CVA Veterinary Practice & Nursing Care 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During anesthetic recovery, a cat begins paddling its limbs and vocalizing. The BEST immediate action is to:
- Administer more anesthetic gas
- Monitor closely and provide gentle physical reassurance in a quiet, warm space (Correct answer)
- Restrain tightly to prevent injury
- Return the patient to surgery immediately
Correct answer: Monitor closely and provide gentle physical reassurance in a quiet, warm space
Excitement or dysphoric recovery is common in cats; minimizing stimulation and providing warmth in a quiet area helps the patient recover more smoothly.
Question 2: A patient with a suspected urinary obstruction presents vocalizing in pain. Which finding would MOST support this diagnosis?
- Distended, firm, painful bladder on abdominal palpation (Correct answer)
- Loose stool and vomiting
- Bleeding from the ear
- Reluctance to walk
Correct answer: Distended, firm, painful bladder on abdominal palpation
A distended, hard, and painful bladder on abdominal palpation is the hallmark physical finding of urinary obstruction, most commonly seen in male cats.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes proper sharps disposal in a veterinary clinic?
- Place used needles in regular trash immediately after use
- Recap needles and store in a labeled container before disposal
- Place uncapped needles directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container (Correct answer)
- Bend needles before placing in any container
Correct answer: Place uncapped needles directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container
Uncapped needles should be placed immediately into an approved, puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent accidental needle-stick injuries.
Question 4: When performing thoracic auscultation in a dog, diminished or absent lung sounds in one hemithorax MOST likely indicate:
- Normal variation
- Pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or consolidation (Correct answer)
- Upper respiratory infection only
- Cardiac arrhythmia
Correct answer: Pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or consolidation
Absent or severely diminished lung sounds on one side suggest air (pneumothorax), fluid (pleural effusion), or tissue (mass/consolidation) displacing normal lung tissue.
Question 5: A veterinary assistant is tasked with preparing an autoclave load. Which of the following items requires the LONGEST sterilization cycle?
- Wrapped gauze sponges
- Open metal instruments
- Dense packs of drapes and gowns (Correct answer)
- Unwrapped syringes
Correct answer: Dense packs of drapes and gowns
Dense, tightly packed textile loads require longer autoclave cycles because steam penetration to the center of the pack takes more time.
Question 6: Which behavior in a hospitalized patient MOST strongly indicates it is experiencing adequate pain control?
- Guarding the surgical site and refusing to stand
- Resting calmly, eating, and showing interest in surroundings (Correct answer)
- Continuous vocalizing and aggression
- Grinding teeth and hunched posture
Correct answer: Resting calmly, eating, and showing interest in surroundings
A patient that rests comfortably, eats voluntarily, and shows interest in its environment is displaying behaviors consistent with adequate analgesia.
Question 7: In veterinary practice, a 'controlled drug log' is required by law primarily to track:
- Over-the-counter supplement inventory
- All prescription medications dispensed
- Schedule II–V controlled substances such as opioids (Correct answer)
- Flea and tick preventatives
Correct answer: Schedule II–V controlled substances such as opioids
DEA regulations require veterinary practices to maintain detailed logs of all Schedule II–V controlled substances to prevent diversion and ensure accountability.
CVA Veterinary Practice & Nursing Care 5
During anesthetic recovery, a cat begins paddling its limbs and vocalizing.
The BEST immediate action is to: