1. The nurse is making a preoperative education appointment with a

patient. The patient asks if a family member should come to the

appointment. Which is the best response by the nurse?

a. “There is no need for an additional person at the appointment.”

b. “Your family can come and wait with you in the waiting room.”

c. “We recommend including family members at this appointment.”

d. “It is required that you have a family member at this appointment.”

ANS: C

Including family members in perioperative education is advisable. Often a

family member is a coach for postoperative exercises when the patient returns

from surgery. If anxious relatives do not understand routine postoperative

events, it is likely that their anxiety will heighten the patient’s fears and

concerns. Preoperative preparation of family members before surgery helps to

minimize anxiety and misunderstanding. An additional person is needed at the

appointment if at all possible, and he or she needs to be involved in the

process, not just

waiting in the waiting room; however, it is certainly not a requirement for

actually completing the surgery that someone comes to this appointment.

2. The nurse is reviewing the surgical consent with the patient during

preoperative education and finds the patient does not understand what

procedure will be completed. What is the nurse’s best next step?

a. Notify the health care provider about the patient’s question.

b. Explain the procedure that will be completed.

c. Continue with preoperative education.

d. Ask the patient to sign the form.

ANS: A

Surgery cannot be legally or ethically performed until the patient fully

understands the need for a procedure and all the implications. It is the

surgeon’s responsibility to explain the procedure, associated risks, benefits,

alternatives, and possible complications. It is important for the nurse to pause

with preoperative education to notify the health care provider of the patient’s