MED SURG FINAL EXAM QUESTION BANK

1. A patient has received atropine before surgery and complains of dry mouth. Which action by the nurse is best? Answer: Tell the patient dry mouth is an expected side effect. 2. A patient arrives at the ambulatory surgery center for a scheduled laparoscopy procedure in outpatient surgery. Which information is of most concern to the nurse? Answer: The patient is planning to drive home after surgery. 3. As the nurse prepares a patient the morning of surgery, the patient refuses to remove a wedding ring, saying, "I have never taken it off since the day I was married." Which response by the nurse is best? Answer: Suggest that the patient give the ring to a family member to keep. 4. The outpatient surgery nurse reviews the complete blood cell (CBC) count results for a patient who is scheduled for surgery in a few days. The results are white blood cell (WBC) count 10.2 × 103/µL; hemoglobin 15 g/dL; hematocrit 45%; platelets 150 × 103/µL. Which action should the nurse take? Answer: Continue to prepare the patient for the surgical procedure. 5. A 36-year-old female is admitted for an elective surgical procedure. Which information obtained by the nurse during the preoperative assessment is most important to report to the anesthesiologist before surgery? Answer: The patient's statement that her last menstrual period was 8 weeks ago 6. Which information in the preoperative patient's medication history is most important to communicate to the health care provider? Answer: The patient takes garlic capsules daily. 7. A patient who takes a diuretic and a β-blocker to control blood pressure is scheduled for breast reconstruction surgery. Which patient information is most important to communicate to the health care provider before surgery? Answer: Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L 8. Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is going to be used for a closed, manual reduction of a dislocated shoulder. What does the nurse anticipate? Answer: Starting an IV in the patient’s unaffected arm. 9. While in the holding area, a patient reveals to the nurse that his father had a high fever after surgery. What action by the nurse is a priority? Answer: Alert the anesthesia care provider of the family member’s reaction to surgery 10. The nurse facilitates student clinical experiences in the surgical suite. Which action, if performed by a student, would require the nurse to intervene? Answer: The student wears street clothed in the semi-restricted area. 11. The operating room nurse is providing orientation to a student nurse. Which action would the nurse list as a major responsibility of a scrub nurse? Answer: Keep both hands above the operating table level