Post-Surgical Patient Care Flashcards
7 cards from real CBC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Post-Surgical Patient Care flashcards as text
A counselor reviews annual labs for a 3-year post-bypass patient who stopped taking supplements. Which combination of deficiencies is most typical in this scenario?
Answer: Vitamin B12, iron, vitamin D, and calcium
B12, iron, vitamin D, and calcium are the classic long-term deficiencies after bypass because their absorption sites are altered or bypassed.
A patient 5 days post-op reports sudden calf pain, swelling in one leg, and shortness of breath. The counselor should recognize this as a possible:
Answer: Deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism, requiring emergency care
Unilateral leg swelling with dyspnea suggests DVT with pulmonary embolism, a leading cause of post-bariatric mortality that demands immediate emergency care.
Which counseling approach best supports long-term adherence to post-surgical lifestyle changes?
Answer: Motivational interviewing that elicits the patient's own reasons for change
Motivational interviewing strengthens intrinsic motivation and is associated with better long-term adherence than directive or punitive approaches.
A patient asks why they must eat protein first at every meal after surgery. The best explanation is:
Answer: Pouch capacity is limited, so protein must be prioritized before filling up on other foods
With a small pouch, patients fill quickly, so eating protein first ensures the most critical macronutrient is consumed before satiety hits.
Which patient statement 6 months post-surgery suggests body image concerns that warrant further counseling?
Answer: "I still see the same obese person in the mirror even though I've lost 80 pounds."
A persistent mismatch between actual body size and self-perception, sometimes called phantom fat, signals body image disturbance needing counseling support.
A patient reports chewing food and spitting it out to 'taste without swallowing.' The counselor should recognize this as:
Answer: A disordered eating behavior requiring assessment and possible referral
Chew-and-spit behavior is a disordered eating pattern that requires clinical assessment and possible referral to an eating disorder specialist.
What is the recommended frequency of routine nutritional lab monitoring for a stable patient after the first year post-gastric bypass?
Answer: At least annually for life
Lifelong annual lab monitoring is recommended after the first year because deficiencies can develop silently at any time.