During preoperative assessment for a 7:30 AM (0730) surgery, the nurse finds
the patient drank a cup of coffee this morning. The nurse reports this
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to the anesthesia provider. Which action does the nurse anticipate next?
a. A delay in or cancellation of surgery
b. Questions regarding components of the coffee
c. Additional questions about why the
patient had coffee Instructions to
determine what education was
provided in the
d. preoperative visit
ANS: A
The recommendations before nonemergent procedures requiring general and
regional anesthesia or sedation/ analgesia include fasting from intake of clear
liquids for 2 or more hours. A delay in or cancellation of surgery will be in order for
this case. Questions regarding components of the coffee, asking why, and evaluating
the preoperative education may all be items to be addressed, especially from a
performance improvement perspective, but at this time in caring for this patient, a
delay or cancellation is in order to prevent aspiration.
2. The nurse has administered a preoperative medication to the patient going to
surgery. Which action will the nurse take next?
a. Notify the operating suite that the medication has been given.
b. Instruct the patient to call for help to go to the restroom.
c. Waste any unused medication according to policy.
d. Ask the patient to sign the consent for surgery.
ANS: B
Once a preoperative medication has been administered, instruct the patient to call
for help when getting out of bed to prevent falls. For patient safety, explain the
purpose of a preoperative medication and its effects.
Notifying the operating suite that the medication has been given may be part of a
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facilities procedure but is not the best next step. It is important to have the patient
sign consents before the patient has received medication that may make him/her
drowsy. Wasting unused medication according to policy is important but is not the
best next step.
3. The nurse has completed a preoperative assessment for a patient going to
surgery and gathers assessment data. Which will be the most important next step
for the nurse to take?
a. Notify the operating suite that the patient has a latex allergy.
b. Document that the patient had a bath at home this morning.
c. Administer the ordered preoperative intravenous antibiotic.
d. Ask the nursing assistive personnel to obtain vital signs.
ANS: A
The most important step is notifying the operating suite of the patient’s latex
allergy. Many products that contain latex are used in the operating suite and the
postanesthesia care unit (PACU). When preparing for a patient with this allergy,
special considerations are required from preparation of the room to the types of
tubes, gloves, drapes, and instruments utilized. Obtaining vital signs, documenting,
and administering medications are all part of the process and should be done—
with the latex allergy in mind. However, making sure that the patient has a safe
environment is the first step.
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