CNOR EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026/2027 Q&A |
ALREADY GRADED A+ | BRAND NEW VERSION | INSTANT
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Core Domains
Preoperative Patient Assessment and Diagnosis
Intraoperative Care and Safety
Infection Prevention and Control
Sterilization and Disinfection
Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment
Anesthesia and Sedation
Surgical Positioning
Wound Management and Healing
Professionalism and Ethics
Perioperative Documentation and Informatics
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment is designed to evaluate the
knowledge and clinical reasoning of perioperative nurses
preparing for the CNOR certification examination. It covers
critical domains including preoperative assessment,
intraoperative care, infection prevention, sterilization,
instrumentation, anesthesia, positioning, wound
,management, and professional practice. The exam assesses
proficiency in applying AORN standards, evidence-based
guidelines, and patient safety principles. Featuring multiple-
choice and scenario-based questions, it emphasizes real-world
clinical decision-making, surgical safety, and advocacy.
Candidates must demonstrate sound judgment and a
thorough understanding of perioperative nursing to succeed
on the exam and in practice.
Section One: Questions 1–400
1. During a procedure under local anesthesia, the patient
complains of circumoral numbness, blurred vision, and
dizziness. What should be the immediate action of the
perioperative nurse monitoring this patient?
A. Recheck the dose of local anesthesia given
B. Ensure an airway
C. Set the IV line to full flow
D. Call for 20% lipid emulsion to be brought to the room
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: These are signs of local anesthetic systemic
toxicity (LAST). The immediate priority is airway
management and oxygenation. Lipid emulsion is the
,antidote but is not the first action; ensuring an airway takes
precedence.
2. The circulating nurse reports that the needle count is
incorrect. The surgeon continues to close the wound,
stating, "I know it is not in the wound and I am not going
to stop to look for it." The best plan of action is to:
A. Accept the surgeon's response without comment and fill
out an incident report
B. Inform the surgeon of hospital policy and document
subsequent actions
C. Order X-rays regardless of the surgeon's wishes
D. Notify the OR supervisor and ask for advice
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse must advocate for patient safety
by informing the surgeon of the policy regarding incorrect
counts. Documentation of the discrepancy and the
surgeon's response is essential. The nurse should follow the
facility's policy for unresolved counts, which may include
notifying the supervisor.
3. A new employee unknowingly dispensed an unsterile
solution to the sterile field. The following day, the
, supervisor learns of the incident. The supervisor's first
action would be to:
A. Initiate an incident report
B. Instruct the employee on the technique of reading labels
C. Counsel the employee verbally
D. Notify the surgeon of the break in technique
🟢 Correct answer: D
🔴 RATIONALE: The immediate priority is patient safety. The
surgeon must be notified of the break in technique so that
appropriate action can be taken, such as assessing the
patient and considering prophylactic measures.
4. Due to an emergency, the perioperative nurse is unable
to conduct the sponge, sharps, and instrument counts. At
the conclusion of the surgery, the nurse should:
A. Ask the surgeon to sign the count
B. Immediately notify the OR supervisor
C. Document the absence of counts
D. Refuse to sign the sponge count record
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse should document that counts
were not performed due to the emergency. Following the
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026/2027 Q&A |
ALREADY GRADED A+ | BRAND NEW VERSION | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Preoperative Patient Assessment and Diagnosis
Intraoperative Care and Safety
Infection Prevention and Control
Sterilization and Disinfection
Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment
Anesthesia and Sedation
Surgical Positioning
Wound Management and Healing
Professionalism and Ethics
Perioperative Documentation and Informatics
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment is designed to evaluate the
knowledge and clinical reasoning of perioperative nurses
preparing for the CNOR certification examination. It covers
critical domains including preoperative assessment,
intraoperative care, infection prevention, sterilization,
instrumentation, anesthesia, positioning, wound
,management, and professional practice. The exam assesses
proficiency in applying AORN standards, evidence-based
guidelines, and patient safety principles. Featuring multiple-
choice and scenario-based questions, it emphasizes real-world
clinical decision-making, surgical safety, and advocacy.
Candidates must demonstrate sound judgment and a
thorough understanding of perioperative nursing to succeed
on the exam and in practice.
Section One: Questions 1–400
1. During a procedure under local anesthesia, the patient
complains of circumoral numbness, blurred vision, and
dizziness. What should be the immediate action of the
perioperative nurse monitoring this patient?
A. Recheck the dose of local anesthesia given
B. Ensure an airway
C. Set the IV line to full flow
D. Call for 20% lipid emulsion to be brought to the room
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: These are signs of local anesthetic systemic
toxicity (LAST). The immediate priority is airway
management and oxygenation. Lipid emulsion is the
,antidote but is not the first action; ensuring an airway takes
precedence.
2. The circulating nurse reports that the needle count is
incorrect. The surgeon continues to close the wound,
stating, "I know it is not in the wound and I am not going
to stop to look for it." The best plan of action is to:
A. Accept the surgeon's response without comment and fill
out an incident report
B. Inform the surgeon of hospital policy and document
subsequent actions
C. Order X-rays regardless of the surgeon's wishes
D. Notify the OR supervisor and ask for advice
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse must advocate for patient safety
by informing the surgeon of the policy regarding incorrect
counts. Documentation of the discrepancy and the
surgeon's response is essential. The nurse should follow the
facility's policy for unresolved counts, which may include
notifying the supervisor.
3. A new employee unknowingly dispensed an unsterile
solution to the sterile field. The following day, the
, supervisor learns of the incident. The supervisor's first
action would be to:
A. Initiate an incident report
B. Instruct the employee on the technique of reading labels
C. Counsel the employee verbally
D. Notify the surgeon of the break in technique
🟢 Correct answer: D
🔴 RATIONALE: The immediate priority is patient safety. The
surgeon must be notified of the break in technique so that
appropriate action can be taken, such as assessing the
patient and considering prophylactic measures.
4. Due to an emergency, the perioperative nurse is unable
to conduct the sponge, sharps, and instrument counts. At
the conclusion of the surgery, the nurse should:
A. Ask the surgeon to sign the count
B. Immediately notify the OR supervisor
C. Document the absence of counts
D. Refuse to sign the sponge count record
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse should document that counts
were not performed due to the emergency. Following the
