Answer: C
Response:
Before surgery and administering the preanesthetic, the nurse should check the client's
chart for any abnormal laboratory test results. Reviewing the client's surgical and
anesthesia records, positioning the client to prevent aspiration of vomitus and secretions,
checking the airway for patency, and assessing the respiratory status are the
postoperative responsibilities of the nurse.
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anesthesia. Which of the following is the nurse most likely to observe when caring
for this client?
A) Moderate muscle relaxation
B) Loss of feeling in the lower abdomen
C) Hypotension as anesthesia deepens
D) Increase in the client's heart rate Answer: B
Response:
Spinal anesthesia involves the injection of a local anesthetic drug into the subarachnoid
space of the spinal cord. There is a loss of feeling (anesthesia) and movement in the
lower extremities, lower abdomen, and perineum. Spinal anesthesia is not known to
increase a client's heart rate. Spinal anesthesia also does not cause hypotension or
moderate muscle relaxation. Enflurane is a volatile liquid anesthetic that causes
hypotension once it deepens. Halothane, which is a volatile liquid anesthetic, produces
moderate muscle relaxation. Both halothane and enflurane are drugs used for general
anesthesia.
84. A client admitted to a health care facility for an appendectomy receives
methohexital as a general anesthetic. Which of the following would most likely
occur as a result of this medication?
a. Skeletal muscle relaxation
b. Profound analgesia C) CNS depression
D) Neuroleptanalgesia
Answer: C
Response:
Methohexital is an ultrashort-acting barbiturate that depresses the CNS to produce
hypnosis and anesthesia, but it does not produce analgesia. Skeletal muscle relaxation is
caused by skeletal muscle relaxants, halothane, and enflurane. An anesthetic state
characterized by profound analgesia is produced by ketamine, which is a rapid-acting
general anesthetic. Neuroleptanalgesia is caused by a combination of fentanyl and
droperidol.
Page 8
, 85. A client is prescribed preanesthetic drugs prior to surgery. Which of the following
nursing interventions should the nurse perform when caring for this client before the
administration of preanesthetic drugs?
a. Explain postoperative client activities.
b. Check the client every 5 to 15 minutes.
c. Assess the respiratory status of the client.
d. Admit the client to an appropriate unit. Answer: A Response:
When caring for a client prescribed preanesthetic drugs, the nurse should demonstrate,
describe, and explain postoperative client activities, such as deep breathing, coughing,
and leg exercises. The nurse should check the client every 5 to 15 minutes for
emergence from anesthesia, but this is done after the administration of anesthesia, not
before. Assessing the respiratory status of the client and admitting the client to an
appropriate unit are both postoperative interventions that a nurse should perform.
Therefore, these are not performed before the administration of preanesthetic drugs and
anesthesia.
86. A client admitted for surgery is to receive general anesthesia. Prior to administering
the prescribed preanesthetic, which of the following would the nurse do? A)
Review the client's surgical and anesthesia records.
B) Position the client to prevent aspiration of vomitus and secretions.
C) Check the chart for any abnormal laboratory test results.
D) Check the airway for patency and assess the respiratory status. Answer: C
Response:
Before surgery and administering the preanesthetic, the nurse should check the client's
chart for any abnormal laboratory test results. Reviewing the client's surgical and
anesthesia records, positioning the client to prevent aspiration of vomitus and secretions,
checking the airway for patency, and assessing the respiratory status are the
postoperative responsibilities of the nurse.
Page 9
