Nokea
A patient's family history reveals that the patient may be at risk for malignant hyperthermia (MH) during anaesthesia. Which of the following information should the nurse include when providing preoperative patient teaching?
- A. Anaesthesia can be administered with minimal risks with the use of appropriate precautions and medications.
- B. As long as succinylcholine is not administered as a muscle relaxant, the reaction should not occur.
- C. Surgery must be performed under local anaesthetic to prevent development of a sudden, extreme increase in body temperature.
- D. Surgery will be delayed until the patient is genetically tested to determine susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: General anaesthesia can be administered to patients with MH as long as precautions to avoid MH are taken and preparations are made to treat MH if it does occur. Other factors besides succinylcholine administration are associated with MH. Predictions about whether MH will occur based on family history are inconsistent, and it may not be possible to delay surgery.
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The nurse is caring for a preoperative adult patient who is scheduled for a routine surgery and is in the holding area. The patient asks the nurse, 'Will the doctor put me to sleep with a mask over my face?' Which of the following responses is most appropriate?
- A. A drug will be given to you through your IV line, which will cause you to go to sleep almost immediately.'
- B. Only your surgeon can tell you for sure what method of anaesthesia will be used. Should I ask your surgeon?'
- C. General anaesthesia is now given by injecting medication into your veins, so you will not need a mask over your face.'
- D. Masks are not used anymore for anaesthesia. A tube will be inserted into your throat to deliver a gas that will put you to sleep.'
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in virtually all routine surgeries for general anaesthesia is the injection of an intravenous (IV) induction agent, which rapidly induces sleep. The anaesthesiologist (not the surgeon) determines the method of anaesthesia used. Masks may still be used for inhalation, although many patients are intubated. Total IV anaesthesia may be used for some patients but inhalation anaesthetics also are commonly used.
Which of the following actions should the scrub nurse use to maintain aseptic technique during surgery?
- A. Use waterproof shoe covers.
- B. Wear personal protective equipment.
- C. Insist that all operating room (OR) staff perform a surgical scrub.
- D. Change gloves after touching the thigh of a surgeon's sterile gown.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Once gloved, a nurse's hands are not to go below his or her waist, therefore, touching the surgeon's thigh would contaminate the nurse's gloves. Hands are always to be kept above waist level. Shoe covers are not sterile. Personal protective equipment is designed to protect caregivers, not the patient, and is not part of aseptic technique. Staff members such as the circulating nurse do not have to perform a surgical scrub before entering the OR.
Which of the following actions by a member of the surgical team requires rapid intervention by the charge nurse?
- A. Wearing street clothes into the nursing station
- B. Wearing a surgical mask into the holding room
- C. Walking into the hallway outside an operating room without the hair covered
- D. Putting on a surgical mask, cap, and scrubs before entering the operating room
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The corridors outside the OR are part of the semirestricted area where personnel must wear surgical attire and head coverings. Surgical masks may be worn in the holding room, although they are not necessary. Street clothes may be worn at the nursing station, which is part of the unrestricted area. Wearing a mask and scrubs is essential when going into the OR.
The perioperative nurse is assessing a patient in the preoperative holding area. Which of the following findings would indicate a need for special protection techniques during surgery?
- A. A stated allergy to cats and dogs.
- B. A history of spinal and hip arthritis.
- C. Verbalization of anxiety by the patient
- D. Having a sip of water 2 hours previously
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient with arthritis may require special positioning to avoid injury and postoperative discomfort. Preoperative anxiety and having a sip of water 2-3 hours before surgery are not unusual for the preoperative patient. An allergy to cats and dogs will not impact the care needed during the intraoperative phase.
The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the surgical time-out procedure?
- A. Check for placement of IV lines.
- B. Have the surgeon identify the patient.
- C. Confirm the hospital chart identification (ID) number.
- D. Have the patient state name and date of birth.
- E. Ask the patient to state the surgical procedure.
- F. Verify the patient ID band number.
Correct Answer: C,D,E,F
Rationale: These actions are included in surgical time out to ensure correct patient, procedure, and site. IV line placement and identification of the patient by the surgeon are not included in the surgical time-out procedure.