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Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017)
Chapter 19 : Postoperative Nursing Management Questions
Question 1 of 5
A postoperative patient rapidly presents with hypotension; rapid, thready pulse; oliguria; and cold, pale skin. The nurse suspects that the patient is experiencing a hemorrhage. What should be the nurses first action?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transfusing blood or blood products and determining the cause of hemorrhage are the initial therapeutic measures. Resuscitation is not necessarily required and the nurse must not leave the patient. The Trendelenberg position would be contraindicated.
Question 2 of 5
The intraoperative nurse is transferring a patient from the OR to the PACU after replacement of the right knee. The patient is a 73-year-old woman. The nurse should prioritize which of the following actions?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Special attention is given to keeping the patient warm because elderly patients are more susceptible to hypothermia. It is all important for the nurse to pay attention to hydration, but hypovolemia does not occur as quickly as hypothermia. The patient is never sterile and restraints are very rarely necessary.
Question 3 of 5
A surgical patient has been in the PACU for the past 3 hours. What are the determining factors for the patient to be discharged from the PACU? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B,D,E
Rationale: A patient remains in the PACU until fully recovered from the anesthetic agent. Indicators of recovery include stable blood pressure, adequate respiratory function, and adequate oxygen saturation level compared with baseline. Patients can be released from PACU before resuming oral intake. Pain is often present at discharge from the PACU and can be addressed in other inpatient settings.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is discharging a patient home from an outpatient surgery center. The nurse has reviewed all of the discharge instructions with the patient and her caregiver. What else should the nurse do before discharging the patient from the facility? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A,B,C
Rationale: Before discharging the patient, the nurse provides written instructions, prescriptions and the nurses or surgeons telephone number. Administration of an opioid would necessitate further monitoring to ensure safety. A dressing change would not normally be ordered on the day of surgery.
Question 5 of 5
The nursing instructor is discussing the difference between ambulatory surgical centers and hospital-based surgical units. A student asks why some patients have surgery in the hospital and others are sent to ambulatory surgery centers. What is the instructors best response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients admitted to the clinical unit for postoperative care have multiple needs and stay for a short period of time. Patients who have surgery in ambulatory centers do not necessarily have greater independence. It is not true that only trauma and emergency surgeries are done in the hospital. Ambulatory centers can administer anesthesia.