170L—Unit 1 Practice Questions
Peri-operative, Pain
Peri-operative
1. A post-operative client vomited a large amount of bile-colored fluid. After cleaning the client, what action by
the nurse would be most important?
a. Make the client comfortable and allow the client to rest
b. Auscultate lung sounds
c. Document the episode and include the emesis amount in the I/O
d. Encourage the client to eat a bland diet until nausea subsides
It is important to monitor for aspiration following vomiting.
2. An older adult has been transferred to the post-operative inpatient unit following a surgical procedure. The
family is concerned that the client is not waking up as quickly as expected. Which response by the nurse
would be best based on the family’s concern?
a. Everyone awakens from surgery differently
b. It is important that she rest for the next couple of days.
c. She may have had a stroke during surgery, I have already contacted the surgeon.
d. Sometimes older adults take longer to come out of anesthesia.
Older adults often require extra time to recover from anesthesia.
3. The nurse has just reassessed the condition of a postoperative client who was admitted 1 hour ago to the
surgical unit. Which finding would be most concerning to the nurse?
a. Urine output of 20ml/hour
b. Temperature of 37.6 C
c. Blood pressure of 114/70
d. Serous drainage on the surgical dressing
Urine output should be a minimum of 30mL/hour for an adult. An output of less for 2 consecutive hours should be
reported to the health care provider.
4. A postoperative client asks the nurse why it is so important to deep-breathe and cough after surgery. When
formulating a response, the nurse incorporates the understanding that retained pulmonary secretions in a
postoperative client can lead to which condition?
a. Pneumonia
b. Hypoxemia
c. Fluid imbalance
d. Pulmonary embolism
Postop respiratory problems are atelectasis, pneumonia, and pulmonary emboli. Pneumonia is the inflammation
of lung tissue that causes productive cough, dyspnea, and lung crackles and can be caused by the retention of
pulmonary secretions.
5. The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client scheduled for surgery. The nurse should include which
activity in the nursing care plan for the client on the day of surgery?
a. Avoid oral hygiene and rinsing with mouthwash
b. Verify that the client has not eaten for the last 24 hours
c. Have the client void immediately before going into surgery
d. Report immediately any slight increase in BP or pulse
The nurse would assist the client to void immediately before surgery so that the bladder is empty. Oral hygiene is
allowed, but the client should not swallow any water. The client is NPO for 6 to 8 hours before surgery, not 24
hours. A slight increase in BP and pulse is common during the preop period due to anxiety.
1
This study source was downloaded by 100000804717335 from CourseHero.com on 11-21-2025 04:53:33 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/252042496/KEY-Practice-Questions-Peri-operative-Paindocx/
, 6. A client with a perforated gastric ulcer is scheduled for surgery. The client cannot sign the operative consent
form because an opioid analgesic has been administered. Which nursing action is the most appropriate to
take in the care of this client?
a. Obtain a court order for the surgery.
b. Have the charge nurse sign the informed consent immediately
c. Send the client to surgery without the consent form being signed
d. Obtain telephone consent from a family member, following agency policy
Consent is not obtained from a client who is confused, unconscious, mentally incompetent, or under the influence
of sedatives. If the client is unable to sign the consent, every effort should be made to obtain permission from a
responsible family member. Telephone consent must be witnessed by two persons who hear the family member's
oral consent. The two witnesses then sign the consent with the name of the family member, noting that oral
consent was obtained. In an emergency, a healthcare provider is permitted legally to perform surgery without
consent. Agency policies regarding informed consent should always be followed.
7. A preoperative client expresses anxiety to the nurse about the upcoming surgery. Which response by the
nurse is most likely to stimulate further discussion between the client and the nurse?
a. "If it's any help, everyone is nervous before surgery."
b. "I will be happy to explain the entire surgical procedure with you."
c. "Can you share with me what you've been told about your surgery?"
d. "Let me tell you about the care you'll receive after surgery and the amount of pain you can expect".
Explanations should begin with the information that the client knows. By providing the client with individualized
explanations of care and procedures, the nurse can assist the client in handling anxiety and fear for a smooth
preop experience. Clients who are calm and emotionally prepared for surgery withstand anesthesia better and
experience fewer postoperative complications.
8. The nurse is conducting preoperative teaching with a client about the use of an incentive spirometer. The
nurse should include which piece of information in discussions with the client?
a. Inhale as rapidly as possible at least ten times an hour.
b. Keep a loose seal between the lips and the mouthpiece to prevent hyperventilation.
c. Breathe in deeply and then hold your breath for 20 seconds before exhaling.
d. When using, sit up in bed or elevate the head of the bed 45 to 90 degrees
For optimal lung expansion with the incentive spirometer, the client should assume the semi-to-high fowlers
position. The mouthpiece should be covered completely and tightly while the client inhales slowly. The breath
should be held for 5 seconds before exhaling slowly.
9. The nurse has conducted preoperative teaching for a client scheduled for surgery in 1 week. The client has a
history of arthritis and has been taking acetylsalicylic acid. The nurse determines that the client needs
additional teaching if the client makes which statement?
a. "Aspirin can cause bleeding after surgery."
b. "Aspirin can cause my ability to clot blood to be abnormal."
c. "I need to continue to take the aspirin until the day of surgery."
d. "I need to check with my HCP about the need to stop the aspirin before the scheduled surgery."
10. The nurse assesses a client's surgical incision for signs of infection. Which finding by the nurse would be
interpreted as a normal finding at the surgical site?
a. Red, hard skin
b. Serous drainage
c. Purulent drainage
d. Warm tender skin
2
This study source was downloaded by 100000804717335 from CourseHero.com on 11-21-2025 04:53:33 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/252042496/KEY-Practice-Questions-Peri-operative-Paindocx/
Peri-operative, Pain
Peri-operative
1. A post-operative client vomited a large amount of bile-colored fluid. After cleaning the client, what action by
the nurse would be most important?
a. Make the client comfortable and allow the client to rest
b. Auscultate lung sounds
c. Document the episode and include the emesis amount in the I/O
d. Encourage the client to eat a bland diet until nausea subsides
It is important to monitor for aspiration following vomiting.
2. An older adult has been transferred to the post-operative inpatient unit following a surgical procedure. The
family is concerned that the client is not waking up as quickly as expected. Which response by the nurse
would be best based on the family’s concern?
a. Everyone awakens from surgery differently
b. It is important that she rest for the next couple of days.
c. She may have had a stroke during surgery, I have already contacted the surgeon.
d. Sometimes older adults take longer to come out of anesthesia.
Older adults often require extra time to recover from anesthesia.
3. The nurse has just reassessed the condition of a postoperative client who was admitted 1 hour ago to the
surgical unit. Which finding would be most concerning to the nurse?
a. Urine output of 20ml/hour
b. Temperature of 37.6 C
c. Blood pressure of 114/70
d. Serous drainage on the surgical dressing
Urine output should be a minimum of 30mL/hour for an adult. An output of less for 2 consecutive hours should be
reported to the health care provider.
4. A postoperative client asks the nurse why it is so important to deep-breathe and cough after surgery. When
formulating a response, the nurse incorporates the understanding that retained pulmonary secretions in a
postoperative client can lead to which condition?
a. Pneumonia
b. Hypoxemia
c. Fluid imbalance
d. Pulmonary embolism
Postop respiratory problems are atelectasis, pneumonia, and pulmonary emboli. Pneumonia is the inflammation
of lung tissue that causes productive cough, dyspnea, and lung crackles and can be caused by the retention of
pulmonary secretions.
5. The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client scheduled for surgery. The nurse should include which
activity in the nursing care plan for the client on the day of surgery?
a. Avoid oral hygiene and rinsing with mouthwash
b. Verify that the client has not eaten for the last 24 hours
c. Have the client void immediately before going into surgery
d. Report immediately any slight increase in BP or pulse
The nurse would assist the client to void immediately before surgery so that the bladder is empty. Oral hygiene is
allowed, but the client should not swallow any water. The client is NPO for 6 to 8 hours before surgery, not 24
hours. A slight increase in BP and pulse is common during the preop period due to anxiety.
1
This study source was downloaded by 100000804717335 from CourseHero.com on 11-21-2025 04:53:33 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/252042496/KEY-Practice-Questions-Peri-operative-Paindocx/
, 6. A client with a perforated gastric ulcer is scheduled for surgery. The client cannot sign the operative consent
form because an opioid analgesic has been administered. Which nursing action is the most appropriate to
take in the care of this client?
a. Obtain a court order for the surgery.
b. Have the charge nurse sign the informed consent immediately
c. Send the client to surgery without the consent form being signed
d. Obtain telephone consent from a family member, following agency policy
Consent is not obtained from a client who is confused, unconscious, mentally incompetent, or under the influence
of sedatives. If the client is unable to sign the consent, every effort should be made to obtain permission from a
responsible family member. Telephone consent must be witnessed by two persons who hear the family member's
oral consent. The two witnesses then sign the consent with the name of the family member, noting that oral
consent was obtained. In an emergency, a healthcare provider is permitted legally to perform surgery without
consent. Agency policies regarding informed consent should always be followed.
7. A preoperative client expresses anxiety to the nurse about the upcoming surgery. Which response by the
nurse is most likely to stimulate further discussion between the client and the nurse?
a. "If it's any help, everyone is nervous before surgery."
b. "I will be happy to explain the entire surgical procedure with you."
c. "Can you share with me what you've been told about your surgery?"
d. "Let me tell you about the care you'll receive after surgery and the amount of pain you can expect".
Explanations should begin with the information that the client knows. By providing the client with individualized
explanations of care and procedures, the nurse can assist the client in handling anxiety and fear for a smooth
preop experience. Clients who are calm and emotionally prepared for surgery withstand anesthesia better and
experience fewer postoperative complications.
8. The nurse is conducting preoperative teaching with a client about the use of an incentive spirometer. The
nurse should include which piece of information in discussions with the client?
a. Inhale as rapidly as possible at least ten times an hour.
b. Keep a loose seal between the lips and the mouthpiece to prevent hyperventilation.
c. Breathe in deeply and then hold your breath for 20 seconds before exhaling.
d. When using, sit up in bed or elevate the head of the bed 45 to 90 degrees
For optimal lung expansion with the incentive spirometer, the client should assume the semi-to-high fowlers
position. The mouthpiece should be covered completely and tightly while the client inhales slowly. The breath
should be held for 5 seconds before exhaling slowly.
9. The nurse has conducted preoperative teaching for a client scheduled for surgery in 1 week. The client has a
history of arthritis and has been taking acetylsalicylic acid. The nurse determines that the client needs
additional teaching if the client makes which statement?
a. "Aspirin can cause bleeding after surgery."
b. "Aspirin can cause my ability to clot blood to be abnormal."
c. "I need to continue to take the aspirin until the day of surgery."
d. "I need to check with my HCP about the need to stop the aspirin before the scheduled surgery."
10. The nurse assesses a client's surgical incision for signs of infection. Which finding by the nurse would be
interpreted as a normal finding at the surgical site?
a. Red, hard skin
b. Serous drainage
c. Purulent drainage
d. Warm tender skin
2
This study source was downloaded by 100000804717335 from CourseHero.com on 11-21-2025 04:53:33 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/252042496/KEY-Practice-Questions-Peri-operative-Paindocx/
