Certified Perioperative Nurse Exam
Question and correct answers (verified
answers 100%) Q&A
2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which action is most important before a surgical procedure begins?
A. Administer the postoperative analgesic
B. Verify the patient's identity, procedure, and surgical site
C. Prepare the recovery-room bed
D. Remove all monitoring equipment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Verifying the patient's identity, intended procedure, and surgical site helps prevent
wrong-patient, wrong-procedure, and wrong-site surgery.
2. Which intervention best helps prevent perioperative hypothermia?
A. Leaving the patient uncovered
B. Using active warming measures when appropriate
C. Applying cold packs routinely
D. Limiting temperature monitoring
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Active warming devices and appropriate temperature monitoring help maintain
normothermia and reduce complications associated with perioperative hypothermia.
3. What is the primary purpose of the surgical time-out?
A. Determine the postoperative diet
B. Confirm patient, procedure, site, and other critical safety information
C. Complete the discharge instructions
D. Determine the patient's insurance status
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The time-out provides a final opportunity for the surgical team to verify critical
information before incision.
4. Which position places the patient supine?
A. Lying flat on the back
B. Lying on the abdomen
C. Lying on the side
D. Sitting upright
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In the supine position, the patient lies flat on the back with the face upward.
5. Which complication is associated with prolonged pressure on the common peroneal nerve?
A. Foot drop
B. Hearing loss
C. Facial paralysis
D. Dysphagia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Compression of the common peroneal nerve near the fibular head can result in nerve
injury and foot drop.
6. What is the primary responsibility of the scrub nurse during surgery?
A. Manage postoperative prescriptions
B. Maintain the sterile field and provide instruments
C. Obtain the patient's medical history
D. Transport the patient home
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The scrub nurse maintains sterile technique, anticipates the surgeon's needs, and
manages instruments and supplies.
7. What is the primary responsibility of the circulating nurse?
, A. Remain scrubbed throughout the procedure
B. Coordinate patient care and maintain overall room safety
C. Perform the surgical procedure
D. Administer anesthesia independently
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The circulating nurse is not scrubbed and coordinates patient care, documentation,
equipment, supplies, and safety.
8. Which item should be considered sterile?
A. The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field
B. The inside surface of a sterile gown above the waist
C. The sterile surface of an appropriately opened sterile package
D. The floor beneath the operating table
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Properly opened sterile packages provide sterile contents when aseptic technique is
maintained.
9. What should the nurse do if a sterile package is found to be wet?
A. Use it immediately
B. Dry it with a sterile towel
C. Consider it contaminated and replace it
D. Place it under a warming lamp
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Moisture can allow microorganisms to migrate through packaging, compromising
sterility.
10. Which practice helps maintain a sterile field?
A. Turning one's back on the sterile field
B. Keeping sterile items above waist level
C. Reaching over the sterile field
D. Allowing sterile items to touch nonsterile surfaces
Question and correct answers (verified
answers 100%) Q&A
2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which action is most important before a surgical procedure begins?
A. Administer the postoperative analgesic
B. Verify the patient's identity, procedure, and surgical site
C. Prepare the recovery-room bed
D. Remove all monitoring equipment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Verifying the patient's identity, intended procedure, and surgical site helps prevent
wrong-patient, wrong-procedure, and wrong-site surgery.
2. Which intervention best helps prevent perioperative hypothermia?
A. Leaving the patient uncovered
B. Using active warming measures when appropriate
C. Applying cold packs routinely
D. Limiting temperature monitoring
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Active warming devices and appropriate temperature monitoring help maintain
normothermia and reduce complications associated with perioperative hypothermia.
3. What is the primary purpose of the surgical time-out?
A. Determine the postoperative diet
B. Confirm patient, procedure, site, and other critical safety information
C. Complete the discharge instructions
D. Determine the patient's insurance status
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The time-out provides a final opportunity for the surgical team to verify critical
information before incision.
4. Which position places the patient supine?
A. Lying flat on the back
B. Lying on the abdomen
C. Lying on the side
D. Sitting upright
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In the supine position, the patient lies flat on the back with the face upward.
5. Which complication is associated with prolonged pressure on the common peroneal nerve?
A. Foot drop
B. Hearing loss
C. Facial paralysis
D. Dysphagia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Compression of the common peroneal nerve near the fibular head can result in nerve
injury and foot drop.
6. What is the primary responsibility of the scrub nurse during surgery?
A. Manage postoperative prescriptions
B. Maintain the sterile field and provide instruments
C. Obtain the patient's medical history
D. Transport the patient home
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The scrub nurse maintains sterile technique, anticipates the surgeon's needs, and
manages instruments and supplies.
7. What is the primary responsibility of the circulating nurse?
, A. Remain scrubbed throughout the procedure
B. Coordinate patient care and maintain overall room safety
C. Perform the surgical procedure
D. Administer anesthesia independently
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The circulating nurse is not scrubbed and coordinates patient care, documentation,
equipment, supplies, and safety.
8. Which item should be considered sterile?
A. The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field
B. The inside surface of a sterile gown above the waist
C. The sterile surface of an appropriately opened sterile package
D. The floor beneath the operating table
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Properly opened sterile packages provide sterile contents when aseptic technique is
maintained.
9. What should the nurse do if a sterile package is found to be wet?
A. Use it immediately
B. Dry it with a sterile towel
C. Consider it contaminated and replace it
D. Place it under a warming lamp
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Moisture can allow microorganisms to migrate through packaging, compromising
sterility.
10. Which practice helps maintain a sterile field?
A. Turning one's back on the sterile field
B. Keeping sterile items above waist level
C. Reaching over the sterile field
D. Allowing sterile items to touch nonsterile surfaces
