CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room) practice exam with bold
correct answers and italicized rationales. Questions reflect
perioperative nursing standards and principles from the Competency and
Credentialing Institute (CCI) test blueprint 2025
1. Which of the following is the most appropriate time to perform the surgical
time-out?
a. Before the patient enters the operating room
b. After the incision is made
c. Before the incision is made
d. During wound closure
The surgical time-out is a final verification performed immediately before the
incision to ensure correct patient, procedure, and site.
2. What is the most effective method to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs)?
a. Administering antibiotics after wound closure
b. Keeping the patient NPO for 24 hours
c. Administering prophylactic antibiotics within 60 minutes before incision
d. Using sterile gloves only
Timely administration of antibiotics before incision has been shown to significantly
reduce SSIs.
3. Which of the following practices best supports sterile technique?
a. Turning your back on the sterile field
b. Reaching over the sterile field
,c. Keeping sterile items above waist level
d. Wearing a cloth mask
Sterile items must be kept above waist level to maintain sterility.
4. The nurse is positioning a patient for lithotomy. What is the priority
assessment?
a. Skin turgor
b. Peroneal nerve pressure points
c. Arm length
d. Bowel sounds
Lithotomy position can cause pressure on the peroneal nerve, leading to injury.
5. Which patient factor increases the risk for intraoperative hypothermia?
a. Hypertension
b. Elderly age
c. High body mass index
d. Anxiety
Elderly patients are more prone to hypothermia due to reduced thermoregulatory
mechanisms.
6. Which item must be verified before a blood transfusion is administered?
a. Vital signs
b. Patient identification
c. Skin color
d. Blood pressure cuff size
, Patient identity must be verified against the blood product label to avoid
transfusion errors.
7. What is the primary responsibility of the circulating nurse?
a. Controlling bleeding
b. Inserting urinary catheters
c. Managing the sterile field and documentation
d. Suturing wounds
The circulating nurse manages the overall environment, including aseptic
technique, documentation, and support to the sterile team.
8. Which action is a violation of aseptic technique?
a. Placing sterile supplies on a damp surface
b. Keeping sterile drapes dry
c. Opening sterile packs away from the body
d. Donning sterile gloves properly
Moisture can carry microorganisms, contaminating the sterile field.
9. A fire breaks out in the operating room. What is the correct order of
actions?
a. Notify the fire department first
b. Remove the patient, stop gas flow, extinguish fire, activate alarm
c. Extinguish the fire, remove patient, shut off gas
d. Document the incident, then remove patient
RACE protocol emphasizes patient safety first, followed by stopping fuel sources
and activating the alarm.
correct answers and italicized rationales. Questions reflect
perioperative nursing standards and principles from the Competency and
Credentialing Institute (CCI) test blueprint 2025
1. Which of the following is the most appropriate time to perform the surgical
time-out?
a. Before the patient enters the operating room
b. After the incision is made
c. Before the incision is made
d. During wound closure
The surgical time-out is a final verification performed immediately before the
incision to ensure correct patient, procedure, and site.
2. What is the most effective method to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs)?
a. Administering antibiotics after wound closure
b. Keeping the patient NPO for 24 hours
c. Administering prophylactic antibiotics within 60 minutes before incision
d. Using sterile gloves only
Timely administration of antibiotics before incision has been shown to significantly
reduce SSIs.
3. Which of the following practices best supports sterile technique?
a. Turning your back on the sterile field
b. Reaching over the sterile field
,c. Keeping sterile items above waist level
d. Wearing a cloth mask
Sterile items must be kept above waist level to maintain sterility.
4. The nurse is positioning a patient for lithotomy. What is the priority
assessment?
a. Skin turgor
b. Peroneal nerve pressure points
c. Arm length
d. Bowel sounds
Lithotomy position can cause pressure on the peroneal nerve, leading to injury.
5. Which patient factor increases the risk for intraoperative hypothermia?
a. Hypertension
b. Elderly age
c. High body mass index
d. Anxiety
Elderly patients are more prone to hypothermia due to reduced thermoregulatory
mechanisms.
6. Which item must be verified before a blood transfusion is administered?
a. Vital signs
b. Patient identification
c. Skin color
d. Blood pressure cuff size
, Patient identity must be verified against the blood product label to avoid
transfusion errors.
7. What is the primary responsibility of the circulating nurse?
a. Controlling bleeding
b. Inserting urinary catheters
c. Managing the sterile field and documentation
d. Suturing wounds
The circulating nurse manages the overall environment, including aseptic
technique, documentation, and support to the sterile team.
8. Which action is a violation of aseptic technique?
a. Placing sterile supplies on a damp surface
b. Keeping sterile drapes dry
c. Opening sterile packs away from the body
d. Donning sterile gloves properly
Moisture can carry microorganisms, contaminating the sterile field.
9. A fire breaks out in the operating room. What is the correct order of
actions?
a. Notify the fire department first
b. Remove the patient, stop gas flow, extinguish fire, activate alarm
c. Extinguish the fire, remove patient, shut off gas
d. Document the incident, then remove patient
RACE protocol emphasizes patient safety first, followed by stopping fuel sources
and activating the alarm.
