AORN PERIOP 101 REVISION 2026/2027 TEST EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔The RN caring for the pt. receiving moderate sedation/analgesia should
a. turn up the monitor alarms when prepping the pt.
b. be competent in the use of emergency resuscitation procedures
c. call an anesthesia provider to administer reversal meds.
d. all of the above - ✔✔b. be competent in the use of emergency resuscitation
procedures
✔✔Which phase of the nursing process begins with an interview with the pt. and their
family?
a. perioperative assessment
b. outcome identification
c. clinical documentation
d. implementation - ✔✔a. perioperative assessment
✔✔T/F: A cornerstone of patient quality and safety is patient engagement - ✔✔True
✔✔Of the following, which was the 1st to incorporate the nursing diagnosis as part of
the nursing process?
a. American Nurses Association
b. New York State Board of Nursing
c. NANDA International
d. North American Nursing Diagnosis Association - ✔✔a. American Nurses Association
✔✔Most pts. have concerns about surgery that are outside of the technical aspects on
which consent is based. Which option best describes trust issues?
a. not waking up from anesthesia
b. fear of the unknown
c. concerns about the postoperative phase
d. giving control to others - ✔✔d. giving control to others
✔✔Which of the following is a pt. risk factor associated with alcoholism?
a. increased cardiac complications
b. increased immunity
c. decreased bleeding times
d. decreased stress response - ✔✔a. increased cardiac complications
,✔✔Which of the following is a key advantage of enhanced recovery after surgery
(ERAS) protocols?
a. opioid pain relief
b. increased fasting period prior to surgery
c. faster recovery
d. increased hospital length of stay - ✔✔c. faster recovery
✔✔You are reviewing a surgical pts. hx and physical and recognize the following as a
risk factor for VTE:
a. pt. is a social drinker
b. pt. has a hx of PUD
c. pt. has a familial hx of colon cancer
d. pt. BMI is 39 kg/m2 - ✔✔a. pt. is a social drinker
✔✔What is the principal enzyme in hemostasis and a catalyst to convert fibrinogen to
fibrin in the coagulation cascade?
a. amylase
b. lipase
c. protease
d. thrombin - ✔✔d. thrombin
✔✔Traditional methods of surgical hemostasis include mechanical methods, thermal-
based energy sources, and... - ✔✔chemical agents (ie, pharmaceuticals)
✔✔Using suture to close a wound is a _______ method to achieve surgical hemostasis
- ✔✔mechanical
✔✔What type of drain allows for a free flow of fluids from the wound using gravity only?
- ✔✔penrose drain
✔✔Which med. reverses heparin? - ✔✔protamine
✔✔Who should conduct a surgical count with an unlicensed scrub person? - ✔✔RN
circulator
✔✔During the closing count, a lap sponge is missing. What action should the RN
circulator take FIRST? - ✔✔notify the team the lap sponge is missing
✔✔What is counted when wound closure begins? - ✔✔instruments, sharps, sponges
✔✔Surgical sponges differ from dressing sponges in that surgical sponges are
, a. manufactured using specific textiles
b. radiopaque
c. smaller than dressing sponges
d. always packaged in groups of 5 - ✔✔b. radiopaque
✔✔Which individuals handle meds in the operating suite? - ✔✔- the anesthesia
professional
- the scrub person
- the perioperative nurse
✔✔SATA: The perioperative RN prepares the meds and solutions after receiving orders
from
- first assistants
- APRNs
- anesthesiologists
- surgeons - ✔✔- APRNs
- anesthesiologists
- surgeons
✔✔Correct order for compounding meds in the OR - ✔✔1. perform hand hygiene before
compounding
2. disinfect non-sterile surfaces
3. use aseptic technique
4. use dispensing equipment or a sterile syringe to remove med. from the container
5. verify the correct med, amount, and concentration
6. visually inspect the compounded med for absence of particulate material
7. apply a label unless the med is being administered immediately
✔✔It is a regulatory requirement that an RN can compound up to how many meds in
the perioperative suite? - ✔✔3
✔✔___________ is an act that occurs when prescription meds are obtained or used
illegally - ✔✔drug diversion
✔✔Which sterile member typically administers meds to the pt. at or near the incision
site during the surgical procedure? - ✔✔surgeon
✔✔A periop RN is preparing a heparin flush. Before administration of the med, the RN
should double-check the med dosage with which team member? - ✔✔an anesthesia
professional
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔The RN caring for the pt. receiving moderate sedation/analgesia should
a. turn up the monitor alarms when prepping the pt.
b. be competent in the use of emergency resuscitation procedures
c. call an anesthesia provider to administer reversal meds.
d. all of the above - ✔✔b. be competent in the use of emergency resuscitation
procedures
✔✔Which phase of the nursing process begins with an interview with the pt. and their
family?
a. perioperative assessment
b. outcome identification
c. clinical documentation
d. implementation - ✔✔a. perioperative assessment
✔✔T/F: A cornerstone of patient quality and safety is patient engagement - ✔✔True
✔✔Of the following, which was the 1st to incorporate the nursing diagnosis as part of
the nursing process?
a. American Nurses Association
b. New York State Board of Nursing
c. NANDA International
d. North American Nursing Diagnosis Association - ✔✔a. American Nurses Association
✔✔Most pts. have concerns about surgery that are outside of the technical aspects on
which consent is based. Which option best describes trust issues?
a. not waking up from anesthesia
b. fear of the unknown
c. concerns about the postoperative phase
d. giving control to others - ✔✔d. giving control to others
✔✔Which of the following is a pt. risk factor associated with alcoholism?
a. increased cardiac complications
b. increased immunity
c. decreased bleeding times
d. decreased stress response - ✔✔a. increased cardiac complications
,✔✔Which of the following is a key advantage of enhanced recovery after surgery
(ERAS) protocols?
a. opioid pain relief
b. increased fasting period prior to surgery
c. faster recovery
d. increased hospital length of stay - ✔✔c. faster recovery
✔✔You are reviewing a surgical pts. hx and physical and recognize the following as a
risk factor for VTE:
a. pt. is a social drinker
b. pt. has a hx of PUD
c. pt. has a familial hx of colon cancer
d. pt. BMI is 39 kg/m2 - ✔✔a. pt. is a social drinker
✔✔What is the principal enzyme in hemostasis and a catalyst to convert fibrinogen to
fibrin in the coagulation cascade?
a. amylase
b. lipase
c. protease
d. thrombin - ✔✔d. thrombin
✔✔Traditional methods of surgical hemostasis include mechanical methods, thermal-
based energy sources, and... - ✔✔chemical agents (ie, pharmaceuticals)
✔✔Using suture to close a wound is a _______ method to achieve surgical hemostasis
- ✔✔mechanical
✔✔What type of drain allows for a free flow of fluids from the wound using gravity only?
- ✔✔penrose drain
✔✔Which med. reverses heparin? - ✔✔protamine
✔✔Who should conduct a surgical count with an unlicensed scrub person? - ✔✔RN
circulator
✔✔During the closing count, a lap sponge is missing. What action should the RN
circulator take FIRST? - ✔✔notify the team the lap sponge is missing
✔✔What is counted when wound closure begins? - ✔✔instruments, sharps, sponges
✔✔Surgical sponges differ from dressing sponges in that surgical sponges are
, a. manufactured using specific textiles
b. radiopaque
c. smaller than dressing sponges
d. always packaged in groups of 5 - ✔✔b. radiopaque
✔✔Which individuals handle meds in the operating suite? - ✔✔- the anesthesia
professional
- the scrub person
- the perioperative nurse
✔✔SATA: The perioperative RN prepares the meds and solutions after receiving orders
from
- first assistants
- APRNs
- anesthesiologists
- surgeons - ✔✔- APRNs
- anesthesiologists
- surgeons
✔✔Correct order for compounding meds in the OR - ✔✔1. perform hand hygiene before
compounding
2. disinfect non-sterile surfaces
3. use aseptic technique
4. use dispensing equipment or a sterile syringe to remove med. from the container
5. verify the correct med, amount, and concentration
6. visually inspect the compounded med for absence of particulate material
7. apply a label unless the med is being administered immediately
✔✔It is a regulatory requirement that an RN can compound up to how many meds in
the perioperative suite? - ✔✔3
✔✔___________ is an act that occurs when prescription meds are obtained or used
illegally - ✔✔drug diversion
✔✔Which sterile member typically administers meds to the pt. at or near the incision
site during the surgical procedure? - ✔✔surgeon
✔✔A periop RN is preparing a heparin flush. Before administration of the med, the RN
should double-check the med dosage with which team member? - ✔✔an anesthesia
professional
