Surgical Education Learners Forum/Perioperative Nursing/Patient Transfer/Patient Transfer Cumulative Assessment

▼This page is a part of the Perioperative Nursing Curriculum by ECSACONM and SELF

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Use the quiz below to check your understanding of the material.

Instructions

Work through each question carefully to choose the best answer, and submit the quiz to view your results. After completing the quiz, read through the answer explanations to review the reasoning behind both correct and incorrect options.

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A conscious patient with limited mobility is being transferred from a gurney to the operating table. The patient can follow instructions but cannot support their own weight. Which transfer method is most appropriate?

	Ask the patient to stand and pivot with minimal assistance
	Use a slide sheet or pat slide with enough trained staff
	Lift the patient manually without transfer equipment to complete the transfer more quickly
	Transfer the patient using a mechanical hoist regardless of their ability to participate

During preparation for a patient transfer, the operating table is approximately 10 cm higher than the gurney. What is the best action before moving the patient?

	Begin the transfer because the height difference is small
	Position additional staff on the receiving side to compensate for the height difference
	Level the surfaces or make the move slightly downhill
	Place additional folded sheets beneath the patient to compensate for the height difference

A patient has an intravenous infusion, urinary catheter, and surgical drain in place. During the transfer, one healthcare worker is assigned specifically to monitor these devices. What is the primary purpose of this role?

	To reduce the number of healthcare workers required for the transfer
	To allow the remaining team members to complete the transfer more quickly
	To determine whether the devices should be removed before surgery
	Prevent devices from tangling, pulling, compressing, or dislodging

During transfer preparation, the team notices the slide sheet is positioned correctly, but one staff member is pulling before the agreed verbal cue. What should the team leader do?

	Stop preparation and re-establish the shared cue before moving
	Continue because early pulling helps start the movement
	Ask the patient to correct the team’s timing
	Remove the slide sheet and complete the transfer manually

After transferring a conscious patient to the operating table, the patient says, “I feel like I might slide off.” Alignment appears acceptable. What should the nurse do?

	Reassure the patient that the table strap will prevent any movement
	Reassess position, security, comfort, and team supervision before proceeding
	Ask the patient not to move until anesthesia begins
	Continue because alignment has already been checked

A patient is transferred using a mechanical hoist. Before lowering the patient onto the operating table, which action is most important?

	Remove the sling attachments to allow the patient to settle naturally onto the table
	Ask the patient to hold onto the spreader bar to improve stability
	Lower the patient quickly to minimize the time spent suspended
	Align the patient over the table and lower slowly while monitoring devices

A perioperative team is preparing to transfer an anesthetized patient with obesity from a gurney to the operating table. Which approach best promotes both patient and staff safety?

	Use enough staff, assign roles, and move together on a verbal cue
	Ask one healthcare worker to direct the transfer while the remaining staff respond individually as needed
	Complete the transfer with the minimum number of healthcare workers to reduce congestion around the patient
	Begin moving the patient immediately after positioning the transfer device to reduce preparation time

After positioning a patient on the operating table, the perioperative nurse notices that one arm is resting directly against the metal side rail without padding. What is the most appropriate action?

	Leave the arm in position because the safety strap will prevent movement
	Reposition the arm and provide appropriate padding before proceeding
	Proceed with surgery because pressure injuries occur only during lengthy procedures
	Ask the surgeon whether padding is necessary after anesthesia has been induced

In a low-resource OR, the team plans to use a clean bedsheet for lateral transfer. During preparation, the sheet appears thin and begins to tear when tension is applied. What should the team do?

	Use it carefully because it is clean
	Fold it and continue without further assessment
	Stop and find a stronger safe alternative before transfer
	Ask fewer staff to pull so the sheet is not overstretched

During the final safety check after a patient transfer, the nurse notices that the patient's urinary catheter tubing is looped tightly beneath the thigh. What is the most appropriate action?

	Leave the tubing in place because it will be monitored during surgery
	Begin the procedure because the catheter is still draining normally
	Disconnect the catheter temporarily to reposition the patient
	Reposition tubing so it is free from pressure, tension, and obstruction

A patient who is awake reports shoulder discomfort immediately after being positioned on the operating table. The patient's alignment appears correct and all monitoring equipment is functioning normally. What is the most appropriate response?

	Reassess position and add support while maintaining the required surgical access
	Explain that discomfort is expected and will resolve after anesthesia is induced
	Delay any adjustments until the surgeon arrives to evaluate the position
	Remove the positioning supports to allow the patient to reposition independently

While preparing for a lateral transfer, one healthcare worker is standing with feet together and bending forward from the waist to grasp the draw sheet. What is the best correction?

	Ask the healthcare worker to grip the draw sheet higher to improve leverage
	Have the healthcare worker move closer to the patient's head before pulling
	Stand wide, bend knees, move closer, and keep the patient close
	Ask the remaining team members to perform more of the transfer while the healthcare worker maintains the same posture

A patient is transferred successfully, but a mobile equipment stand has been left blocking direct access to one side of the operating table. Why should this be corrected before surgery begins?

	The equipment stand may interfere with cleaning the operating room after the procedure
	The team needs clear access for rapid intervention
	The stand may interfere with the operating room lighting
	The equipment stand should always be placed at the foot of the operating table regardless of the procedure

A perioperative team is working in a low-resource operating room without commercial positioning pads. Which approach best protects the patient during a prolonged procedure?

	Place several folded blankets beneath the patient without checking whether they remain secure throughout the procedure
	Use positioning supports only beneath the patient's head because other pressure areas are less vulnerable
	Focus on maintaining anatomical alignment and postpone pressure-point protection until additional equipment becomes available
	Use clean, stable sheets, towels, or foam to align and cushion pressure areas

A perioperative nurse is preparing to transfer a patient with multiple intravenous infusions, a urinary catheter, and oxygen tubing. Which action best integrates safe patient transfer principles before movement begins?

	Assess the patient, choose equipment, assign roles, protect devices, and prepare the environment
	Position the transfer equipment first and address the patient's medical devices after the transfer has been completed
	Ask the healthcare team to begin the transfer slowly and correct any problems if they develop during movement
	Focus primarily on completing the transfer quickly so the patient spends less time between transfer surfaces

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Page data
Part of	Patient Transfer and Positioning - ECSACONM
Keywords	surgery, health
SDG	SDG03 Good health and well-being
Authors	Ian-laurel
License	CC-BY-SA-4.0
Organizations	ECSACONM, SELF
Language	English (en)
Related	0 subpages, 1 pages link here
Views	7 page views (analytics)
Created	July 30, 2026 by Ian-laurel-1
Last edit	August 27, 2026 by 128.220.159.181
Cite as	Ian-laurel-1 (2026). "SELF/Perioperative Nursing/Patient Transfer/Patient Transfer Cumulative Assessment". Appropedia. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
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