CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse)
practice exam CORRECT ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECTLY WELL
DEFINED ANSWERS LATEST ALREADY
GRADED A+ (2025/2026).,
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the preoperative
nursing assessment?
A) Obtain surgical consent
B) Identify patient risks and plan individualized care
C) Administer preoperative antibiotics
D) Complete a head-to-toe physical exam
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – Identify risks and plan care
Rationale: The preoperative assessment identifies factors that may affect
surgical outcomes (allergies, medications, comorbidities, anesthesia
risks) and guides perioperative nursing interventions.
2. The “time-out” immediately before incision is performed to:
A) Verify the patient’s insurance coverage
B) Confirm correct patient, procedure, site, and implants
C) Allow the surgeon to review the preoperative orders
D) Count all surgical instruments
,Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – Confirm correct patient, procedure, site, and
implants
Rationale: The Universal Protocol requires a time-out to verify patient
identity, surgical site, procedure, and any special requirements (implants,
allergies) before skin incision.
3. Which position places the patient supine with arms tucked and the
head slightly extended?
A) Trendelenburg
B) Reverse Trendelenburg
C) Supine (dorsal recumbent)
D) Lithotomy
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: C – Supine (dorsal recumbent)
Rationale: Supine position: patient lies flat on back, arms at sides or on
arm boards, head neutral or slightly extended. Used for abdominal,
thoracic, and many other procedures.
4. The surgical hand scrub should last at least:
A) 1 minute
B) 2–5 minutes (depending on product)
C) 10 minutes
D) 15 minutes
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – 2–5 minutes (based on manufacturer
instructions)
Rationale: Traditional scrub with antimicrobial soap: 5 minutes.
,Waterless alcohol-based rub: follow manufacturer directions (typically
1.5–3 minutes). Current guidelines emphasize the first scrub of the day
may be longer, but subsequent scrubs shorter.
5. A “count” of all sponges, sharps, and instruments is performed at
which times?
A) Before incision and after closure only
B) Before incision, before closure of a cavity, and at wound closure
C) Only when the surgeon requests
D) At the end of the case only
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – Before incision, before closure of a cavity, and
at wound closure
Rationale: Standard counts: initial count, first layer count (when closing a
cavity), and final count (skin closure). Some facilities also do a closing
count before final closure.
6. Which of the following is an appropriate method for sterilizing heat-
and moisture-sensitive instruments (e.g., flexible endoscopes)?
A) Steam sterilization (autoclave)
B) Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilization
C) Boiling water
D) Isopropyl alcohol soak
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – Ethylene oxide gas sterilization (or hydrogen
peroxide gas plasma)
Rationale: Low-temperature sterilization methods (EtO, hydrogen
, peroxide plasma, peracetic acid) are used for heat/moisture-sensitive
items. Steam is for heat-stable items.
7. A patient with a latex allergy requires surgery. Which action is most
important?
A) Place the patient in a private room
B) Schedule the patient as the first case of the day
C) Ensure all latex-containing products are removed from the OR and use
a latex-safe cart
D) Administer diphenhydramine preoperatively
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: C – Remove latex products, use latex-safe supplies
Rationale: Latex allergy management requires a latex-free environment:
non-latex gloves, catheters, tourniquets, tapes, and equipment.
Scheduling first case helps reduce airborne latex proteins but is not
sufficient alone.
8. Which of the following is a sign of malignant hyperthermia (MH)
during general anesthesia?
A) Bradycardia and hypotension
B) Decreased end-tidal CO₂
C) Masseter muscle rigidity and increased end-tidal CO₂
D) Hypothermia
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: C – Masseter muscle rigidity and increased end-
tidal CO₂
Rationale: MH signs: muscle rigidity (masseter or generalized),
practice exam CORRECT ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECTLY WELL
DEFINED ANSWERS LATEST ALREADY
GRADED A+ (2025/2026).,
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the preoperative
nursing assessment?
A) Obtain surgical consent
B) Identify patient risks and plan individualized care
C) Administer preoperative antibiotics
D) Complete a head-to-toe physical exam
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – Identify risks and plan care
Rationale: The preoperative assessment identifies factors that may affect
surgical outcomes (allergies, medications, comorbidities, anesthesia
risks) and guides perioperative nursing interventions.
2. The “time-out” immediately before incision is performed to:
A) Verify the patient’s insurance coverage
B) Confirm correct patient, procedure, site, and implants
C) Allow the surgeon to review the preoperative orders
D) Count all surgical instruments
,Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – Confirm correct patient, procedure, site, and
implants
Rationale: The Universal Protocol requires a time-out to verify patient
identity, surgical site, procedure, and any special requirements (implants,
allergies) before skin incision.
3. Which position places the patient supine with arms tucked and the
head slightly extended?
A) Trendelenburg
B) Reverse Trendelenburg
C) Supine (dorsal recumbent)
D) Lithotomy
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: C – Supine (dorsal recumbent)
Rationale: Supine position: patient lies flat on back, arms at sides or on
arm boards, head neutral or slightly extended. Used for abdominal,
thoracic, and many other procedures.
4. The surgical hand scrub should last at least:
A) 1 minute
B) 2–5 minutes (depending on product)
C) 10 minutes
D) 15 minutes
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – 2–5 minutes (based on manufacturer
instructions)
Rationale: Traditional scrub with antimicrobial soap: 5 minutes.
,Waterless alcohol-based rub: follow manufacturer directions (typically
1.5–3 minutes). Current guidelines emphasize the first scrub of the day
may be longer, but subsequent scrubs shorter.
5. A “count” of all sponges, sharps, and instruments is performed at
which times?
A) Before incision and after closure only
B) Before incision, before closure of a cavity, and at wound closure
C) Only when the surgeon requests
D) At the end of the case only
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – Before incision, before closure of a cavity, and
at wound closure
Rationale: Standard counts: initial count, first layer count (when closing a
cavity), and final count (skin closure). Some facilities also do a closing
count before final closure.
6. Which of the following is an appropriate method for sterilizing heat-
and moisture-sensitive instruments (e.g., flexible endoscopes)?
A) Steam sterilization (autoclave)
B) Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilization
C) Boiling water
D) Isopropyl alcohol soak
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: B – Ethylene oxide gas sterilization (or hydrogen
peroxide gas plasma)
Rationale: Low-temperature sterilization methods (EtO, hydrogen
, peroxide plasma, peracetic acid) are used for heat/moisture-sensitive
items. Steam is for heat-stable items.
7. A patient with a latex allergy requires surgery. Which action is most
important?
A) Place the patient in a private room
B) Schedule the patient as the first case of the day
C) Ensure all latex-containing products are removed from the OR and use
a latex-safe cart
D) Administer diphenhydramine preoperatively
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: C – Remove latex products, use latex-safe supplies
Rationale: Latex allergy management requires a latex-free environment:
non-latex gloves, catheters, tourniquets, tapes, and equipment.
Scheduling first case helps reduce airborne latex proteins but is not
sufficient alone.
8. Which of the following is a sign of malignant hyperthermia (MH)
during general anesthesia?
A) Bradycardia and hypotension
B) Decreased end-tidal CO₂
C) Masseter muscle rigidity and increased end-tidal CO₂
D) Hypothermia
Correct ,,,,Answer,,,,: C – Masseter muscle rigidity and increased end-
tidal CO₂
Rationale: MH signs: muscle rigidity (masseter or generalized),
