PERIOPERATIVE NURSING ED UCATION ·
COMPETENCY VALID ATION
AORN Periop 101
Final Exam
Expected Questions and Revised Correct Answers
100% Guarantee Pass Format · 2026/2027 Edition
One hundred fifty scenario-based and recall questions
spanning the ten Periop 101 curriculum domains, with verified
answers, comprehensive rationales, and references to the
AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice — from
preoperative assessment and sterile technique through
emergency management and transition of care.
Perioperative Nursing Education Series
PRA C TI C E E X A MI NATI ON · SE LF - A SSE SSME NT & RE V I E W
15 0 QUESTI ONS · 10 SEC TI ONS · VERI FI ED ANSWER K EY &
RATI O N A L E S
,AORN Periop 101 Final Exam - Practice Examination (2026/2027)
Table of Contents
Examination Overview and Instructions 2
Section 1: Perioperative Patient Assessment and Planning 3
Section 2: Surgical Asepsis and Sterile Technique 10
Section 3: Infection Prevention and Control 19
Section 4: Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment 25
Section 5: Anesthesia and Medication Management 33
Section 6: Positioning, Draping, and Patient Safety 40
Section 7: Intraoperative Nursing Roles and Responsibilities 47
Section 8: Surgical Specialties and Procedures 56
Section 9: Emergency Situations and Complications 65
Section 10: Postoperative Care and Transition of Care 71
Perioperative Nursing Education Series 1
,AORN Periop 101 Final Exam - Practice Examination (2026/2027)
Examination Overview and Instructions
This practice examination is designed for perioperative nurses preparing for the AORN Periop 101 final
examination and for ongoing competency validation. The 150 questions cover the complete Periop 101
curriculum in ten sections, spanning preoperative assessment, surgical asepsis, infection prevention,
instrumentation and equipment, anesthesia and medication management, positioning and patient safety,
intraoperative nursing roles, surgical specialty procedures, emergency response, and postoperative transition
of care. Content is aligned with the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice (2026/2027 edition) and
with widely accepted perioperative standards, and each answer is accompanied by a rationale that explains
why the correct option is correct and why the remaining options represent common errors or misconceptions.
Examination Blueprint Specification
Total questions 150 single-best-answer items (options A-D, exactly one correct answer)
Sections 10 content domains, Questions 1 through 150 in sequential order
Cognitive level mix Approximately 30% recall, 50% application, 20% analysis
Approximately 75% scenario-based stems, 25% direct recall of AORN standards
Stem format
and perioperative principles
Correct option marked [CORRECT], followed by a Correct Answer line and a
Answer key
comprehensive rationale with AORN guideline references
Edition Aligned to the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, 2026/2027 edition
How to use this examination. Simulate test conditions by answering each question before looking at the
answer key, which is printed directly beneath every item. Because the correct answers and rationales are
visible, this format is best used as a guided self-assessment rather than a proctored test: read the stem,
commit to an answer, then confirm against the [CORRECT] marker and study the rationale for every item,
including those answered correctly. Track missed questions by section to identify the content domains that
require further review, and revisit the related AORN guideline for each missed item. Learners preparing for
the actual Periop 101 final should combine this practice set with the full Periop 101 modules, facility
policies, and the current AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice.
Scope and sources. This is an independent practice examination created for educational self-assessment. It
is not produced by, reviewed by, or affiliated with AORN, and it does not contain actual Periop 101
assessment items. Clinical parameters cited in the rationales reflect commonly taught perioperative
standards; always verify against the current AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, manufacturer
instructions for use, and your facility's policies and procedures before applying them to patient care.
Perioperative Nursing Education Series 2
, AORN Periop 101 Final Exam - Practice Examination (2026/2027)
Section 1: Perioperative Patient Assessment and Planning
Questions 1-15 | Preoperative Assessment, Patient Interview, Chart Review, and Care Planning
Q1: A perioperative RN meets a 46-year-old patient in the preoperative holding area prior to
a scheduled open cholecystectomy. Which statement best describes the primary purpose of
the preoperative patient interview conducted by the perioperative nurse?
A. It provides the legal authorization for the surgical procedure to be performed
B. It replaces the physical examination that the surgical team must complete
C. It establishes a nursing baseline, identifies patient concerns, and supports individualized care
planning [CORRECT]
D. It verifies that insurance authorization and hospital billing arrangements are complete
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The preoperative nursing interview establishes baseline physiologic and psychosocial data, validates
information gathered during the chart review, identifies risk factors and patient concerns, and provides the
foundation for an individualized plan of care consistent with AORN patient assessment recommendations. Legal
authorization for surgery rests with the informed consent obtained and signed by the surgeon or proceduralist, not
the nurse, so option A is incorrect. The interview supplements rather than replaces the physical examination (option
B), and financial verification is an administrative function outside the nursing interview's purpose (option D).
Q2: During the preoperative chart review, the circulating nurse notes that the signed
informed consent authorizes an open right inguinal hernia repair, but the surgery schedule
and the surgeon's office note describe a left inguinal hernia repair. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A. Hold the patient in preoperative holding and notify the surgeon and anesthesia professional of the
discrepancy before the patient enters the OR [CORRECT]
B. Proceed with the case and allow the surgeon to resolve the discrepancy during the surgical time-out
C. Ask the patient which side hurts so the correct side can be confirmed verbally
D. Correct the consent form by crossing out the wrong side and initialing the change
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Any discrepancy between the consent, the schedule, and the documentation must be resolved before the
patient enters the operating room and before any sedation is administered, because consent is a legal document and
wrong-site surgery is a never event. AORN team communication recommendations and The Joint Commission
Universal Protocol require that discrepancies be resolved before proceeding; deferring resolution to the time-out
(option B) delays a critical safety check and is inappropriate. The patient's verbal report alone (option C) cannot
validate the surgical indication, and the nurse may never alter a signed legal consent document (option D); the
surgeon must complete a new consent if needed.
Perioperative Nursing Education Series 3
COMPETENCY VALID ATION
AORN Periop 101
Final Exam
Expected Questions and Revised Correct Answers
100% Guarantee Pass Format · 2026/2027 Edition
One hundred fifty scenario-based and recall questions
spanning the ten Periop 101 curriculum domains, with verified
answers, comprehensive rationales, and references to the
AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice — from
preoperative assessment and sterile technique through
emergency management and transition of care.
Perioperative Nursing Education Series
PRA C TI C E E X A MI NATI ON · SE LF - A SSE SSME NT & RE V I E W
15 0 QUESTI ONS · 10 SEC TI ONS · VERI FI ED ANSWER K EY &
RATI O N A L E S
,AORN Periop 101 Final Exam - Practice Examination (2026/2027)
Table of Contents
Examination Overview and Instructions 2
Section 1: Perioperative Patient Assessment and Planning 3
Section 2: Surgical Asepsis and Sterile Technique 10
Section 3: Infection Prevention and Control 19
Section 4: Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment 25
Section 5: Anesthesia and Medication Management 33
Section 6: Positioning, Draping, and Patient Safety 40
Section 7: Intraoperative Nursing Roles and Responsibilities 47
Section 8: Surgical Specialties and Procedures 56
Section 9: Emergency Situations and Complications 65
Section 10: Postoperative Care and Transition of Care 71
Perioperative Nursing Education Series 1
,AORN Periop 101 Final Exam - Practice Examination (2026/2027)
Examination Overview and Instructions
This practice examination is designed for perioperative nurses preparing for the AORN Periop 101 final
examination and for ongoing competency validation. The 150 questions cover the complete Periop 101
curriculum in ten sections, spanning preoperative assessment, surgical asepsis, infection prevention,
instrumentation and equipment, anesthesia and medication management, positioning and patient safety,
intraoperative nursing roles, surgical specialty procedures, emergency response, and postoperative transition
of care. Content is aligned with the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice (2026/2027 edition) and
with widely accepted perioperative standards, and each answer is accompanied by a rationale that explains
why the correct option is correct and why the remaining options represent common errors or misconceptions.
Examination Blueprint Specification
Total questions 150 single-best-answer items (options A-D, exactly one correct answer)
Sections 10 content domains, Questions 1 through 150 in sequential order
Cognitive level mix Approximately 30% recall, 50% application, 20% analysis
Approximately 75% scenario-based stems, 25% direct recall of AORN standards
Stem format
and perioperative principles
Correct option marked [CORRECT], followed by a Correct Answer line and a
Answer key
comprehensive rationale with AORN guideline references
Edition Aligned to the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, 2026/2027 edition
How to use this examination. Simulate test conditions by answering each question before looking at the
answer key, which is printed directly beneath every item. Because the correct answers and rationales are
visible, this format is best used as a guided self-assessment rather than a proctored test: read the stem,
commit to an answer, then confirm against the [CORRECT] marker and study the rationale for every item,
including those answered correctly. Track missed questions by section to identify the content domains that
require further review, and revisit the related AORN guideline for each missed item. Learners preparing for
the actual Periop 101 final should combine this practice set with the full Periop 101 modules, facility
policies, and the current AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice.
Scope and sources. This is an independent practice examination created for educational self-assessment. It
is not produced by, reviewed by, or affiliated with AORN, and it does not contain actual Periop 101
assessment items. Clinical parameters cited in the rationales reflect commonly taught perioperative
standards; always verify against the current AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, manufacturer
instructions for use, and your facility's policies and procedures before applying them to patient care.
Perioperative Nursing Education Series 2
, AORN Periop 101 Final Exam - Practice Examination (2026/2027)
Section 1: Perioperative Patient Assessment and Planning
Questions 1-15 | Preoperative Assessment, Patient Interview, Chart Review, and Care Planning
Q1: A perioperative RN meets a 46-year-old patient in the preoperative holding area prior to
a scheduled open cholecystectomy. Which statement best describes the primary purpose of
the preoperative patient interview conducted by the perioperative nurse?
A. It provides the legal authorization for the surgical procedure to be performed
B. It replaces the physical examination that the surgical team must complete
C. It establishes a nursing baseline, identifies patient concerns, and supports individualized care
planning [CORRECT]
D. It verifies that insurance authorization and hospital billing arrangements are complete
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The preoperative nursing interview establishes baseline physiologic and psychosocial data, validates
information gathered during the chart review, identifies risk factors and patient concerns, and provides the
foundation for an individualized plan of care consistent with AORN patient assessment recommendations. Legal
authorization for surgery rests with the informed consent obtained and signed by the surgeon or proceduralist, not
the nurse, so option A is incorrect. The interview supplements rather than replaces the physical examination (option
B), and financial verification is an administrative function outside the nursing interview's purpose (option D).
Q2: During the preoperative chart review, the circulating nurse notes that the signed
informed consent authorizes an open right inguinal hernia repair, but the surgery schedule
and the surgeon's office note describe a left inguinal hernia repair. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A. Hold the patient in preoperative holding and notify the surgeon and anesthesia professional of the
discrepancy before the patient enters the OR [CORRECT]
B. Proceed with the case and allow the surgeon to resolve the discrepancy during the surgical time-out
C. Ask the patient which side hurts so the correct side can be confirmed verbally
D. Correct the consent form by crossing out the wrong side and initialing the change
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Any discrepancy between the consent, the schedule, and the documentation must be resolved before the
patient enters the operating room and before any sedation is administered, because consent is a legal document and
wrong-site surgery is a never event. AORN team communication recommendations and The Joint Commission
Universal Protocol require that discrepancies be resolved before proceeding; deferring resolution to the time-out
(option B) delays a critical safety check and is inappropriate. The patient's verbal report alone (option C) cannot
validate the surgical indication, and the nurse may never alter a signed legal consent document (option D); the
surgeon must complete a new consent if needed.
Perioperative Nursing Education Series 3
