CNOR STUDY GUIDE EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Categories of items to be reprocessed for sterilization - answer✔✔-critical, semicritical,
and noncritical
Critical reprocessing - answer✔✔-items that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system.
Sterility may be achieved by physical or chemical processes
Spaulding classification system (1968) - answer✔✔-classification system for preparing
instruments etc, for patient use
Microorganism - answer✔✔-a microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or
fungus
Bacterial spore - answer✔✔-structure produced by bacteria that is resistant to many
environmental or induced factors that the bacteria may be subjected to (ex. Endospores,
exospores, and spore-like structures)
Examples of critical surgical items - answer✔✔-surgical instruments, cutting endoscopic
accessories that break the mucosal barrier; endoscopes used in sterile body cavities;
, cardiac, vascular, and urinary catheters; implants; needles; and us probes used in sterile
body cavities
Semicritical reprocessing - answer✔✔-items that come in contact with nonintact skin or
mucous membranes; should receive a minimum of high-level disinfection (hld)
Examples of semicritical surgical items - answer✔✔-vaginal and rectal probes, even
when sheaths are used; respiratory therapy equipment; anesthesia equipment;
bronchoscopes; and gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories
True or false: semicritical devices contaminated or potentially contaminated with hep b
virus (hbv), hep c virus (hcv), hiv, multi-drug resistant bacteria, or tb should receive a
minimum of high-level disinfection - answer✔✔-true
Noncritical reprocessing - answer✔✔-items that contact only intact skin; should receive
intermediate-level disinfection, low-level disinfection, or cleaning
Examples of noncritical surgical items - answer✔✔-tourniquets and blood pressure
cuffs; linens; mayo stands; and other or furnishings
Cleaning - answer✔✔-must always precede high-level disinfection (removes) and
sterilization (kills)
Disinfection and sterilization - answer✔✔-are both decontamination processes.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Categories of items to be reprocessed for sterilization - answer✔✔-critical, semicritical,
and noncritical
Critical reprocessing - answer✔✔-items that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system.
Sterility may be achieved by physical or chemical processes
Spaulding classification system (1968) - answer✔✔-classification system for preparing
instruments etc, for patient use
Microorganism - answer✔✔-a microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or
fungus
Bacterial spore - answer✔✔-structure produced by bacteria that is resistant to many
environmental or induced factors that the bacteria may be subjected to (ex. Endospores,
exospores, and spore-like structures)
Examples of critical surgical items - answer✔✔-surgical instruments, cutting endoscopic
accessories that break the mucosal barrier; endoscopes used in sterile body cavities;
, cardiac, vascular, and urinary catheters; implants; needles; and us probes used in sterile
body cavities
Semicritical reprocessing - answer✔✔-items that come in contact with nonintact skin or
mucous membranes; should receive a minimum of high-level disinfection (hld)
Examples of semicritical surgical items - answer✔✔-vaginal and rectal probes, even
when sheaths are used; respiratory therapy equipment; anesthesia equipment;
bronchoscopes; and gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories
True or false: semicritical devices contaminated or potentially contaminated with hep b
virus (hbv), hep c virus (hcv), hiv, multi-drug resistant bacteria, or tb should receive a
minimum of high-level disinfection - answer✔✔-true
Noncritical reprocessing - answer✔✔-items that contact only intact skin; should receive
intermediate-level disinfection, low-level disinfection, or cleaning
Examples of noncritical surgical items - answer✔✔-tourniquets and blood pressure
cuffs; linens; mayo stands; and other or furnishings
Cleaning - answer✔✔-must always precede high-level disinfection (removes) and
sterilization (kills)
Disinfection and sterilization - answer✔✔-are both decontamination processes.
