The nurse and the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are working on the surgical unit. Which task can the nurse delegate to the UAP?
- A. Take routine vital signs on clients.
- B. Check the Jackson Pratt insertion site.
- C. Hang the client's next IV bag.
- D. Ensure the client obtains pain relief.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Taking vital signs is within UAP scope. Checking drains, hanging IVs, and ensuring pain relief require nursing assessment or licensure.
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The surgical client's vital signs are T 98°F, P 106, R 24, and BP 88/40. The client is awake and oriented times three (3) and the skin is pale and damp. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Call the surgeon and report the vital signs.
- B. Start an IV of D5RL with 20 mEq KCl at 125 mL/hr.
- C. Elevate the feet and lower the head.
- D. Monitor the vital signs every 15 minutes.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tachycardia, hypotension, and pale, damp skin suggest hypovolemic shock; Trendelenburg position (feet elevated, head lowered) improves cerebral perfusion, the first intervention. Surgeon notification, IV fluids, and monitoring follow.
The nurse must obtain surgical consent forms for the scheduled surgery. Which client would not be able to consent legally to surgery?
- A. The 65-year-old client who cannot read or write.
- B. The 30-year-old client who does not understand English.
- C. The 16-year-old client who has a fractured ankle.
- D. The 80-year-old client who is not oriented to the day.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Legal consent requires mental competency; disorientation to the day suggests incapacity. Illiteracy, language barriers (with interpreters), and minors (with parental consent) do not preclude consent.
The nurse is completing the preoperative checklist. Which laboratory value should be reported to the health-care provider immediately?
- A. Hemoglobin 13.1 g/dL.
- B. Glucose 60 mg/dL.
- C. White blood cells 6 (x10³/mm³).
- D. Potassium 3.8 mEq/L.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Glucose of 60 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia, risking perioperative complications, requiring immediate HCP notification. Normal hemoglobin, WBC, and potassium are safe.
Which problem should the nurse identify as priority for client who is one (1) day postoperative?
- A. Potential for hemorrhaging.
- B. Potential for injury.
- C. Potential for fluid volume excess.
- D. Potential for infection.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hemorrhaging is a life-threatening risk in the first 24–48 hours post-surgery, the priority. Injury, fluid excess, and infection are secondary.
Which situation demonstrates the circulating nurse acting as the client's advocate?
- A. Plays the client's favorite audio book during surgery.
- B. Keeps the family informed of the findings of the surgery.
- C. Keeps the operating room door closed at all times.
- D. Calls the client by the first name when the client is recovering.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Keeping the OR door closed maintains privacy and asepsis, advocating for client safety. Audio books, family updates, and name use are supportive but less critical.