Perioperative Nursing Flashcards
7 cards from real MSNCB 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 Nursing flashcards as text
A scrub nurse accidentally contaminates a glove during surgery. What is the correct immediate response?
Answer: Request a glove change and re-establish sterility before continuing
Any break in sterile technique requires immediate correction by changing the contaminated glove to prevent introducing microorganisms to the surgical field.
Which laboratory result would most likely require postponement of an elective surgical procedure?
Answer: INR of 3.8
An INR of 3.8 indicates excessive anticoagulation, significantly increasing intraoperative hemorrhage risk and requiring correction before elective surgery.
During the surgical time-out, the team discovers the consent form lists the left knee but the surgical site is marked on the right knee. What should happen?
Answer: Halt the procedure and reconcile the discrepancy with the patient and surgeon before proceeding
Any discrepancy identified during the time-out must be resolved before surgery begins to prevent wrong-site surgery.
A patient returns to the surgical unit from PACU with a urinary catheter. Which postoperative assessment finding requires the most urgent action?
Answer: Urine output of 15 mL over the past two hours
Urine output less than 0.5 mL/kg/hr (approximately 30 mL/hr for average adult) over two hours indicates oliguria and possible acute kidney injury requiring urgent intervention.
Which statement best describes the primary role of the circulating nurse during a surgical procedure?
Answer: Managing the unsterile environment, coordinating care, and advocating for patient safety
The circulating nurse works outside the sterile field to manage the OR environment, coordinate the team, document care, and serve as the patient's advocate.
When applying electrosurgical unit (ESU) grounding pad to a patient, which site is most appropriate?
Answer: Over well-vascularized muscle mass close to the operative site
The ESU grounding pad should be placed on a well-vascularized, fleshy area close to the operative site to ensure even current distribution and prevent burns.
A postoperative patient reports sudden onset of chest pain and shortness of breath on the first day after hip replacement surgery. Which complication should the nurse suspect first?
Answer: Pulmonary embolism
Sudden chest pain and dyspnea in a postoperative orthopedic patient are classic signs of pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication of DVT.