ATI LPN
Perioperative Care NCLEX Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which definition is appropriate for local anesthesia?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Local anesthesia involves injecting anesthetic into tissues around an incision . Choice A and D describe regional (nerve block); choice B is epidural. The rationale defines scope: local numbs a small area (e.g., lidocaine for suturing), distinct from broader nerve or spinal blocks. Nursing ensures precise application, minimizing systemic effects, enhancing minor procedure safety.
Question 2 of 5
The morning after a patient's lower leg surgery, the nurse notes that the dressing is wet from drainage. The surgeon has not yet been in to see the patient on rounds. What does the nurse do about the dressing?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse reinforces the dressing , managing drainage safely. Removing or reapplying risks contamination; waiting delays care. The rationale ensures protection: adding sterile layers absorbs drainage, maintaining a barrier until surgeon assessment. Nursing balances independence and caution, preventing infection, distinct from invasive or passive options, supporting wound integrity.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is assigned to provide preoperative teaching to a patient who is scheduled for surgery. When instructing the patient on how to use an incentive spirometer, the nurse determines the patient only understands Spanish. What is the best method for the nurse to teach the patient how to use this equipment?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Have the hospital translator available while the nurse demonstrates the procedure and has the patient return the demonstration,' as it ensures accurate, professional translation and hands-on learning unlike 'pamphlet' (A), passive, 'patient translator' (B), unreliable, or 'postop delay' (D), untimely. In nursing, effective teaching requires comprehension and practice; C aligns with NCLEX Perioperative, emphasizing culturally competent education and skill verification.
Question 4 of 5
Which health care provider informs the patient of the benefits and risks of surgery prior to going to surgery?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The surgeon informs the patient of surgery's benefits and risks, as they perform the procedure and hold legal responsibility for consent. Physician assistants may assist, but it's not their primary role. Nurses educate and witness, not explain surgically. OR administrators manage logistics. The rationale emphasizes informed consent: the surgeon's expertise ensures accurate, procedure-specific disclosure risks (e.g., bleeding), benefits (e.g., cure) meeting ethical and legal standards. Nursing supports by verifying understanding, but the surgeon's direct communication is key, distinguishing clinical from supportive roles.
Question 5 of 5
The circulating nurse prepares the sterile field in the operating room (OR). Fifteen minutes later, the nurse is informed the surgery is delayed for 20 minutes because the surgeon is working at another hospital. Which is the best action for the nurse to take?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cover the sterile field with a sterile drape until the surgery is about to begin,' as it maintains sterility during a short delay unlike 'monitor' (A), labor-intensive, 'tear down' (B), wasteful, or 'tape doors' (D), ineffective. In nursing, sterile field preservation is practical; C aligns with NCLEX Perioperative, balancing efficiency and asepsis.