AORN FINAL EXAM REVIEW 2026/2027 | PERIOP 101 &
CNOR Certification | Actual Exam Questions with All
Correct Answers | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
[Section 1: Aseptic Technique & Sterile Field Management (Q1-
20)]
Q1. A scrubbed surgical technologist reaches over the sterile back table to hand an
instrument to the surgeon. The circulating nurse observes this action. Which principle
of aseptic technique has been violated?
A. The instrument remains sterile because the scrubbed person's gown is sterile
B. The scrubbed person reached over the sterile field, contaminating the sterile field
below
C. The back table is not considered part of the sterile field
D. Only the surgeon may reach over the sterile field
B. The scrubbed person reached over the sterile field, contaminating the sterile
field below [CORRECT]
Rationale: A fundamental principle of aseptic technique states that one must never
reach over a sterile field. The area below the level of the outstretched arm and
between the body and the sterile field is considered contaminated when reaching
over. The scrubbed person should move around the sterile field to maintain visual
contact with all sterile surfaces. Correct Answer: B
Q2. During a procedure, a scrubbed person must turn to retrieve an item from the
back table. Which action maintains aseptic technique?
A. Turn the entire body including the back toward the sterile field
B. Turn the back to the non-sterile area while keeping the front sterile gown facing
,the sterile field at all times
C. Turn only the head while keeping the body facing the sterile field
D. Ask a non-sterile person to hand the item over the sterile field
B. Turn the back to the non-sterile area while keeping the front sterile gown
facing the sterile field at all times [CORRECT]
Rationale: When turning away from the sterile field, the scrubbed person must turn
so the back faces the non-sterile area and the front (sterile gown) remains facing the
sterile field. This prevents the non-sterile back of the gown from crossing over the
sterile field. The back of the gown is considered contaminated. Correct Answer: B
Q3. A circulating nurse is opening a wrapped sterile package to transfer contents to
the sterile field. Which technique is correct?
A. Open the package by pulling the first flap toward the body
B. Open the first flap away from the body, then open side flaps, then the flap closest
to the body last
C. Open all flaps simultaneously with both hands
D. Open the package directly over the sterile field without maintaining distance
B. Open the first flap away from the body, then open side flaps, then the flap
closest to the body last [CORRECT]
Rationale: The correct sequence for opening wrapped sterile items: (1) open the
outer flap AWAY from the body, (2) open the side flaps, (3) open the flap closest to
the body LAST. This prevents the unsterile outer surface from crossing over the
sterile inner surface. The circulating nurse should stand at least 12 inches from the
sterile field. Correct Answer: B
Q4. A scrubbed person drops a sterile instrument onto the floor. Which action is
correct?
,A. Retrieve the instrument and place it back on the sterile field
B. The instrument is contaminated and must be removed from the room or
reprocessed
C. Wipe the instrument with sterile saline and return it to the field
D. Place the instrument on the Mayo stand only
B. The instrument is contaminated and must be removed from the room or
reprocessed [CORRECT]
Rationale: Any item that falls below the level of the sterile field or touches a non-
sterile surface (floor, anesthesia equipment, unsterile person) is considered
contaminated. The instrument must be removed from the room or sent for
reprocessing. It cannot be cleaned with saline (C) or returned to any sterile surface (A,
D). Correct Answer: B
Q5. A scrubbed person drops a sterile instrument onto the sterile back table. Which
action is correct?
A. The instrument is contaminated because it was dropped
B. The instrument remains sterile because it fell onto a sterile surface
C. The instrument must be discarded regardless of where it fell
D. The instrument is contaminated only if it bounced off the table
B. The instrument remains sterile because it fell onto a sterile surface [CORRECT]
Rationale: A sterile-to-sterile transfer maintains sterility. If a sterile instrument drops
onto a sterile surface (back table, Mayo stand, sterile drape), it remains sterile.
Contamination occurs only when a sterile item contacts a non-sterile surface or
passes below the level of the sterile field. Correct Answer: B
Q6. A circulating nurse is pouring sterile saline into a sterile basin on the back table.
Which action violates aseptic technique?
, A. Pouring only the amount needed for the procedure
B. Holding the bottle so the label faces the palm to prevent label contamination
C. Touching the edge of the sterile basin with the bottle
D. Discarding any unused liquid after pouring
C. Touching the edge of the sterile basin with the bottle [CORRECT]
Rationale: The edge of a sterile basin is considered sterile; touching it with the non-
sterile bottle contaminates the basin edge. Correct technique: hold the bottle 4-6
inches above the basin, pour slowly to prevent splashing, keep the label facing the
palm (B) to prevent label wetting, and discard unused liquid (D) as it is no longer
considered sterile once opened. Correct Answer: C
Q7. A scrubbed person needs to pass a sterile item to another scrubbed person.
Which technique is correct?
A. Toss the item through the air to the other person
B. Place the item on a sterile surface for the other person to pick up
C. Hand the item directly while both maintain sterile technique
D. Ask the circulating nurse to pass the item
C. Hand the item directly while both maintain sterile technique [CORRECT]
Rationale: Sterile-to-sterile transfer between scrubbed persons is accomplished by
direct handoff while both maintain sterile technique. Items should not be tossed (A)
as they may fall below the sterile field or be dropped. Placing on a sterile surface (B)
is acceptable but less efficient; asking a non-sterile person (D) violates sterile-to-
sterile transfer principles. Correct Answer: C
Q8. The circulating nurse is opening a peel pack containing a sterile instrument.
Which technique is correct?
A. Tear the package open and drop the contents onto the sterile field
B. Peel the package open and present the contents to the scrubbed person without
CNOR Certification | Actual Exam Questions with All
Correct Answers | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
[Section 1: Aseptic Technique & Sterile Field Management (Q1-
20)]
Q1. A scrubbed surgical technologist reaches over the sterile back table to hand an
instrument to the surgeon. The circulating nurse observes this action. Which principle
of aseptic technique has been violated?
A. The instrument remains sterile because the scrubbed person's gown is sterile
B. The scrubbed person reached over the sterile field, contaminating the sterile field
below
C. The back table is not considered part of the sterile field
D. Only the surgeon may reach over the sterile field
B. The scrubbed person reached over the sterile field, contaminating the sterile
field below [CORRECT]
Rationale: A fundamental principle of aseptic technique states that one must never
reach over a sterile field. The area below the level of the outstretched arm and
between the body and the sterile field is considered contaminated when reaching
over. The scrubbed person should move around the sterile field to maintain visual
contact with all sterile surfaces. Correct Answer: B
Q2. During a procedure, a scrubbed person must turn to retrieve an item from the
back table. Which action maintains aseptic technique?
A. Turn the entire body including the back toward the sterile field
B. Turn the back to the non-sterile area while keeping the front sterile gown facing
,the sterile field at all times
C. Turn only the head while keeping the body facing the sterile field
D. Ask a non-sterile person to hand the item over the sterile field
B. Turn the back to the non-sterile area while keeping the front sterile gown
facing the sterile field at all times [CORRECT]
Rationale: When turning away from the sterile field, the scrubbed person must turn
so the back faces the non-sterile area and the front (sterile gown) remains facing the
sterile field. This prevents the non-sterile back of the gown from crossing over the
sterile field. The back of the gown is considered contaminated. Correct Answer: B
Q3. A circulating nurse is opening a wrapped sterile package to transfer contents to
the sterile field. Which technique is correct?
A. Open the package by pulling the first flap toward the body
B. Open the first flap away from the body, then open side flaps, then the flap closest
to the body last
C. Open all flaps simultaneously with both hands
D. Open the package directly over the sterile field without maintaining distance
B. Open the first flap away from the body, then open side flaps, then the flap
closest to the body last [CORRECT]
Rationale: The correct sequence for opening wrapped sterile items: (1) open the
outer flap AWAY from the body, (2) open the side flaps, (3) open the flap closest to
the body LAST. This prevents the unsterile outer surface from crossing over the
sterile inner surface. The circulating nurse should stand at least 12 inches from the
sterile field. Correct Answer: B
Q4. A scrubbed person drops a sterile instrument onto the floor. Which action is
correct?
,A. Retrieve the instrument and place it back on the sterile field
B. The instrument is contaminated and must be removed from the room or
reprocessed
C. Wipe the instrument with sterile saline and return it to the field
D. Place the instrument on the Mayo stand only
B. The instrument is contaminated and must be removed from the room or
reprocessed [CORRECT]
Rationale: Any item that falls below the level of the sterile field or touches a non-
sterile surface (floor, anesthesia equipment, unsterile person) is considered
contaminated. The instrument must be removed from the room or sent for
reprocessing. It cannot be cleaned with saline (C) or returned to any sterile surface (A,
D). Correct Answer: B
Q5. A scrubbed person drops a sterile instrument onto the sterile back table. Which
action is correct?
A. The instrument is contaminated because it was dropped
B. The instrument remains sterile because it fell onto a sterile surface
C. The instrument must be discarded regardless of where it fell
D. The instrument is contaminated only if it bounced off the table
B. The instrument remains sterile because it fell onto a sterile surface [CORRECT]
Rationale: A sterile-to-sterile transfer maintains sterility. If a sterile instrument drops
onto a sterile surface (back table, Mayo stand, sterile drape), it remains sterile.
Contamination occurs only when a sterile item contacts a non-sterile surface or
passes below the level of the sterile field. Correct Answer: B
Q6. A circulating nurse is pouring sterile saline into a sterile basin on the back table.
Which action violates aseptic technique?
, A. Pouring only the amount needed for the procedure
B. Holding the bottle so the label faces the palm to prevent label contamination
C. Touching the edge of the sterile basin with the bottle
D. Discarding any unused liquid after pouring
C. Touching the edge of the sterile basin with the bottle [CORRECT]
Rationale: The edge of a sterile basin is considered sterile; touching it with the non-
sterile bottle contaminates the basin edge. Correct technique: hold the bottle 4-6
inches above the basin, pour slowly to prevent splashing, keep the label facing the
palm (B) to prevent label wetting, and discard unused liquid (D) as it is no longer
considered sterile once opened. Correct Answer: C
Q7. A scrubbed person needs to pass a sterile item to another scrubbed person.
Which technique is correct?
A. Toss the item through the air to the other person
B. Place the item on a sterile surface for the other person to pick up
C. Hand the item directly while both maintain sterile technique
D. Ask the circulating nurse to pass the item
C. Hand the item directly while both maintain sterile technique [CORRECT]
Rationale: Sterile-to-sterile transfer between scrubbed persons is accomplished by
direct handoff while both maintain sterile technique. Items should not be tossed (A)
as they may fall below the sterile field or be dropped. Placing on a sterile surface (B)
is acceptable but less efficient; asking a non-sterile person (D) violates sterile-to-
sterile transfer principles. Correct Answer: C
Q8. The circulating nurse is opening a peel pack containing a sterile instrument.
Which technique is correct?
A. Tear the package open and drop the contents onto the sterile field
B. Peel the package open and present the contents to the scrubbed person without
