ABPANC ABPANC Anesthesia Recovery & Phase Management 2

Question 1

What nursing intervention is most appropriate for a patient exhibiting post-operative shivering in the PACU?

Accepted Answer

Apply warm blankets and consider meperidine per protocol

Answer

Warm blankets address heat loss and meperidine (Demerol) is effective in reducing post-operative shivering via kappa-opioid receptor activity.

Question 2

Which assessment finding in a PACU patient most warrants immediate notification of the anesthesia provider?

Accepted Answer

SpO2 88% unresponsive to supplemental oxygen

Answer

SpO2 88% unresponsive to supplemental oxygen indicates a serious respiratory compromise requiring immediate anesthesia provider intervention.

Question 3

A patient recovering from spinal anesthesia has a sensory level at T6. What complication should the PACU nurse prioritize monitoring for?

Accepted Answer

Urinary retention and hypotension

Answer

High spinal levels can cause sympathetic blockade leading to hypotension and bladder dysfunction requiring urinary retention monitoring.

Question 4

Which patient position is most appropriate for a patient suspected of having post-dural puncture headache after spinal anesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Supine position to reduce headache symptoms

Answer

Post-dural puncture headache classically worsens with upright positioning and improves when the patient lies supine due to CSF pressure changes.

Question 5

When assessing a patient's emergence from general anesthesia, what is the significance of the train-of-four (TOF) ratio?

Accepted Answer

It indicates the degree of neuromuscular blockade reversal

Answer

A TOF ratio ≥0.9 indicates adequate reversal of neuromuscular blockade and acceptable neuromuscular function for extubation.

ABPANC - American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification Practice Test