Preoperative Patient Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real CNOR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Preoperative Patient Assessment flashcards as text
A patient's preoperative ECG shows new ST-segment changes that were not present 6 months ago. The perioperative nurse should:
Answer: Notify the anesthesia provider and surgeon before proceeding
New ECG changes may indicate acute cardiac pathology and must be reported immediately to determine surgical safety.
When documenting informed consent during the preoperative phase, the perioperative nurse's role is to:
Answer: Witness the patient's signature after confirming the surgeon explained the procedure
The nurse's role in informed consent is to witness the signature after verifying that the surgeon has provided the explanation; obtaining consent is the surgeon's responsibility.
A 68-year-old patient reports occasional confusion and memory lapses. Which preoperative assessment tool is most appropriate to screen for cognitive baseline?
Answer: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
The MMSE is a validated tool for assessing cognitive function and establishing a baseline to monitor for postoperative delirium.
During preoperative assessment, a patient discloses recreational marijuana use. What is the most important implication for anesthesia?
Answer: It may alter anesthetic requirements and interact with sedatives
Marijuana use can affect anesthetic depth requirements, cause drug interactions, and increase airway reactivity.
Which preoperative finding in a diabetic patient scheduled for morning surgery requires the most immediate follow-up?
Answer: Blood glucose of 320 mg/dL
A blood glucose of 320 mg/dL indicates poor glycemic control and increases risks for infection, poor wound healing, and hyperosmolar crisis.
A patient is scheduled for surgery under regional anesthesia. Which preoperative assessment finding would most likely change the anesthetic plan?
Answer: Anticoagulant therapy with recent therapeutic INR of 2.8
Therapeutic anticoagulation significantly increases the risk of spinal hematoma with neuraxial anesthesia.
When reviewing a patient's medication list preoperatively, which herbal supplement is most important to report to the anesthesia team due to risk of prolonged bleeding?
Answer: Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba inhibits platelet-activating factor and can significantly increase bleeding risk perioperatively.