The purpose of the nurse providing pre-operative teaching to clients undergoing surgery is to:

Choice A reason:

Hemoglobin, 8.0 g/dL: Hemoglobin is a critical component of red blood cells, responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Normal hemoglobin levels typically range from 13.8 to 17.2 g/dL for men and 12.1 to 15.1 g/dL for women1. A level of 8.0 g/dL is significantly below the normal range, indicating anemia. Severe anemia can increase the risk of perioperative complications, including poor wound healing, increased risk of infection, and cardiovascular stress. Therefore, this result should be reported to the surgeon as it may necessitate postponing the surgery until the anemia is addressed.

Choice B reason:

Serum creatinine, 0.8 mg/dL: Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscles and filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. Normal serum creatinine levels range from 0.74 to 1.35 mg/dL for men and 0.59 to 1.04 mg/dL for women. A level of 0.8 mg/dL falls within the normal range, indicating normal kidney function. Therefore, this result would not typically cause surgery to be postponed.

Choice C reason:

Platelets, 210,000/mm³: Platelets are essential for blood clotting. Normal platelet counts range from 150,000 to 400,000/mm³. A count of 210,000/mm³ is within the normal range, indicating adequate clotting ability. Thus, this result would not be a reason to postpone surgery.

Choice D reason:

Sodium, 144 mEq/L: Sodium is an essential electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions. Normal sodium levels range from 135 to 145 mEq/L. A level of 144 mEq/L is within the normal range, indicating normal electrolyte balance. Therefore, this result would not typically cause surgery to be postponed.

Choice A reason: Assisting in the administration of blood products is typically the responsibility of the circulating nurse. The circulating nurse manages the overall environment of the operating room and ensures that all necessary supplies, including blood products, are available and administered correctly.

Choice B reason: Counting the surgical sponges and instruments is a shared responsibility of both the scrub and circulating nurses. This task is crucial to ensure that no surgical instruments or sponges are left inside the patient, which can prevent serious post-operative complications. The scrub nurse handles the instruments directly, while the circulating nurse verifies the counts, ensuring accuracy and safety.

Choice C reason: Monitoring the traffic in the operating room is primarily the responsibility of the circulating nurse. The circulating nurse ensures that the operating room environment remains sterile and that only authorized personnel are present.

Choice D reason: Monitoring the client’s cardiopulmonary status is typically the responsibility of the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, not the scrub or circulating nurses. These professionals are trained to manage the patient’s vital signs and anesthesia during surgery.