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Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam: Postoperative Care Questions and Answers, Exams of Health sciences

Rasmussen College - FloridaHealth sciences

A series of multiple-choice questions and answers related to medical-surgical nursing, specifically focusing on postoperative care and patient management in the post-anesthesia care unit (pacu). It covers essential topics such as pain assessment, respiratory complications, medication administration, and wound care. The questions are designed to test the knowledge and critical thinking skills of nursing students or practicing nurses. Immediate feedback with the correct answers, making it a useful tool for self-assessment and exam preparation. It addresses key concepts in postoperative nursing, including interventions to reduce pain, prevent complications, and ensure patient safety. The content is relevant for nursing students, recent graduates, and practicing nurses seeking to reinforce their understanding of postoperative care principles.

Typology: Exams

2024/2025

Available from 08/09/2025

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Med Surg 1 Exam 2
2023 Questions and Answers
1. One hour after admission to the post anesthesia care
unit (PACU), the postoperative patient has become very
restless. What is the nurse's first action?
A. Assess the oxygen saturation level
B. Administer pain medication as ordered
C. Call the surgeon to assess the patient
D. Assess for bladder distention ANS A
2. Patient asks nurse what does this "thing" do and why do i
have to use it. Nurse explains that using this thing (incentive
spirometer)
A. "The spirometer will help prevent blood clots"
B. "The spirometer will help your lungs expand."
C. "The spirometer will improve blood flow in your lungs."
D. "The spirometer will help you cough effectively." ANS B
3. After abdominal surgery, the patient complains of severe
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Download Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam: Postoperative Care Questions and Answers and more Exams Health sciences in PDF only on Docsity!

Med Surg 1 Exam 2

2023 Questions and Answers

  1. One hour after admission to the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), the postoperative patient has become very restless. What is the nurse's first action? A. Assess the oxygen saturation level B. Administer pain medication as ordered C. Call the surgeon to assess the patient D. Assess for bladder distention ANS A
  2. Patient asks nurse what does this "thing" do and why do i have to use it. Nurse explains that using this thing (incentive spirometer) A. "The spirometer will help prevent blood clots" B. "The spirometer will help your lungs expand." C. "The spirometer will improve blood flow in your lungs." D. "The spirometer will help you cough effectively." ANS B
  3. After abdominal surgery, the patient complains of severe

gas pains and states, "I have not had bowels in 3 days." What is the appropriate nursing intervention? A. Call the physician for an order for a laxative B. Reinsert a nasogastric tube C. Provide the ordered prn Morphine D. Have the patient ambulate frequently ANS D

  1. A patient with emphysema reports social isolation. What should the nurse encourage patient to do? A. Participate in community activities B. Ask the patient's physician for an anti anxiety agent C. Verbalize his or her thoughts and feelings D. Join a support group for people with emphysema ANS C
  2. The patient's abdominal incision is draining a small amount of pinkish color secretion. How nurse document this finding on the patient's record? A. Small amount of bloody drainage noted on dressings. B. Small amount of serosanguineous drainage noted on dressings. C. Small amount of serous drainage noted on dressings. D. Small amount of sanguineous drainage noted on dressings. ANS B
  3. What interventions should the nurse carry out to reduce
  1. A post-operative patient is in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and reports having pain of 8 on a scale of 10. What is the best nursing action? A. Consult with the anesthesia care provider to manage the pain while the patient is still in PACU B. Have the nurses on the surgical unit to assess the patient and administer pain medication as appropriate C. Look at the routine post-operative orders and administer the pain medicine that is ordered. D. Sep up the Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) machine and push the button for the patient as needed. ANS A
  2. The nurse is changing the patient's dressing on the second postoperative day and notes a small amount of serosanguineous drainage. What is the nurse's best action? A. Cover the incision with a transparent dressing B. Culture the drainage and leave the incision open to air C. Cleanse the suture line and apply a sterile dressing D. Notify the surgeon to assess the patient ANS C
  3. What is the priority nursing intervention for the patient in the Post Anesthe- sia Care Unit (PACU) who reports, "I think I am going to vomit" A. Continue to monitor the vital signs

B. Place a cool cloth on the patient's forehead C. Give the antiemetic as ordered D. Turn the patient on their side ANS D

  1. A patient with a history of asthma is admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea, respiratory rate of 35 breaths per minute, nasal flaring, use of accessory muscles, and greatly diminished breath sounds. What action should the nurse take first? A. Initiate oxygen therapy and reassess the patient in 10 minutes B. Encourage the patient to relax and breathe slowly C. Draw blood for arterial blood gas analysis and send the patient for a chest X-ray D. Administer bronchodilators as ordered ANS D
  2. The patient is 7 hours post-op and has not voided. What should the nurse do first? A. Call the surgeon stat and report the lack of voiding B. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter C. Determine when the last pain medication was given D. Palpate for presence of the bladder above the symphysis pubis ANS D

moving" B. "Be sure to splint the incision with a pillow or your hands when you cough" C. "Lie down flat on the bed with your knees u and let me examine your incision" D. "It is good you are coughing and deep-breathing to prevent pneumonia" ANS C

  1. What is the best assessment the nurse should use to validate a patient's pain? A. Physiologic indicators, such as elevated vital signs B. A pain rating by someone who knows the patient well C. Facial grimacing and crying D. The patient's self-report of pain ANS D
  2. A patient reports pain 8 hours after surgery. The patient has already re- ceived an opioid within the past 2 hours. What should the nurse do? A. Give the ordered pain medication early B. Call the surgeon immediately C. Assess the pain further D. Document the finding in the chart ANS C
  3. A post-operative patient has atelectasis in the left lung confirmed by chest x-ray. What priority intervention should the nurse plan to include in the patient's care?

A. Monitoring oxygen saturation hourly

  1. The patient was given 15 mg of morphine IM for post surgical pain. One hour later, the patient is sleeping and has a respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min. What is the nurse's first action? A. Administer naloxone (Narcan) IV push B. Administer oxygen by nasal cannula C. Arousing the patient by calling his or her name D. Documenting the findings and continuing to monitor ANS C
  2. The nurse is working in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) and receives a patient from the operating room (OR). What does the nurse assess first? A. Patient's nasogastric tube B. Hemovac drain at the incision site C. Patient's urinary catheter D. Patient's endotracheal tube ANS D
  3. What should the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient with patient-controlled epidural anesthesia (PCEA)? A. Change the epidural dressing daily B. Assess but do not disturb the epidural dressing C. Use septic technique when handling the epidural catheter D. Apply an antibiotic ointment to the site BID ANS B
  1. Which assessment finding is cause for concern in a patient who has taken 4 grams of acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve back pain? A. Increased liver function tests B. Gastrointestinal bleeding C. Difficulty with urination D. Decreased respiratory rate ANS A
  2. Which instruction should the nurse give a patient who has a patient-con- trolled analgesia device (PCA) after abdominal surgery? A. "Push the button when you first feel pain instead of waiting until pain is severe" B. "Instruct you visitor to press the button for you when you are sleeping" C. "Try to go as long as you possibly can before you press the button" D. "Push the button every 15 minutes whether you feel pain that time or not" ANS A
  3. The nurse assess a patient who has received morphine sulfate. The patient blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg; pulse rate 58 beats per minute; respiratory rate 4 beats per minute. What drug should the nurse prepare to administer? A. Flumazenil (Romazicon) B. Meperidine (Demerol) C. Ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran)

C. Patient identification using attached ID band with two identifiers D. The surgical interventional procedure performed and OR number ANS B

  1. For the patient who is experiencing post operative pain on post-op day 2, what medicate should the nurse plan to administer A. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) B. Morphine Sulfate C. Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) D. Ibuprofen (Advil) ANS B
  2. Following surgery, a patient has difficulty getting out of bed, walking and coughing and deep breathing. Although patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is in place, it is rarely used. What statement is the best way for the nurse to address this concern with the patient? A. "I noticed you use very little pain medication. You must be very brave and strong. But without pain medication you will get weaker, bot stronger." B. "I can understand why you are reluctant to use pain medication. Many people feel the same way. Yet, without pain relief, you can get atelectasis, pneumonia and blood clots" C. "I noticed you don't use much pain medication. If you don't push that button, I will. You need that medicine. Don't worry

about getting addicted. It won't happen" D. "I noticed you haven't used your pain medication very often since your surgery. Im wondering if you are hesitant to use the PCA medication" ANS D

  1. What intervention should the nurse implement to prevent pulmonary em- boli from forming in the post-operative patient? A. Massage the patient's lower legs every four hours B. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breath C. Have the patient perform leg exercises every hour whole awake D. Have the patient wear anti embolism stockings only when out of bed ANS C
  2. The patient has a Salem Sump nasogastric tube (NGT) connected to low intermitted suction whose "pigtail" is draining stomach contents. What should the nurse do? A. Clamp the pigtail to prevent gastric leakage B. Insert 30 mL of air into the pigtail to spear the drainage C. Call the surgeon to check placement of the NGT D. Increase the suction to high continuous suction ANS B
  3. The nurse is caring for a patient is the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) 2 hours after abdominal surgery. The nurse auscultates the patient's abdomen and notes that there are no bowel sounds. What action should the nurse take? A. Palpate the bladder and measure abdominal girth

using the MDI correctly? (Select all that apply) A. The patient waits 5 minutes between puffs B. The mouth is rinsed with water after administration C. the inhaler is held upright D. The patient lies supine for 15 minutes following administration E. The patient breathes in quickly and shallowly ANS A B C E

  1. A post-operative patient who is on bed rest asks why intermittent com- pression devices are needed. How should the nurse respond? A. "These are more comfortable than compression stockings" B. "These remind you to keep still and avoid around too much" C. "These will improve the arterial circulation in your body" D. "These help prevent clot formation in your legs while you are inactive" ANS D
  2. A patient with asthma reports "not being able to take deep breaths." The nurse auscultates decreased breath sounds in the bases and no wheezes. What is the nurse's best action? A. Have the patient cough forcefully B. Encourage the patient to stay calm and take deep breaths

C. Assess the patient's oxygen saturation D. Document the findings and continue to monitor ANS C

  1. The nurse is evaluating a patient's response to medication therapy to asthma. The patient has a peak flowmeter reading in the yellow zone. What does the nurse do next? A. Nothing ANS this is an acceptable range B. Assist the patient to use a reliever (rescue) inhaler C. Assess the patient's lungs D. Teach the patient to take deeper breaths ANS B
  2. The nurse is teaching a patient with asthma about self- management. Which statement by the nurses the best? A. Keep a daily symptoms and intervention diary B. Establish your personal best peak expiratory flow during an attack C. Note your symptoms when you don't take your medications D. Exercise before and after taking inhalers and compare tolerance ANS A
  3. A patient with emphysema has a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute, bilateral crackles, and is coughing but unable to expectorate sputum. Which nursing diagnosis is the priority for the patient? A. Impaired Gas Exchange r/t ventilation-perfusion mismatch B. Ineffective Airway Clearance r/t inability to expectorate sputum

the nurse emphasize?

A. Avoid exposure to people with known respiratory infections B. Abstain from cigarette smoking C. Participate regularly in aerobic exercises D. Maintain a high protein diet ANS B