Page 1 of 179
RELIAS OPERATING ROOM - ACUTE A EXAM
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR (2026-2027) ALL 300
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
1. The perioperative nurse's primary responsibility during the preoperative phase is to:
A) Ensure all surgical instruments are sterile
B) Assess the patient's physiological and psychological readiness for surgery
C) Administer anesthesia
D) Close the surgical incision
Answer: B
The preoperative phase focuses on patient assessment, education, and preparation for surgery.
The perioperative nurse evaluates the patient's medical history, medications, allergies, and
psychological state to identify risks and ensure readiness. Instrument sterility is the scrub
person's responsibility; anesthesia is the anesthesiologist/CRNA's role; closing the incision occurs
intraoperatively.
2. The "time-out" procedure in the operating room is performed to:
1
, Page 2 of 179
A) Verify the correct patient, procedure, site, and position
B) Give the surgical team a break
C) Check the sterile field
D) Count instruments
Answer: A
The time-out is a critical safety check performed immediately before the surgical incision to
verify the correct patient, correct procedure, correct surgical site, and correct patient position. It
is a universal protocol mandated by The Joint Commission to prevent wrong-site, wrong-
procedure, and wrong-patient surgeries.
3. Which of the following is a key component of the surgical safety checklist?
A) Patient identification using two identifiers
B) Verification of the surgical site
C) Confirmation of antibiotic prophylaxis
D) All of the above
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, Page 3 of 179
Answer: D
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist includes patient identification, surgical site verification,
antibiotic prophylaxis confirmation, and many other safety elements. It is designed to reduce
surgical complications and improve patient outcomes.
4. The perioperative nurse's role in the "Universal Protocol" includes:
A) Conducting the preoperative verification process
B) Marking the surgical site
C) Performing the time-out
D) All of the above
Answer: D
The Universal Protocol requires all three components: preoperative verification of the patient
and procedure, surgical site marking by the surgeon (or with the patient's involvement), and the
time-out immediately before incision. The perioperative nurse participates in all three steps.
3
, Page 4 of 179
5. A patient with a history of malignant hyperthermia is scheduled for surgery. Which of the
following is the MOST important preoperative action?
A) Ensure dantrolene is available
B) Administer prophylactic antibiotics
C) Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
D) Use a heating blanket
Answer: A
Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening reaction to certain anesthetic agents. Dantrolene
is the specific antidote and must be immediately available in the OR for any patient with a
history of MH. All triggering agents must be avoided.
6. Informed consent for surgery must include:
A) The patient's diagnosis
B) The nature and purpose of the procedure
C) The risks, benefits, and alternatives
D) All of the above
4
RELIAS OPERATING ROOM - ACUTE A EXAM
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR (2026-2027) ALL 300
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
1. The perioperative nurse's primary responsibility during the preoperative phase is to:
A) Ensure all surgical instruments are sterile
B) Assess the patient's physiological and psychological readiness for surgery
C) Administer anesthesia
D) Close the surgical incision
Answer: B
The preoperative phase focuses on patient assessment, education, and preparation for surgery.
The perioperative nurse evaluates the patient's medical history, medications, allergies, and
psychological state to identify risks and ensure readiness. Instrument sterility is the scrub
person's responsibility; anesthesia is the anesthesiologist/CRNA's role; closing the incision occurs
intraoperatively.
2. The "time-out" procedure in the operating room is performed to:
1
, Page 2 of 179
A) Verify the correct patient, procedure, site, and position
B) Give the surgical team a break
C) Check the sterile field
D) Count instruments
Answer: A
The time-out is a critical safety check performed immediately before the surgical incision to
verify the correct patient, correct procedure, correct surgical site, and correct patient position. It
is a universal protocol mandated by The Joint Commission to prevent wrong-site, wrong-
procedure, and wrong-patient surgeries.
3. Which of the following is a key component of the surgical safety checklist?
A) Patient identification using two identifiers
B) Verification of the surgical site
C) Confirmation of antibiotic prophylaxis
D) All of the above
2
, Page 3 of 179
Answer: D
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist includes patient identification, surgical site verification,
antibiotic prophylaxis confirmation, and many other safety elements. It is designed to reduce
surgical complications and improve patient outcomes.
4. The perioperative nurse's role in the "Universal Protocol" includes:
A) Conducting the preoperative verification process
B) Marking the surgical site
C) Performing the time-out
D) All of the above
Answer: D
The Universal Protocol requires all three components: preoperative verification of the patient
and procedure, surgical site marking by the surgeon (or with the patient's involvement), and the
time-out immediately before incision. The perioperative nurse participates in all three steps.
3
, Page 4 of 179
5. A patient with a history of malignant hyperthermia is scheduled for surgery. Which of the
following is the MOST important preoperative action?
A) Ensure dantrolene is available
B) Administer prophylactic antibiotics
C) Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
D) Use a heating blanket
Answer: A
Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening reaction to certain anesthetic agents. Dantrolene
is the specific antidote and must be immediately available in the OR for any patient with a
history of MH. All triggering agents must be avoided.
6. Informed consent for surgery must include:
A) The patient's diagnosis
B) The nature and purpose of the procedure
C) The risks, benefits, and alternatives
D) All of the above
4
