CNOR Managing Emergency Situations 4

Question 1

A patient receiving a blood transfusion intraoperatively develops hypotension, hemoglobinuria, and back pain. The nurse should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Stop the transfusion and maintain IV access with normal saline

Answer

These signs indicate an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction; stopping the transfusion immediately while maintaining IV access is the critical first step.

Question 2

During a spine procedure in prone position, the patient develops a sudden drop in oxygen saturation and absent breath sounds on the left. The nurse anticipates:

Accepted Answer

Pneumothorax requiring chest tube insertion

Answer

Sudden unilateral absent breath sounds with desaturation in a prone patient suggests tension pneumothorax, which requires immediate decompression.

Question 3

Which action is MOST important when a power outage occurs in the OR during an active surgical procedure?

Accepted Answer

Switch critical equipment to emergency battery backup and notify engineering

Answer

Switching life-support and critical equipment to emergency power and notifying facilities engineering ensures patient safety while restoring power.

Question 4

A patient experiences laryngospasm during emergence from anesthesia. The FIRST nursing action is to:

Accepted Answer

Assist the anesthesia provider with jaw thrust and positive pressure ventilation

Answer

Laryngospasm is an airway emergency; the first response is supporting the anesthesia provider with jaw thrust and positive pressure ventilation to break the spasm.

Question 5

Which intraoperative finding is the EARLIEST reliable indicator of malignant hyperthermia?

Accepted Answer

Rising end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2)

Answer

Rising EtCO2 is the earliest and most sensitive sign of MH because accelerated cellular metabolism produces CO2 before temperature rises significantly.

CNOR - Certification Exam Practice Test

CNOR - Certification Exam Practice Test

CNOR Managing Emergency Situations 4