AORN PERIOP 101 FINAL EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
1. Evidence-based practice questions are typically formatted as PICO questions. What does PICO
stand for?
A) Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
B) Population, Investigation, Counter-Intervention, Outlier
C) Problem, Investigation, Comparison, Outcome
D) Patient, Investigation, Comparison, Outcome
Answer: A
Explanation: PICO is a framework for clinical questions: Patient/Problem, Intervention,
Comparison, and Outcome .
2. An RN who attends continuing nursing education and has verified skills, knowledge, and
attitudes about perioperative nursing is demonstrating accountability in his/her:
A) Certification requirements for professional achievement
B) Collaboration among team members
C) Professional growth and maintenance of competency
D) Verification of nursing knowledge
Answer: C
Explanation: Continuing education and skill verification demonstrate commitment to
professional growth and maintaining competency .
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning use of the AORN Guidelines for
Perioperative Practice?
,A) Both medical and nursing licensing boards require health care institutions to comply with the
AORN guidelines
B) The AORN Guidelines legally supersede departmental and institutional policies
C) The AORN Guidelines reflect scientific evidence of how nurses actually practice in
perioperative settings
D) Work setting and situation variations may determine the extent to which AORN Guidelines
can be applied
Answer: D
Explanation: AORN Guidelines are evidence-based recommendations, but their application may
vary based on the specific clinical situation and work setting .
4. The phrase "At least one individual failed to do what a similarly situated, reasonable, and
prudent professional would have done under similar circumstances" is the definition of:
A) Abandonment
B) Negligence
C) Unethical behavior
D) Malpractice
Answer: B
Explanation: This describes negligence—failure to act as a reasonable, prudent professional
would in similar circumstances .
5. The Joint Commission Universal Protocol consists of: (Select all that apply)
A) Preoperative verification
B) Surgical site marking
C) Time Out
D) Postoperative debriefing
Answer: A, B, C
,Explanation: The Universal Protocol includes preoperative verification, surgical site marking, and
a Time Out immediately before the procedure .
6. Which of the following is NOT an example of an ethical dilemma that perioperative nurses
may encounter?
A) Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order for a surgical patient
B) Family disagreement regarding possible organ donation
C) Family disagreement about a below-the-knee amputation on an 18-year-old who has already
given consent
D) Human experimentation
Answer: C
Explanation: Since the 18-year-old has already given legal consent, family disagreement does
not create an ethical dilemma .
7. What are the four elements of malpractice?
A) Duty, Breach of duty, Causation, Damages
B) Negligence, Intent, Harm, Causation
C) Standard of care, Violation, Injury, Compensation
D) Responsibility, Dereliction, Direct cause, Damage
Answer: A
Explanation: The four elements required to prove malpractice are: Duty, Breach of duty, The
breach caused an injury, and The injury was harmful to the patient .
8. Which of the following practices is recommended for handling of natural absorbable suture?
A) Open the package and drop onto the sterile field
B) Soak in sterile water before use
C) Open the package carefully over a small basin to prevent splashing of the packaging solution
, D) Wipe the suture with alcohol before use
Answer: C
Explanation: Natural absorbable sutures are packaged in a solution; opening over a basin
prevents splashing of the fluid .
9. Recommended sponge count procedures include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Counting when items are added to the field
B) Counting silently so it doesn't distract other personnel
C) Counting before the procedure begins
D) Counting before closure of a cavity
Answer: B
Explanation: Counts should be performed audibly by two individuals to ensure accuracy and
communication .
10. What is the correct definition of incisional biopsy?
A) The entire lesion is removed for examination
B) A needle is inserted into the lesion to aspirate cells
C) The lesion is scraped to obtain cells
D) A small portion of tissue is incised and sent for examination
Answer: D
Explanation: An incisional biopsy removes only a portion of the lesion for diagnostic
examination .
11. In addition to giving Dantrolene, which of the following treatment options for malignant
hyperthermia should the nurse anticipate and prepare for?
A) Apply cooling blanket, administer potassium
B) Provide 100% oxygen, use iced saline to cool patient
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
1. Evidence-based practice questions are typically formatted as PICO questions. What does PICO
stand for?
A) Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
B) Population, Investigation, Counter-Intervention, Outlier
C) Problem, Investigation, Comparison, Outcome
D) Patient, Investigation, Comparison, Outcome
Answer: A
Explanation: PICO is a framework for clinical questions: Patient/Problem, Intervention,
Comparison, and Outcome .
2. An RN who attends continuing nursing education and has verified skills, knowledge, and
attitudes about perioperative nursing is demonstrating accountability in his/her:
A) Certification requirements for professional achievement
B) Collaboration among team members
C) Professional growth and maintenance of competency
D) Verification of nursing knowledge
Answer: C
Explanation: Continuing education and skill verification demonstrate commitment to
professional growth and maintaining competency .
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning use of the AORN Guidelines for
Perioperative Practice?
,A) Both medical and nursing licensing boards require health care institutions to comply with the
AORN guidelines
B) The AORN Guidelines legally supersede departmental and institutional policies
C) The AORN Guidelines reflect scientific evidence of how nurses actually practice in
perioperative settings
D) Work setting and situation variations may determine the extent to which AORN Guidelines
can be applied
Answer: D
Explanation: AORN Guidelines are evidence-based recommendations, but their application may
vary based on the specific clinical situation and work setting .
4. The phrase "At least one individual failed to do what a similarly situated, reasonable, and
prudent professional would have done under similar circumstances" is the definition of:
A) Abandonment
B) Negligence
C) Unethical behavior
D) Malpractice
Answer: B
Explanation: This describes negligence—failure to act as a reasonable, prudent professional
would in similar circumstances .
5. The Joint Commission Universal Protocol consists of: (Select all that apply)
A) Preoperative verification
B) Surgical site marking
C) Time Out
D) Postoperative debriefing
Answer: A, B, C
,Explanation: The Universal Protocol includes preoperative verification, surgical site marking, and
a Time Out immediately before the procedure .
6. Which of the following is NOT an example of an ethical dilemma that perioperative nurses
may encounter?
A) Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order for a surgical patient
B) Family disagreement regarding possible organ donation
C) Family disagreement about a below-the-knee amputation on an 18-year-old who has already
given consent
D) Human experimentation
Answer: C
Explanation: Since the 18-year-old has already given legal consent, family disagreement does
not create an ethical dilemma .
7. What are the four elements of malpractice?
A) Duty, Breach of duty, Causation, Damages
B) Negligence, Intent, Harm, Causation
C) Standard of care, Violation, Injury, Compensation
D) Responsibility, Dereliction, Direct cause, Damage
Answer: A
Explanation: The four elements required to prove malpractice are: Duty, Breach of duty, The
breach caused an injury, and The injury was harmful to the patient .
8. Which of the following practices is recommended for handling of natural absorbable suture?
A) Open the package and drop onto the sterile field
B) Soak in sterile water before use
C) Open the package carefully over a small basin to prevent splashing of the packaging solution
, D) Wipe the suture with alcohol before use
Answer: C
Explanation: Natural absorbable sutures are packaged in a solution; opening over a basin
prevents splashing of the fluid .
9. Recommended sponge count procedures include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Counting when items are added to the field
B) Counting silently so it doesn't distract other personnel
C) Counting before the procedure begins
D) Counting before closure of a cavity
Answer: B
Explanation: Counts should be performed audibly by two individuals to ensure accuracy and
communication .
10. What is the correct definition of incisional biopsy?
A) The entire lesion is removed for examination
B) A needle is inserted into the lesion to aspirate cells
C) The lesion is scraped to obtain cells
D) A small portion of tissue is incised and sent for examination
Answer: D
Explanation: An incisional biopsy removes only a portion of the lesion for diagnostic
examination .
11. In addition to giving Dantrolene, which of the following treatment options for malignant
hyperthermia should the nurse anticipate and prepare for?
A) Apply cooling blanket, administer potassium
B) Provide 100% oxygen, use iced saline to cool patient
