Med/Surg Midterm Exam Questions With
Verified Complete Solutions.
A patient who is being admitted to the surgical unit for a hysterectomy paces the floor, repeatedly
saying, "I just want this over." What should the nurse do to promote a positive surgical outcome for the
patient?
a. Ask the patient what her specific concerns are about the surgery.
b. Reassure the patient that the surgery will be over soon and she will be fine.
c. Redirect the patient's attention to the necessary preoperative preparations.
d. Tell the patient she should not be so anxious because she is having a common, safe surgery. - Answer
a. Excessive anxiety and stress can affect surgical recovery and the nurse's role in psychologically
preparing the patient for surgery is to assess for potential stressors that could negatively affect surgery.
Specific fears should be identified and addressed by the nurse by listening and by explaining planned
postoperative care. Falsely reassuring the patient, ignoring her behavior, and telling her not to be
anxious are not therapeutic.
Many herbal products that are commonly taken cause surgical problems. Which herbs listed below
should the nurse teach the patient to avoid before surgery to prevent an increase in bleeding for the
surgical patient (select all that apply)?
a. Garlic
b. Fish oil
c. Valerian
d. Vitamin E
e. Astragalus
f. Ginkgo biloba - Answer a, b, d, f. Valerian may cause excess sedation. Astragalus may increase blood
pressure before and during surgery.
Priority Decision: When the nurse asks a preoperative patient about allergies, the patient reports a
history of seasonal environmental allergies and allergies to a variety of fruits. What should the nurse do
next?
, a. Note this information in the patient's record as hay fever and food allergies.
b. Place an allergy alert wristband that identifies the specific allergies on the patient.
c. Ask the patient to describe the nature and severity of any allergic responses experienced from these
agents.
d. Notify the anesthesia care provider (ACP) because the patient may have an increased risk for allergies
to
anesthetics. - Answer c. Risk factors for latex allergies include a history of
hay fever and allergies to foods such as avocados, kiwi, bananas, potatoes, peaches, and apricots. When
a patient identifies such allergies, the patient should be further questioned about exposure to latex and
specific reactions to allergens. A history of any allergic responsiveness increases the risk for
hypersensitivity reactions to drugs used during anesthesia but the hay fever and fruit allergies are
specifically related to latex allergy. After identifying the allergic reaction, the anesthesia care provider
(ACP) should be notified, the allergy alert wristband should be applied, and the note in the record will
include the allergies and reactions as well as the nursing actions related to the allergies.
During a preoperative review of systems, the patient reveals a history of renal disease. This finding
suggests the need for which preoperative diagnostic tests?
a. ECG and chest x-ray
b. Serum glucose and CBC
c. ABGs and coagulation tests
d. BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes - Answer d. BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes are
used to assess renal function and should be evaluated before surgery. Other tests are often evaluated in
the presence of diabetes, bleeding tendencies, and respiratory or heart disease.
During a preoperative physical examination, the nurse is alerted to the possibility of compromised
respiratory function during or after surgery in a patient with which problem?
a. Obesity
b. Dehydration
c. Enlarged liver
d. Decreased peripheral pulses - Answer a. Obesity, as well as spinal, chest, and airway deformities,
may compromise respiratory function during and after surgery. Dehydration may require preoperative
fluid therapy and an enlarged liver may indicate hepatic dysfunction that will increase perioperative risk
Verified Complete Solutions.
A patient who is being admitted to the surgical unit for a hysterectomy paces the floor, repeatedly
saying, "I just want this over." What should the nurse do to promote a positive surgical outcome for the
patient?
a. Ask the patient what her specific concerns are about the surgery.
b. Reassure the patient that the surgery will be over soon and she will be fine.
c. Redirect the patient's attention to the necessary preoperative preparations.
d. Tell the patient she should not be so anxious because she is having a common, safe surgery. - Answer
a. Excessive anxiety and stress can affect surgical recovery and the nurse's role in psychologically
preparing the patient for surgery is to assess for potential stressors that could negatively affect surgery.
Specific fears should be identified and addressed by the nurse by listening and by explaining planned
postoperative care. Falsely reassuring the patient, ignoring her behavior, and telling her not to be
anxious are not therapeutic.
Many herbal products that are commonly taken cause surgical problems. Which herbs listed below
should the nurse teach the patient to avoid before surgery to prevent an increase in bleeding for the
surgical patient (select all that apply)?
a. Garlic
b. Fish oil
c. Valerian
d. Vitamin E
e. Astragalus
f. Ginkgo biloba - Answer a, b, d, f. Valerian may cause excess sedation. Astragalus may increase blood
pressure before and during surgery.
Priority Decision: When the nurse asks a preoperative patient about allergies, the patient reports a
history of seasonal environmental allergies and allergies to a variety of fruits. What should the nurse do
next?
, a. Note this information in the patient's record as hay fever and food allergies.
b. Place an allergy alert wristband that identifies the specific allergies on the patient.
c. Ask the patient to describe the nature and severity of any allergic responses experienced from these
agents.
d. Notify the anesthesia care provider (ACP) because the patient may have an increased risk for allergies
to
anesthetics. - Answer c. Risk factors for latex allergies include a history of
hay fever and allergies to foods such as avocados, kiwi, bananas, potatoes, peaches, and apricots. When
a patient identifies such allergies, the patient should be further questioned about exposure to latex and
specific reactions to allergens. A history of any allergic responsiveness increases the risk for
hypersensitivity reactions to drugs used during anesthesia but the hay fever and fruit allergies are
specifically related to latex allergy. After identifying the allergic reaction, the anesthesia care provider
(ACP) should be notified, the allergy alert wristband should be applied, and the note in the record will
include the allergies and reactions as well as the nursing actions related to the allergies.
During a preoperative review of systems, the patient reveals a history of renal disease. This finding
suggests the need for which preoperative diagnostic tests?
a. ECG and chest x-ray
b. Serum glucose and CBC
c. ABGs and coagulation tests
d. BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes - Answer d. BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes are
used to assess renal function and should be evaluated before surgery. Other tests are often evaluated in
the presence of diabetes, bleeding tendencies, and respiratory or heart disease.
During a preoperative physical examination, the nurse is alerted to the possibility of compromised
respiratory function during or after surgery in a patient with which problem?
a. Obesity
b. Dehydration
c. Enlarged liver
d. Decreased peripheral pulses - Answer a. Obesity, as well as spinal, chest, and airway deformities,
may compromise respiratory function during and after surgery. Dehydration may require preoperative
fluid therapy and an enlarged liver may indicate hepatic dysfunction that will increase perioperative risk
