The nurse is assisting with positioning a client for surgery in the lateral position. Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper technique?

Placing a pillow under the dependent axilla.

Flexing both knees at a 90-degree angle.

Aligning the shoulders directly over each other.

Elevating the dependent arm on an arm board.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason:

Placing a pillow under the dependent axilla is a proper technique for lateral positioning because it helps to prevent brachial plexus injury by reducing the pressure on the neurovascular structures in the axilla. It also helps to maintain the alignment of the shoulder and prevent shoulder drop.

Choice B reason:

Flexing both knees at a 90-degree angle is not a proper technique for lateral positioning because it can cause excessive pressure on the knees and ankles, leading to nerve injury or skin breakdown. It can also impair venous return and increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Only the dependent leg should be flexed at the hip and knee, while the upper leg should be straight and supported by pillows between the legs.

Choice C reason:

Aligning the shoulders directly over each other is not a proper technique for lateral positioning because it can cause compression of the dependent shoulder and compromise the blood supply to the arm. It can also cause shoulder drop and brachial plexus injury. The lower shoulder should be pulled slightly forward and supported by a pad under the chest wall.

Choice D reason:

Elevating the dependent arm on an arm board is not a proper technique for lateral positioning because it can cause excessive abduction of the arm and stretch the brachial plexus. It can also interfere with surgical access to the thorax or kidney. Both arms should be supported on parallel arm boards with abduction less than 90 degrees.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Removing dentures, glasses, contact lenses, jewelry and nail polish is part of the physical preparation of the client before surgery. These items can interfere with the anesthesia, cause injury, or be lost during the procedure.

Choice B reason:

Administering a sedative or anxiolytic medication as prescribed is part of the preoperative medication of the client before surgery. These medications can help reduce anxiety, pain, nausea, and vomiting, and facilitate induction of anesthesia.

Choice C reason:

Marking the surgical site with an indelible marker is part of the patient identification and verification process before surgery. This helps prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, or wrong-person surgery by ensuring that the correct site is marked and confirmed by the client, surgeon, and nurse.

Choice D reason:

All of the above. All of these items should be completed before transferring the client to the operating room as part of the preoperative checklist. The checklist ensures that necessary documentation, admission assessment, physical preparation, and client education have been completed before the client enters the surgical suite.

A. Notify anesthesia personnel. B. Notify surgeon immediately. C. Notify risk management. D. Notify operating room supervisor.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason:

This is the correct answer. This is to prevent the risk of leaving a foreign object inside the patient, which can cause serious complications such as infection, abscess, bowel obstruction, or perforation.

Choice B reason:

This is incorrect. Notifying anesthesia personnel is not the priority action when an incorrect sponge count is reported. Anesthesia personnel are not responsible for counting or searching for sponges, and they cannot intervene in the surgical procedure without the surgeon's consent. The surgeon is the one who needs to be informed first, as they have the authority and ability to search the wound and decide whether to continue or stop the surgery.

Choice C reason:

This is incorrect. Notifying risk management is not the priority action when an incorrect sponge count is reported. Risk management is a department that deals with identifying, assessing, and minimizing potential hazards in health care settings. While it is important to report any adverse events or errors to risk management, this should be done after ensuring the patient's safety and resolving the issue. The priority is to notify the surgeon and search for the missing sponge.

Choice D reason:

This is incorrect. Notifying operating room supervisor is not the priority action when an incorrect sponge count is reported. The operating room supervisor is a person who oversees the daily operations of the surgical suite, such as staffing, scheduling, equipment, and supplies. While they may be involved in addressing any problems or conflicts that arise in the OR, they are not directly responsible for counting or searching for sponges, and they cannot interfere with the surgical procedure without the surgeon's consent. The priority is to notify the surgeon and search for the missing sponge.

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