What is the primary reason that a patient is instructed to be NPO (nothing by mouth) after midnight before surgery?
Explanation
Anesthetic agents can relax the body's reflexes, including the one that prevents stomach contents from entering the lungs. Maintaining NPO status reduces the volume of stomach contents, thereby minimizing the risk of life-threatening aspiration if the patient were to regurgitate during the procedure.
Other questions
What is the correct timeframe that defines the preoperative phase of the surgical experience?
A preoperative nurse is educating a patient who smokes about measures to improve surgical outcomes. What is the recommended minimum period for smoking cessation prior to surgery to aid in wound healing?
Who holds the primary responsibility for providing the detailed information necessary for a patient to give informed consent for a surgical procedure?
A patient with a history of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is being prepared for surgery. What intervention might the preoperative nurse anticipate being ordered to mitigate this risk?
For a bariatric patient undergoing surgery, what is the reason for an increased risk of wound dehiscence or hernia?
What is the primary purpose of the preoperative nurse asking a patient to state the planned surgery and site in their own words?
According to the text, a surgeon may request a patient stop using aspirin for up to how many days prior to a procedure to reduce the risk of bleeding?
What is the definition of a sentinel event in the context of surgery?
In the Unfolding Case Study, the patient had a history of severe postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Based on this, which nursing note entry from the PACU Triage Assessment is an expected finding?
What is the primary role of a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) on the surgical team?
Why is it important for the preoperative nurse to inquire about a patient's use of herbal supplements like valerian root, ginkgo biloba, or St. John's wort?
Which patient population is specifically mentioned as being at higher risk for delayed recovery and having lower organ system reserves, requiring slower metabolism of anesthetic agents?
What is the correct procedure for a preoperative nurse when a patient requiring informed consent does not speak English?
What is the primary purpose of using an incentive spirometer after surgery?
In the context of the Jehovah's Witnesses community, what cultural consideration is critical for the preoperative nurse to be aware of?
What is the primary reason for performing a bowel preparation with laxatives or enemas before an abdominal or pelvic procedure?
What is a key responsibility of the preoperative nurse regarding a patient's advanced directive?
Which condition is a serious genetic disorder that causes a life-threatening elevation of body temperature and muscle spasms, requiring special precautions during anesthesia?
In the Unfolding Case Study, what was the patient's pain score on a 0-10 scale upon admission to the preoperative area?
What is the primary purpose of applying thromboembolic deterrent (TED) hose or sequential compression devices (SCDs) during the preoperative phase?
What is the primary goal of the preoperative assessment?
Which endocrine disorder is specifically mentioned as a condition where an adrenal crisis may be triggered by the stress of surgery or fasting?
In the Unfolding Case Study, the nurse notes the patient's history of being a grade school teacher and a track and field athlete. This information falls under which category of the preoperative assessment?
What is a key difference in preoperative care for an emergency surgery compared to an elective surgery?
What physical assessment finding in an older adult patient requires careful precaution during positioning and transfers due to age-related changes?
What is the primary reason for completing a pregnancy test on a woman of childbearing age on the day of surgery, even if she had a recent negative test?
Based on the Unfolding Case Study, what was the patient's Body Mass Index (BMI) on admission?
What is the primary role of the preoperative nurse in the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) step of 'Recognize and Analyze Cues'?
A patient with a BMI of 47 is scheduled for surgery. This patient is at an increased risk for which specific complication related to high blood pressure and airway obstruction from excess fat?
What is the correct action for the intraoperative team to take immediately before the first incision, as part of the surgical time-out?
In the 'Real RN Stories' with Nurse Joseph, what specific supplement did the patient Kelly initially hesitate to mention that could have interfered with her anesthesia?
Which of the following is NOT listed as a goal of the National Patient Safety Goals for surgery?
What is the primary reason for a preoperative nurse to perform a thorough psychosocial assessment?
A patient is identified as having a history of daily alcohol use during the preoperative assessment. This information is most critical for which member of the surgical team?
In the 'Real RN Stories' with Nurse Ashley, a wrong-site surgery was prevented. What was the initial error in the patient's chart?
If a patient has a known allergy, where should this information be documented and displayed to ensure the safety of the entire team?
Which of these factors is NOT considered a special population requiring unique preoperative considerations according to the text?
What is the purpose of a limb alert in preoperative care?
In the 'Unfolding Case Study,' what was the patient's heart rate upon admission to the preoperative area at 06:00?
What information should the preoperative nurse obtain regarding a patient's medication history?
Which patient would require a cardiologist's clearance before an elective surgery?
What type of surgical preparation is only warranted for procedures involving an abdominal or pelvic procedure?
According to the Unfolding Case Study, the patient's lab results from 3/12/24 showed a hemoglobin (Hgb) of 12 g/dl and a hematocrit (Hct) of 41 percent. How are these results classified?
During a preoperative assessment, which finding would prompt the nurse to evaluate the patient using a Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) scale postoperatively?
Which patient care task is performed during the preoperative phase to specifically reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs)?
What is the primary role of a patient in the preoperative phase?
According to Table 25.1, which medication is an example of an antiplatelet medication that is often contraindicated before surgery to reduce bleeding risk?
What is the primary function of the preadmission assessment and interview?
In the Unfolding Case Study, what was the patient's oxygen saturation on room air upon admission to the preoperative area?