AORN Periop 101 FINAL EXAM Q&A
2026\2027 update
Using mechanical friction when prepping will NOT aid in ____
A. Removal of resident bacteria
B. Removal of dirt and oil
C. The effectiveness of antimicrobials
D. Removal of transient bacteria Correct Answer - A. Removal of resident bacteria
Reduction in resident bacteria is aided by:
A. Use of a degreaser
B. Use of antimicrobials
C. Prepping clean to dirty
D. Mechanical friction Correct Answer - B. Use of antimicrobials
Prolonged contact of skin antisepsis agents due to pooling of the solutions can cause patient
injuries that include: 1. Chemical burns
2. Thermal burns
3.Injuries related to equipment malfunction Correct Answer - A. 1 and
2
Which one of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Povidone-iodine's mechanism of action is to disrupt the cell membrane
B. Povidone-iodine is nonirritating to the skin
C. Povidone-iodine cannot be used on mucous membranes
D. Heating povidone-iodine may decrease its effectiveness Correct Ans - D. Heating
povidone-iodine may decrease its effectiveness
Documentation of the preoperative skin prep includes all of the follow EXCEPT:
A. Hair removal
B. Manufacturer of solutions used
C. Allergies
D. Name of the person who performed the prep Correct Answer - B. Manufacturer of
solutions used
When prepping an extremity, which one of the following is ALWAYS required? A.
Positioning the extremity to prevent prep solution from running toward the incision site B.
Assistance in holding the limb
C. Scrubbing nails with a brush before the formal prep
,D. Prepping so that the entire limb can be draped Correct Answer - A. Positioning the
extremity to prevent prep solution from running toward the incision site Surgical wound
infections can result in decreased _____.
A. Hospitalization time
B. Intraoperative time
C. Income for hospitals
D. Workload for perioperative nurses Correct Answer - C. Income for hospitals
Preoperative skin preparation is accomplished by _____.
A. Removing soil and transient microbes
B. Reducing resident microbes
C. Using antimicrobial agents that inhibit growth of microbes
D. All of the above Correct Answer - D. All of the above
According to AORN's guidelines for skin preparation of patients, hair at the operative site is
_____.
A. Allowed to remain unless it interferes with the surgical procedures
B. Always removed with a depilatory
C. Removed at least two hours before surgery
D. Dry shaved as opposed to wet shaved Correct Answer - A. Allowed to remain unless it
interferes with the surgical procedures
The concept of prepping from clean to dirty means _____.
A. Cleaning all stomas or open wounds first
B. Beginning at the incision site and using circular strokes toward the periphery
C. Prep solution is changed after cleaning contaminated areas
D. Surgical scrub solutions used first and then surgical paint Correct Ans - B. Beginning at
the incision site and using circular strokes toward the periphery Common resident bacteria
include all EXCEPT:
A. Staphylococcus epiermidis
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Diphtheroid bacillus
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Correct Answer - wrong
Which one of the following statements about the skin prep is FALSE?
A. Povidone-iodine should not be allowed to dry
B. Manufacturers' guidelines should be followed
C. Skin prep is performed after the patient has been positioned
D. The name of the person performing the prep should be documented
Correct Answer - A. Povidone-iodine should not be allowed to dry
Objectives of the surgical prep include all EXCEPT:
, A. Removal of dirt, skin oil, and microbes from the skin
B. Sterilization of skin
C. Reduction of bacterial count
D. Prevention of regrowth of microbes for several hours Correct Answer - B. Sterilization
of skin
The generally recognized length of time required for contact of antimicrobial agents
to be effective is
A. 1 to 3 minutes
B. 2 to 5 minutes C. 3 to 5 minutes
D. According to manufacturers' directions Correct Answer - D. According to
manufacturers' directions
The principles of preoperative skin preparation include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Prep from clean to dirty
B. Use aseptic technique
C. Prep stomas first
D. Prevent pooling Correct Answer - C. Prep stomas first
Which one of the following topical antimicrobial agents is neurotoxic?
A. Povidone-iodine
B. Alcohol
C. PCMX (parachlorometaxylenol)
D. Chlorhexidine gluconate Correct Answer - D. Chlorhexidine gluconate
Which statement is TRUE about iodophor with alcohol?
A. It provides rapid reduction in microbial counts of skin
B. Persistence or residual activity is excellent
C. It has been shown to be nontoxic and nonirritating
D. Percutaneous absorption does not occur across mucous membranes Correct Answer -
wrong
Which statement is FALSE about eye, extremity, or vaginal preps?
A. A 5% sterile ophtalmic prep solution is commercially available for eye preps
B. The vagina should be prepped first as part of a vaginal prep
C. When prepping an extremity, it should be positioned so that the incision site is the
uppermost portion of the prep
D. If fingers or toes are included in the surgical field (extremity prep), it may be necessary to
scrub the nail with a brush and soap solution Correct Answer - B. The vagina should
be prepped first as part of a vaginal prep
Hand hygiene should be performed after which of the following?
A. Touching the operating room bed controls
, B. Adjusting a patient's bed linens
C. Eating
D. Marking the surgical site
E. All of the above Correct Answer - E. All of the above
When should perioperative team members use an alcohol-based rub for hand hygiene?
A. After hands have been exposed to blood or other bodily fluids
B. After using the restroom
C. When the hands are not visibly soiled
D. When caring for patients with spore-forming organisms Correct Ans
- C. When the hands are not visibly soiled
What is the minimum length of time perioperative team members should spend performing
hand hygiene by washing with soap and water?
A. 7 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 30 seconds Correct Answer - B. 15 seconds
How much of an alcohol-based hand rub should be used when performing hand hygiene?
A. A dime-sized amount
B. A quarter-sized amount
C. 10 drops
D. The amount recommended by the manufacturer Correct Answer - D. The amount
recommended by the manufacturer
Perioperative team members should maintain fingernails at a maximum of what
length?
A. 2 mm (0.08 inch)
B. 6 mm (0.24 inch)
C. 10 mm (0.4 inch)
D. 12 mm (0.5 inch) Correct Answer - A. 2 mm (0.08 inch)
Which of the following measures is helpful for maintaining healthy skin and minimizing
the risk of hand dermatitis?
A. Completely drying hands before putting on gloves
B. Avoiding water hotter than 80° F (27° C)
C. Using approved moisturizing products
D. Using glove liners
E. All of the above Correct Answer - E. All of the above
2026\2027 update
Using mechanical friction when prepping will NOT aid in ____
A. Removal of resident bacteria
B. Removal of dirt and oil
C. The effectiveness of antimicrobials
D. Removal of transient bacteria Correct Answer - A. Removal of resident bacteria
Reduction in resident bacteria is aided by:
A. Use of a degreaser
B. Use of antimicrobials
C. Prepping clean to dirty
D. Mechanical friction Correct Answer - B. Use of antimicrobials
Prolonged contact of skin antisepsis agents due to pooling of the solutions can cause patient
injuries that include: 1. Chemical burns
2. Thermal burns
3.Injuries related to equipment malfunction Correct Answer - A. 1 and
2
Which one of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Povidone-iodine's mechanism of action is to disrupt the cell membrane
B. Povidone-iodine is nonirritating to the skin
C. Povidone-iodine cannot be used on mucous membranes
D. Heating povidone-iodine may decrease its effectiveness Correct Ans - D. Heating
povidone-iodine may decrease its effectiveness
Documentation of the preoperative skin prep includes all of the follow EXCEPT:
A. Hair removal
B. Manufacturer of solutions used
C. Allergies
D. Name of the person who performed the prep Correct Answer - B. Manufacturer of
solutions used
When prepping an extremity, which one of the following is ALWAYS required? A.
Positioning the extremity to prevent prep solution from running toward the incision site B.
Assistance in holding the limb
C. Scrubbing nails with a brush before the formal prep
,D. Prepping so that the entire limb can be draped Correct Answer - A. Positioning the
extremity to prevent prep solution from running toward the incision site Surgical wound
infections can result in decreased _____.
A. Hospitalization time
B. Intraoperative time
C. Income for hospitals
D. Workload for perioperative nurses Correct Answer - C. Income for hospitals
Preoperative skin preparation is accomplished by _____.
A. Removing soil and transient microbes
B. Reducing resident microbes
C. Using antimicrobial agents that inhibit growth of microbes
D. All of the above Correct Answer - D. All of the above
According to AORN's guidelines for skin preparation of patients, hair at the operative site is
_____.
A. Allowed to remain unless it interferes with the surgical procedures
B. Always removed with a depilatory
C. Removed at least two hours before surgery
D. Dry shaved as opposed to wet shaved Correct Answer - A. Allowed to remain unless it
interferes with the surgical procedures
The concept of prepping from clean to dirty means _____.
A. Cleaning all stomas or open wounds first
B. Beginning at the incision site and using circular strokes toward the periphery
C. Prep solution is changed after cleaning contaminated areas
D. Surgical scrub solutions used first and then surgical paint Correct Ans - B. Beginning at
the incision site and using circular strokes toward the periphery Common resident bacteria
include all EXCEPT:
A. Staphylococcus epiermidis
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Diphtheroid bacillus
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Correct Answer - wrong
Which one of the following statements about the skin prep is FALSE?
A. Povidone-iodine should not be allowed to dry
B. Manufacturers' guidelines should be followed
C. Skin prep is performed after the patient has been positioned
D. The name of the person performing the prep should be documented
Correct Answer - A. Povidone-iodine should not be allowed to dry
Objectives of the surgical prep include all EXCEPT:
, A. Removal of dirt, skin oil, and microbes from the skin
B. Sterilization of skin
C. Reduction of bacterial count
D. Prevention of regrowth of microbes for several hours Correct Answer - B. Sterilization
of skin
The generally recognized length of time required for contact of antimicrobial agents
to be effective is
A. 1 to 3 minutes
B. 2 to 5 minutes C. 3 to 5 minutes
D. According to manufacturers' directions Correct Answer - D. According to
manufacturers' directions
The principles of preoperative skin preparation include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Prep from clean to dirty
B. Use aseptic technique
C. Prep stomas first
D. Prevent pooling Correct Answer - C. Prep stomas first
Which one of the following topical antimicrobial agents is neurotoxic?
A. Povidone-iodine
B. Alcohol
C. PCMX (parachlorometaxylenol)
D. Chlorhexidine gluconate Correct Answer - D. Chlorhexidine gluconate
Which statement is TRUE about iodophor with alcohol?
A. It provides rapid reduction in microbial counts of skin
B. Persistence or residual activity is excellent
C. It has been shown to be nontoxic and nonirritating
D. Percutaneous absorption does not occur across mucous membranes Correct Answer -
wrong
Which statement is FALSE about eye, extremity, or vaginal preps?
A. A 5% sterile ophtalmic prep solution is commercially available for eye preps
B. The vagina should be prepped first as part of a vaginal prep
C. When prepping an extremity, it should be positioned so that the incision site is the
uppermost portion of the prep
D. If fingers or toes are included in the surgical field (extremity prep), it may be necessary to
scrub the nail with a brush and soap solution Correct Answer - B. The vagina should
be prepped first as part of a vaginal prep
Hand hygiene should be performed after which of the following?
A. Touching the operating room bed controls
, B. Adjusting a patient's bed linens
C. Eating
D. Marking the surgical site
E. All of the above Correct Answer - E. All of the above
When should perioperative team members use an alcohol-based rub for hand hygiene?
A. After hands have been exposed to blood or other bodily fluids
B. After using the restroom
C. When the hands are not visibly soiled
D. When caring for patients with spore-forming organisms Correct Ans
- C. When the hands are not visibly soiled
What is the minimum length of time perioperative team members should spend performing
hand hygiene by washing with soap and water?
A. 7 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 30 seconds Correct Answer - B. 15 seconds
How much of an alcohol-based hand rub should be used when performing hand hygiene?
A. A dime-sized amount
B. A quarter-sized amount
C. 10 drops
D. The amount recommended by the manufacturer Correct Answer - D. The amount
recommended by the manufacturer
Perioperative team members should maintain fingernails at a maximum of what
length?
A. 2 mm (0.08 inch)
B. 6 mm (0.24 inch)
C. 10 mm (0.4 inch)
D. 12 mm (0.5 inch) Correct Answer - A. 2 mm (0.08 inch)
Which of the following measures is helpful for maintaining healthy skin and minimizing
the risk of hand dermatitis?
A. Completely drying hands before putting on gloves
B. Avoiding water hotter than 80° F (27° C)
C. Using approved moisturizing products
D. Using glove liners
E. All of the above Correct Answer - E. All of the above
