CNOR Patient Positioning and Physiological Monitoring 3

Question 1

When a patient is positioned in the prone position, chest rolls or a Wilson frame are used primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Allow free abdominal excursion and reduce vena caval compression

Answer

Prevent brachial plexus injury

Answer

Protect the eyes from direct pressure

Answer

Maintain the cervical spine in neutral alignment

Question 2

Intraoperative temperature monitoring is critical because hypothermia (core temp below 36°C) can cause all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Reduced anesthetic agent requirements

Answer

Increased surgical site infection risk

Answer

Impaired coagulation and increased bleeding

Answer

Prolonged neuromuscular blockade duration

Question 3

The circulating nurse notes that the patient's arm is abducted greater than 90 degrees on the arm board. The primary concern is injury to which structure?

Accepted Answer

Brachial plexus from stretch or compression

Answer

Ulnar nerve at the elbow

Answer

Radial nerve at the spiral groove

Answer

Median nerve at the wrist

Question 4

Which pulse oximetry limitation is most clinically significant when monitoring a patient who has received large amounts of intravenous dye (methylene blue)?

Accepted Answer

Methylene blue causes falsely low SpO2 readings transiently

Answer

Motion artifact causing falsely low readings

Answer

Nail polish prevents light transmission

Answer

Peripheral vasoconstriction causes signal dropout

Question 5

During a lengthy procedure, the circulating nurse is responsible for re-evaluating the patient's position at regular intervals. The MOST important reason for this is to:

Accepted Answer

Identify developing pressure injuries or positional nerve stress early enough to intervene

Answer

Ensure sterile drapes have not shifted

Answer

Document compliance with AORN positioning guidelines

Answer

Reassess the need for warming blankets

Question 6

A patient undergoing a prolonged procedure in the lithotomy position develops rhabdomyolysis postoperatively. Which intraoperative finding would have been the earliest indicator of this developing complication?

Accepted Answer

Decreasing urine output with dark, tea-colored urine

Answer

A drop in SpO2 to 94%

Answer

A rise in end-tidal CO2

Answer

Increasing peak airway pressures

Question 7

The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) and AORN recommend that intraoperative temperature be maintained at or above which threshold to prevent adverse outcomes?

Accepted Answer

36.0°C (96.8°F)

Answer

34.5°C (94.1°F)

Answer

35.5°C (95.9°F)

Answer

37.5°C (99.5°F)