Perioperative Nursing Flashcards
7 cards from real MSNCB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Perioperative Nursing flashcards as text
A patient receiving spinal anesthesia develops sudden hypotension. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Sympathetic blockade causing vasodilation
Spinal anesthesia blocks sympathetic nerves, causing vasodilation and a drop in blood pressure, the most common complication of neuraxial anesthesia.
Which action is most important when transferring a patient from the OR table to the PACU stretcher?
Answer: Ensure adequate personnel and protect the patient's airway during transfer
Safe patient transfer requires sufficient personnel to prevent falls and injury, and the airway must be protected throughout the move from OR to PACU.
Which preoperative patient teaching point is most important for a patient undergoing general anesthesia?
Answer: NPO (nothing by mouth) requirements and why they are necessary
NPO status is critical to prevent aspiration of gastric contents during anesthesia induction, which can cause aspiration pneumonia or death.
The perioperative nurse notes the patient's preoperative consent form is not signed before the patient receives preoperative sedation. What should the nurse do?
Answer: Notify the surgeon and hold preoperative medications until consent is obtained
Informed consent must be obtained while the patient is alert and competent; sedation impairs decision-making capacity, so medication must be withheld until consent is signed.
Which intervention is most effective for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the perioperative patient?
Answer: Applying sequential compression devices (SCDs) before and during surgery
Sequential compression devices improve venous return and reduce stasis, making them a primary mechanical intervention for DVT prevention in surgical patients.
A surgical patient with a latex allergy is scheduled for the first case of the day. What is the most appropriate accommodation?
Answer: Schedule the patient as the first case of the day in a latex-free environment
Scheduling a latex-allergic patient first minimizes latex particle accumulation in the OR environment, reducing the risk of an allergic reaction.
Which finding indicates a patient is ready for discharge from Phase I PACU recovery?
Answer: Vital signs stable, patient awake and oriented, pain controlled, no active bleeding
PACU discharge criteria include stable vital signs, adequate level of consciousness, controlled pain and nausea, and absence of surgical complications such as bleeding.