nur 116 - Davis Advantage /
Edge - Postoperative Care
Exam Questions and Correct
Solutions
The client is prescribed patient-controlled analgesia pump for pain control. What important education is
needed?
To continue to push the button for the best pain control.
Only the patient can push the button, no one else.
The medication is delivered intramuscularly.
NSAIDS are commonly delivered via this route. - Correct Answers: Only the patient can push the button,
no one else.
Which of these situations are important for the nurse to include in hand-off from the PACU to the
inpatient unit? Select all that apply.
Surgical procedure
Surgical complications
Admitting diagnosis
Current vital signs
Pre-surgical blood work - Correct Answers: Surgical procedure
Surgical complications
Current vital signs
The post-anesthesia care unit nurse should administer pain medications based on which assessment
findings in a patient who remains very drowsy? Select all that apply.
Restlessness
Relaxed jaw
Pupil dilation
Heart rate of 118 beats/minute
, Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/minute - Correct Answers: Restlessness
Heart rate of 118 beats/minute
A patient has undergone general anesthesia during hip replacement surgery. The nurse should perform
which priority assessment when the patient first arrives to the post-anesthesia care unit?
Ability to ambulate safely
Understanding of post-operative care
Vital signs evaluation
Check surgical wound - Correct Answers: Vital signs evaluation
What is a common laboratory test done postoperatively? Select all that apply.
PT/PTT
BUN, creatinine
Glucose
Hematocrit/hemoglobin
Liver function tests - Correct Answers: PT/PTT
BUN, creatinine
Glucose
Hematocrit/hemoglobin
The postoperative period begins with admission to the postanesthesia care unit, or PACU, and ends
when the patient is healed and complications are resolved.
There are three phases of postoperative care. Phase I, the immediate recovery phase, occurs in the
PACU. Phase II takes place in a "step down" or discharge area. Phase III occurs only when patients
require extended observation before discharge. Let's walk through phases I and II.
Immediately after surgery, the PACU nurse receives a report from a member of the anesthesia care
team. This report will contain a general patient report, pharmacological report, procedural report from
the circulating RN, and a detailed anesthetic report.
In phase I, the nurse performs intensive care immediately after surgery during emergence from
anesthesia. The PACU nurse will note that a phase I patient may be drowsy, have unstable blood
pressure, require supplemental oxygen or airway - Correct Answers:
Edge - Postoperative Care
Exam Questions and Correct
Solutions
The client is prescribed patient-controlled analgesia pump for pain control. What important education is
needed?
To continue to push the button for the best pain control.
Only the patient can push the button, no one else.
The medication is delivered intramuscularly.
NSAIDS are commonly delivered via this route. - Correct Answers: Only the patient can push the button,
no one else.
Which of these situations are important for the nurse to include in hand-off from the PACU to the
inpatient unit? Select all that apply.
Surgical procedure
Surgical complications
Admitting diagnosis
Current vital signs
Pre-surgical blood work - Correct Answers: Surgical procedure
Surgical complications
Current vital signs
The post-anesthesia care unit nurse should administer pain medications based on which assessment
findings in a patient who remains very drowsy? Select all that apply.
Restlessness
Relaxed jaw
Pupil dilation
Heart rate of 118 beats/minute
, Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/minute - Correct Answers: Restlessness
Heart rate of 118 beats/minute
A patient has undergone general anesthesia during hip replacement surgery. The nurse should perform
which priority assessment when the patient first arrives to the post-anesthesia care unit?
Ability to ambulate safely
Understanding of post-operative care
Vital signs evaluation
Check surgical wound - Correct Answers: Vital signs evaluation
What is a common laboratory test done postoperatively? Select all that apply.
PT/PTT
BUN, creatinine
Glucose
Hematocrit/hemoglobin
Liver function tests - Correct Answers: PT/PTT
BUN, creatinine
Glucose
Hematocrit/hemoglobin
The postoperative period begins with admission to the postanesthesia care unit, or PACU, and ends
when the patient is healed and complications are resolved.
There are three phases of postoperative care. Phase I, the immediate recovery phase, occurs in the
PACU. Phase II takes place in a "step down" or discharge area. Phase III occurs only when patients
require extended observation before discharge. Let's walk through phases I and II.
Immediately after surgery, the PACU nurse receives a report from a member of the anesthesia care
team. This report will contain a general patient report, pharmacological report, procedural report from
the circulating RN, and a detailed anesthetic report.
In phase I, the nurse performs intensive care immediately after surgery during emergence from
anesthesia. The PACU nurse will note that a phase I patient may be drowsy, have unstable blood
pressure, require supplemental oxygen or airway - Correct Answers:
