ATI LPN
Perioperative Care Questions Quizlet Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse at a long-term care facility is assessing each of the residents. Which resident most likely faces the greatest risk for aspiration?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aspiration risk is highest in patients with impaired swallowing or protective airway reflexes, such as the gag, laryngeal, and cough reflexes, which are frequently disrupted by a severe stroke. Stroke-related dysphagia stems from neurological damage to cranial nerves (e.g., IX, X), leading to uncoordinated swallowing and silent aspiration, especially within weeks of the event when recovery is incomplete. Mid-stage Alzheimer's typically affects cognition more than motor swallowing function, with dysphagia emerging later. A 92-year-old needing ADL help may have frailty but not necessarily swallowing impairment unless tied to a specific condition. Severe rheumatoid arthritis causes joint deformity, not typically dysphagia, unless secondary issues (e.g., cervical spine involvement) affect swallowing, which isn't indicated. The stroke patient's recent neurological insult makes them most vulnerable, requiring the nurse to prioritize swallowing assessments and interventions like modified diets or speech therapy.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is assessing a patient whose respiratory disease in characterized by chronic hyperinflation of the lungs. What would the nurse most likely assess in this patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chronic hyperinflation, typical in COPD with emphysema, results from air trapping due to alveolar destruction and loss of elastic recoil, reshaping the thorax into a barrel chest expanded anteroposterior diameter from flattened diaphragm and elevated ribs. The nurse assesses this physical sign via inspection, noting a rounded chest contour, reflecting advanced disease. Oxygen toxicity occurs with prolonged high O2 therapy, not hyperinflation itself. Chronic chest pain isn't a COPD feature unless from comorbidities (e.g., pleurisy), as emphysema involves dyspnea over pain. Long, thin fingers (arachnodactyly) relate to Marfan syndrome, not lung disease. Barrel chest's presence informs the nurse of disease severity, guiding interventions like breathing techniques or oxygen titration to manage chronic respiratory compromise.
Question 3 of 5
A patient is having pulmonary-function studies performed. The patient performs a spirometry test, revealing an FEV1/FVC ratio of 60%. How should the nurse interpret this assessment finding?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An FEV1/FVC ratio of 60% below the normal threshold of 70% indicates obstructive lung disease on spirometry, reflecting reduced airflow from narrowed airways, as in COPD or asthma. FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) measures air expelled quickly, while FVC (forced vital capacity) is total air exhaled; a low ratio shows expiration is disproportionately impaired, typical of obstruction. Strong exercise tolerance contradicts this, requiring unimpeded airflow. Exhalation volume isn't ‘normal' the ratio signals restriction in speed, not capacity alone. Respiratory infection may worsen obstruction but isn't diagnosed by spirometry alone. The nurse's interpretation guides further assessment (e.g., bronchodilator response) and management (e.g., inhalers), aligning with pulmonary function standards for diagnosing obstructive pathology.
Question 4 of 5
A patients severe asthma has necessitated the use of a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA). Which of the patients statements suggests a need for further education?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A patient's statement about using a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA, e.g., salmeterol) ‘each time I feel an asthma attack coming on' signals a need for further education, as LABAs are for maintenance, not rescue. LABAs prevent bronchospasm over 12-24 hours, not acutely relieving symptoms that's the role of short-acting beta-agonists (e.g., albuterol). Misuse risks delaying effective treatment, worsening attacks. Tachycardia is a known side effect, correctly noted. LABAs do prevent exercise-induced asthma, a valid benefit. Tolerance (less effectiveness over time) can occur, a fair concern. The nurse must clarify LABA's prophylactic role twice-daily dosing versus rescue inhalers, ensuring the patient's action plan prevents severe exacerbations, per asthma management standards.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit who has undergone a left total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia provider has indicated that the patient received a left femoral peripheral nerve block. Which assessment would be an expected finding for a patient with this type of regional block?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A left femoral peripheral nerve block, used in knee arthroplasty, targets the femoral nerve, numbing the anterior thigh, knee, and medial leg, so decreased sensation in the left leg is an expected finding. This regional anesthesia blocks sensory pathways, reducing postoperative pain in the targeted area without affecting systemic consciousness. Decreased pulse, cool toes, or cyanosis suggest vascular compromise, not nerve block effects, and would indicate complications like arterial injury. Pain in the left foot contradicts the block's purpose effective anesthesia should prevent this unless it's wearing off or incomplete. The nurse's assessment confirms the block's efficacy, ensuring pain control and monitoring for unintended motor or circulatory issues, per regional anesthesia standards.