Preoperative Assessment
This assessment is the highest priority before a client is transported to surgery because it reduces aspiration risk.
What is verifying NPO status?
This national protocol was developed to prevent wrong-patient, wrong-site, and wrong-procedure surgeries.
What is Time Out?
This pulmonary complication is more common in older adults after surgery.
What is atelectasis?
This nurse manages client care during surgery but does not scrub in.
Who is the circulating nurse?
This assessment is the highest postoperative priority.
What is airway patency?
A client scheduled for surgery has diabetes and a blood glucose level of 320 mg/dL. This postoperative complication is increased if glucose remains uncontrolled.
What is wound infection?
During the surgical time-out, the team verifies these three critical items.
What are the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site?
Older adults have decreased _______ reserve, increasing their risk during surgery.
What is cardiac reserve?
This team member counts instruments, sponges, and needles.
Who is the scrub nurse? (or Surgical technician)
A postoperative patient reports severe pain. What intervention should the nurse perform first?
What is administer the prescribed analgesic?
Select ALL assessment areas included in the preoperative nursing assessment:
A. Allergies
B. Emotional health
C. Current medications
D. Favorite television show
E. Social support
A. Allergies
B. Emotional health
C. Current medication E. Social Support
Who marks the surgical site before surgery?
Who is the surgeon or authorized procedural provider?
An older adult is at higher risk for this integumentary complication during surgery.
What are pressure injuries or skin tears?
This nurse may give report and transport the patient to the PACU nurse.
Circulating Nurse or IntraOperative Nurse
Early ambulation helps prevent these two major complications.
What are pulmonary complications and venous thromboembolism?
A patient says, “I'm terrified of surgery and worried I won't wake up.”
Using therapeutic communication, what should the nurse do first?
What is encourage the patient to express fears and concerns?
A client is arriving in the OR. The consent form is unsigned, allergies are not documented, and the operative site is not marked.
What is the nurse's priority action?
What is stop the process and resolve safety issues before proceeding?
An 82-year-old postoperative patient develops confusion and delayed responses after receiving opioid pain medication.
Which age-related factor most likely contributed?
What is increased sensitivity to medications and anesthesia?
A sponge count is incorrect before wound closure.
What should the surgical team do FIRST?
What is stop closure and reconcile the missing sponge count?
A postoperative patient has:
Which finding is priority?
What is respiratory depression and hypoxemia? (Airway/Breathing priority)
NGN Case: A patient scheduled for surgery has a history of smoking, obesity, OSA, and hypertension.
Identify the two risk factors that place the patient at greatest risk for respiratory complications.
What are smoking and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Select all elements that should be verified during the preoperative verification process:
A. Allergies
B. Consent form
C. Lab results
D. Medical history
E. Favorite meal
A. Allergies
B. Consent form
C. Lab results
D. Medical history
Select all physiologic changes commonly seen in older adults undergoing surgery:
A. Delayed gastric emptying
B. Increased bladder capacity
C. Increased risk for electrolyte imbalance
D. Increased risk for pressure injuries
E. Faster recovery
A. Delayed gastric emptying
C. Increased risk for electrolyte imbalance
D. Increased risk for pressure injuries
Select ALL responsibilities of the scrub nurse.
A. Sterile instrument setup
B. Passing instruments
C. Antimicrobial skin prep
D. Sponge counts
E. Sterile draping
A. Sterile instrument setup
B. Passing instruments
D. Sponge counts
E. Sterile draping
Select all common postoperative complications.
A. Atelectasis
B. Pneumonia
C. Wound infection
D. Hypovolemic shock
E. Improved circulation
A. Atelectasis
B. Pneumonia
C. Wound infection
D. Hypovolemic shock