ATI LPN
NCLEX Practice Questions on Perioperative Care Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is completing a focused respiratory assessment of a child with asthma. What assessment finding is most closely associated with the characteristic signs and symptoms of asthma?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bilateral wheezes are the assessment finding most closely tied to asthma's characteristic symptoms cough, dyspnea, and wheezing reflecting airflow obstruction from bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus. Wheezing, a high-pitched sound on expiration (and sometimes inspiration), arises as air squeezes through narrowed airways, a hallmark audible in both lungs during an attack. Shallow respirations occur but aren't specific, lacking the obstructive quality of wheezes. Increased A-P diameter (barrel chest) develops in chronic COPD, not typically in pediatric asthma unless severe and longstanding. Bradypnea, slow breathing, contradicts asthma's tachypnea from air hunger. The nurse's detection of bilateral wheezes confirmed by auscultation guides acute management (e.g., bronchodilators), aligning with asthma's reversible, inflammatory pathophysiology in this child.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure. The nurse is completing an assessment and reviews the patient's laboratory tests and allergies. In which perioperative nursing phase would this work be completed?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reviewing laboratory tests and allergies occurs in the preoperative phase, before surgery begins, to establish a baseline and identify risks like drug reactions or abnormal clotting. This preparation ensures the surgical team can tailor anesthesia and interventions, reducing complications. Perioperative spans all phases pre, intra, and post but isn't specific to this task. Intraoperative care happens during surgery in the operating suite, focusing on the procedure, not initial assessments. Postoperative care, in settings like the PACU, monitors recovery, not pre-surgery data. By completing this in the preoperative phase, the nurse mitigates physiological risks, such as bleeding from unrecognized coagulopathy or anaphylaxis from allergens, aligning with safety protocols to optimize surgical success and patient stability throughout the process.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient with an abdominal incision. A pillow is used during coughing to provide
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A pillow during coughing splints the abdominal incision, supporting it to reduce strain on sutures and tissues cut through surgery. Coughing stresses the incision, risking dehiscence or pain from nerve irritation; splinting with a pillow or hands minimizes this pull, enhancing comfort and safety. It doesn't directly relieve pain analgesics do nor distract, as focus remains on coughing. Anxiety may lessen indirectly via comfort, but splinting's primary role is mechanical support. The nurse's use of this technique ensures effective airway clearance without compromising the incision, aligning with postoperative care to prevent complications like wound disruption.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is preparing a patient for a surgical procedure on the right great toe. Which of the following actions would be most important to include in this patient's preparation?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ascertaining the surgical site is correctly marked per universal protocol with indelible ink prevents wrong-site surgery, a critical error with severe consequences, making it most important. Marking the right great toe ensures surgical precision, mandated for all invasive procedures. Family location aids communication but isn't safety-critical. A clean gown and removing hairpins/cosmetics are standard but less urgent than site verification. The nurse's focus on this step upholds patient safety, aligning with Joint Commission standards to eliminate procedural mistakes.
Question 5 of 5
The ambulatory surgical nurse calls to check on the patient at home the morning after surgery. The patient is reporting continued nausea and vomiting. Which of the following discharge education points should be reviewed with the patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Continued nausea and vomiting post-ambulatory surgery may need medication, so connecting the patient with the physician for relief (e.g., antiemetics) is key. Deep breaths or ginger ale/crackers may help mildly but fail for persistent symptoms. The ER is excessive unless dehydration worsens. This review ensures timely medical input, aligning with ambulatory care follow-up to manage common postoperative issues effectively.