CERTIFIED OPERATING ROOM TECHNICIAN (CORT)
EXAM PREP 2026 Latest Comprehensive Study Guide with
Practice Questions, Operating Room Procedures Review,
Detailed Explanations, Verified Answers, Complete Success
Workbook
Key Content Areas
This study guide covers all essential topics for operating room technician
certification:
• Aseptic Technique and Sterilization: Surgical hand scrub,
gowning/gloving, sterile field maintenance, sterilization methods
• Perioperative Care: Preoperative preparation, intraoperative assistance
(instrument passing, retraction, hemostasis, wound closure), postoperative
care
• Surgical Instrumentation: Identification and use of hemostats, forceps,
retractors, needle holders, scissors, and specialty instruments
• Anatomy and Physiology: Surgical anatomy, body systems, directional
terms
• Microbiology and Infection Control: Pathogenic microorganisms,
transmission routes, infection prevention
• Surgical Pharmacology: Medication administration, drug classifications,
emergency drugs
• Safety and Professional Responsibility: Fire safety, radiation safety,
patient positioning, HIPAA, documentation
SECTION 1: PERIOPERATIVE CARE — PREOPERATIVE
PREPARATION (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
,During the preoperative preparation phase, which of the following is the MOST
critical documentation to verify before the patient enters the operating room?
A) The patient's insurance information and preferred payment method
B) The operative consent, history and physical, and advanced directives
C) The patient's preferred surgeon and scheduled time
D) The patient's dietary preferences and known allergies only
E) The patient's previous surgical history only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The operative consent, history and physical, advanced directives,
laboratory results, and diagnostic results must be verified before the patient enters
the OR. This verification ensures that all necessary documentation is present,
current, and properly completed before the procedure begins. Insurance
information (A), surgeon preference (C), dietary preferences (D), and previous
surgical history only (E) are either not part of the required preoperative verification
or are incomplete.
Question 2
According to the Universal Protocol, the surgical team must perform a "Time Out"
immediately before incision. Which three elements must be verbally confirmed by
the entire team?
A) Patient's name, date of birth, and medical record number
B) Correct patient identity, correct surgical site/side, and correct procedure
C) Surgeon's name, anesthesiologist's name, and circulating nurse's name
D) Type of anesthesia, estimated blood loss, and planned incision
E) Patient's allergies, medication list, and fasting status
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Universal Protocol requires the entire surgical team to verbally
confirm the correct patient identity, correct surgical site/side, and correct procedure
immediately before incision. This prevents wrong-patient, wrong-site, and wrong-
procedure surgery. Patient identifiers (A) are part of the verification but not the
,complete Time Out elements. Team member names (C), anesthesia details (D), and
allergies/medications (E) are not the core Time Out elements.
Question 3
Which of the following is the correct sequence for the surgical hand scrub?
A) Nails → palms → backs of hands → fingers → arms
B) Palms → backs of hands → fingers → nails → arms
C) Arms → nails → palms → backs of hands → fingers
D) Fingers → nails → arms → palms → backs of hands
E) Nails → arms → palms → backs of hands → fingers
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct sequence for the surgical hand scrub is: nails (clean under
nails first), then palms, backs of hands, fingers, and arms. This progression moves
from cleanest (nails and hands) to least clean (arms) and from fingertips to elbows.
Options B, C, D, and E present incorrect sequences. The scrub should last
approximately 3-5 minutes, depending on the product used and facility protocol.
Question 4
The closed-glove technique is used when:
A) The sterile gown is donned before the gloves
B) The sterile gown is not donned before the gloves
C) The gloves are donned before the surgical scrub
D) The gloves are donned without a sterile gown
E) The gloves are donned after the procedure begins
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The closed-glove technique is used after the sterile gown has been
donned. The hands remain inside the gown cuffs while the gloves are pulled over
the cuffs, ensuring sterility. The open-glove technique (B) is used when the gown
, is not donned first or when regloving during a procedure. Gloves are donned after
the surgical scrub (C). Gloves are donned with a sterile gown (D). Gloves are
donned before the procedure begins, not after (E).
Question 5
When opening sterile supplies onto the sterile field, the technologist should:
A) Open supplies with the sterile wrapper facing away from the field
B) Open supplies directly over the sterile field
C) Open supplies without checking the integrity of the package
D) Open supplies after the patient is prepped
E) Open supplies with bare hands
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When opening sterile supplies, the sterile wrapper should be facing
away from the field to prevent contamination. Opening directly over the sterile
field (B) can cause contamination. Package integrity must be checked before
opening (C). Supplies are typically opened before patient prepping (D). Bare hands
(E) would contaminate the supplies.
Question 6
When preparing the operating room for a surgical procedure, the technologist
should:
A) Set the room temperature to the surgeon's personal preference
B) Use the surgeon's preference card to obtain supplies and prepare the room
C) Open all supplies before the patient arrives regardless of timing
D) Prepare the room without checking equipment function
E) Arrange instruments based solely on personal preference
Correct Answer: B
EXAM PREP 2026 Latest Comprehensive Study Guide with
Practice Questions, Operating Room Procedures Review,
Detailed Explanations, Verified Answers, Complete Success
Workbook
Key Content Areas
This study guide covers all essential topics for operating room technician
certification:
• Aseptic Technique and Sterilization: Surgical hand scrub,
gowning/gloving, sterile field maintenance, sterilization methods
• Perioperative Care: Preoperative preparation, intraoperative assistance
(instrument passing, retraction, hemostasis, wound closure), postoperative
care
• Surgical Instrumentation: Identification and use of hemostats, forceps,
retractors, needle holders, scissors, and specialty instruments
• Anatomy and Physiology: Surgical anatomy, body systems, directional
terms
• Microbiology and Infection Control: Pathogenic microorganisms,
transmission routes, infection prevention
• Surgical Pharmacology: Medication administration, drug classifications,
emergency drugs
• Safety and Professional Responsibility: Fire safety, radiation safety,
patient positioning, HIPAA, documentation
SECTION 1: PERIOPERATIVE CARE — PREOPERATIVE
PREPARATION (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
,During the preoperative preparation phase, which of the following is the MOST
critical documentation to verify before the patient enters the operating room?
A) The patient's insurance information and preferred payment method
B) The operative consent, history and physical, and advanced directives
C) The patient's preferred surgeon and scheduled time
D) The patient's dietary preferences and known allergies only
E) The patient's previous surgical history only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The operative consent, history and physical, advanced directives,
laboratory results, and diagnostic results must be verified before the patient enters
the OR. This verification ensures that all necessary documentation is present,
current, and properly completed before the procedure begins. Insurance
information (A), surgeon preference (C), dietary preferences (D), and previous
surgical history only (E) are either not part of the required preoperative verification
or are incomplete.
Question 2
According to the Universal Protocol, the surgical team must perform a "Time Out"
immediately before incision. Which three elements must be verbally confirmed by
the entire team?
A) Patient's name, date of birth, and medical record number
B) Correct patient identity, correct surgical site/side, and correct procedure
C) Surgeon's name, anesthesiologist's name, and circulating nurse's name
D) Type of anesthesia, estimated blood loss, and planned incision
E) Patient's allergies, medication list, and fasting status
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Universal Protocol requires the entire surgical team to verbally
confirm the correct patient identity, correct surgical site/side, and correct procedure
immediately before incision. This prevents wrong-patient, wrong-site, and wrong-
procedure surgery. Patient identifiers (A) are part of the verification but not the
,complete Time Out elements. Team member names (C), anesthesia details (D), and
allergies/medications (E) are not the core Time Out elements.
Question 3
Which of the following is the correct sequence for the surgical hand scrub?
A) Nails → palms → backs of hands → fingers → arms
B) Palms → backs of hands → fingers → nails → arms
C) Arms → nails → palms → backs of hands → fingers
D) Fingers → nails → arms → palms → backs of hands
E) Nails → arms → palms → backs of hands → fingers
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct sequence for the surgical hand scrub is: nails (clean under
nails first), then palms, backs of hands, fingers, and arms. This progression moves
from cleanest (nails and hands) to least clean (arms) and from fingertips to elbows.
Options B, C, D, and E present incorrect sequences. The scrub should last
approximately 3-5 minutes, depending on the product used and facility protocol.
Question 4
The closed-glove technique is used when:
A) The sterile gown is donned before the gloves
B) The sterile gown is not donned before the gloves
C) The gloves are donned before the surgical scrub
D) The gloves are donned without a sterile gown
E) The gloves are donned after the procedure begins
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The closed-glove technique is used after the sterile gown has been
donned. The hands remain inside the gown cuffs while the gloves are pulled over
the cuffs, ensuring sterility. The open-glove technique (B) is used when the gown
, is not donned first or when regloving during a procedure. Gloves are donned after
the surgical scrub (C). Gloves are donned with a sterile gown (D). Gloves are
donned before the procedure begins, not after (E).
Question 5
When opening sterile supplies onto the sterile field, the technologist should:
A) Open supplies with the sterile wrapper facing away from the field
B) Open supplies directly over the sterile field
C) Open supplies without checking the integrity of the package
D) Open supplies after the patient is prepped
E) Open supplies with bare hands
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When opening sterile supplies, the sterile wrapper should be facing
away from the field to prevent contamination. Opening directly over the sterile
field (B) can cause contamination. Package integrity must be checked before
opening (C). Supplies are typically opened before patient prepping (D). Bare hands
(E) would contaminate the supplies.
Question 6
When preparing the operating room for a surgical procedure, the technologist
should:
A) Set the room temperature to the surgeon's personal preference
B) Use the surgeon's preference card to obtain supplies and prepare the room
C) Open all supplies before the patient arrives regardless of timing
D) Prepare the room without checking equipment function
E) Arrange instruments based solely on personal preference
Correct Answer: B
