Chapter 37: Perioperative Nursing Care Yoost & Crawford: Fundamentals of Nursing

1. The nurse is caring for a patient who is about to have surgery. Which intervention will be included in the patient’s care to meet the goals for risk for perioperative positioning injury related to immobilization during surgical procedure? a. Use adequate assistance to move patient onto the OR table. b. Watch for early signs of hypovolemia caused by patient’s NPO status since midnight. c. Use therapeutic touch and guided imagery to allay patient’s fears of surgery. d. Pad all bony prominences and avoid hyperextension of extremities. 2. The nurse is caring for a male patient who is having open heart surgery. The patient’s chest is covered with thick hair, so the surgical technician begins to shave the patient’s skin near the operative site. Which action by the technician requires intervention by the nurse to correct the technique? a. A straight safety razor and antibiotic foam is used. b. Disposable electric trimmers are used to trim the hair. c. Antibacterial soap is used prior to hair removal. d. Only the hair directly around the surgical site is removed. 3. The nurse is caring for a patient who has just been brought to the postoperative unit following major surgery and notes that the patient has many tubes and monitors in place. Which will the nurse assess first? a. The patient’s intravenous lines b. The patient’s urinary catheter 4. The nurse is caring for a patient who has a family history of reactions to general anesthesia. Which medication will the nurse anesthetist have ready as a precautionary measure before the patient’s surgery is started? a. Protamine sulfate b. Dantrolene sodium (Dantrium) c. Activated charcoal with sorbitol d. Folinic acid (Leucovorin) 5. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates accountability in the operating room? a. Applying warm blankets when the patient reports feeling chilly b. Holding the patient’s hand to allay anxiety before anesthesia is administered c. Double-checking that the surgical site is clearly marked and visible after draping d. Using calming speech with a reassuring tone of voice when speaking with the patient 6. The nurse is caring for a patient who will be having surgery. The patient has just signed the consent form for the operation. What does the patient’s signature indicate? a. The patient agrees with the doctor’s diagnosis.