Anesthetist Flashcards
7 cards from real CMSRN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Anesthetist flashcards as text
A patient undergoing a procedure under moderate (conscious) sedation stops responding to verbal stimuli. The nurse should FIRST:
Answer: Stimulate the patient and assess airway patency
The immediate priority is to assess responsiveness and airway patency, as the patient may have inadvertently progressed to deep sedation requiring airway intervention.
Which electrolyte abnormality is MOST dangerous in a patient receiving succinylcholine and should be assessed before administration?
Answer: Hyperkalemia
Succinylcholine causes a transient rise in serum potassium; administering it to a patient with pre-existing hyperkalemia (e.g., burns, crush injuries, renal failure) can cause fatal cardiac arrest.
In the immediate postoperative period, which assessment finding indicates the patient is NOT yet ready for extubation?
Answer: Respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min with shallow tidal volumes
A respiratory rate of 8 with shallow tidal volumes suggests residual neuromuscular blockade or opioid effect, indicating inadequate ventilatory drive for safe extubation.
A patient develops bronchospasm during general anesthesia. Which inhalational agent should be AVOIDED as it is most likely to worsen airway reactivity?
Answer: Desflurane
Desflurane is a potent airway irritant that can cause bronchospasm, laryngospasm, and increased secretions, making it the worst choice for patients with reactive airways.
Which is the MOST important nursing action when a patient with a history of latex allergy is scheduled for a procedure?
Answer: Schedule the patient as the first case of the day and use latex-free equipment
Scheduling first case of the day minimizes airborne latex particles from previous cases, and using a fully latex-free environment is essential to prevent anaphylaxis.
A medical-surgical nurse is monitoring a patient receiving a continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine and fentanyl. The patient's respiratory rate is 7/min. What is the FIRST nursing action?
Answer: Notify the anesthesia provider immediately while preparing naloxone
Respiratory depression from epidural opioids requires immediate provider notification and preparation of naloxone while maintaining close monitoring and airway readiness.
Propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) is a rare but fatal complication associated with prolonged high-dose propofol. Which early warning sign should alert the nurse?
Answer: Metabolic acidosis, elevated triglycerides, and cardiac arrhythmias
PRIS presents with high anion gap metabolic acidosis, hypertriglyceridemia, rhabdomyolysis, hepatomegaly, and cardiac failure, often after >48 hours of high-dose infusion.