NIFA FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST GUIDE 2026/2027
GRADED A+ .
,1. To promote facility-wide best practices in sterile technique, AORN recom-mends that registered nurses ✔✔ correct
answer a. practice collaboration, leadership, and teamwork in the perioper-ative environment
b. take part in ongoing quality assurance, monitoring, and performance activities designed to improve the performance
of sterile technique
c. help establish a culture in which concerns about breaches in sterile technique are communicated immediately and
appropriately
d. all of the above
2. Team building can increase efficiency and productivity resulting in ✔✔ correct answer a. improved outcomes in delivery
of services
b. higher statt morale
c. increased patient satisfaction
d. all of the above
3. A thorough preoperative assessment is critical during which the periopera-tive nurse
must identify unique patient considerations that may require additional pre-cautions or
contraindications related to MIS procedures. This assessment must include identification of risk factors related
to 1. Extreme positioning 2. Prevention of venous
stasis 3. Informed consent. 4. Fluid management ✔✔ correct answer a. 3 and 4
b. 1 and 2
c. 1, 2, 3, and 4
d. 1, 2, and 4
4. When counting needles in a multiple needle suture pack ✔✔ correct answer a. it is safe to assume that the package count is correct
b. the empty suture package may be used to reconcile a discrepancy in the count
c. only the scrub person is responsible for counting the needles
d. the scrub person should verify the number of needles when the package is opened
5. The electrosurgical dispersive pad should be applied . ✔✔
correct answer a. on a rough, irregular body surface
b. to a muscular area
,c. to a bony prominence
d. to an area of moisture
6. When gathering information about medications that the patient is taking, it is important to include ✔✔ correct
answer a. physician prescribed medications
b. over the counter medications and vitamins
c. herbal medications that the patient may be taking
d. all of the above
7. ECG leads can be the site of alternate burns. What actions can help prevent these? ✔✔ correct answer a. make sure that hard
electrical contact engages the patient and the ground
b. use electrodes that concentrate the current
c. locate ECG leads as far as possible from the operative site
d. place ground pad as far away from the operative site as possible
8. When decontaminating and cleaning a pneumatically powered surgical in-strument ✔✔ correct answer a. the gas hose
should remain attached to the handpiece.
b. all of the above.
c. a detergent/disinfectant solution should be use
d. the outside should be dried with lint free towels.
9. One of the two strongest layers in tissue closure includes the ✔✔ correct answer
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 75 ✔✔ correct answer a. Subcutaneous tissue
b. Fascia
c. Retinacullum
d. Muscle
10. The RNFA should be aware of the possibility that a laparoscopic case could become an open case. A reason for
this conversion in a cholecystectomy would be for which of the following reasons?
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 103 ✔✔ correct answer a. An extremely thin walled gallbladder
b. Previous left colon surgery
c. A gallbladder that contains sludge
, d. Inability to remove a stone from the CBD via ERCP
11. A patient has the following lab values noted intraoperatively. pH < 7.35, PCO2<35
mmHg, HCO3 < 22 mEq/L. This patient is in ✔✔ correct answer
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 314 ✔✔ correct answer a. Respiratory Alkalosis
b. Respiratory Acidosis
c. Metabolic Alkalosis
d. Metabolic Acidosis
12. All of the following wound healing complications are attributed to smoking except ✔✔ correct answer
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 86 ✔✔ correct answer a. Increased blood viscosity
b. Decreased blood viscosity
c. Diminshed collagen synthesis
d. Infection
13. The usual dry time for most skin preps is minutes.
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 47 ✔✔ correct answer a. 2-3
b. 1-3
c. 3-5
d. 3-4
14. Due to excellent healing results with minimal scarring, which suturing technique is commonly chosen
for plastic surgery?
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 65 ✔✔ correct answer a. Subdermal
b. Running locking
c. Subcuticular
d. Intradermal
15. The aortic root is located ✔✔ correct answer
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 243 ✔✔ correct answer a. At the junction of the pulmonary artery and the left
atrium
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST GUIDE 2026/2027
GRADED A+ .
,1. To promote facility-wide best practices in sterile technique, AORN recom-mends that registered nurses ✔✔ correct
answer a. practice collaboration, leadership, and teamwork in the perioper-ative environment
b. take part in ongoing quality assurance, monitoring, and performance activities designed to improve the performance
of sterile technique
c. help establish a culture in which concerns about breaches in sterile technique are communicated immediately and
appropriately
d. all of the above
2. Team building can increase efficiency and productivity resulting in ✔✔ correct answer a. improved outcomes in delivery
of services
b. higher statt morale
c. increased patient satisfaction
d. all of the above
3. A thorough preoperative assessment is critical during which the periopera-tive nurse
must identify unique patient considerations that may require additional pre-cautions or
contraindications related to MIS procedures. This assessment must include identification of risk factors related
to 1. Extreme positioning 2. Prevention of venous
stasis 3. Informed consent. 4. Fluid management ✔✔ correct answer a. 3 and 4
b. 1 and 2
c. 1, 2, 3, and 4
d. 1, 2, and 4
4. When counting needles in a multiple needle suture pack ✔✔ correct answer a. it is safe to assume that the package count is correct
b. the empty suture package may be used to reconcile a discrepancy in the count
c. only the scrub person is responsible for counting the needles
d. the scrub person should verify the number of needles when the package is opened
5. The electrosurgical dispersive pad should be applied . ✔✔
correct answer a. on a rough, irregular body surface
b. to a muscular area
,c. to a bony prominence
d. to an area of moisture
6. When gathering information about medications that the patient is taking, it is important to include ✔✔ correct
answer a. physician prescribed medications
b. over the counter medications and vitamins
c. herbal medications that the patient may be taking
d. all of the above
7. ECG leads can be the site of alternate burns. What actions can help prevent these? ✔✔ correct answer a. make sure that hard
electrical contact engages the patient and the ground
b. use electrodes that concentrate the current
c. locate ECG leads as far as possible from the operative site
d. place ground pad as far away from the operative site as possible
8. When decontaminating and cleaning a pneumatically powered surgical in-strument ✔✔ correct answer a. the gas hose
should remain attached to the handpiece.
b. all of the above.
c. a detergent/disinfectant solution should be use
d. the outside should be dried with lint free towels.
9. One of the two strongest layers in tissue closure includes the ✔✔ correct answer
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 75 ✔✔ correct answer a. Subcutaneous tissue
b. Fascia
c. Retinacullum
d. Muscle
10. The RNFA should be aware of the possibility that a laparoscopic case could become an open case. A reason for
this conversion in a cholecystectomy would be for which of the following reasons?
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 103 ✔✔ correct answer a. An extremely thin walled gallbladder
b. Previous left colon surgery
c. A gallbladder that contains sludge
, d. Inability to remove a stone from the CBD via ERCP
11. A patient has the following lab values noted intraoperatively. pH < 7.35, PCO2<35
mmHg, HCO3 < 22 mEq/L. This patient is in ✔✔ correct answer
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 314 ✔✔ correct answer a. Respiratory Alkalosis
b. Respiratory Acidosis
c. Metabolic Alkalosis
d. Metabolic Acidosis
12. All of the following wound healing complications are attributed to smoking except ✔✔ correct answer
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 86 ✔✔ correct answer a. Increased blood viscosity
b. Decreased blood viscosity
c. Diminshed collagen synthesis
d. Infection
13. The usual dry time for most skin preps is minutes.
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 47 ✔✔ correct answer a. 2-3
b. 1-3
c. 3-5
d. 3-4
14. Due to excellent healing results with minimal scarring, which suturing technique is commonly chosen
for plastic surgery?
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 65 ✔✔ correct answer a. Subdermal
b. Running locking
c. Subcuticular
d. Intradermal
15. The aortic root is located ✔✔ correct answer
Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant, 5th ed., p. 243 ✔✔ correct answer a. At the junction of the pulmonary artery and the left
atrium
