AORN Periop 101 Final Exam –Expected Practice
Questions with Answers in Bold Italic and
Detailed Italicized Rationales – Perioperative
Nursing – 2026 Updated
Short Intro
This comprehensive practice exam is designed for students preparing for the AORN Periop
101 Final Exam. Based on the AORN Periop 101 curriculum and the 2026/2027 testing
cycle, topics include perioperative nursing fundamentals, AORN Guidelines for
Perioperative Practice (2026 Edition), patient safety, surgical asepsis, sterile technique,
patient positioning, instrumentation, wound classification, infection prevention, anesthesia
considerations, documentation, and evidence-based practice. The actual AORN Periop 101
Final Exam consists of 115 multiple-choice questions, and this resource mirrors that format.
Answers are in bold italic * with detailed rationales in italic at the end of each question.
CORE KNOWLEDGE & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1. Evidence-based practice questions are typically formatted as PICO questions.
What does PICO stand for?
A) Patient, Investigation, Comparison, Outlier
B) Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
C) Population, Intervention, Counter-Intervention, Outlier
D) Problem, Investigation, Counter-Intervention, Outcome
Answer: B
PICO is the standard format for evidence-based practice questions. PICO stands for
Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. This structure helps formulate
searchable clinical questions to guide evidence-based practice decisions .
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning use of the AORN Guidelines
for Perioperative Practice?
A) Both medical and nursing licensing boards require health care institutions to comply with
the AORN guidelines
,B) The AORN Guidelines legally supersede departmental and institutional policies
C) The AORN Guidelines reflect scientific evidence of how nurses actually practice in
perioperative settings
D) Work setting and situation variations may determine the extent to which AORN
Guidelines can be applied
Answer: D
AORN Guidelines are evidence-based recommendations, but work setting and situation
variations may determine the extent to which they can be applied. The guidelines do not
legally supersede institutional policies, and compliance is not mandated by licensing
boards .
3. An RN who attends continuing nursing education and has verified skills,
knowledge, and attitudes about perioperative nursing is demonstrating
accountability in his/her:
A) Certification requirements for professional achievement in perioperative nursing
B) Collaboration among team members
C) Professional growth and maintenance of competency
D) Verification of nursing knowledge
Answer: C
Professional growth and maintenance of competency through continuing education, skills
verification, and staying current with evidence-based practice is a key component of
professional accountability in perioperative nursing .
4. Part of the AORN standards of Professional Practice mandate that nurses evaluate
the quality of their nursing practice. Four ways to ensure professional practice
related to the AORN practice include maintaining competency, the use of evidence-
based practice, certification, and:
A) Mentoring student nurses
B) Pursuit of lifelong learning
C) Achieving a minimum of an associate's degree
D) Achievement of an advanced practice nurse degree
Answer: B
The four ways to ensure professional practice are maintaining competency, use of
evidence-based practice, certification, and pursuit of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning
includes continuing education, reading professional journals, and attending conferences .
,5. Which of the following is NOT an example of an ethical dilemma that perioperative
nurses may encounter?
A) Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order for a surgical patient
B) Family disagreement regarding possible organ donation
C) Family disagreement about a below the knee amputation on an 18 year old who
has already given consent
D) Human experimentation
Answer: C
An ethical dilemma occurs when there is a conflict between ethical principles or when the
right course of action is unclear. An 18-year-old who has given consent is legally an adult
and has the right to self-determination; family disagreement does not create an ethical
dilemma for the nurse in this scenario .
6. The phrase "At least one individual failed to do what a similarly situated,
reasonable, and prudent professional would have done under similar circumstances"
is the definition of:
A) Abandonment
B) Negligence
C) Unethical behavior
D) Malpractice
Answer: B
Negligence is the failure to act as a reasonably prudent professional would act under similar
circumstances. Malpractice is negligence that causes injury. Abandonment is the unilateral
termination of the nurse-patient relationship .
7. All of the following are accurate descriptions of "professional accountability"
EXCEPT:
A) Becoming certified in your specialty
B) Collaborating with peers in selecting the right instruments and right equipment for each
patient
C) Pursuing a higher academic degree
D) Relying ONLY on peer evaluations
Answer: D
Professional accountability includes certification, collaboration, continuing education, and
self-evaluation. Relying ONLY on peer evaluations is not a complete picture of professional
accountability; self-assessment and personal responsibility are also essential .
, 8. When applying the concept of surgical conscience, which statements should be
considered? (Select all that apply.)
A) It involves mental discipline and the ability to speak out
B) It is essential to the delivery of optimal care and prevent harm
C) It allows for occasional compromise in aseptic technique when time is short
D) Surgical conscience allows for no compromise in the principles of aseptic
technique
Answer: A, B, D
Surgical conscience is the ethical and professional commitment to maintaining aseptic
technique at all times. It involves mental discipline, speaking out when a breach occurs, and
never compromising principles—even when no one is watching .
9. The systematic and ongoing collection of data used to make judgments and
predictions about a patient's response to illness is known as:
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Answer: A
Assessment is the systematic and ongoing collection of data used to make judgments and
predictions about a patient's response to illness. It is the first step in the nursing process
(ADPIE) .
SURGICAL ASEPSIS & STERILE TECHNIQUE
10. What is the best definition of sterile technique?
A) Practices used to reduce the number of microorganisms
B) Cleaning with disinfectants before a procedure
C) Wearing gloves and a mask
D) Implemented during surgical procedures to prevent microbial contamination
Answer: D
Sterile technique refers to practices that eliminate all microorganisms from the sterile field
and prevent contamination during surgical procedures. It is implemented during all surgical
and invasive procedures to prevent microbial contamination and surgical site infections .
Questions with Answers in Bold Italic and
Detailed Italicized Rationales – Perioperative
Nursing – 2026 Updated
Short Intro
This comprehensive practice exam is designed for students preparing for the AORN Periop
101 Final Exam. Based on the AORN Periop 101 curriculum and the 2026/2027 testing
cycle, topics include perioperative nursing fundamentals, AORN Guidelines for
Perioperative Practice (2026 Edition), patient safety, surgical asepsis, sterile technique,
patient positioning, instrumentation, wound classification, infection prevention, anesthesia
considerations, documentation, and evidence-based practice. The actual AORN Periop 101
Final Exam consists of 115 multiple-choice questions, and this resource mirrors that format.
Answers are in bold italic * with detailed rationales in italic at the end of each question.
CORE KNOWLEDGE & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
1. Evidence-based practice questions are typically formatted as PICO questions.
What does PICO stand for?
A) Patient, Investigation, Comparison, Outlier
B) Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
C) Population, Intervention, Counter-Intervention, Outlier
D) Problem, Investigation, Counter-Intervention, Outcome
Answer: B
PICO is the standard format for evidence-based practice questions. PICO stands for
Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. This structure helps formulate
searchable clinical questions to guide evidence-based practice decisions .
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning use of the AORN Guidelines
for Perioperative Practice?
A) Both medical and nursing licensing boards require health care institutions to comply with
the AORN guidelines
,B) The AORN Guidelines legally supersede departmental and institutional policies
C) The AORN Guidelines reflect scientific evidence of how nurses actually practice in
perioperative settings
D) Work setting and situation variations may determine the extent to which AORN
Guidelines can be applied
Answer: D
AORN Guidelines are evidence-based recommendations, but work setting and situation
variations may determine the extent to which they can be applied. The guidelines do not
legally supersede institutional policies, and compliance is not mandated by licensing
boards .
3. An RN who attends continuing nursing education and has verified skills,
knowledge, and attitudes about perioperative nursing is demonstrating
accountability in his/her:
A) Certification requirements for professional achievement in perioperative nursing
B) Collaboration among team members
C) Professional growth and maintenance of competency
D) Verification of nursing knowledge
Answer: C
Professional growth and maintenance of competency through continuing education, skills
verification, and staying current with evidence-based practice is a key component of
professional accountability in perioperative nursing .
4. Part of the AORN standards of Professional Practice mandate that nurses evaluate
the quality of their nursing practice. Four ways to ensure professional practice
related to the AORN practice include maintaining competency, the use of evidence-
based practice, certification, and:
A) Mentoring student nurses
B) Pursuit of lifelong learning
C) Achieving a minimum of an associate's degree
D) Achievement of an advanced practice nurse degree
Answer: B
The four ways to ensure professional practice are maintaining competency, use of
evidence-based practice, certification, and pursuit of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning
includes continuing education, reading professional journals, and attending conferences .
,5. Which of the following is NOT an example of an ethical dilemma that perioperative
nurses may encounter?
A) Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order for a surgical patient
B) Family disagreement regarding possible organ donation
C) Family disagreement about a below the knee amputation on an 18 year old who
has already given consent
D) Human experimentation
Answer: C
An ethical dilemma occurs when there is a conflict between ethical principles or when the
right course of action is unclear. An 18-year-old who has given consent is legally an adult
and has the right to self-determination; family disagreement does not create an ethical
dilemma for the nurse in this scenario .
6. The phrase "At least one individual failed to do what a similarly situated,
reasonable, and prudent professional would have done under similar circumstances"
is the definition of:
A) Abandonment
B) Negligence
C) Unethical behavior
D) Malpractice
Answer: B
Negligence is the failure to act as a reasonably prudent professional would act under similar
circumstances. Malpractice is negligence that causes injury. Abandonment is the unilateral
termination of the nurse-patient relationship .
7. All of the following are accurate descriptions of "professional accountability"
EXCEPT:
A) Becoming certified in your specialty
B) Collaborating with peers in selecting the right instruments and right equipment for each
patient
C) Pursuing a higher academic degree
D) Relying ONLY on peer evaluations
Answer: D
Professional accountability includes certification, collaboration, continuing education, and
self-evaluation. Relying ONLY on peer evaluations is not a complete picture of professional
accountability; self-assessment and personal responsibility are also essential .
, 8. When applying the concept of surgical conscience, which statements should be
considered? (Select all that apply.)
A) It involves mental discipline and the ability to speak out
B) It is essential to the delivery of optimal care and prevent harm
C) It allows for occasional compromise in aseptic technique when time is short
D) Surgical conscience allows for no compromise in the principles of aseptic
technique
Answer: A, B, D
Surgical conscience is the ethical and professional commitment to maintaining aseptic
technique at all times. It involves mental discipline, speaking out when a breach occurs, and
never compromising principles—even when no one is watching .
9. The systematic and ongoing collection of data used to make judgments and
predictions about a patient's response to illness is known as:
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Answer: A
Assessment is the systematic and ongoing collection of data used to make judgments and
predictions about a patient's response to illness. It is the first step in the nursing process
(ADPIE) .
SURGICAL ASEPSIS & STERILE TECHNIQUE
10. What is the best definition of sterile technique?
A) Practices used to reduce the number of microorganisms
B) Cleaning with disinfectants before a procedure
C) Wearing gloves and a mask
D) Implemented during surgical procedures to prevent microbial contamination
Answer: D
Sterile technique refers to practices that eliminate all microorganisms from the sterile field
and prevent contamination during surgical procedures. It is implemented during all surgical
and invasive procedures to prevent microbial contamination and surgical site infections .
