CNOR EXAM AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS - ACTUAL EXAM 400
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) | UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers | ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1.
The circulating nurse reports that the needle count is incorrect. The surgeon continues
to close the wound, stating, "I know it is not in the wound and I am not going to stop to
look for it." The best plan of action is to:
a. Accept the surgeon's response without comment and fill out an incident report
b. Inform the surgeon of hospital policy and document subsequent actions
c. Order X-rays regardless of the surgeon's wishes
d. Notify the OR supervisor and ask for advice
Correct Answer: b
Question 2.
A new employee unknowingly dispensed an unsterile solution to the sterile field. The
following day, the supervisor learns of the incident. The supervisor's first action would
be to:
a. Initiate an incident report
b. Instruct the employee on the technique of reading labels
c. Counsel the employee verbally
d. Notify the surgeon of the break in technique
Correct Answer: d
Question 3.
Due to an emergency, the perioperative nurse is unable to conduct the sponge, sharps,
and instrument counts. At the conclusion of the surgery, the nurse should:
a. Ask the surgeon to sign the count
b. Immediately notify the OR supervisor
c. Document the absence of counts
d. Refuse to sign the sponge count record
Correct Answer: c
Question 4.
The optimum patient position provides:
a. Access and exposure, maintains circulatory and respiratory functions, and does not
compromise neuromuscular structures.
b. Optimum access and exposure to surgical site, with no permanent compromise to
neuromuscular structures.
c. Access for the surgeon, does not compromise the neuromuscular structures, and
maintains an adequate airway for the anesthetist.
,d. Sustained circulatory and respiratory functions, does not compromise neuromuscular
structures, and maintains body alignment.
Correct Answer: a
• A patient who is 8 months pregnant is to undergo an emergency laparotomy.
In planning nursing care for this patient, the perioperative nurse should have
available a wedge cushion or pillow to place under the patient's:
a. Knees
b. Left side
c. Right side
d. Shoulders -✓✓c
Question 5.
You're loading the sterilizer with trays and wrapped towels. The correct configuration
would be:
a. The towels are on the bottom shelf and the trays on the top shelf
b. The towels are on the top shelf and the trays are on the bottom shelf
c. The trays and towels go on the top shelf and leave the bottom shelf empty
d. There is no specific configuration when there is a mixed load of trays and wrapped
textiles
Correct Answer: b
Question 6.
During the induction of anesthesia, the perioperative nurse may notice fasciculation as a
response to which of the following depolarizing muscle relaxants?
a. Tubocurarine chloride (curare)
b. Succinylcholine chloride (Anectine)
c. Atracurium besylate (Tracrium)
d. Pancuronium bromide (Pavulon)
Correct Answer: b
Question 7.
The ER notifies you that it has an 18-yr-old patient who was in a sledding accident and
who is accompanied by his parents. The patient is alert, oriented, in pain, has a blood
pressure of 80/60, pulse of 120, and RR of 24. The abdomen is distended and tender.
After being transferred to the OR bed, the patient is very apprehensive and complains of
being cold. The nurse should confirm the patient's name, allergies, and operative
procedure by:
a. Speaking with the patient and reading the patient's chart
b. Telephone conversation with the ER nurse
c. Use of the ER record provided
d. Telephone conversation with a parent of the patient
Correct Answer: a
,Question 8.
A critically injured patient requires immediate surgery, but all unassigned personnel
have limited OR experience. In this situation, the charge nurse should:
a. Assist the available personnel in caring for the patient
b. Reassign experienced personnel to the emergency procedure
c. Personally assume care for the critically injured patient
d. Call in additional personnel to handle the emergency
Correct Answer: b
• The nurse's initial response to a patient who develops signs of cyanosis
during the preoperative assessment is to:
a. Administer O2 and start an IV line
b. Begin CPR
c. Read the history and physical to determine health status
d. Assess for breath sounds and airway obstruction -✓✓d
Question 9.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Must be sterile -Will enter sterile tissue or the vascular system
Correct Answer: critical
Question 10.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Instruments -Cutting endoscopic accessories and endoscopes (ex. BIOPSY FORCEPS)
-Cardiac and urinary catheters (still fall into this category even though it does not meet
the TRUE definition)
Correct Answer: critical
Question 11.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-SHOULD be sterile, but high-level disinfection (kills everything EXCEPT SPORES)
acceptable if manufacturers' instructions require (going to be sterilized unless
manufacturer specifically says not to) -Contacts broken skin or mucous membrane
Correct Answer: semi-critical
Question 12.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Respiratory therapy -Anesthesia equipment -Bronchoscopes -GI endoscopes
Correct Answer: semi-critical
, Question 13.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Intermediate or low-level disinfection or cleaning -Will come in contact with skin -Ex.
washing with soap and water/wiping equipment down/laundry
Correct Answer: non-critical
Question 14.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-OR bed -Linens -EKG leads -BP cuffs -Tourniquets
Correct Answer: non-critical
Question 15.
TRUE OR FALSE
There needs to be a physical separation (or a wall) between a decontamination area and
processing area where instruments are processed
Correct Answer: true
Question 16.
*Sterile Processing*
Decontamination area or processing area?
-Has a high bioburden -NEGATIVE airflow -LOWER temperature
Correct Answer: decontamination
Question 17.
*Sterile Processing*
Decontamination area or processing area?
-POSITIVE airflow -HIGHER temperature
Correct Answer: processing
Question 18.
True or false
You can skip the decontamination process in sterile processing
Correct Answer: false
Question 19.
Can you walk through a decontamination area with sterile supplies in your hand?
Correct Answer: no
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) | UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers | ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1.
The circulating nurse reports that the needle count is incorrect. The surgeon continues
to close the wound, stating, "I know it is not in the wound and I am not going to stop to
look for it." The best plan of action is to:
a. Accept the surgeon's response without comment and fill out an incident report
b. Inform the surgeon of hospital policy and document subsequent actions
c. Order X-rays regardless of the surgeon's wishes
d. Notify the OR supervisor and ask for advice
Correct Answer: b
Question 2.
A new employee unknowingly dispensed an unsterile solution to the sterile field. The
following day, the supervisor learns of the incident. The supervisor's first action would
be to:
a. Initiate an incident report
b. Instruct the employee on the technique of reading labels
c. Counsel the employee verbally
d. Notify the surgeon of the break in technique
Correct Answer: d
Question 3.
Due to an emergency, the perioperative nurse is unable to conduct the sponge, sharps,
and instrument counts. At the conclusion of the surgery, the nurse should:
a. Ask the surgeon to sign the count
b. Immediately notify the OR supervisor
c. Document the absence of counts
d. Refuse to sign the sponge count record
Correct Answer: c
Question 4.
The optimum patient position provides:
a. Access and exposure, maintains circulatory and respiratory functions, and does not
compromise neuromuscular structures.
b. Optimum access and exposure to surgical site, with no permanent compromise to
neuromuscular structures.
c. Access for the surgeon, does not compromise the neuromuscular structures, and
maintains an adequate airway for the anesthetist.
,d. Sustained circulatory and respiratory functions, does not compromise neuromuscular
structures, and maintains body alignment.
Correct Answer: a
• A patient who is 8 months pregnant is to undergo an emergency laparotomy.
In planning nursing care for this patient, the perioperative nurse should have
available a wedge cushion or pillow to place under the patient's:
a. Knees
b. Left side
c. Right side
d. Shoulders -✓✓c
Question 5.
You're loading the sterilizer with trays and wrapped towels. The correct configuration
would be:
a. The towels are on the bottom shelf and the trays on the top shelf
b. The towels are on the top shelf and the trays are on the bottom shelf
c. The trays and towels go on the top shelf and leave the bottom shelf empty
d. There is no specific configuration when there is a mixed load of trays and wrapped
textiles
Correct Answer: b
Question 6.
During the induction of anesthesia, the perioperative nurse may notice fasciculation as a
response to which of the following depolarizing muscle relaxants?
a. Tubocurarine chloride (curare)
b. Succinylcholine chloride (Anectine)
c. Atracurium besylate (Tracrium)
d. Pancuronium bromide (Pavulon)
Correct Answer: b
Question 7.
The ER notifies you that it has an 18-yr-old patient who was in a sledding accident and
who is accompanied by his parents. The patient is alert, oriented, in pain, has a blood
pressure of 80/60, pulse of 120, and RR of 24. The abdomen is distended and tender.
After being transferred to the OR bed, the patient is very apprehensive and complains of
being cold. The nurse should confirm the patient's name, allergies, and operative
procedure by:
a. Speaking with the patient and reading the patient's chart
b. Telephone conversation with the ER nurse
c. Use of the ER record provided
d. Telephone conversation with a parent of the patient
Correct Answer: a
,Question 8.
A critically injured patient requires immediate surgery, but all unassigned personnel
have limited OR experience. In this situation, the charge nurse should:
a. Assist the available personnel in caring for the patient
b. Reassign experienced personnel to the emergency procedure
c. Personally assume care for the critically injured patient
d. Call in additional personnel to handle the emergency
Correct Answer: b
• The nurse's initial response to a patient who develops signs of cyanosis
during the preoperative assessment is to:
a. Administer O2 and start an IV line
b. Begin CPR
c. Read the history and physical to determine health status
d. Assess for breath sounds and airway obstruction -✓✓d
Question 9.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Must be sterile -Will enter sterile tissue or the vascular system
Correct Answer: critical
Question 10.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Instruments -Cutting endoscopic accessories and endoscopes (ex. BIOPSY FORCEPS)
-Cardiac and urinary catheters (still fall into this category even though it does not meet
the TRUE definition)
Correct Answer: critical
Question 11.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-SHOULD be sterile, but high-level disinfection (kills everything EXCEPT SPORES)
acceptable if manufacturers' instructions require (going to be sterilized unless
manufacturer specifically says not to) -Contacts broken skin or mucous membrane
Correct Answer: semi-critical
Question 12.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Respiratory therapy -Anesthesia equipment -Bronchoscopes -GI endoscopes
Correct Answer: semi-critical
, Question 13.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Intermediate or low-level disinfection or cleaning -Will come in contact with skin -Ex.
washing with soap and water/wiping equipment down/laundry
Correct Answer: non-critical
Question 14.
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM* Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-OR bed -Linens -EKG leads -BP cuffs -Tourniquets
Correct Answer: non-critical
Question 15.
TRUE OR FALSE
There needs to be a physical separation (or a wall) between a decontamination area and
processing area where instruments are processed
Correct Answer: true
Question 16.
*Sterile Processing*
Decontamination area or processing area?
-Has a high bioburden -NEGATIVE airflow -LOWER temperature
Correct Answer: decontamination
Question 17.
*Sterile Processing*
Decontamination area or processing area?
-POSITIVE airflow -HIGHER temperature
Correct Answer: processing
Question 18.
True or false
You can skip the decontamination process in sterile processing
Correct Answer: false
Question 19.
Can you walk through a decontamination area with sterile supplies in your hand?
Correct Answer: no
