CERTIFIED BARIATRIC NURSE (CBN) PRACTICE EXAM
[QUESTION 1-200] AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026/2027 |
ORIGINAL PRACTICE MATERIAL | DETAILED RATIONALES
| A+ STUDY PREPARATION | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Introduction:
**This original Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN) practice examination is designed to support
structured preparation for nurses developing competence in metabolic and bariatric nursing.
The questions are not copied from, leaked from, or represented as actual CBN examination
questions. They are written as original, scenario-based practice items aligned with the current
CBN examination framework published by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgery (ASMBS). The current examination assesses five major domains spanning preoperative
management, perioperative hospital care, post-discharge and long-term follow-up, professional
and community collaboration, and program quality. The official examination contains 175
multiple-choice items, of which 150 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest items, with four
answer choices and one best answer. Candidates have three hours to complete the examination.
This practice set emphasizes clinical judgment, prioritization, patient education, complication
recognition, interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-informed care, and quality improvement.
Detailed rationales explain both the correct answer and the reasoning behind each distractor so
candidates can use the questions as an active learning and review resource.**
Core Domains Covered:
1. Clinical Management: Preoperative (Pre-hospital) — Assessment, education, risk
identification, optimization, informed decision-making, psychosocial evaluation, and
preparation for metabolic and bariatric surgery.
2. Clinical Management: Perioperative (Hospital) — Immediate postoperative assessment,
airway and respiratory management, hemodynamic monitoring, pain control, mobility,
prevention and recognition of complications, and discharge preparation.
3. Clinical Management: Follow-up (Post-discharge & Longer Term) — Nutritional
monitoring, medication management, weight-management support, behavioral health,
surveillance for complications, and long-term postoperative care.
4. Professional and Community Collaboration — Interdisciplinary communication, patient
advocacy, referrals, community resources, culturally responsive care, professional
responsibilities, and continuity across settings.
5. Program Quality — Quality improvement, patient safety, outcomes measurement, risk
management, research utilization, accreditation, documentation, and program evaluation.
,**These five domains and their weighting are based on the current ASMBS CBN examination
blueprint: 21.3% preoperative, 25.3% perioperative, 25.3% follow-up, 14.7%
professional/community collaboration, and 13.3% program quality. **
QUESTIONS 1–100
DOMAIN 1 — CLINICAL MANAGEMENT: PREOPERATIVE
Question 1: A 46-year-old patient with severe obesity is being evaluated for metabolic and
bariatric surgery. The patient reports loud nightly snoring, morning headaches, and excessive
daytime sleepiness but has never undergone a sleep study. Which action should the bariatric
nurse prioritize?
A) Encourage the patient to begin sleeping with two pillows
B) Recommend evaluation for suspected obstructive sleep apnea
C) Delay all nutritional counseling until surgery is scheduled
D) Reassure the patient that snoring is expected with obesity
Rationale: Obesity, loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, and morning headaches strongly suggest
possible obstructive sleep apnea. Identification and management before surgery are important
because untreated sleep-disordered breathing can increase perioperative respiratory risk.
Option A may provide comfort but does not establish a diagnosis or address the underlying risk.
Option C unnecessarily delays essential preparation. Option D incorrectly minimizes a
potentially significant perioperative condition.**
Question 2: During preoperative assessment, a patient states, “I think surgery will make all my
medical problems disappear immediately.” What is the nurse's best response?
A) “Yes, most medical problems resolve immediately after surgery.”
B) “Surgery can improve many obesity-related conditions, but outcomes vary and long-
term follow-up remains important.”
C) “You should not expect any improvement in your medical conditions.”
D) “Your surgeon can guarantee which conditions will resolve.”
Rationale: Bariatric surgery can substantially improve obesity-related comorbidities, but the
degree and timing of improvement vary. Patients need realistic expectations and an
understanding that surgery is part of long-term disease management. Option A creates
unrealistic expectations. Option C is unnecessarily pessimistic. Option D is incorrect because
individual outcomes cannot be guaranteed.**
Question 3: A patient preparing for bariatric surgery reports consuming large amounts of
alcohol several evenings each week. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A) Tell the patient to conceal alcohol use from the surgical team
B) Proceed without discussing the issue because it is unrelated to surgery
C) Assess the pattern of alcohol use and communicate clinically relevant findings to the
,bariatric team
D) Automatically cancel the patient's surgical evaluation
Rationale: Alcohol use should be assessed because it can affect nutritional status, adherence,
psychosocial readiness, medication safety, and postoperative behavior. The nurse should
communicate relevant findings to the multidisciplinary team for appropriate evaluation and
intervention. Option A compromises patient safety. Option B ignores an important risk factor.
Option D exceeds the nurse's role because evaluation and treatment decisions require the
appropriate clinical team.**
Question 4: Which preoperative finding most strongly suggests that a patient may require
additional psychosocial assessment before surgery?
A) Patient asks detailed questions about postoperative diet
B) Patient has attended all required educational sessions
C) Patient reports enjoying walking with family members
D) Patient describes untreated severe depression and inability to follow basic self-care
routines
Rationale: Untreated significant depression combined with impaired self-care may affect
readiness, adherence, safety, and postoperative adjustment. Additional psychosocial assessment
and appropriate treatment planning are indicated. Options A and B demonstrate engagement.
Option C represents a potentially positive activity and does not independently indicate
inadequate readiness.**
Question 5: A patient says, “I only want surgery because my family keeps telling me I should do
it.” Which nursing response is best?
A) “Your family knows what is best for you.”
B) “You should schedule surgery immediately.”
C) “Tell me what you understand about the procedure and what outcomes are important to
you.”
D) “You should refuse surgery if your family supports it.”
Rationale: The nurse should assess the patient's understanding, goals, autonomy, and readiness
for informed decision-making. Bariatric treatment decisions should be patient-centered rather
than driven solely by family pressure. Options A and B disregard autonomy. Option D is equally
inappropriate because family support itself is not a reason to reject treatment.**
Question 6: A patient reports a history of repeated episodes of binge eating and expresses
concern about losing control after surgery. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Tell the patient that surgery automatically eliminates binge eating
B) Tell the patient that behavioral concerns are irrelevant after surgery
C) Facilitate appropriate behavioral-health evaluation and communicate the concern to the
, multidisciplinary team
D) Encourage the patient to avoid discussing the issue until after surgery
Rationale: Eating behaviors can affect postoperative outcomes and require appropriate
assessment and treatment planning. A multidisciplinary approach helps identify risks and
establish support. Options A and B provide false reassurance. Option D delays potentially
important intervention.**
Question 7: Which preoperative teaching point is most important when preparing a patient for
lifelong nutritional monitoring after bariatric surgery?
A) Nutritional deficiencies occur only during the first month
B) Supplements are optional if the patient feels well
C) Long-term adherence to prescribed supplementation and laboratory monitoring is
essential
D) Laboratory monitoring is unnecessary after weight stabilizes
Rationale: Altered gastrointestinal anatomy and intake can create lifelong risks for
micronutrient deficiencies. Patients require ongoing supplementation and laboratory
surveillance according to the procedure and clinical plan. Symptoms alone are unreliable
indicators of deficiency. Options A, B, and D incorrectly imply that nutritional risks are
temporary or self-evident.**
Question 8: A patient with obesity asks why preoperative weight history is important. Which
response is best?
A) “It determines whether you are personally responsible for obesity.”
B) “It predicts exactly how much weight you will lose.”
C) “It helps the team understand weight-management patterns, prior treatments, and
factors that may affect planning.”
D) “It is collected only for insurance purposes.”
Rationale: A comprehensive weight history helps clinicians understand previous interventions,
weight trajectories, behavioral patterns, and treatment response. It contributes to individualized
planning. Options A and D are inappropriate oversimplifications. Option B is incorrect because
weight history cannot precisely predict an individual's postoperative weight loss.**
Question 9: Which finding should prompt the bariatric nurse to explore possible medication-
related contributors to weight gain?
A) Patient reports taking a multivitamin
B) Patient occasionally uses acetaminophen
C) Patient reports long-term use of a medication known to promote weight gain
D) Patient drinks water with meals
[QUESTION 1-200] AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026/2027 |
ORIGINAL PRACTICE MATERIAL | DETAILED RATIONALES
| A+ STUDY PREPARATION | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Introduction:
**This original Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN) practice examination is designed to support
structured preparation for nurses developing competence in metabolic and bariatric nursing.
The questions are not copied from, leaked from, or represented as actual CBN examination
questions. They are written as original, scenario-based practice items aligned with the current
CBN examination framework published by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgery (ASMBS). The current examination assesses five major domains spanning preoperative
management, perioperative hospital care, post-discharge and long-term follow-up, professional
and community collaboration, and program quality. The official examination contains 175
multiple-choice items, of which 150 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest items, with four
answer choices and one best answer. Candidates have three hours to complete the examination.
This practice set emphasizes clinical judgment, prioritization, patient education, complication
recognition, interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-informed care, and quality improvement.
Detailed rationales explain both the correct answer and the reasoning behind each distractor so
candidates can use the questions as an active learning and review resource.**
Core Domains Covered:
1. Clinical Management: Preoperative (Pre-hospital) — Assessment, education, risk
identification, optimization, informed decision-making, psychosocial evaluation, and
preparation for metabolic and bariatric surgery.
2. Clinical Management: Perioperative (Hospital) — Immediate postoperative assessment,
airway and respiratory management, hemodynamic monitoring, pain control, mobility,
prevention and recognition of complications, and discharge preparation.
3. Clinical Management: Follow-up (Post-discharge & Longer Term) — Nutritional
monitoring, medication management, weight-management support, behavioral health,
surveillance for complications, and long-term postoperative care.
4. Professional and Community Collaboration — Interdisciplinary communication, patient
advocacy, referrals, community resources, culturally responsive care, professional
responsibilities, and continuity across settings.
5. Program Quality — Quality improvement, patient safety, outcomes measurement, risk
management, research utilization, accreditation, documentation, and program evaluation.
,**These five domains and their weighting are based on the current ASMBS CBN examination
blueprint: 21.3% preoperative, 25.3% perioperative, 25.3% follow-up, 14.7%
professional/community collaboration, and 13.3% program quality. **
QUESTIONS 1–100
DOMAIN 1 — CLINICAL MANAGEMENT: PREOPERATIVE
Question 1: A 46-year-old patient with severe obesity is being evaluated for metabolic and
bariatric surgery. The patient reports loud nightly snoring, morning headaches, and excessive
daytime sleepiness but has never undergone a sleep study. Which action should the bariatric
nurse prioritize?
A) Encourage the patient to begin sleeping with two pillows
B) Recommend evaluation for suspected obstructive sleep apnea
C) Delay all nutritional counseling until surgery is scheduled
D) Reassure the patient that snoring is expected with obesity
Rationale: Obesity, loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, and morning headaches strongly suggest
possible obstructive sleep apnea. Identification and management before surgery are important
because untreated sleep-disordered breathing can increase perioperative respiratory risk.
Option A may provide comfort but does not establish a diagnosis or address the underlying risk.
Option C unnecessarily delays essential preparation. Option D incorrectly minimizes a
potentially significant perioperative condition.**
Question 2: During preoperative assessment, a patient states, “I think surgery will make all my
medical problems disappear immediately.” What is the nurse's best response?
A) “Yes, most medical problems resolve immediately after surgery.”
B) “Surgery can improve many obesity-related conditions, but outcomes vary and long-
term follow-up remains important.”
C) “You should not expect any improvement in your medical conditions.”
D) “Your surgeon can guarantee which conditions will resolve.”
Rationale: Bariatric surgery can substantially improve obesity-related comorbidities, but the
degree and timing of improvement vary. Patients need realistic expectations and an
understanding that surgery is part of long-term disease management. Option A creates
unrealistic expectations. Option C is unnecessarily pessimistic. Option D is incorrect because
individual outcomes cannot be guaranteed.**
Question 3: A patient preparing for bariatric surgery reports consuming large amounts of
alcohol several evenings each week. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A) Tell the patient to conceal alcohol use from the surgical team
B) Proceed without discussing the issue because it is unrelated to surgery
C) Assess the pattern of alcohol use and communicate clinically relevant findings to the
,bariatric team
D) Automatically cancel the patient's surgical evaluation
Rationale: Alcohol use should be assessed because it can affect nutritional status, adherence,
psychosocial readiness, medication safety, and postoperative behavior. The nurse should
communicate relevant findings to the multidisciplinary team for appropriate evaluation and
intervention. Option A compromises patient safety. Option B ignores an important risk factor.
Option D exceeds the nurse's role because evaluation and treatment decisions require the
appropriate clinical team.**
Question 4: Which preoperative finding most strongly suggests that a patient may require
additional psychosocial assessment before surgery?
A) Patient asks detailed questions about postoperative diet
B) Patient has attended all required educational sessions
C) Patient reports enjoying walking with family members
D) Patient describes untreated severe depression and inability to follow basic self-care
routines
Rationale: Untreated significant depression combined with impaired self-care may affect
readiness, adherence, safety, and postoperative adjustment. Additional psychosocial assessment
and appropriate treatment planning are indicated. Options A and B demonstrate engagement.
Option C represents a potentially positive activity and does not independently indicate
inadequate readiness.**
Question 5: A patient says, “I only want surgery because my family keeps telling me I should do
it.” Which nursing response is best?
A) “Your family knows what is best for you.”
B) “You should schedule surgery immediately.”
C) “Tell me what you understand about the procedure and what outcomes are important to
you.”
D) “You should refuse surgery if your family supports it.”
Rationale: The nurse should assess the patient's understanding, goals, autonomy, and readiness
for informed decision-making. Bariatric treatment decisions should be patient-centered rather
than driven solely by family pressure. Options A and B disregard autonomy. Option D is equally
inappropriate because family support itself is not a reason to reject treatment.**
Question 6: A patient reports a history of repeated episodes of binge eating and expresses
concern about losing control after surgery. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Tell the patient that surgery automatically eliminates binge eating
B) Tell the patient that behavioral concerns are irrelevant after surgery
C) Facilitate appropriate behavioral-health evaluation and communicate the concern to the
, multidisciplinary team
D) Encourage the patient to avoid discussing the issue until after surgery
Rationale: Eating behaviors can affect postoperative outcomes and require appropriate
assessment and treatment planning. A multidisciplinary approach helps identify risks and
establish support. Options A and B provide false reassurance. Option D delays potentially
important intervention.**
Question 7: Which preoperative teaching point is most important when preparing a patient for
lifelong nutritional monitoring after bariatric surgery?
A) Nutritional deficiencies occur only during the first month
B) Supplements are optional if the patient feels well
C) Long-term adherence to prescribed supplementation and laboratory monitoring is
essential
D) Laboratory monitoring is unnecessary after weight stabilizes
Rationale: Altered gastrointestinal anatomy and intake can create lifelong risks for
micronutrient deficiencies. Patients require ongoing supplementation and laboratory
surveillance according to the procedure and clinical plan. Symptoms alone are unreliable
indicators of deficiency. Options A, B, and D incorrectly imply that nutritional risks are
temporary or self-evident.**
Question 8: A patient with obesity asks why preoperative weight history is important. Which
response is best?
A) “It determines whether you are personally responsible for obesity.”
B) “It predicts exactly how much weight you will lose.”
C) “It helps the team understand weight-management patterns, prior treatments, and
factors that may affect planning.”
D) “It is collected only for insurance purposes.”
Rationale: A comprehensive weight history helps clinicians understand previous interventions,
weight trajectories, behavioral patterns, and treatment response. It contributes to individualized
planning. Options A and D are inappropriate oversimplifications. Option B is incorrect because
weight history cannot precisely predict an individual's postoperative weight loss.**
Question 9: Which finding should prompt the bariatric nurse to explore possible medication-
related contributors to weight gain?
A) Patient reports taking a multivitamin
B) Patient occasionally uses acetaminophen
C) Patient reports long-term use of a medication known to promote weight gain
D) Patient drinks water with meals
