AORN PERIOP 101 ALL 2026/2027 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔How often should surgical gloves be changed during an invasive surgical
procedure?
A. Every 60 to 90 minutes
B. Every 90 to 150 minutes
C. Surgical gloves only require changing if a known or suspected break in technique
occurs or a tear is identified in the glove
D. There is no recommended time for changing gloves - ✔✔wrong
✔✔Which of the following is the preferred method for assessing hand hygiene in the
perioperative setting?
A. Direct observation
B. Measurement of product usage
C. Automated monitoring
D. Self-reporting - ✔✔wrong
✔✔Approximately what percentage of surgical patients develop a surgical site infection
during hospitalization?
A. 1%
B. 5%
C. 10%
D. 15%
E. 20% - ✔✔B. 5%
✔✔Which of the following terms is used to refer to seepage of fluid through a sterile
material with subsequent bacterial penetration?
A. Breakthrough
B. Pierce through
C. Punch through
D. Strikethrough - ✔✔D. Strikethrough
✔✔Which of the following type of drape is designed to be tubular?
A. Fenestrated drape
B. Flat sheet
C. Stockinette
D. Towel - ✔✔C. Stockinette
✔✔Which of the following is recommended when opening a sterile field in the
perioperative setting?
A. All sterile fields for all patients should be opened in a designated central sterile area
and transported to the OR for use
B. Cables and tubing should be secured with non-perforating devices
C. Drapes should be shaken after opening and before placement to remove dust
, D. When draping a patient, the RN should drape the peripheral areas first and move
inward toward the surgical site - ✔✔B. Cables and tubing should be secured with non-
perforating devices
✔✔Which surfaces of the sterile drape are considered sterile?
A. Top only
B. Top and bottom but not sides
C. Top and sides but not bottom
D. Top, bottom, and sides
E. Bottom and sides - ✔✔A. Top only
✔✔Drapes are considered contaminated under which of the following conditions?
A. A hole is discovered
B. The drape drops below waist level
C. The drape is placed incorrectly
D. There is some doubt about the drape's sterility
E. All of the above - ✔✔E. All of the above
✔✔The perioperative RN should do which of the following when draping a patient for a
laparotomy?
A. Stand on the opposite side of the OR bed when handing sterile towels to the
surgeon
B. Secure sterile towels with pointed, penetrating clips
C. Place the opening of the laparotomy sheet directly over the surgical site
D. Unfold the drapes toward the bottom and top of the patient before unfolding to the
side
E. All of the above - ✔✔C. Place the opening of the laparotomy sheet directly over the
surgical site
✔✔Which of the following is an important consideration when draping patients for
procedures on the eye?
A. It is important to repel water
B. The environment must be free of lint
C. Cataract procedures are often performed without sedation
D. Adequate air exchange for the patient must be maintained
E. All of the above - ✔✔E. All of the above
✔✔The perioperative RN should follow which of these procedures when draping
equipment?
A. Drape equipment that will be positioned over the sterile field
B. Drape equipment that will be positioned immediately adjacent to the sterile field
C. Drape large pieces of equipment as close to the time of use as possible
D. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use
E. All of the above - ✔✔E. All of the above
, ✔✔Which of the following is an acceptable position for the hands and arms of a
scrubbed person for maintaining the integrity of the sterile field?
A. Straight down at the sides
B. Above waist level
C. Folded with hands in the axillary area
D. Resting against another scrubbed person's back
E. All of the above - ✔✔B. Above waist level
✔✔When should perioperative team members wear surgical attire and a surgical head
covering?
A. Any time they enter an operating room for any reason
B. Only when they are directly involved with patient care
C. Only when they are part of the scrubbed team
D. Only when they are transferring sterile items to the sterile field
E. Only when they will remain in an operating room for more than 1 minute - ✔✔A. Any
time they enter an operating room for any reason
✔✔Which of the following is the most important practice for minimizing the risk for
infectious organism transmission?
A. Keeping doors to the operating room closed
B. Observing isolation precautions
C. Performing hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis
D. Properly preparing the sterile field
E. Wearing a gown and gloves - ✔✔C. Performing hand hygiene and surgical hand
antisepsis
✔✔Which of the following parts of a surgical gown are considered sterile?
A. The back
B. The neckline
C. The shoulders
D. The sleeves from the cuff to 2 inches above the elbow
E. All of the above - ✔✔D. The sleeves from the cuff to 2 inches above the elbow
✔✔Which of the following statements about preparation of sterile fields is most
accurate?
A. Sterile fields for all procedures planned for the day should be prepared in the
morning before patients arrive
B. Sterile fields should be prepared in a dedicated sterile room and transported to the
operating rooms for use
C. Perioperative team members should perform surgical hand antisepsis before
preparing a surgical sterile field
D. Sterile fields for multiple patients can be prepared at the same time to improve
efficiency - ✔✔C. Perioperative team members should perform surgical hand antisepsis
before preparing a surgical sterile field
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔How often should surgical gloves be changed during an invasive surgical
procedure?
A. Every 60 to 90 minutes
B. Every 90 to 150 minutes
C. Surgical gloves only require changing if a known or suspected break in technique
occurs or a tear is identified in the glove
D. There is no recommended time for changing gloves - ✔✔wrong
✔✔Which of the following is the preferred method for assessing hand hygiene in the
perioperative setting?
A. Direct observation
B. Measurement of product usage
C. Automated monitoring
D. Self-reporting - ✔✔wrong
✔✔Approximately what percentage of surgical patients develop a surgical site infection
during hospitalization?
A. 1%
B. 5%
C. 10%
D. 15%
E. 20% - ✔✔B. 5%
✔✔Which of the following terms is used to refer to seepage of fluid through a sterile
material with subsequent bacterial penetration?
A. Breakthrough
B. Pierce through
C. Punch through
D. Strikethrough - ✔✔D. Strikethrough
✔✔Which of the following type of drape is designed to be tubular?
A. Fenestrated drape
B. Flat sheet
C. Stockinette
D. Towel - ✔✔C. Stockinette
✔✔Which of the following is recommended when opening a sterile field in the
perioperative setting?
A. All sterile fields for all patients should be opened in a designated central sterile area
and transported to the OR for use
B. Cables and tubing should be secured with non-perforating devices
C. Drapes should be shaken after opening and before placement to remove dust
, D. When draping a patient, the RN should drape the peripheral areas first and move
inward toward the surgical site - ✔✔B. Cables and tubing should be secured with non-
perforating devices
✔✔Which surfaces of the sterile drape are considered sterile?
A. Top only
B. Top and bottom but not sides
C. Top and sides but not bottom
D. Top, bottom, and sides
E. Bottom and sides - ✔✔A. Top only
✔✔Drapes are considered contaminated under which of the following conditions?
A. A hole is discovered
B. The drape drops below waist level
C. The drape is placed incorrectly
D. There is some doubt about the drape's sterility
E. All of the above - ✔✔E. All of the above
✔✔The perioperative RN should do which of the following when draping a patient for a
laparotomy?
A. Stand on the opposite side of the OR bed when handing sterile towels to the
surgeon
B. Secure sterile towels with pointed, penetrating clips
C. Place the opening of the laparotomy sheet directly over the surgical site
D. Unfold the drapes toward the bottom and top of the patient before unfolding to the
side
E. All of the above - ✔✔C. Place the opening of the laparotomy sheet directly over the
surgical site
✔✔Which of the following is an important consideration when draping patients for
procedures on the eye?
A. It is important to repel water
B. The environment must be free of lint
C. Cataract procedures are often performed without sedation
D. Adequate air exchange for the patient must be maintained
E. All of the above - ✔✔E. All of the above
✔✔The perioperative RN should follow which of these procedures when draping
equipment?
A. Drape equipment that will be positioned over the sterile field
B. Drape equipment that will be positioned immediately adjacent to the sterile field
C. Drape large pieces of equipment as close to the time of use as possible
D. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use
E. All of the above - ✔✔E. All of the above
, ✔✔Which of the following is an acceptable position for the hands and arms of a
scrubbed person for maintaining the integrity of the sterile field?
A. Straight down at the sides
B. Above waist level
C. Folded with hands in the axillary area
D. Resting against another scrubbed person's back
E. All of the above - ✔✔B. Above waist level
✔✔When should perioperative team members wear surgical attire and a surgical head
covering?
A. Any time they enter an operating room for any reason
B. Only when they are directly involved with patient care
C. Only when they are part of the scrubbed team
D. Only when they are transferring sterile items to the sterile field
E. Only when they will remain in an operating room for more than 1 minute - ✔✔A. Any
time they enter an operating room for any reason
✔✔Which of the following is the most important practice for minimizing the risk for
infectious organism transmission?
A. Keeping doors to the operating room closed
B. Observing isolation precautions
C. Performing hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis
D. Properly preparing the sterile field
E. Wearing a gown and gloves - ✔✔C. Performing hand hygiene and surgical hand
antisepsis
✔✔Which of the following parts of a surgical gown are considered sterile?
A. The back
B. The neckline
C. The shoulders
D. The sleeves from the cuff to 2 inches above the elbow
E. All of the above - ✔✔D. The sleeves from the cuff to 2 inches above the elbow
✔✔Which of the following statements about preparation of sterile fields is most
accurate?
A. Sterile fields for all procedures planned for the day should be prepared in the
morning before patients arrive
B. Sterile fields should be prepared in a dedicated sterile room and transported to the
operating rooms for use
C. Perioperative team members should perform surgical hand antisepsis before
preparing a surgical sterile field
D. Sterile fields for multiple patients can be prepared at the same time to improve
efficiency - ✔✔C. Perioperative team members should perform surgical hand antisepsis
before preparing a surgical sterile field
