ATI RN
ATI RN Custom Med Surg Surgical patient Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is providing care for a patient who is three days postoperative following a cholecystectomy. The nurse suspects an infection due to the yellow and thick drainage from the dressing. What type of drainage should the nurse report?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Purulent drainage, thick and yellow, indicates infection and requires reporting. Serosanguineous is pinkish, serous is clear, and sanguineous is bloody, none suggesting infection.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is caring for a patient on the third day following abdominal surgery. The nurse notes the absence of bowel sounds, abdominal distention, and the patient has not passed any flatus. Which postoperative complication is the patient likely experiencing?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Paralytic ileus is a common postoperative complication characterized by slowed or stopped intestinal peristalsis, leading to gas and fluid buildup, causing abdominal distention, nausea, and constipation. The absence of bowel sounds, distention, and lack of flatus are hallmark signs. Incisional infection presents with localized symptoms like redness and pain at the incision site. Fecal impaction involves a hard stool mass in the rectum, not typically linked to absent bowel sounds. Clostridium difficile infection causes diarrhea, not the symptoms described.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Which of the following statements by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Using a thermometer is not PVD-specific, indicating a need for focused teaching. Avoiding leg crossing, going barefoot, and wearing compression stockings are correct practices.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is looking after a patient who is 12 hours postoperative following a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and has a 3-way urinary catheter with continuous irrigation. The nurse observes that there has been no urinary output in the last hour. What should the nurse do first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Checking tubing patency addresses the likely cause of obstruction, preventing complications like bladder distention. Analgesics, provider notification, and fluids are secondary.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and requesting something to drink. The nurse reads the client's postoperative prescriptions, which include, "Clear liquids, advance diet as tolerated." What action should the nurse take first?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Auscultating the abdomen assesses bowel function, ensuring readiness for liquids. Elevation aids comfort, offering juice is premature, and ordering a tray advances diet too quickly.