NIFA Perioperative Questions
What are the three phases of perioperative nursing?
Answer: Preoperative, Intraoperative, and Postoperative.
What is the primary goal of preoperative patient assessment?
Answer: To identify potential risk factors, ensure patient safety, and prepare for a
successful surgical outcome.
Surgical Asepsis & Sterile Technique
What is the difference between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis?
,Answer: Medical asepsis reduces the number of microorganisms, while surgical
asepsis eliminates all microorganisms from a sterile field.
What is the proper way to open a sterile package?
Answer: Open the package away from yourself first, then the sides, and lastly, pull
the flap closest to you.
Intraoperative Care & Safety
What is the purpose of a "time-out" in the operating room?
Answer: To verify patient identity, procedure, and surgical site before beginning
surgery.
What are the four types of anesthesia?
Answer: General, Regional, Local, and Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC).
What is the recommended position for a patient undergoing an abdominal
procedure?
Answer: Supine position.
Instrument Handling & Sutures
What is the purpose of a hemostat in surgery?
Answer: To clamp blood vessels and control bleeding.
What is the difference between absorbable and non-absorbable sutures?
Answer: Absorbable sutures break down in the body over time, while non-
absorbable sutures must be removed.
Postoperative & Recovery
What are the primary concerns during the immediate postoperative phase?
Answer: Airway management, hemodynamic stability, pain control, and monitoring
for complications.
What are the common signs of surgical site infection (SSI)?
, Answer: Redness, swelling, warmth, pain, and purulent drainage.Surgical
Environment & OR Safety
What are the three zones of the surgical suite?
Answer: Unrestricted, Semi-restricted, and Restricted.
What is the purpose of laminar airflow in the operating room?
Answer: To reduce airborne contaminants and lower the risk of surgical site
infections.
What is the ideal humidity level in the operating room?
Answer: Between 50-60% to minimize static electricity and microbial growth.
What does the term "surgical conscience" mean?
Answer: The ethical responsibility to maintain sterility and report breaks in aseptic
technique.
Sterilization & Disinfection
What is the most effective method of sterilization for heat-resistant surgical
instruments?
Answer: Autoclaving (Steam Sterilization).
What is the required temperature and pressure for autoclave sterilization?
Answer: 121°C (250°F) at 15 psi for 15-30 minutes or 132°C (270°F) at 27 psi for 4-7
minutes.
What sterilization method is used for heat-sensitive equipment?
Answer: Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Gas Sterilization or Hydrogen Peroxide Plasma
(Sterrad).
How long is a sterile package considered sterile after autoclaving?
What are the three phases of perioperative nursing?
Answer: Preoperative, Intraoperative, and Postoperative.
What is the primary goal of preoperative patient assessment?
Answer: To identify potential risk factors, ensure patient safety, and prepare for a
successful surgical outcome.
Surgical Asepsis & Sterile Technique
What is the difference between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis?
,Answer: Medical asepsis reduces the number of microorganisms, while surgical
asepsis eliminates all microorganisms from a sterile field.
What is the proper way to open a sterile package?
Answer: Open the package away from yourself first, then the sides, and lastly, pull
the flap closest to you.
Intraoperative Care & Safety
What is the purpose of a "time-out" in the operating room?
Answer: To verify patient identity, procedure, and surgical site before beginning
surgery.
What are the four types of anesthesia?
Answer: General, Regional, Local, and Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC).
What is the recommended position for a patient undergoing an abdominal
procedure?
Answer: Supine position.
Instrument Handling & Sutures
What is the purpose of a hemostat in surgery?
Answer: To clamp blood vessels and control bleeding.
What is the difference between absorbable and non-absorbable sutures?
Answer: Absorbable sutures break down in the body over time, while non-
absorbable sutures must be removed.
Postoperative & Recovery
What are the primary concerns during the immediate postoperative phase?
Answer: Airway management, hemodynamic stability, pain control, and monitoring
for complications.
What are the common signs of surgical site infection (SSI)?
, Answer: Redness, swelling, warmth, pain, and purulent drainage.Surgical
Environment & OR Safety
What are the three zones of the surgical suite?
Answer: Unrestricted, Semi-restricted, and Restricted.
What is the purpose of laminar airflow in the operating room?
Answer: To reduce airborne contaminants and lower the risk of surgical site
infections.
What is the ideal humidity level in the operating room?
Answer: Between 50-60% to minimize static electricity and microbial growth.
What does the term "surgical conscience" mean?
Answer: The ethical responsibility to maintain sterility and report breaks in aseptic
technique.
Sterilization & Disinfection
What is the most effective method of sterilization for heat-resistant surgical
instruments?
Answer: Autoclaving (Steam Sterilization).
What is the required temperature and pressure for autoclave sterilization?
Answer: 121°C (250°F) at 15 psi for 15-30 minutes or 132°C (270°F) at 27 psi for 4-7
minutes.
What sterilization method is used for heat-sensitive equipment?
Answer: Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Gas Sterilization or Hydrogen Peroxide Plasma
(Sterrad).
How long is a sterile package considered sterile after autoclaving?
