Nokea
During the case review, the team is determining if incorrect positioning may have contributed to the patients nerve damage. What surgical position places the patient at highest risk for nerve damage?
- A. Trendelenburg
- B. Prone
- C. Dorsal recumbent
- D. Lithotomy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Shoulder braces must be well padded to prevent irreparable nerve injury, especially when the Trendelenburg position is necessary. The other listed positions are less likely to cause nerve injury.
You may also like to solve these questions
The perioperative nurse is constantly assessing the surgical patient for signs and symptoms of complications of surgery. Which symptom should first signal to the nurse the possibility that the patient is developing malignant hyperthermia?
- A. Increased temperature
- B. Oliguria
- C. Tachycardia
- D. Hypotension
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The initial symptoms of malignant hyperthermia are related to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal activity. Tachycardia (heart rate greater than 150 beats per minute) is often the earliest sign. Oliguria, hypotension, and increased temperature are later signs of malignant hyperthermia.
Verification that all required documentation is completed is an important function of the intraoperative nurse. The intraoperative nurse should confirm that the patients accompanying documentation includes which of the following?
- A. Discharge planning
- B. Informed consent
- C. Analgesia prescription
- D. Educational resources
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: It is important to review the patients record for the following: correct informed surgical consent, with patients signature; completed records for health history and physical examination; results of diagnostic studies; and allergies (including latex). Discharge planning records and prescriptions are not normally necessary. Educational resources would not be included at this stage of the surgical process.
Maintaining an aseptic environment in the OR is essential to patient safety and infection control. When moving around surgical areas, what distance must the nurse maintain from the sterile field?
- A. 2 feet
- B. 18 inches
- C. 1 foot
- D. 6 inches
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sterile areas must be kept in view during movement around the area. At least a 1-foot distance from the sterile field must be maintained to prevent inadvertent contamination.
An OR nurse is participating in an interdisciplinary audit of infection control practices in the surgical department. The nurse should know that a basic guideline for maintaining surgical asepsis is what?
- A. Sterile surfaces or articles may touch other sterile surfaces.
- B. Sterile supplies can be used on another patient if the packages are intact.
- C. The outer lip of a sterile solution is considered sterile.
- D. The scrub nurse may pour a sterile solution from a nonsterile bottle.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Basic guidelines for maintaining sterile technique include that sterile surfaces or articles may touch other sterile surfaces only. The other options each constitute a break in sterile technique.
A circulating nurse provides care in a surgical department that has multiple surgeries scheduled for the day. The nurse should know to monitor which patient most closely during the intraoperative period because of the increased risk for hypothermia?
- A. A 74-year-old woman with a low body mass index
- B. A 17-year-old boy with traumatic injuries
- C. A 45-year-old woman having an abdominal hysterectomy
- D. A 13-year-old girl undergoing craniofacial surgery
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Elderly patients are at greatest risk during surgical procedures because they have an impaired ability to increase their metabolic rate and impaired thermoregulatory mechanisms, which increase susceptibility to hypothermia. The other patients are likely at a lower risk.