NIFA Exam Study Guide:
Questions and Verified Answers.
Latest 2026 Update
The number one patient safety issue identified in a survey of peri-operative
nurses is preventing: - CORRECT ANSWER Wrong
site/procedure/patient surgery
Reprocessing (flashing) instruments in the OR is high risk because: - CORRECT
ANSWER OR personnel not properly trained to reprocess
instruments
To safely transfer and position patients in a manner that prevents shearing,
personnel should use a mechanical lifting device for a supine-to-supine transfer
of a patient weighing more than: - CORRECT ANSWER 157 lbs
should be the primary decision makers for what
equipment and supplies are purchased and stocked in the difficult airway
management cart. - CORRECT ANSWER Anesthesia personnel
Proper specimen management techniques prevent errors and include all of the
following EXCEPT: - CORRECT ANSWER Receiving specimens from
the surgical field then affixing patient label to each
Preventing surgical fires is a top priority for all OR personnel and members of the
surgical team should perform all of the following duties EXCEPT: - CORRECT
ANSWER Perform a weekly fire risk assessment
Peri-operative hypothermia is an important issue for all anesthetized patients
because of all of the following EXCEPT: - CORRECT ANSWER Increases risk of renal
failure
Recommendations for preventing retained surgical items include all of the
following EXCEPT: - CORRECT ANSWER Utilizing a multidisciplinary
team to resolve incorrect counts
,Select the appropriate order for administering blood and blood products. -
CORRECT ANSWER Verify informed consent for blood, verify patient
identification and blood type and unit numbers against blood tag and
requisition slip with second licensed person, sign slips
Weighing sponges is a valuable tool for meticulous calculation of blood and fluid
loss when conducted correctly and used in appropriate circumstances. Select the
response that correctly reflects the best practice in weighing sponges. - CORRECT
ANSWER Keep a running total blood loss calculated
from available sponges during procedure
Laparoscopic procedures that emergently convert to open procedures place
the patient at risk for unintentional retained foreign objects (RFOs). What new
and evolving risk reduction strategy could prevent RFOs and frustrating, time-
consuming miscount adventures at the end of these procedures? - CORRECT
ANSWER Replacing or tagging sponges and
laparotomy instruments with radiofrequency identification (RFID) chips
A female patient with end-stage pancreatic cancer was admitted from hospice for
a celiac plexus block to treat intractable pain. She had a Whipple procedure 18
months earlier and enjoyed a good quality of life until 3 weeks ago. She wanted to
be able to complete "getting her things in order" and saying good-bye to her
friends and family while enjoying her last days pain-free. The patient insisted that
her Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) status NOT be rescinded. She was conscious and
competent and knew what was best for herself. The patient was taking full
advantage of what provision for her care? - CORRECT ANSWER PSDA and
advance directives
A patient was presented with the prepared informed consent form during the
discussion with her surgeon concerning her scheduled vaginal-assisted
laparoscopic hysterectomy. She demonstrated and verbalized that she
understood all of the tenets of the procedure, risks, expected outcome,
complications, and procedural process. Before she signed the consent form, she
informed the surgeon that she did not want any medical students or surgical
residents performing any parts of the procedure other than assisting and did not
want any photographs of her body taken. The surgeon agreed, and she crossed
out those portions of the form and initialed them before she signed. The patient
was exercising her: - CORRECT ANSWER right to informed consent.
, Early on, during the preliminary sponge count on closure of a repair of a ruptured
abdominal aortic aneurysm, the circulating nurse was unable to account for 2 lap
sponges. He had meticulously maintained accountability for all sponges and
instruments discarded from the sterile field and bagged each sponge carefully.
He immediately turned and addressed the entire team in a clear voice. Select the
appropriate communication that the circulating nurse must employ during this
count discrepancy. - CORRECT ANSWER "We have a count discrepancy. We
started with 70 sponges and find only 68. We are missing 2 lap sponges.
Everyone, please check your areas.
The OR is a danger-prone area for both patients and staff. Providing a safe
environment of care for the patient involves identifying, mitigating, and
managing the hazards inherent in surgical care. Choose the answer below that
completes the blanks in this sentence: The risk of the surgical hazard
of can be mitigated through
. - CORRECT ANSWER wrong patient,
wrong site, and wrong side surgery; site marking and presurgical checklists
A patient was transferred to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) by the
anesthesia provider and perioperative nurse. A hand-off report was given, using
situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) format, to the
accepting PACU nurse. The first element of information that should be presented
in the hand-off report is: - CORRECT ANSWER patient
identification and procedure performed.
If a staff person receives a needlestick injury, what is the first corrective action?
- CORRECT ANSWER Wash wound with soap and water; flush
mucous membranes.
Contact with infected patients or infectious material places healthcare
workers at risk for occupational-acquired infection. Which communicable
disease are healthcare workers at risk for acquiring or transmitting? -
CORRECT ANSWER Seasonal influenza
Select the appropriate nursing action that supports hands-free instrument
passing and sharps safety. - CORRECT ANSWER Create a neutral
hands-free area between the scrub person and surgeon with a basin or
magnetic mat.
Questions and Verified Answers.
Latest 2026 Update
The number one patient safety issue identified in a survey of peri-operative
nurses is preventing: - CORRECT ANSWER Wrong
site/procedure/patient surgery
Reprocessing (flashing) instruments in the OR is high risk because: - CORRECT
ANSWER OR personnel not properly trained to reprocess
instruments
To safely transfer and position patients in a manner that prevents shearing,
personnel should use a mechanical lifting device for a supine-to-supine transfer
of a patient weighing more than: - CORRECT ANSWER 157 lbs
should be the primary decision makers for what
equipment and supplies are purchased and stocked in the difficult airway
management cart. - CORRECT ANSWER Anesthesia personnel
Proper specimen management techniques prevent errors and include all of the
following EXCEPT: - CORRECT ANSWER Receiving specimens from
the surgical field then affixing patient label to each
Preventing surgical fires is a top priority for all OR personnel and members of the
surgical team should perform all of the following duties EXCEPT: - CORRECT
ANSWER Perform a weekly fire risk assessment
Peri-operative hypothermia is an important issue for all anesthetized patients
because of all of the following EXCEPT: - CORRECT ANSWER Increases risk of renal
failure
Recommendations for preventing retained surgical items include all of the
following EXCEPT: - CORRECT ANSWER Utilizing a multidisciplinary
team to resolve incorrect counts
,Select the appropriate order for administering blood and blood products. -
CORRECT ANSWER Verify informed consent for blood, verify patient
identification and blood type and unit numbers against blood tag and
requisition slip with second licensed person, sign slips
Weighing sponges is a valuable tool for meticulous calculation of blood and fluid
loss when conducted correctly and used in appropriate circumstances. Select the
response that correctly reflects the best practice in weighing sponges. - CORRECT
ANSWER Keep a running total blood loss calculated
from available sponges during procedure
Laparoscopic procedures that emergently convert to open procedures place
the patient at risk for unintentional retained foreign objects (RFOs). What new
and evolving risk reduction strategy could prevent RFOs and frustrating, time-
consuming miscount adventures at the end of these procedures? - CORRECT
ANSWER Replacing or tagging sponges and
laparotomy instruments with radiofrequency identification (RFID) chips
A female patient with end-stage pancreatic cancer was admitted from hospice for
a celiac plexus block to treat intractable pain. She had a Whipple procedure 18
months earlier and enjoyed a good quality of life until 3 weeks ago. She wanted to
be able to complete "getting her things in order" and saying good-bye to her
friends and family while enjoying her last days pain-free. The patient insisted that
her Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) status NOT be rescinded. She was conscious and
competent and knew what was best for herself. The patient was taking full
advantage of what provision for her care? - CORRECT ANSWER PSDA and
advance directives
A patient was presented with the prepared informed consent form during the
discussion with her surgeon concerning her scheduled vaginal-assisted
laparoscopic hysterectomy. She demonstrated and verbalized that she
understood all of the tenets of the procedure, risks, expected outcome,
complications, and procedural process. Before she signed the consent form, she
informed the surgeon that she did not want any medical students or surgical
residents performing any parts of the procedure other than assisting and did not
want any photographs of her body taken. The surgeon agreed, and she crossed
out those portions of the form and initialed them before she signed. The patient
was exercising her: - CORRECT ANSWER right to informed consent.
, Early on, during the preliminary sponge count on closure of a repair of a ruptured
abdominal aortic aneurysm, the circulating nurse was unable to account for 2 lap
sponges. He had meticulously maintained accountability for all sponges and
instruments discarded from the sterile field and bagged each sponge carefully.
He immediately turned and addressed the entire team in a clear voice. Select the
appropriate communication that the circulating nurse must employ during this
count discrepancy. - CORRECT ANSWER "We have a count discrepancy. We
started with 70 sponges and find only 68. We are missing 2 lap sponges.
Everyone, please check your areas.
The OR is a danger-prone area for both patients and staff. Providing a safe
environment of care for the patient involves identifying, mitigating, and
managing the hazards inherent in surgical care. Choose the answer below that
completes the blanks in this sentence: The risk of the surgical hazard
of can be mitigated through
. - CORRECT ANSWER wrong patient,
wrong site, and wrong side surgery; site marking and presurgical checklists
A patient was transferred to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) by the
anesthesia provider and perioperative nurse. A hand-off report was given, using
situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) format, to the
accepting PACU nurse. The first element of information that should be presented
in the hand-off report is: - CORRECT ANSWER patient
identification and procedure performed.
If a staff person receives a needlestick injury, what is the first corrective action?
- CORRECT ANSWER Wash wound with soap and water; flush
mucous membranes.
Contact with infected patients or infectious material places healthcare
workers at risk for occupational-acquired infection. Which communicable
disease are healthcare workers at risk for acquiring or transmitting? -
CORRECT ANSWER Seasonal influenza
Select the appropriate nursing action that supports hands-free instrument
passing and sharps safety. - CORRECT ANSWER Create a neutral
hands-free area between the scrub person and surgeon with a basin or
magnetic mat.
