NUR 124 Final Practice Test Questions
The nurse is preparing a client for surgery. Which of the following items on the client's
presurgery lab results would indicate a need to contact the surgeon?
a) Platelet count of 325,000 mm3
b) Total cholesterol of 325 mg/dL
c) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 17 mg/dL
d) Hemoglobin 9.5 g/dL - correct answer d) Hemoglobin 9.5 g/dL
The hemoglobin level is low, and the nurse needs to make sure the surgeon has the most
recent laboratory values before surgery. This client may need a transfusion before surgery. The
cholesterol is elevated but is not a concern before surgery. The platelets and the BUN are
within normal limits. (Potter, Perry, 7 ed., pp. 1376-1377.)
In the recovery room, the postoperative client suddenly becomes restless with circumoral
cyanosis. What is the first nursing action?
a) Begin administration of oxygen through a nasal cannula.
b) Call for assistance.
c) Reposition the head and determine patency of airway.
d) Insert an oral airway and suction the nasopharynx. - correct answer c) Reposition the head
and determine patency of airway.
It is important to determine whether the airway is patent and whether the client is breathing. If
a significant amount of mucus and gurgling are noted in the upper airway, the client should be
suctioned. Insertion of an oral airway may be necessary to maintain an open airway, but the
airway must be assessed before determining a course of action. Inserting an airway will not
solve the problem if the client is not breathing. (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper et al, 8 ed., pp. 366-
368.)
,The nurse is preparing the preoperative client for surgery. Which of the following statements
indicate to the nurse that the client is knowledgeable about his impending surgery? Select all
that apply.
a) "After surgery, I will need to wear the pneumatic compression device while sitting in the
chair."
b) "The skin prep area is going to be longer and wider than the anticipated incision."
c) "I cannot have anything to drink or eat after midnight on the night before the surgery."
d) "To ensure my safety, a time-out for identification will be conducted in the operating room
before surgery."
e) "I will be given the consent form, and I will sign it after I get to the operating room." - correct
answer b, c, d
Having the skin prep area being longer and wider than the actual incision, maintaining NPO
status after midnight, and performing the time-out identification indicate a correct
understanding of the preoperative teaching. The pneumatic compression device is worn during
bed rest and is removed when the client is out of bed or ambulating. The informed consent
document should be signed before preoperative medication administration and before the
client enters the operating room. Part of safety standards is to initiate a time-out in the
operating room before the surgery is started. (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, et al, 8 ed., pp. 341-
343.)
A client is scheduled for major surgery. What is most important for the nurse to do before
surgery?
a) Remove all jewelry or tape wedding rings.
b) Verify that all laboratory work is complete.
c) Inform family or next of kin of recovery procedure.
d) Check that consent forms are signed. - correct answer d) Check that consent forms are
signed.
Consent forms must be signed by the client, family, or guardian with medical power of attorney
before any procedure can be done. Consent forms also must be signed before the client
,receives any narcotics or medications that would affect his reasoning. These medications are
frequently in the preoperative medications ordered. (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, et al, 8 ed.,
pp. 344-346.)
The nurse is caring for a first-day postoperative surgical client. Prioritize the client's desired
dietary progression by numbering the following from 1 to 4 (with 1 being the first step and 4
being the last step).
_Full liquid
_NPO
_Clear liquid
_Soft - correct answer 1) NPO
2) Clear liquid
3) Full liquid
4) Soft
The client's status is NPO immediately after surgery. Desired diet progression advances next to
clear liquid. Desired diet progression then advances to full liquid. Desired diet progression next
advances to a soft diet and then finally to a regular diet as tolerated by the client. (Potter,
Perry, 7 ed., pp. 1404-1405.)
A postoperative patient receives a dinner tray with gelatin, pudding, and vanilla ice cream.
Based on the foods on the client's tray, what would the nurse anticipate the client's current diet
order to be?
a) Bland diet
b) Soft diet
c) Full liquid diet
d) Regular diet - correct answer c) Full liquid diet
A full liquid diet includes liquids, as well as foods that are liquid at room temperature, such as
ice cream, custards, puddings, and some refined cereals. A bland diet consists of foods that are
soft, not very spicy, and low in fiber. A soft diet or low residue includes foods that are low fiber
, and easily digested, such as pastas, casseroles, canned fruits, and vegetables. A regular diet has
no restrictions. (Potter, Perry, 7 ed., pp. 981-984.)
A client returns from surgery. Which data obtained during assessment would indicate the client
is experiencing severe pain?
a) Decreased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, decreased respirations
b) Increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, decreased respirations
c) Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased respirations
d) Decreased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, increased respirations - correct answer c)
Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased respirations
When a client is experiencing severe pain, all body functions are increased, as the sympathetic
response in this instance is stimulated: increased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory
rate. (Lewis, et al, 8 ed., pp. 374-375.)
The nurse is caring for a client with postoperative repair of an aortic aneurysm. What is a
nursing concern regarding a postoperative internal hemorrhage?
a) Hypervolemia may occur when the sequestered blood returns to the vascular system.
b) Signs of shock are more severe because the bleeding is arterial.
c) Initial symptoms may be masked by the size of abdominal cavity and surgical pain.
d) Signs of shock do not appear until permanent damage has occurred. - correct answer c)
Initial symptoms may be masked by the size of abdominal cavity and surgical pain.
Because the bleeding is internal, it is harder to detect, and consequently, the client can lose a
lot of blood before the condition is identified. The accumulation of blood within a confined area
can put pressure on vital organs. For example, 750 mL will occupy enough space in a limb to
cause swelling and pain. With bleeding into the peritoneal cavity; however, the blood will
usually spread throughout the cavity, causing little, if any, initial discomfort. (Lewis, et al, 8 ed.,
pp. 367-372, 869-870.)
Before initiating a preoperative teaching plan for a client scheduled for craniotomy, what is a
priority nursing assessment?
The nurse is preparing a client for surgery. Which of the following items on the client's
presurgery lab results would indicate a need to contact the surgeon?
a) Platelet count of 325,000 mm3
b) Total cholesterol of 325 mg/dL
c) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 17 mg/dL
d) Hemoglobin 9.5 g/dL - correct answer d) Hemoglobin 9.5 g/dL
The hemoglobin level is low, and the nurse needs to make sure the surgeon has the most
recent laboratory values before surgery. This client may need a transfusion before surgery. The
cholesterol is elevated but is not a concern before surgery. The platelets and the BUN are
within normal limits. (Potter, Perry, 7 ed., pp. 1376-1377.)
In the recovery room, the postoperative client suddenly becomes restless with circumoral
cyanosis. What is the first nursing action?
a) Begin administration of oxygen through a nasal cannula.
b) Call for assistance.
c) Reposition the head and determine patency of airway.
d) Insert an oral airway and suction the nasopharynx. - correct answer c) Reposition the head
and determine patency of airway.
It is important to determine whether the airway is patent and whether the client is breathing. If
a significant amount of mucus and gurgling are noted in the upper airway, the client should be
suctioned. Insertion of an oral airway may be necessary to maintain an open airway, but the
airway must be assessed before determining a course of action. Inserting an airway will not
solve the problem if the client is not breathing. (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper et al, 8 ed., pp. 366-
368.)
,The nurse is preparing the preoperative client for surgery. Which of the following statements
indicate to the nurse that the client is knowledgeable about his impending surgery? Select all
that apply.
a) "After surgery, I will need to wear the pneumatic compression device while sitting in the
chair."
b) "The skin prep area is going to be longer and wider than the anticipated incision."
c) "I cannot have anything to drink or eat after midnight on the night before the surgery."
d) "To ensure my safety, a time-out for identification will be conducted in the operating room
before surgery."
e) "I will be given the consent form, and I will sign it after I get to the operating room." - correct
answer b, c, d
Having the skin prep area being longer and wider than the actual incision, maintaining NPO
status after midnight, and performing the time-out identification indicate a correct
understanding of the preoperative teaching. The pneumatic compression device is worn during
bed rest and is removed when the client is out of bed or ambulating. The informed consent
document should be signed before preoperative medication administration and before the
client enters the operating room. Part of safety standards is to initiate a time-out in the
operating room before the surgery is started. (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, et al, 8 ed., pp. 341-
343.)
A client is scheduled for major surgery. What is most important for the nurse to do before
surgery?
a) Remove all jewelry or tape wedding rings.
b) Verify that all laboratory work is complete.
c) Inform family or next of kin of recovery procedure.
d) Check that consent forms are signed. - correct answer d) Check that consent forms are
signed.
Consent forms must be signed by the client, family, or guardian with medical power of attorney
before any procedure can be done. Consent forms also must be signed before the client
,receives any narcotics or medications that would affect his reasoning. These medications are
frequently in the preoperative medications ordered. (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, et al, 8 ed.,
pp. 344-346.)
The nurse is caring for a first-day postoperative surgical client. Prioritize the client's desired
dietary progression by numbering the following from 1 to 4 (with 1 being the first step and 4
being the last step).
_Full liquid
_NPO
_Clear liquid
_Soft - correct answer 1) NPO
2) Clear liquid
3) Full liquid
4) Soft
The client's status is NPO immediately after surgery. Desired diet progression advances next to
clear liquid. Desired diet progression then advances to full liquid. Desired diet progression next
advances to a soft diet and then finally to a regular diet as tolerated by the client. (Potter,
Perry, 7 ed., pp. 1404-1405.)
A postoperative patient receives a dinner tray with gelatin, pudding, and vanilla ice cream.
Based on the foods on the client's tray, what would the nurse anticipate the client's current diet
order to be?
a) Bland diet
b) Soft diet
c) Full liquid diet
d) Regular diet - correct answer c) Full liquid diet
A full liquid diet includes liquids, as well as foods that are liquid at room temperature, such as
ice cream, custards, puddings, and some refined cereals. A bland diet consists of foods that are
soft, not very spicy, and low in fiber. A soft diet or low residue includes foods that are low fiber
, and easily digested, such as pastas, casseroles, canned fruits, and vegetables. A regular diet has
no restrictions. (Potter, Perry, 7 ed., pp. 981-984.)
A client returns from surgery. Which data obtained during assessment would indicate the client
is experiencing severe pain?
a) Decreased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, decreased respirations
b) Increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, decreased respirations
c) Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased respirations
d) Decreased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, increased respirations - correct answer c)
Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased respirations
When a client is experiencing severe pain, all body functions are increased, as the sympathetic
response in this instance is stimulated: increased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory
rate. (Lewis, et al, 8 ed., pp. 374-375.)
The nurse is caring for a client with postoperative repair of an aortic aneurysm. What is a
nursing concern regarding a postoperative internal hemorrhage?
a) Hypervolemia may occur when the sequestered blood returns to the vascular system.
b) Signs of shock are more severe because the bleeding is arterial.
c) Initial symptoms may be masked by the size of abdominal cavity and surgical pain.
d) Signs of shock do not appear until permanent damage has occurred. - correct answer c)
Initial symptoms may be masked by the size of abdominal cavity and surgical pain.
Because the bleeding is internal, it is harder to detect, and consequently, the client can lose a
lot of blood before the condition is identified. The accumulation of blood within a confined area
can put pressure on vital organs. For example, 750 mL will occupy enough space in a limb to
cause swelling and pain. With bleeding into the peritoneal cavity; however, the blood will
usually spread throughout the cavity, causing little, if any, initial discomfort. (Lewis, et al, 8 ed.,
pp. 367-372, 869-870.)
Before initiating a preoperative teaching plan for a client scheduled for craniotomy, what is a
priority nursing assessment?
