AORN PERIOP 101 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
Using mechanical friction when prepping will NOT aid in
A. Removal of resident bacteria
B. Removal of dirt and oil
C. The effectiveness of antimicrobials
D. Removal of transient bacteria - correct answer-A. Removal of resident bacteria
Reduction in resident bacteria is aided by:
A. Use of a degreaser
B. Use of antimicrobials
C. Prepping clean to dirty
D. Mechanical friction - correct answer-B. Use of antimicrobials
Prolonged contact of skin antisepsis agents due to pooling of the solutions can cause patient injuries tha
t include:
1. Chemical burns
2. Thermal burns
3. Injuries related to equipment malfunction - correct answer-A. 1 and 2
Which one of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Povidone-iodine's mechanism of action is to disrupt the cell membrane
B. Povidone-iodine is nonirritating to the skin
C. Povidone-iodine cannot be used on mucous membranes
D. Heating povidone-iodine may decrease its effectiveness - correct answer-D. Heating povidone-
iodine may decrease its effectiveness
Documentation of the preoperative skin prep includes all of the follow EXCEPT:
A. Hair removal
,B. Manufacturer of solutions used
C. Allergies
D. Name of the person who performed the prep - correct answer-B. Manufacturer of solutions used
When prepping an extremity, which one of the following is ALWAYS required?
A. Positioning the extremity to prevent prep solution from running toward the incision site
B. Assistance in holding the limb
C. Scrubbing nails with a brush before the formal prep
D. Prepping so that the entire limb can be draped - correct answer-
A. Positioning the extremity to prevent prep solution from running toward the incision site
Surgical wound infections can result in decreased .
A. Hospitalization time
B. Intraoperative time
C. Income for hospitals
D. Workload for perioperative nurses - correct answer-C. Income for hospitals
Preoperative skin preparation is accomplished by .
A. Removing soil and transient microbes
B. Reducing resident microbes
C. Using antimicrobial agents that inhibit growth of microbes
D. All of the above - correct answer-D. All of the above
AccordingRto AORN's guidelines for skin preparation of patients, hair at the operative site is .
A. Allowed to remain unless it interferes with the surgical procedures
B. Always removed with a depilatory
C. Removed at least two hours before surgery
D. Dry shaved as opposed to wet shaved - correct answer-
A. Allowed to remain unless it interferes with the surgical procedures
,The concept of prepping from clean to dirty means .
A. Cleaning all stomas or open wounds first
B. Beginning at the incision site and using circular strokes toward the periphery
C. Prep solution is changed after cleaning contaminated areas
D. Surgical scrub solutions used first and then surgical paint - correct answer-
B. Beginning at the incision site and using circular strokes toward the periphery
Common resident bacteria include all EXCEPT:
A. Staphylococcus epiermidis
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Diphtheroid bacillus
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa - correct answer-wrong
Which one of the following statements about the skin prep is FALSE?
A. Povidone-iodine should not be allowed to dry
B. Manufacturers' guidelines should be followed
C. Skin prep is performed after the patient has been positioned
D. The name of the person performing the prepRshould be documented - correct answer-A. Povidone-
iodine should not be allowed to dry
Objectives of the surgical prep include all EXCEPT:
A. Removal of dirt, skin oil, and microbes from the skin
B. Sterilization of skin
C. Reduction of bacterial count
D. Prevention of regrowth of microbes for several hours - correct answer-B. Sterilization of skin
The generally recognized length of time required for contact of antimicrobial agents to be effective is
A. 1 to 3 minutes
, B. 2 to 5 minutes
C. 3 to 5 minutes
D. According to manufacturers' directions - correct answer-D. According to manufacturers' directions
The principles of preoperative skin preparation include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Prep from clean to dirty
B. Use asepticRtechnique
C. Prep stomasRfirst
D. Prevent pooling - correct answer-C. Prep stomas first
Which one of the following topical antimicrobial agents is neurotoxic?
A. Povidone-iodine
B. Alcohol
C. PCMX (parachlorometaxylenol)
D. Chlorhexidine gluconate - correct answer-D. Chlorhexidine gluconate
Which statement isRTRUE about iodophor with alcohol?
A. It provides rapid reduction in microbial counts of skin
B. Persistence or residual activity is excellent
C. It has been shown to be nontoxic and nonirritating
D. Percutaneous absorption does not occur across mucous membranes - correct answer-wrong
Which statement is FALSE about eye, extremity, or vaginal preps?
A. A 5% sterile ophtalmic prep solution is commercially available for eye preps
B. The vagina should be prepped first as part of a vaginal prep
C. When prepping an extremity, it should be positioned so that the incision site is the upper-
most portion of the prep
D. If fingers or toes are included in the surgical field (extremity prep), it may be necessary to scrub the
nail with a brush and soap solution - correct answer-
B. The vagina should be prepped first as partRof a vaginal prep
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
Using mechanical friction when prepping will NOT aid in
A. Removal of resident bacteria
B. Removal of dirt and oil
C. The effectiveness of antimicrobials
D. Removal of transient bacteria - correct answer-A. Removal of resident bacteria
Reduction in resident bacteria is aided by:
A. Use of a degreaser
B. Use of antimicrobials
C. Prepping clean to dirty
D. Mechanical friction - correct answer-B. Use of antimicrobials
Prolonged contact of skin antisepsis agents due to pooling of the solutions can cause patient injuries tha
t include:
1. Chemical burns
2. Thermal burns
3. Injuries related to equipment malfunction - correct answer-A. 1 and 2
Which one of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Povidone-iodine's mechanism of action is to disrupt the cell membrane
B. Povidone-iodine is nonirritating to the skin
C. Povidone-iodine cannot be used on mucous membranes
D. Heating povidone-iodine may decrease its effectiveness - correct answer-D. Heating povidone-
iodine may decrease its effectiveness
Documentation of the preoperative skin prep includes all of the follow EXCEPT:
A. Hair removal
,B. Manufacturer of solutions used
C. Allergies
D. Name of the person who performed the prep - correct answer-B. Manufacturer of solutions used
When prepping an extremity, which one of the following is ALWAYS required?
A. Positioning the extremity to prevent prep solution from running toward the incision site
B. Assistance in holding the limb
C. Scrubbing nails with a brush before the formal prep
D. Prepping so that the entire limb can be draped - correct answer-
A. Positioning the extremity to prevent prep solution from running toward the incision site
Surgical wound infections can result in decreased .
A. Hospitalization time
B. Intraoperative time
C. Income for hospitals
D. Workload for perioperative nurses - correct answer-C. Income for hospitals
Preoperative skin preparation is accomplished by .
A. Removing soil and transient microbes
B. Reducing resident microbes
C. Using antimicrobial agents that inhibit growth of microbes
D. All of the above - correct answer-D. All of the above
AccordingRto AORN's guidelines for skin preparation of patients, hair at the operative site is .
A. Allowed to remain unless it interferes with the surgical procedures
B. Always removed with a depilatory
C. Removed at least two hours before surgery
D. Dry shaved as opposed to wet shaved - correct answer-
A. Allowed to remain unless it interferes with the surgical procedures
,The concept of prepping from clean to dirty means .
A. Cleaning all stomas or open wounds first
B. Beginning at the incision site and using circular strokes toward the periphery
C. Prep solution is changed after cleaning contaminated areas
D. Surgical scrub solutions used first and then surgical paint - correct answer-
B. Beginning at the incision site and using circular strokes toward the periphery
Common resident bacteria include all EXCEPT:
A. Staphylococcus epiermidis
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Diphtheroid bacillus
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa - correct answer-wrong
Which one of the following statements about the skin prep is FALSE?
A. Povidone-iodine should not be allowed to dry
B. Manufacturers' guidelines should be followed
C. Skin prep is performed after the patient has been positioned
D. The name of the person performing the prepRshould be documented - correct answer-A. Povidone-
iodine should not be allowed to dry
Objectives of the surgical prep include all EXCEPT:
A. Removal of dirt, skin oil, and microbes from the skin
B. Sterilization of skin
C. Reduction of bacterial count
D. Prevention of regrowth of microbes for several hours - correct answer-B. Sterilization of skin
The generally recognized length of time required for contact of antimicrobial agents to be effective is
A. 1 to 3 minutes
, B. 2 to 5 minutes
C. 3 to 5 minutes
D. According to manufacturers' directions - correct answer-D. According to manufacturers' directions
The principles of preoperative skin preparation include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Prep from clean to dirty
B. Use asepticRtechnique
C. Prep stomasRfirst
D. Prevent pooling - correct answer-C. Prep stomas first
Which one of the following topical antimicrobial agents is neurotoxic?
A. Povidone-iodine
B. Alcohol
C. PCMX (parachlorometaxylenol)
D. Chlorhexidine gluconate - correct answer-D. Chlorhexidine gluconate
Which statement isRTRUE about iodophor with alcohol?
A. It provides rapid reduction in microbial counts of skin
B. Persistence or residual activity is excellent
C. It has been shown to be nontoxic and nonirritating
D. Percutaneous absorption does not occur across mucous membranes - correct answer-wrong
Which statement is FALSE about eye, extremity, or vaginal preps?
A. A 5% sterile ophtalmic prep solution is commercially available for eye preps
B. The vagina should be prepped first as part of a vaginal prep
C. When prepping an extremity, it should be positioned so that the incision site is the upper-
most portion of the prep
D. If fingers or toes are included in the surgical field (extremity prep), it may be necessary to scrub the
nail with a brush and soap solution - correct answer-
B. The vagina should be prepped first as partRof a vaginal prep
