ATI LPN
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017)
Chapter 18 : Intraoperative Nursing Management Questions
Question 1 of 5
The OR nurse is participating in the appendectomy of a 20-year-old female patient who has a dangerously low body mass index. The nurse recognizes the patients consequent risk for hypothermia. What action should the nurse implement to prevent the development of hypothermia?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Warmed IV fluids can prevent the development of hypothermia. Applying warmed bags of saline around the patient is not common practice. The patient is not transfused to prevent hypothermia. Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring are important, but do not relate directly to the risk for hypothermia.
Question 2 of 5
A 68-year-old patient is scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy. The OR nurse has come out to the holding area to meet the patient and quickly realizes that the patient is profoundly anxious. What is the most appropriate intervention for the nurse to apply?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse can alleviate anxiety by supplying information as the patient requests it. The nurse should not assume that every patient wants as much detail as possible and false reassurance must be avoided. Reminding the patient that she will be unconscious is unlikely to reduce anxiety.
Question 3 of 5
A 59-year-old male patient is scheduled for a hemorrhoidectomy. The OR nurse should anticipate assisting the other team members with positioning the patient in what manner?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The lithotomy position is used for nearly all perineal, rectal, and vaginal surgical procedures. The Sims or lateral position is used for renal surgery and the Trendelenburg position usually is used for surgery on the lower abdomen and pelvis. The usual position for surgery, called the dorsal recumbent position, is flat on the back, but this would be impracticable for rectal surgery.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is preparing an elderly patient for a scheduled removal of orthopedic hardware, a procedure to be performed under general anesthetic. For which adverse effect should the nurse most closely monitor the patient?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Inadvertent hypothermia may occur as a result of a low temperature in the OR, infusion of cold fluids, inhalation of cold gases, open body wounds or cavities, decreased muscle activity, advanced age, or the pharmaceutical agents used (e.g., vasodilators, phenothiazines, general anesthetics). The anesthetist monitors for pulmonary edema and cerebral ischemia. Arthritis is not an adverse effect of surgical anesthesia.
Question 5 of 5
The OR nurse acts in the circulating role during a patients scheduled cesarean section. For what task is this nurse solely responsible?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Main responsibilities of the circulating nurse include verifying consent; coordinating the team; and ensuring cleanliness, proper temperature and humidity, lighting, safe function of equipment, and the availability of supplies and materials. The circulating nurse monitors aseptic practices to avoid breaks in technique while coordinating the movement of related personnel as well as implementing fire safety precautions. The circulating nurse also monitors the patient and documents specific activities throughout the operation to ensure the patients safety and well-being. Estimating the patients blood loss is the surgeons responsibility; setting up the sterile tables is the responsibility of the first scrub; and keeping track of the drains and sponges is the joint responsibility of the circulating nurse and the scrub nurse.