Free Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The perioperative nursing assessment on a breast biopsy patient reveals that she is crying, hence the following nursing diagnosis is most likely:
- fear of medical personnel.
- fear of anaphylactic reaction.
- fear of missing work.
- fear of body image change, pain, or death. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: fear of body image change, pain, or death.
In addition to more typical worries related to surgery and anesthesia, the preoperative patient facing a breast biopsy also faces the anxiety of a change in body image (disfigurement). Anesthesia and surgical procedures can cause anxiety due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to potential surgical outcomes, lifestyle implications, loss of control, pain, and even death.
Question 2: Which of the following treatments would be LEAST successful in reducing a patient's worry and panic before surgery?
- Encourage her to express her anxiety and fear.
- Listen attentively.
- Explain every detail of the proposed surgical procedure. (Correct answer)
- Provide reassurance.
Correct answer: Explain every detail of the proposed surgical procedure.
If a perioperative nurse notices that their patient is worried, they should take the appropriate nursing action to relieve her concerns: listen carefully, reassure, encourage her to express her anxiety or fear, then address it, and offer emotional support. Her level of anxiety would only rise if every surgical detail was explained.
Question 3: The perioperative nurse must determine all of the following, EXCEPT?, when assessing a patient's medical record as significant deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk factors.
- history of heart disease.
- history of ovarian cysts. (Correct answer)
- age older than 50.
- history of varicose veins.
Correct answer: history of ovarian cysts.
Age over 50, a history of varicose veins, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, malignancy, ischemic stroke, prior DVT, diabetes, obesity, paralysis, and inhibitor deficient condition are risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Ovarian cysts in the past do not enhance the risk of DVT.
Question 4: Graded compression stockings, often known as sequential stockings, significantly lower the prevalence of?
- deep vein thrombosis (DVT). (Correct answer)
- electrical injury.
- pressure sores.
- infection
Correct answer: deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Deep vein thrombosis is avoided with graduated compression stockings (sometimes called sequential stockings). Proper posture prevents pressure sores from developing. Infections can be avoided with proper sanitary technique. Electrical damage can be prevented by using the right grounding methods and receiving proper instruction on how to use OR equipment. Due to the possibility of causing a pulmonary embolism, sequential stockings should not be used on the leg that is not affected by a DVT.
Question 5: All of the following, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF?, are among the important fields of knowledge for the perioperative nurse.
- anatomy.
- endotracheal tube insertion and internal physical landmarks. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: endotracheal tube insertion and internal physical landmarks.
In addition to other areas of expertise, the perioperative nurse must be knowledgeable with anatomy, surgical techniques, instruments, OR equipment, and perioperative safety. Endotracheal tubes are inserted by the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. While helping with intubation, the perioperative nurse is not responsible for locating internal anatomic markers to guarantee proper tube placement.
Question 6: What is a case of a never event?
- a surgery performed on the wrong body part. (Correct answer)
- simultaneous surgeries on multiple accident victims.
- hemorrhage after surgery for a cerebral aneurysm.
- an appendix ruptures during surgery.
Correct answer: a surgery performed on the wrong body part.
A never event is a negative occurrence that is easily quantified and clearly recognizable, causes substantial disability or death, and is typically preventable. The following situations should never occur: wrong-patient or wrong-body-part surgery; improper technique; retention of a foreign object after surgery; medication error or contaminated medication; inappropriate equipment use; IV air embolism; incompatible blood transfusion; stage 3 or 4 decubitus ulcers from improper positioning; wrong inhalation agent; burns; falls; or the death of an ASA Class 1 patient.
Question 7: When a patient suffers slightly higher blood pressure, respiration rate, and pulse while in the holding area, what is the most likely nursing diagnosis?
- anxiety. (Correct answer)
- heart disease.
- hypertension.
- COPD.
Correct answer: anxiety.
Anxiety is natural before any stressful event, such as surgery, and it causes hypertension, an elevated pulse, and an increased respiration rate. On the patient's Preassessment Information Sheet, the Medical History section should include information about hypertension, COPD, and heart disease.
The perioperative nursing assessment on a breast biopsy patient reveals that she is crying, hence the following nursing diagnosis is most likely: