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The nurse is doing preoperative patient education with a 61-year-old male patient who has a 40-pack per year history of cigarette smoking. The patient will undergo an elective bunionectomy at a time that fits his work schedule in a few months. What would be the best instruction to give to this patient?
- A. Reduce smoking by 50% to prevent the development of pneumonia
- B. Stop smoking at least 6 weeks before the scheduled surgery to enhance pulmonary function and decrease infection
- C. Aim to quit smoking in the postoperative period to reduce the chance of surgical complications
- D. Stop smoking 4 to 8 weeks before the scheduled surgery to enhance pulmonary function and decrease infection
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The reduction of smoking will enhance pulmonary function; in the preoperative period, patients who smoke should be urged to stop 4 to 8 weeks before surgery.
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The nurse is performing a preadmission assessment of a patient scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy. Of what purpose of the preadmission assessment should the nurse be aware?
- A. Verifies completion of preoperative diagnostic testing
- B. Discusses and reviews patients health insurance coverage
- C. Determines the patients suitability as a surgical candidate
- D. Informs the patient of need for postoperative transportation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Purposes of preadmission testing (PAT) include verifying completion of preoperative diagnostic testing. The nurses role in PAT does not normally involve financial considerations or addressing transportation. The physician determines the patients suitability for surgery.
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 doing a preoperative assessment of an 87-year-old man who is slated to have a right lung lobe resection to treat lung cancer. What underlying principle should guide the nurses preoperative assessment of an elderly patient?
- A. Elderly patients have a smaller lung capacity than younger patients
- B. Elderly patients require higher medication doses than younger patients
- C. Elderly patients have less physiologic reserve than younger patients
- D. Elderly patients have more sophisticated coping skills than younger patients
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The underlying principle that guides the preoperative assessment, surgical care, and postoperative care is that elderly patients have less physiologic reserve (the ability of an organ to return to normal after a disturbance in its equilibrium) than do younger patients. Elderly patients do not have larger lung capacities than younger patients. Elderly patients cannot necessarily cope better than younger patients and they often require lower doses of medications.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is admitted to the ER with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The nurse notes during the assessment that the patients ribs and xiphoid process are prominent. The patient states she exercises two to three times daily and her mother indicates that she is being treated for anorexia nervosa. How should the nurse best follow up these assessment data?
- A. Inform the postoperative team about the patients risk for wound dehiscence
- B. Evaluate the patients ability to manage her pain level
- C. Facilitate a detailed analysis of the patients electrolyte levels
- D. Instruct the patient on the need for a high-sodium diet to promote healing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The surgical team should be informed about the patients medical history regarding anorexia nervosa. Any nutritional deficiency, such as malnutrition, should be corrected before surgery to provide adequate protein for tissue repair. The electrolyte levels should be evaluated and corrected to prevent metabolic abnormalities in the operative and postoperative phase. The risk of wound dehiscence is more likely associated with obesity. Instruction on proper nutrition should take place in the postoperative period, and a consultation should be made with her psychiatric specialist. Evaluation of pain management is always important, but not particularly significant in this scenario.
The clinic nurse is doing a preoperative assessment of a patient who will be undergoing outpatient cataract surgery with lens implantation in 1 week. While taking the patients medical history, the nurse notes that this patient had a kidney transplant 8 years ago and that the patient is taking immunosuppressive drugs. For what is this patient at increased risk when having surgery?
- A. Rejection of the kidney
- B. Rejection of the implanted lens
- C. Infection
- D. Adrenal storm
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Because patients who are immunosuppressed are highly susceptible to infection, great care is taken to ensure strict asepsis. The patient is unlikely to experience rejection or adrenal storm.