Nokea
A clinic nurse is conducting a preoperative interview with an adult patient who will soon be scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery. What interview question most directly addresses the patients safety?
- A. What prescription and nonprescription medications do you currently take?
- B. Have you previously been admitted to the hospital, either for surgery or for medical treatment?
- C. How long do you expect to be at home recovering after your surgery?
- D. Would you say that you tend to eat a fairly healthy diet?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: It is imperative to know a preoperative patients current medication regimen, including OTC medications and supplements. None of the other listed questions directly addresses an issue with major safety implications.
You may also like to solve these questions
A 90-year-old female patient is scheduled to undergo a partial mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. What nursing diagnosis should the nurse prioritize when planning this patients postoperative care?
- A. Risk for Delayed Growth and Development related to prolonged hospitalization
- B. Risk for Decisional Conflict related to discharge planning
- C. Risk for Impaired Memory related to old age
- D. Risk for Infection related to reduced immune function
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The lessened physiological reserve of older adults results in an increased risk for infection postoperatively. This physiological consideration is a priority over psychosocial considerations, which may or may not be applicable. Impaired memory is always attributed to a pathophysiological etiology, not advanced age.
The nurse is teaching her to perform deep breathing and coughing to use postoperatively. What action should the nurse teach the patient?
- A. The patient should take three deep breaths and cough hard three times, at least every 15 minutes for the immediately postoperative period
- B. The patient should take three deep breaths and exhale forcefully and then take a quick short breath and cough from deep in the lungs
- C. The patient should take a deep breath in through the mouth and exhale through the mouth, take a short breath, and cough from deep in the lungs
- D. The patient should rapidly inhale, hold for 30 seconds or as long as possible, and exhale slowly
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient assumes a sitting position to enhance lung expansion. The nurse then demonstrates how to take a deep, slow breath and how to exhale slowly. After practicing deep breathing several times, the patient is instructed to breathe deeply, exhale through the mouth, take a short breath, and cough from deep in the lungs.
You are caring for an 88-year-old woman who is scheduled for a right mastectomy. You know that elderly patients are frequently more anxious prior to surgery than younger patients. What would you increase with this patient to decrease her anxiety?
- A. Analgesia
- B. Therapeutic touch
- C. Preoperative medication
- D. Sleeping medication the night before surgery
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Older patients report higher levels of preoperative anxiety; therefore, the nurse should be prepared to spend additional time, increase the amount of therapeutic touch utilized, and encourage family members to be present to decrease anxiety. For most patients, nonpharmacologic interventions should be attempted before administering medications.
The surgical nurse is preparing to send a patient from the presurgical area to the OR and is reviewing the patients informed consent form. What are the criteria for legally valid informed consent? Select all that apply.
- A. Consent must be freely given
- B. Consent must be notarized
- C. Consent must be signed on the day of surgery
- D. Consent must be obtained by a physician
- E. Signature must be witnessed by a professional staff member
Correct Answer: A,D,E
Rationale: Valid consent must be freely given, without coercion. Consent must be obtained by a physician and the patients signature must be witnessed by a professional staff member. It does not need to be signed on the same day as the surgery and it does not need to be notarized.
The PACU nurse is caring for a patient who has been deemed ready to go to the postsurgical floor after her surgery. What would the PACU nurse be responsible for reporting to the nurse on the floor? Select all that apply.
- A. The names of the anesthetics that were used
- B. The identities of the staff in the OR
- C. The patients preoperative level of consciousness
- D. The presence of family and/or significant others
- E. The patients full name
Correct Answer: C,D,E
Rationale: The PACU nurse is responsible for informing the floor nurse of the patients intraoperative factors (e.g., insertion of drains or catheters, administration of blood or medications during surgery, or occurrence of unexpected events), preoperative level of consciousness, presence of family and/or significant others, and identification of the patient by name. The PACU nurse does not tell which anesthetic was used, only the type and amount used. The PACU nurse does not identify the staff that was in the OR with the patient.