Operative Care

The home health nurse is visiting a patient recovering after an abdominal hysterectomy. Which action should the home health nurse take before promoting patient intake of oral fluids?

• Check for the absence of pain.
• Verify physician’s order for intake
• Ensure bowel sounds can be detected
• Determine that the patient has passed flatus

A preoperative nurse is assessing a client prior to surgery. Which information would be most important for the nurse to relay to the surgical team?

• Allergy to bee and wasp stings
• History of lactose intolerance
• No previous experience with surgery
• Use of multiple herbs and supplements

A patient recovering from surgery becomes restless, has a drop in blood pressure, increase in heart rate, and is breathing at a rate of 30 per minute. Which action should the nurse take first?

• Monitor vital signs.
• Maintain a patent airway
• Notify the patient’s family.
• Ensure physician is informed

The nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a surgical patient. What should the nurse recognize as the most common human response to the stress associated with surgery?

• Fear
• Anxiety 
• Delirium
• Depression

The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for surgery. Which nursing action should the nurse use to address the patient’s psychological concerns?

• Provide privacy to allow the patient to ask questions.
• Use correct, technical medical terminology in explanations.
• Instruct the patient to ask the surgeon all surgical questions
• Provide information to a patient who says, “I do not want to know.”

A patient scheduled for a nephrectomy states that the surgeon said this surgery is considered a “curative procedure.” Which responses should the nurse make to the patient?

• “It is considered palliative surgery.”
• “No, it is an exploratory procedure.”
• “No, it is considered diagnostic surgery.”
• “Yes, it can be classified as a curative procedure.”

A patient who is NPO (nothing by mouth) for scheduled surgery has been on long-term oral steroid therapy and should receive a dose of Prednisone 10 mg by mouth at 0600. Which action should the nurse take?

• Notify the registered nurse (RN).
• Ask why the patient is taking steroid therapy.
• Give the oral steroid with a small sip of water.
• Contact the pharmacy to obtain an intravenous (IV) equivalent dose.  

A patient recovering from an abdominal hysterectomy is experiencing abdominal gas pain. Which action should the nurse take?

• Offer a hot beverage
• Provide an extra blanket
• Help the patient ambulate
• Apply an abdominal binder

A patient scheduled for surgery the next morning is withdrawn, sad and states a fear of the surgery. How should the nurse respond to this patient?

• “Be happy because this surgery will help you.”
• “I would be scared, too. You will make it through.”
• “It’s normal to be scared. What is it that scares you?”
• “Don’t be so concerned. Everything will be all right.”

A patient is prescribed to receive morphine sulfate 8 mg intramuscularly (IM) prior to surgery. The medication available is 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse give to the patient?

• 0.25 mL
• 0.5 mL
• 0.8 mL
• 1.25 mL