Perioperative 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 Perioperative flashcards as text
A patient is receiving epidural analgesia postoperatively. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
Answer: Blood pressure 90/58 mmHg
Hypotension (BP 90/58) is a serious complication of epidural analgesia due to sympathetic blockade and requires immediate intervention.
During the immediate postoperative period, a patient begins shivering uncontrollably. What is the priority nursing action?
Answer: Apply warm blankets and active warming measures
Postoperative shivering is commonly caused by hypothermia from operating room exposure; applying warm blankets is the priority intervention.
A patient is 6 hours post-abdominal surgery and has not voided. Which assessment is most important before intervening?
Answer: Bladder scan for urinary retention
A bladder scan should be performed first to determine if urinary retention is present before any urinary intervention is initiated.
Which laboratory value is most critical to assess before a patient is taken to the operating room for an elective procedure?
Answer: Serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/L
Hypokalemia (K+ 2.9 mEq/L) increases the risk of dangerous cardiac arrhythmias during anesthesia and must be corrected preoperatively.
A patient scheduled for surgery reports taking aspirin daily for cardiac prophylaxis. The nurse's most appropriate action is to:
Answer: Document and notify the anesthesiologist and surgeon
Aspirin's antiplatelet effects increase bleeding risk; the surgical and anesthesia teams must be notified to determine if surgery should be delayed.
Which positioning complication is a patient undergoing a lengthy procedure in the lithotomy position most at risk for?
Answer: Compartment syndrome of the lower extremities
Extended lithotomy positioning compresses lower extremity compartments, increasing risk of compartment syndrome due to elevated pressure and reduced perfusion.
A circulating nurse notices that the sterile field has been contaminated during surgery. The appropriate response is to:
Answer: Immediately notify the scrub tech and surgeon and replace contaminated items
Any breach of the sterile field must be reported immediately and contaminated items replaced to prevent surgical site infection.