RELIAS PACU RN A V1 EXAM, 2025-2026 WITH CORRECT ACCURATE ANSWERS
Safety & Foundational Concepts
1. A sedated patient has just arrived to the PACU from the operating room with
the anesthesia provider and a member of the surgical team. What should you do
next?
A) Review the surgical consent form
B) Check the post-operative orders
C) Verify the patient's identification band
D) Assess their airway and oxygenation
Rationale: Airway assessment is always the priority upon arrival to the PACU (A-B-
Cs). This ensures patency and adequate gas exchange before moving to other
tasks .
2. What department approves and reviews medical aspects of care in the PACU
including policies and procedures?
A) Department of Anesthesia
B) Surgical Services
C) Hospital Administration
,D) Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
Rationale: The Department of Anesthesia is responsible for the medical direction,
protocols, and quality improvement of post-anesthesia care .
3. While helping to prepare a patient for surgery, you notice that their medical
record indicates DNR. What should you do?
A) Cancel the surgery until the order is rescinded
B) Ask the patient to explain their wishes about resuscitation
C) Automatically suspend the DNR order per hospital policy
D) Ask the family to sign a new DNR form
Rationale: It requires a discussion of "required reconsideration" of the DNR order
during the perioperative period, respecting patient autonomy .
4. A patient's DNR order was revoked during surgery. When can it be reinstated?
A) Immediately upon arrival to the PACU
B) Only after 24 hours have passed
C) Per institutional policy
D) Only if the patient remains intubated
,Rationale: Policies vary, but generally, the order is suspended during the
immediate perioperative period and reinstated post-operatively based on specific
criteria or provider order .
5. You are receiving a report on a post op patients from the OR nurse and during
the report when you asked for clarifications, the OR nurse became angry,
belligerent, and rude. She ended up not answering your question. How will you
proceed?
A) Report the incident to your charge nurse
B) Refuse to take the patient
C) Take the report as she gave it to you
D) Figure out the clarifications from computer
Rationale: Disruptive behavior compromises patient safety. The charge nurse
must be notified to facilitate handoff and address the behavior .
6. You were called in at 2am and did not leave the hospital until 4am. However,
your regular shift starts at 7am, and you are extremely tired. What is the
appropriate action?
A) Work your shift but stay away from complex patients
, B) Go home and sleep, ignoring the shift start
C) Report to work and drink large amounts of caffeine
D) Call your manager and ask for the unit protocol
Rationale: Working while fatigued is unsafe. You must notify leadership to utilize
fatigue policies or secure coverage .
Medication Administration & Calculations
7. Meperidine (Demerol) 12.5mg every 15 minutes, IV prn is ordered for shivering
in the PACU. Meperidine is available in 50mg/1ml. How many milliliters should be
given?
A) 0.1 ml
B) 0.5 ml
C) 0.25 ml
D) 0.75 ml
*Rationale: (Desired dose / Available dose) = 12.5mg / 50mg = 0.25 ml .*
8. What do you consider to be a safe dose of intravenous fentanyl for an adult
who does not have tolerance to opioids?
Safety & Foundational Concepts
1. A sedated patient has just arrived to the PACU from the operating room with
the anesthesia provider and a member of the surgical team. What should you do
next?
A) Review the surgical consent form
B) Check the post-operative orders
C) Verify the patient's identification band
D) Assess their airway and oxygenation
Rationale: Airway assessment is always the priority upon arrival to the PACU (A-B-
Cs). This ensures patency and adequate gas exchange before moving to other
tasks .
2. What department approves and reviews medical aspects of care in the PACU
including policies and procedures?
A) Department of Anesthesia
B) Surgical Services
C) Hospital Administration
,D) Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
Rationale: The Department of Anesthesia is responsible for the medical direction,
protocols, and quality improvement of post-anesthesia care .
3. While helping to prepare a patient for surgery, you notice that their medical
record indicates DNR. What should you do?
A) Cancel the surgery until the order is rescinded
B) Ask the patient to explain their wishes about resuscitation
C) Automatically suspend the DNR order per hospital policy
D) Ask the family to sign a new DNR form
Rationale: It requires a discussion of "required reconsideration" of the DNR order
during the perioperative period, respecting patient autonomy .
4. A patient's DNR order was revoked during surgery. When can it be reinstated?
A) Immediately upon arrival to the PACU
B) Only after 24 hours have passed
C) Per institutional policy
D) Only if the patient remains intubated
,Rationale: Policies vary, but generally, the order is suspended during the
immediate perioperative period and reinstated post-operatively based on specific
criteria or provider order .
5. You are receiving a report on a post op patients from the OR nurse and during
the report when you asked for clarifications, the OR nurse became angry,
belligerent, and rude. She ended up not answering your question. How will you
proceed?
A) Report the incident to your charge nurse
B) Refuse to take the patient
C) Take the report as she gave it to you
D) Figure out the clarifications from computer
Rationale: Disruptive behavior compromises patient safety. The charge nurse
must be notified to facilitate handoff and address the behavior .
6. You were called in at 2am and did not leave the hospital until 4am. However,
your regular shift starts at 7am, and you are extremely tired. What is the
appropriate action?
A) Work your shift but stay away from complex patients
, B) Go home and sleep, ignoring the shift start
C) Report to work and drink large amounts of caffeine
D) Call your manager and ask for the unit protocol
Rationale: Working while fatigued is unsafe. You must notify leadership to utilize
fatigue policies or secure coverage .
Medication Administration & Calculations
7. Meperidine (Demerol) 12.5mg every 15 minutes, IV prn is ordered for shivering
in the PACU. Meperidine is available in 50mg/1ml. How many milliliters should be
given?
A) 0.1 ml
B) 0.5 ml
C) 0.25 ml
D) 0.75 ml
*Rationale: (Desired dose / Available dose) = 12.5mg / 50mg = 0.25 ml .*
8. What do you consider to be a safe dose of intravenous fentanyl for an adult
who does not have tolerance to opioids?
