Surgical Procedures & Postoperative Care 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 Surgical Procedures & Postoperative Care flashcards as text
A patient recovering from abdominal aortic aneurysm repair suddenly develops mottling of both lower extremities, absent pedal pulses, and severe pain. The nurse recognizes this as:
Answer: Acute limb ischemia from thromboembolism or graft occlusion
Absent pulses, mottling, and acute pain after vascular surgery indicate acute limb ischemia from graft occlusion or thromboembolism, a surgical emergency.
Which nursing action is most important when a patient returns from surgery with a temporary pacemaker?
Answer: Ensure all electrical equipment is grounded and limit patient movement
Temporary pacemakers require electrical safety measures including grounding all equipment and limiting patient movement to prevent lead displacement.
A nurse prepares a patient for discharge after a laparoscopic hernia repair. Which instruction is most important for the patient to receive?
Answer: Avoid lifting more than 10 lbs and report fever, chills, or worsening pain
Activity restriction and recognizing signs of infection or recurrence are the highest priority discharge instructions after hernia repair.
During wound irrigation of a dehisced surgical wound, which action by the nurse is incorrect?
Answer: Packing wet-to-dry gauze tightly to absorb all moisture
Tight packing causes trauma to granulating tissue; moist wound healing requires loosely placed dressings that maintain a moist environment.
A postoperative patient on hydromorphone PCA has a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min and is difficult to arouse. The nurse should immediately:
Answer: Administer naloxone per protocol and apply supplemental oxygen
Respiratory rate <10 breaths/min with decreased level of consciousness indicates opioid-induced respiratory depression requiring naloxone reversal.
Which serum marker is the most sensitive early indicator of anastomotic leak following colorectal surgery?
Answer: C-reactive protein (CRP) on postoperative day 3-5
Elevated CRP on postoperative days 3-5 is the most sensitive laboratory marker for detecting anastomotic leak before clinical signs appear.
A nurse caring for a patient after total laryngectomy understands that the patient breathes exclusively through:
Answer: A permanent neck stoma with no connection to the upper airway
Total laryngectomy creates a permanent stoma as the only airway; the trachea is separated from the pharynx, so no upper airway connection exists.