A patient who has returned to the surgical nursing unit from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is drowsy and requires verbal stimulation to remain aroused. The best position to maintain an airway for this patient is:

head of bed at 45 degrees with head and neck midline.

side lying.

supine.

head of bed at 30 degrees with head and neck midline.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Head of bed at 45 degrees with head and neck midline. Although the head of the bed at 45 degrees can be appropriate for some patients, it is not the best position to maintain a patent airway for a drowsy postoperative patient. This position can lead to airway obstruction, especially if the patient is drowsy.

B. Side lying. The side-lying position is the best choice for a patient who is drowsy and requires verbal stimulation to remain aroused. This position prevents aspiration and ensures that the airway remains patent by allowing any secretions or fluids to drain from the mouth. It is especially useful in the postoperative period to prevent airway obstruction.

C. Supine. The supine position is not ideal for a drowsy postoperative patient, as it can increase the risk of airway obstruction. The tongue may fall back and obstruct the airway, particularly if the patient is drowsy.

D. Head of bed at 30 degrees with head and neck midline. Although elevating the head of the bed at 30 degrees is common, it is not the best choice for a drowsy patient at risk for airway obstruction. Side-lying would be more effective in preventing aspiration and maintaining the airway.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Allow the patient to be taken to surgery after notifying the circulating nurse. The patient should not proceed to surgery with an incorrect name on the consent form, even if the circulating nurse is informed.

B. Inform the surgeon of the error. While notifying the surgeon is important, the primary action is to obtain a corrected consent form.

C. Request a corrected consent form to be signed. A surgical consent form must be accurate. A new, correctly spelled form should be obtained before surgery to ensure legal and ethical compliance.

D. Have the new form attached to the old incorrect one and document it. Attaching a new form does not resolve the error; a corrected and properly signed form is required before surgery proceeds.

A. dehiscence B. laceration C. evisceration D. autologous

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Dehiscence: Dehiscence refers to the partial or total separation of the wound's layers, often occurring after surgery, such as when coughing increases intra-abdominal pressure.

B. Laceration: A laceration refers to a tear or break in the skin due to trauma, not a surgical complication.

C. Evisceration: Evisceration occurs when the internal organs protrude through the wound, which is a more severe complication than dehiscence.

D. Autologous: Autologous refers to using a person's own tissues or cells (e.g., blood transfusion), not a wound complication.

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A patient who has returned to the surgical nursing unit from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is drowsy and requires verbal stimulation to remain aroused. The best position to maintain an airway for this patient is:

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse discovers that the signed operative permit has misspelled the patient's name. The nurse must:

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A postoperative patient experiences separation of the layers of his abdominal surgical wound during coughing. Separation of the layers of a surgical wound is known as

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

After the surgery, the patient is transferred to the PACU. Functions of the nurse in the PACU are to

The circulating nurse is responsible for:

To help prevent errors in the surgical procedure, the National Patient Safety Goal instituted a directive that prior to presurgical medication, each patient must:

The nurse explains that the informed surgical consent form should include information relative to: (Select all that apply.)

It is very important to monitor the surgical patient's urine output because

General Anesthesia is when a nerve block such as a spinal, caudal, epidural, or peripheral block is administered. (Write True or False)

The nurse preparing the surgical patient's room for the patient's return from the post anesthesia unit should: (Select all that apply.)

The four phases of surgical care are preoperative care, intraoperative care, post anesthesia care, and: