The nurse is providing preoperative teaching to a patient scheduled for surgery. The nurse is instructing the patient on the use of deep breathing, coughing, and the use of incentive spirometry when the patient states, I dont know why youre focusing on my breathing. My surgery is on my hip, not my chest. What rationale for these instructions should the nurse provide?
- A. To prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- B. To promote optimal lung expansion
- C. To enhance peripheral circulation
- D. To prevent pneumothorax
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: One goal of preoperative nursing care is to teach the patient how to promote optimal lung expansion and consequent blood oxygenation after anesthesia. COPD is not a realistic risk and pneumothorax is also unlikely. Breathing exercises do not primarily affect peripheral circulation.
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The surgical nurse is preparing to send a patient from the presurgical area to the OR and is reviewing the patients informed consent form. What are the criteria for legally valid informed consent? Select all that apply.
- A. Consent must be freely given
- B. Consent must be notarized
- C. Consent must be signed on the day of surgery
- D. Consent must be obtained by a physician
- E. Signature must be witnessed by a professional staff member
Correct Answer: A,D,E
Rationale: Valid consent must be freely given, without coercion. Consent must be obtained by a physician and the patients signature must be witnessed by a professional staff member. It does not need to be signed on the same day as the surgery and it does not need to be notarized.
The nurse is planning patient teaching for a patient who is scheduled for an open hemicolectomy. The nurse intends to address the topics of incision splinting and leg exercises during this teaching session. When is the best time for the nurse to provide teaching?
- A. Upon the patients admission to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU)
- B. When the patient returns from the PACU
- C. During the intraoperative period
- D. As soon as possible before the surgical procedure
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Teaching is most effective when provided before surgery. Preoperative teaching is initiated as soon as possible, beginning in the physicians office, clinic, or at the time of preadmission testing when diagnostic tests are performed. Upon admission to the PACU, the patient is usually drowsy, making this an inopportune time for teaching. Upon the patients return from the PACU, the patient may remain drowsy. During the intraoperative period, anesthesia alters the patients mental status, rendering teaching ineffective.
The nurse admitting a patient who is insulin dependent to the same-day surgical suite for carpal tunnel surgery. How should this patients diagnosis of type 1 diabetes affect the care that the nurse plans?
- A. The nurse should administer a bolus of dextrose IV solution preoperatively
- B. The nurse should keep the patient NPO for at least 8 hours preoperatively
- C. The nurse should initiate a subcutaneous infusion of long-acting insulin
- D. The nurse should assess the patients blood glucose levels vigilantly
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The patient with diabetes who is undergoing surgery is at risk for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Close glycemic monitoring is necessary. Dextrose infusion and prolonged NPO status are contraindicated. There is no specific need for an insulin infusion preoperatively.
The nurses teaching plan includes exercises of the extremities. What is the purpose of teaching a patient leg exercises prior to surgery?
- A. Leg exercises increase the patients muscle mass postoperatively
- B. Leg exercises improve circulation and prevent venous thrombosis
- C. Leg exercises help to prevent pressure sores to the sacrum and heels
- D. Leg exercise help increase the patients level of consciousness after surgery
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Exercise of the extremities includes extension and flexion of the knee and hip joints (similar to bicycle riding while lying on the side) unless contraindicated by type of surgical procedure (e.g., hip replacement). When the patient does leg exercises postoperatively, circulation is increased, which helps to prevent blood clots from forming. Leg exercises do not prevent pressure sores to the sacrum, or increase the patients level of consciousness. Leg exercises have the potential to increase strength and mobility, but are unlikely to make a change to muscle mass in the short term.
The policies and procedures on a preoperative unit are being amended to bring them closer into alignment with the focus of the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP). What intervention most directly addresses the priorities of the SCIP?
- A. Actions aimed at increasing participation of families in planning care
- B. Actions aimed at preventing surgical site infections
- C. Actions aimed at increasing interdisciplinary collaboration
- D. Actions aimed at promoting the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SCIP identifies performance measures aimed at preventing surgical complications, including venous thromboembolism (VTE) and surgical site infections (SSI). It does not explicitly address family participation, interdisciplinary collaboration, or CAM.
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