The nurse is analyzing a patient's preoperative blood studies. Which of the following blood studies should the nurse review to assess for anemia and infection in a patient with no known health problems?
- A. Red blood cell count
- B. White blood cell count
- C. Serum potassium
- D. Hematocrit
- E. Prothrombin (INR) time
Correct Answer: A,B,D
Rationale: Preoperative blood studies for assessing anemia, immune status, and infection include RBC, Hgb, Hct, platelets, WBC, and WBC differential. Prothrombin (INR) time would be used to assess bleeding tendencies. Serum potassium would not be assessed as part of anemia or infection but would be assessed in a patient who is taking a diuretic.
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The nurse is preparing a patient the morning of surgery and the patient refuses to remove a wedding ring, saying, 'I have never taken it off since the day I was married.' Which of the following actions should the nurse implement?
- A. Have the patient sign a release and leave the ring on.
- B. Tape the wedding ring securely to the patient's finger.
- C. Tell the patient that the hospital is not liable for loss of the ring.
- D. Suggest that the patient give the ring to a family member to keep.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ring can be taped to the patient's finger and noted on the preoperative checklist. There is no need for a release form or to discuss liability with the patient. Wearing the ring is obviously important to the patient, so the nurse should tape the ring in place rather than have a family member keep the ring for the patient.
Ten minutes after the nurse administered the ordered preoperative opioid by intravenous (IV) injection, the patient asks to get up to go to the bathroom to urinate. Which of the following actions is best for the nurse to implement?
- A. Assist the patient to the bathroom and ensure a call bell is within reach.
- B. Offer a urinal or bedpan and position the patient in bed to promote voiding.
- C. Allow the patient up to the bathroom because the onset of the medication takes more than 10 minutes.
- D. Ask the patient to wait because catheterization is performed at the beginning of the surgical procedure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient will be at risk for a fall after receiving the opioid, so the best nursing action is to have the patient use a bedpan or urinal. Having the patient get up either with assistance or independently increases the risk for a fall. The patient will be uncomfortable and risk involuntary incontinence if the bladder is full during transport to the operating room.
The nurse is providing preoperative teaching to an older-adult patient who has poor hearing and vision. The partner answers most questions directed to the patient. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when implementing patient teaching?
- A. Use printed materials for instruction so that the patient will have more time to review the material.
- B. Direct the teaching toward the partner as the patient's support person and caregiver.
- C. Provide additional time for the patient to understand preoperative instructions and carry out procedures.
- D. Ask the partner to wait in the hall in order to focus preoperative teaching with the patient.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should allow more time when doing preoperative teaching and preparation for older patients with sensory deficits. Because the patient has visual deficits, he will not be able to use written material for learning. The teaching should be directed toward both the patient and the wife because both will need to understand preoperative procedures and teaching.
Before the administration of preoperative medications, the nurse is preparing to witness the patient signing the operative consent form when the patient says, 'I do not really understand what the doctor said.' Which of the following actions is best for the nurse to take?
- A. Provide an explanation of the planned surgical procedure.
- B. Notify the surgeon that the informed-consent process is not complete.
- C. Administer the prescribed preoperative antibiotics and withhold any ordered sedative medications.
- D. Notify the operating room staff that the surgeon needs to give a more complete explanation of the procedure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the surgery to the patient, and the nurse should wait until the surgeon has clarified the surgery before having the patient sign the consent form. The nurse should communicate directly with the surgeon about the consent form rather than asking other staff to pass on the message. It is not within the nurse's legal scope of practice to explain the surgical procedure. No preoperative medications should be administered until the patient signs the consent form.
On the day of surgery, the nurse is admitting a patient with a history of cigarette smoking. Which of the following actions is most important at this time?
- A. Auscultate for adventitious breath sounds.
- B. Ask whether the patient has smoked recently.
- C. Remind the patient about harmful effects of smoking.
- D. Calculate the cigarette smoking history in pack-years.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Abnormal breath sounds may indicate the presence of an acute respiratory infection or persistent lung disease that will affect the choice of anaesthesia or proceeding with the scheduled surgery. The other nursing actions also are appropriate but will not affect the immediate surgical procedure as much as the presence of abnormal breath sounds.
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