pre-op/post op care of patients Exam 2026
Questions and Answers
Which types of nourishment should the nurse include when initiating a prescribed
clear liquid diet for a postoperative client who has a gag reflex after surgery under
general anesthesia? Select all that apply. - Correct answer-Coffee
Ice chips
Beef broth
Lemon flavored gelatin
A client is admitted to the surgical unit postoperatively with a self-suction Jackson-
Pratt wound drain in place. The nurse determines the drain is functioning correctly
with which observations? Select all that apply. - Correct answer-The bulb container
is fully compressed.
Bright red bloody drainage is present in the bulb container.
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,The nurse is caring for a postoperative client who is being monitored by pulse
oximetry. Which is an expected measurement determined by the pulse oximeter? -
Correct answer-Oxygen saturation 95% to 100%; blood pressure 120/80 to 130/80
mm Hg
The nurse in the primary health care provider's office is measuring vital signs on a
postoperative client who underwent mastectomy of her right breast 2 weeks ago.
The client tells the nurse that she is very concerned because she has numbness in
the area of the surgery and along the inner side of the arm from the armpit to the
elbow. Which statement is appropriate for the nurse to tell the client? - Correct
answer-"These sensations lessen over several months and usually are gone after 1
year."
The nurse receives a client in the surgical unit who was transferred from the
postanesthesia care unit. The nurse checks the client for which data first? - Correct
answer-A patent airway
The nurse is reviewing the preoperative prescriptions of a client with a colon tumor
who is scheduled for abdominal perineal resection. The nurse notes that the
primary health care provider has prescribed neomycin sulfate orally for the client.
Which is the rationale for prescribing this medication? - Correct answer-To
decrease the bacteria in the bowel
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, Intravenous (IV) lactated Ringer's (LR) solution is prescribed for a postoperative
abdominal surgery client. A nursing student is caring for the client, and the nursing
instructor asks the student about why this IV solution is prescribed. Which student
response is correct? - Correct answer-"LR is isotonic to plasma and contains
electrolytes"
A client who had knee surgery 4 days ago reports to the home health nurse that he
has not had a bowel movement since before the surgery. Which questions would
assist the nurse in the collection of data regarding the client's problem? Select all
that apply. - Correct answer-"What have you been eating and drinking since the
surgery?"
"Have you been experiencing any urge to move your bowels?"
"What kind and how often have you been taking medications for pain?"
When performing a surgical dressing change of a client's abdominal dressing, the
nurse notes an increase in the amount of drainage and separation of the incision
line. The underlying tissue is visible to the nurse. The nurse should plan to take
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Questions and Answers
Which types of nourishment should the nurse include when initiating a prescribed
clear liquid diet for a postoperative client who has a gag reflex after surgery under
general anesthesia? Select all that apply. - Correct answer-Coffee
Ice chips
Beef broth
Lemon flavored gelatin
A client is admitted to the surgical unit postoperatively with a self-suction Jackson-
Pratt wound drain in place. The nurse determines the drain is functioning correctly
with which observations? Select all that apply. - Correct answer-The bulb container
is fully compressed.
Bright red bloody drainage is present in the bulb container.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,The nurse is caring for a postoperative client who is being monitored by pulse
oximetry. Which is an expected measurement determined by the pulse oximeter? -
Correct answer-Oxygen saturation 95% to 100%; blood pressure 120/80 to 130/80
mm Hg
The nurse in the primary health care provider's office is measuring vital signs on a
postoperative client who underwent mastectomy of her right breast 2 weeks ago.
The client tells the nurse that she is very concerned because she has numbness in
the area of the surgery and along the inner side of the arm from the armpit to the
elbow. Which statement is appropriate for the nurse to tell the client? - Correct
answer-"These sensations lessen over several months and usually are gone after 1
year."
The nurse receives a client in the surgical unit who was transferred from the
postanesthesia care unit. The nurse checks the client for which data first? - Correct
answer-A patent airway
The nurse is reviewing the preoperative prescriptions of a client with a colon tumor
who is scheduled for abdominal perineal resection. The nurse notes that the
primary health care provider has prescribed neomycin sulfate orally for the client.
Which is the rationale for prescribing this medication? - Correct answer-To
decrease the bacteria in the bowel
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Intravenous (IV) lactated Ringer's (LR) solution is prescribed for a postoperative
abdominal surgery client. A nursing student is caring for the client, and the nursing
instructor asks the student about why this IV solution is prescribed. Which student
response is correct? - Correct answer-"LR is isotonic to plasma and contains
electrolytes"
A client who had knee surgery 4 days ago reports to the home health nurse that he
has not had a bowel movement since before the surgery. Which questions would
assist the nurse in the collection of data regarding the client's problem? Select all
that apply. - Correct answer-"What have you been eating and drinking since the
surgery?"
"Have you been experiencing any urge to move your bowels?"
"What kind and how often have you been taking medications for pain?"
When performing a surgical dressing change of a client's abdominal dressing, the
nurse notes an increase in the amount of drainage and separation of the incision
line. The underlying tissue is visible to the nurse. The nurse should plan to take
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
