Chapter 12. Nursing Care of Patients Having Surgery

Chapter 12. Nursing Care of Patients Having Surgery

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

Multiple Choice

Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____     1.   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?

____     2.   A patient recovering from an abdominal hysterectomy is experiencing abdominal gas pain. Which action should the nurse take?

____     3.   A patient scheduled for surgery the next morning is withdrawn, sad and states a fear of the surgery.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?

____     4.   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?

____     5.   The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from surgery. Which outcome should the nurse identify as being the most important to address the nursing diagnosis of Pain related to surgical incision?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS:  A

Patients on chronic oral steroid therapy cannot abruptly stop their medication even though they are told to take nothing by mouth before or after surgery. Serious complications, such as circulatory collapse, can develop if steroids are stopped abruptly. The RN should be notified and will need to clarify the medication with the physician. It is anticipated that the physician will order the patient’s steroid therapy to be given by a parenteral route as the patient is NPO. B. Asking the patient why the medication has been prescribed does not address the problem. C. The nurse cannot provide the medication since the patient is prescribed to be NPO. D. Pharmacists cannot convert oral steroid doses to IV doses without an order from the physician.

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Moderate

KEY:  Client Need: Physiological Integrity—Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies | Cognitive Level: Application

2. ANS:  C

If gas pains occur, encourage ambulation, have patient lie prone, and pull the knees up to the chest to relieve pain. Encouraging early ambulation helps promote restoration of gastrointestinal (GI) functioning, which is the goal and will help relieve the gas pains. A. B. D. A hot beverage, extra blanket, or abdominal binder will not help relieve the patient’s abdominal gas pains.

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Moderate

KEY:  Client Need: Physiological Integrity—Reduction of Risk Potential | Cognitive Level: Application

3. ANS:  C

The word surgery causes a common emotional reaction in patients. The nurse who understands this can reassure the patient that this is normal and then ask an open-ended question to collect data about this fear to determine what should be done next. B. D. The nurse should not provide false reassurance to the patient. A. This answer is not therapeutic in that it does not explore and identify what is concerning the patient for possible intervention.

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Moderate

KEY:  Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity | Cognitive Level: Application

4. ANS:  C

PTS:   1                    DIF:    Moderate

KEY:  Client Need: Physiological Integrity—Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies | Cognitive Level: Application

5. ANS:  B

The outcome for the nursing diagnosis of Pain is met if the patient reports a satisfactory relief of pain. A. C. D. These actions may help achieve pain relief however do not necessary support the overall outcome.

PTS:     1          DIF:     Moderate