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 in the PACU is showing signs of laryngospasm after extubation. Which is the priority nursing intervention?
Answer: Apply positive pressure ventilation with a bag-valve mask
Positive pressure ventilation with a bag-valve mask is the first intervention to break laryngospasm and maintain oxygenation.
Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator of adequate reversal of neuromuscular blockade in the PACU?
Answer: Ability to sustain head lift for 5 seconds
A 5-second head lift demonstrates adequate neuromuscular recovery and respiratory muscle strength needed for safe extubation.
A patient returns from surgery with a Jackson-Pratt drain. The nurse notes the bulb is firm and not compressed. What action should be taken?
Answer: Empty the drain and recompress the bulb to restore suction
A Jackson-Pratt drain works by closed suction; the bulb must be emptied and recompressed to maintain negative pressure and effective drainage.
In caring for a patient who underwent general anesthesia, the nurse assesses for which early sign of malignant hyperthermia?
Answer: Muscle rigidity and rapid rise in end-tidal CO2
Muscle rigidity and a rapid increase in end-tidal CO2 are early hallmarks of malignant hyperthermia due to uncontrolled skeletal muscle hypermetabolism.
A patient is NPO for surgery and asks why they cannot drink clear liquids the morning of their procedure. The best nurse's response is:
Answer: Even clear liquids increase the risk of aspiration during anesthesia
Clear liquids in the stomach increase aspiration risk during anesthesia induction when protective airway reflexes are suppressed.
When performing a preoperative skin prep, which action by the nurse is INCORRECT?
Answer: Shaving the surgical site with a razor the night before surgery
Razor shaving the night before surgery increases SSI risk due to skin microabrasions; hair removal should use clippers immediately before surgery if needed.
A postoperative patient complains of severe pain unrelieved by opioids and the nurse notes a tense, swollen surgical extremity. The nurse's priority concern is:
Answer: Development of acute compartment syndrome
Pain disproportionate to injury combined with a tense, swollen extremity are hallmark signs of acute compartment syndrome, a surgical emergency.