AORN PERIOP 101 FINAL EXAM STYLE PRACTICE
2025/2026 Complete • 250 Original Questions • Answers & Rationales Immediately After Each Question
Important: This study bank contains original practice questions aligned to publicly described AORN Periop 101 learning objectives.
It is not the proprietary AORN final examination and does not reproduce leaked or recalled exam questions.
Format: A–D answer choices. Correct answers are shown immediately after each question in green; rationales are shown in
a separate color. The question text is blue for quick visual separation.
Practice Section 1
1. A sterile field is considered contaminated when which event occurs?
A. A sterile item is placed within the field
B. A sterile package is opened correctly
C. A sterile item falls below the level of the sterile field
D. A sterile team member remains in the field
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sterile items that fall below the level of the sterile field are considered contaminated because the area cannot be
maintained as sterile.
2. Which action best demonstrates maintenance of the sterile field?
A. Reaching over a sterile field to retrieve an item
B. Keeping sterile hands above waist level and in view
C. Turning away from the sterile field while gowned
D. Allowing sterile sleeves to contact nonsterile surfaces
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sterile technique requires continuous control of sterile surfaces and avoiding contact with nonsterile areas.
3. Which patient identification practice is most appropriate immediately before an invasive procedure?
A. Confirm the room number only
B. Ask the patient to state name and another identifier
C. Rely on the schedule
D. Ask a family member to identify the patient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using two patient identifiers helps prevent wrong-patient errors and is part of safe perioperative verification.
AORN Periop 101 • Original Practice Bank • 2025/2026 Page 1
, 4. During surgical positioning, which assessment is the priority?
A. Hair color
B. Pressure points and neurovascular status
C. Preferred meal
D. Hearing preference
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Positioning can cause pressure injury and nerve or vascular compromise, so pressure points and neurovascular
status are priorities.
5. Which action most directly reduces the risk of surgical site infection?
A. Leaving hair in place regardless of the procedure
B. Using appropriate skin antisepsis before incision
C. Increasing room traffic
D. Opening supplies several hours early
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Appropriate preoperative skin antisepsis reduces microorganisms at the operative site.
6. A medication on the sterile field is transferred to the sterile field. What should the scrub person do
first?
A. Assume it is correct
B. Verify the medication label and expiration information
C. Inject it immediately
D. Place it in a basin without identification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Medication verification is required before administration or use to reduce medication errors.
7. Which statement about surgical counts is correct?
A. Counts are optional for short procedures
B. Counts help account for items that could otherwise be retained
C. Counts are performed only after closure
D. Counts are the surgeon's responsibility alone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Counts are a safety process intended to reduce the risk of retained surgical items.
AORN Periop 101 • Original Practice Bank • 2025/2026 Page 2
, 8. Which specimen-handling action is safest?
A. Leave the specimen on the back table
B. Place it in the correct container and communicate required handling
C. Delay labeling until the end of the shift
D. Label it using the room number only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct container selection, labeling, and communication preserve specimen integrity and patient identification.
9. Which practice is appropriate for a surgical hand antisepsis procedure?
A. Touching the faucet after antisepsis
B. Following the product manufacturer's instructions
C. Wearing jewelry under gloves
D. Skipping antisepsis when gloves are worn
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hand antisepsis must follow the selected product's instructions for use and the organization's policy.
10. What is the primary purpose of a surgical time-out?
A. To document staff breaks
B. To verify the correct patient, procedure, site, and other critical elements
C. To assign postoperative beds
D. To replace informed consent
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The time-out is a team safety pause used to verify critical procedure information before incision.
11. Which finding should prompt concern for an anesthesia-related complication?
A. Stable oxygen saturation
B. Sudden airway obstruction
C. Normal respiratory rate
D. Appropriate response to commands
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Airway obstruction is an immediate anesthesia-related threat requiring rapid recognition and intervention.
12. Which action best supports safe use of electrosurgery?
A. Ignoring manufacturer instructions
B. Assessing the patient and equipment for appropriate use
C. Placing the active electrode on the patient
D. Activating energy while it is in contact with unintended tissue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safe energy use depends on correct equipment selection, patient assessment, and adherence to manufacturer
instructions.
AORN Periop 101 • Original Practice Bank • 2025/2026 Page 3
, 13. What is the best response when a sterile package is found torn before use?
A. Use it if the item looks clean
B. Consider it contaminated and obtain another item
C. Tape the package closed
D. Wipe the outside and use it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A compromised package cannot be assumed to maintain sterility and should not be used.
14. Which environmental practice is most appropriate between procedures?
A. Skip cleaning if the next procedure is short
B. Perform required cleaning and disinfection according to policy and product instructions
C. Clean only visible blood
D. Move contaminated equipment into the next room
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Environmental hygiene between procedures reduces contamination and follows established cleaning processes.
15. Which communication behavior best supports perioperative teamwork?
A. Avoid speaking up to prevent conflict
B. Use clear, respectful communication and escalate safety concerns
C. Communicate only with the surgeon
D. Wait until the end of the procedure to report a hazard
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Perioperative safety depends on timely, respectful communication and speaking up about risks.
16. Which documentation principle is most appropriate?
A. Document from memory at the end of the week
B. Record relevant care accurately and promptly
C. Alter records without explanation
D. Use another person's login
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Accurate, timely documentation supports continuity of care, legal requirements, and patient safety.
17. Which action helps prevent wrong-site surgery?
A. Skipping verification when the surgeon is familiar with the patient
B. Participating in site verification and the surgical time-out
C. Using room assignment as the sole identifier
D. Marking every body site
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Site verification and the team time-out are key safeguards against wrong-site procedures.
AORN Periop 101 • Original Practice Bank • 2025/2026 Page 4
2025/2026 Complete • 250 Original Questions • Answers & Rationales Immediately After Each Question
Important: This study bank contains original practice questions aligned to publicly described AORN Periop 101 learning objectives.
It is not the proprietary AORN final examination and does not reproduce leaked or recalled exam questions.
Format: A–D answer choices. Correct answers are shown immediately after each question in green; rationales are shown in
a separate color. The question text is blue for quick visual separation.
Practice Section 1
1. A sterile field is considered contaminated when which event occurs?
A. A sterile item is placed within the field
B. A sterile package is opened correctly
C. A sterile item falls below the level of the sterile field
D. A sterile team member remains in the field
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sterile items that fall below the level of the sterile field are considered contaminated because the area cannot be
maintained as sterile.
2. Which action best demonstrates maintenance of the sterile field?
A. Reaching over a sterile field to retrieve an item
B. Keeping sterile hands above waist level and in view
C. Turning away from the sterile field while gowned
D. Allowing sterile sleeves to contact nonsterile surfaces
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sterile technique requires continuous control of sterile surfaces and avoiding contact with nonsterile areas.
3. Which patient identification practice is most appropriate immediately before an invasive procedure?
A. Confirm the room number only
B. Ask the patient to state name and another identifier
C. Rely on the schedule
D. Ask a family member to identify the patient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using two patient identifiers helps prevent wrong-patient errors and is part of safe perioperative verification.
AORN Periop 101 • Original Practice Bank • 2025/2026 Page 1
, 4. During surgical positioning, which assessment is the priority?
A. Hair color
B. Pressure points and neurovascular status
C. Preferred meal
D. Hearing preference
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Positioning can cause pressure injury and nerve or vascular compromise, so pressure points and neurovascular
status are priorities.
5. Which action most directly reduces the risk of surgical site infection?
A. Leaving hair in place regardless of the procedure
B. Using appropriate skin antisepsis before incision
C. Increasing room traffic
D. Opening supplies several hours early
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Appropriate preoperative skin antisepsis reduces microorganisms at the operative site.
6. A medication on the sterile field is transferred to the sterile field. What should the scrub person do
first?
A. Assume it is correct
B. Verify the medication label and expiration information
C. Inject it immediately
D. Place it in a basin without identification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Medication verification is required before administration or use to reduce medication errors.
7. Which statement about surgical counts is correct?
A. Counts are optional for short procedures
B. Counts help account for items that could otherwise be retained
C. Counts are performed only after closure
D. Counts are the surgeon's responsibility alone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Counts are a safety process intended to reduce the risk of retained surgical items.
AORN Periop 101 • Original Practice Bank • 2025/2026 Page 2
, 8. Which specimen-handling action is safest?
A. Leave the specimen on the back table
B. Place it in the correct container and communicate required handling
C. Delay labeling until the end of the shift
D. Label it using the room number only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct container selection, labeling, and communication preserve specimen integrity and patient identification.
9. Which practice is appropriate for a surgical hand antisepsis procedure?
A. Touching the faucet after antisepsis
B. Following the product manufacturer's instructions
C. Wearing jewelry under gloves
D. Skipping antisepsis when gloves are worn
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hand antisepsis must follow the selected product's instructions for use and the organization's policy.
10. What is the primary purpose of a surgical time-out?
A. To document staff breaks
B. To verify the correct patient, procedure, site, and other critical elements
C. To assign postoperative beds
D. To replace informed consent
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The time-out is a team safety pause used to verify critical procedure information before incision.
11. Which finding should prompt concern for an anesthesia-related complication?
A. Stable oxygen saturation
B. Sudden airway obstruction
C. Normal respiratory rate
D. Appropriate response to commands
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Airway obstruction is an immediate anesthesia-related threat requiring rapid recognition and intervention.
12. Which action best supports safe use of electrosurgery?
A. Ignoring manufacturer instructions
B. Assessing the patient and equipment for appropriate use
C. Placing the active electrode on the patient
D. Activating energy while it is in contact with unintended tissue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safe energy use depends on correct equipment selection, patient assessment, and adherence to manufacturer
instructions.
AORN Periop 101 • Original Practice Bank • 2025/2026 Page 3
, 13. What is the best response when a sterile package is found torn before use?
A. Use it if the item looks clean
B. Consider it contaminated and obtain another item
C. Tape the package closed
D. Wipe the outside and use it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A compromised package cannot be assumed to maintain sterility and should not be used.
14. Which environmental practice is most appropriate between procedures?
A. Skip cleaning if the next procedure is short
B. Perform required cleaning and disinfection according to policy and product instructions
C. Clean only visible blood
D. Move contaminated equipment into the next room
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Environmental hygiene between procedures reduces contamination and follows established cleaning processes.
15. Which communication behavior best supports perioperative teamwork?
A. Avoid speaking up to prevent conflict
B. Use clear, respectful communication and escalate safety concerns
C. Communicate only with the surgeon
D. Wait until the end of the procedure to report a hazard
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Perioperative safety depends on timely, respectful communication and speaking up about risks.
16. Which documentation principle is most appropriate?
A. Document from memory at the end of the week
B. Record relevant care accurately and promptly
C. Alter records without explanation
D. Use another person's login
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Accurate, timely documentation supports continuity of care, legal requirements, and patient safety.
17. Which action helps prevent wrong-site surgery?
A. Skipping verification when the surgeon is familiar with the patient
B. Participating in site verification and the surgical time-out
C. Using room assignment as the sole identifier
D. Marking every body site
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Site verification and the team time-out are key safeguards against wrong-site procedures.
AORN Periop 101 • Original Practice Bank • 2025/2026 Page 4
