Comprehensive Study Guide on
CNOR Exam LATEST VERSION
HIGHLY GRADED for Top Score.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
During a procedure under local anesthesia, the patient complains of circumoral numbness,
blurred vision, and dizziness. What should be the immediate action of the perioperative nurse
monitoring this patient?
a. Recheck the dose of local anesthesia given
b. Ensure an airway
c. Set the IV line to full flow
d. Call for 20% lipid emulsion to be brought to the room - ansb
The circulating nurse reports that the needle count is incorrect. The surgeon continues to
close the wound, stating, "I know it is not in the wound and I am not going to stop to look for
it." The best plan of action is to:
a. Accept the surgeon's response without comment and fill out an incident report
b. Inform the surgeon of hospital policy and document subsequent actions
c. Order X-rays regardless of the surgeon's wishes
d. Notify the OR supervisor and ask for advice - ansb
A new employee unknowingly dispensed an unsterile solution to the sterile field. The
following day, the supervisor learns of the incident. The supervisor's first action would be to:
a. Initiate an incident report
b. Instruct the employee on the technique of reading labels
c. Counsel the employee verbally
d. Notify the surgeon of the break in technique - ansd
Due to an emergency, the perioperative nurse is unable to conduct the sponge, sharps, and
instrument counts. At the conclusion of the surgery, the nurse should:
a. Ask the surgeon to sign the count
b. Immediately notify the OR supervisor
c. Document the absence of counts
d. Refuse to sign the sponge count record - ansc
The optimum patient position provides:
a. Access and exposure, maintains circulatory and respiratory functions, and does not
compromise neuromuscular structures.
b. Optimum access and exposure to surgical site, with no permanent compromise to
neuromuscular structures.
c. Access for the surgeon, does not compromise the neuromuscular structures, and maintains
an adequate airway for the anesthetist.
d. Sustained circulatory and respiratory functions, does not compromise neuromuscular
structures, and maintains body alignment. - ansa
,Comprehensive Study Guide on
CNOR Exam LATEST VERSION
HIGHLY GRADED for Top Score.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
A patient who is 8 months pregnant is to undergo an emergency laparotomy. In planning
nursing care for this patient, the perioperative nurse should have available a wedge cushion or
pillow to place under the patient's:
a. Knees
b. Left side
c. Right side
d. Shoulders - ansc
You're loading the sterilizer with trays and wrapped towels. The correct configuration would
be:
a. The towels are on the bottom shelf and the trays on the top shelf
b. The towels are on the top shelf and the trays are on the bottom shelf
c. The trays and towels go on the top shelf and leave the bottom shelf empty
d. There is no specific configuration when there is a mixed load of trays and wrapped textiles
- ansb
During the induction of anesthesia, the perioperative nurse may notice fasciculation as a
response to which of the following depolarizing muscle relaxants?
a. Tubocurarine chloride (curare)
b. Succinylcholine chloride (Anectine)
c. Atracurium besylate (Tracrium)
d. Pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) - ansb
The ER notifies you that it has an 18-yr-old patient who was in a sledding accident and who
is accompanied by his parents. The patient is alert, oriented, in pain, has a blood pressure of
80/60, pulse of 120, and RR of 24. The abdomen is distended and tender. After being
transferred to the OR bed, the patient is very apprehensive and complains of being cold. The
nurse should confirm the patient's name, allergies, and operative procedure by:
a. Speaking with the patient and reading the patient's chart
b. Telephone conversation with the ER nurse
c. Use of the ER record provided
d. Telephone conversation with a parent of the patient - ansa
A critically injured patient requires immediate surgery, but all unassigned personnel have
limited OR experience. In this situation, the charge nurse should:
a. Assist the available personnel in caring for the patient
b. Reassign experienced personnel to the emergency procedure
c. Personally assume care for the critically injured patient
d. Call in additional personnel to handle the emergency - ansb
The nurse's initial response to a patient who develops signs of cyanosis during the
preoperative assessment is to:
,Comprehensive Study Guide on
CNOR Exam LATEST VERSION
HIGHLY GRADED for Top Score.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
a. Administer O2 and start an IV line
b. Begin CPR
c. Read the history and physical to determine health status
d. Assess for breath sounds and airway obstruction - ansd
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Must be sterile
-Will enter sterile tissue or the vascular system - anscritical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Instruments
-Cutting endoscopic accessories and endoscopes (ex. BIOPSY FORCEPS)
-Cardiac and urinary catheters (still fall into this category even though it does not meet the
TRUE definition) - anscritical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-SHOULD be sterile, but high-level disinfection (kills everything EXCEPT SPORES)
acceptable if manufacturers' instructions require (going to be sterilized unless manufacturer
specifically says not to)
-Contacts broken skin or mucous membrane - anssemi-critical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Respiratory therapy
-Anesthesia equipment
-Bronchoscopes
-GI endoscopes - anssemi-critical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Intermediate or low-level disinfection or cleaning
-Will come in contact with skin
-Ex. washing with soap and water/wiping equipment down/laundry - ansnon-critical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-OR bed
-Linens
-EKG leads
, Comprehensive Study Guide on
CNOR Exam LATEST VERSION
HIGHLY GRADED for Top Score.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
-BP cuffs
-Tourniquets - ansnon-critical
TRUE OR FALSE
There needs to be a physical separation (or a wall) between a decontamination area and
processing area where instruments are processed - anstrue
*Sterile Processing*
Decontamination area or processing area?
-Has a high bioburden
-NEGATIVE airflow
-LOWER temperature - ansdecontamination
*Sterile Processing*
Decontamination area or processing area?
-POSITIVE airflow
-HIGHER temperature - ansprocessing
True or false
You can skip the decontamination process in sterile processing - ansfalse
Can you walk through a decontamination area with sterile supplies in your hand? - ansno
Can you walk through a place with autoclaves with soiled instruments in your hand? - ansno
__________ is the most CRITICAL step to prevent infection - ansdecontamination (cleaning)
Is an enzymatic agent a disinfectant? - ansno
A(n) __________ agent is used to pre-treat instruments. It is non-drying and is NOT a
disinfectant. It is something that BREAKS DOWN organic material. It digests that organic
material and makes it something that is easy to clean and disinfect. It DISSOLVES the
organic stuff and INCLUDES PROTEASES. - ansenzymatic
The size and length of brush lumens to clean instruments is determined by the manufacturer. -
anstrue
__________ is very difficult to get off instruments once it's on there. This adds texture on
instruments where spores can hide. - ansbiofilm
What is considered more effective:
Automated cleaning (ultrasonic & washers) or manual cleaning? - ansautomated
What type of sterilizers do pre-vacuum autoclave (dynamic air-removal) and gravity
displacement autoclaves fall under? - anssteam
Both pre-vacuum autoclaves (dynamic air-removal) and gravity displacement autoclaves end
in a chamber full of __________ - anssteam
*Steam Sterilization*
CNOR Exam LATEST VERSION
HIGHLY GRADED for Top Score.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
During a procedure under local anesthesia, the patient complains of circumoral numbness,
blurred vision, and dizziness. What should be the immediate action of the perioperative nurse
monitoring this patient?
a. Recheck the dose of local anesthesia given
b. Ensure an airway
c. Set the IV line to full flow
d. Call for 20% lipid emulsion to be brought to the room - ansb
The circulating nurse reports that the needle count is incorrect. The surgeon continues to
close the wound, stating, "I know it is not in the wound and I am not going to stop to look for
it." The best plan of action is to:
a. Accept the surgeon's response without comment and fill out an incident report
b. Inform the surgeon of hospital policy and document subsequent actions
c. Order X-rays regardless of the surgeon's wishes
d. Notify the OR supervisor and ask for advice - ansb
A new employee unknowingly dispensed an unsterile solution to the sterile field. The
following day, the supervisor learns of the incident. The supervisor's first action would be to:
a. Initiate an incident report
b. Instruct the employee on the technique of reading labels
c. Counsel the employee verbally
d. Notify the surgeon of the break in technique - ansd
Due to an emergency, the perioperative nurse is unable to conduct the sponge, sharps, and
instrument counts. At the conclusion of the surgery, the nurse should:
a. Ask the surgeon to sign the count
b. Immediately notify the OR supervisor
c. Document the absence of counts
d. Refuse to sign the sponge count record - ansc
The optimum patient position provides:
a. Access and exposure, maintains circulatory and respiratory functions, and does not
compromise neuromuscular structures.
b. Optimum access and exposure to surgical site, with no permanent compromise to
neuromuscular structures.
c. Access for the surgeon, does not compromise the neuromuscular structures, and maintains
an adequate airway for the anesthetist.
d. Sustained circulatory and respiratory functions, does not compromise neuromuscular
structures, and maintains body alignment. - ansa
,Comprehensive Study Guide on
CNOR Exam LATEST VERSION
HIGHLY GRADED for Top Score.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
A patient who is 8 months pregnant is to undergo an emergency laparotomy. In planning
nursing care for this patient, the perioperative nurse should have available a wedge cushion or
pillow to place under the patient's:
a. Knees
b. Left side
c. Right side
d. Shoulders - ansc
You're loading the sterilizer with trays and wrapped towels. The correct configuration would
be:
a. The towels are on the bottom shelf and the trays on the top shelf
b. The towels are on the top shelf and the trays are on the bottom shelf
c. The trays and towels go on the top shelf and leave the bottom shelf empty
d. There is no specific configuration when there is a mixed load of trays and wrapped textiles
- ansb
During the induction of anesthesia, the perioperative nurse may notice fasciculation as a
response to which of the following depolarizing muscle relaxants?
a. Tubocurarine chloride (curare)
b. Succinylcholine chloride (Anectine)
c. Atracurium besylate (Tracrium)
d. Pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) - ansb
The ER notifies you that it has an 18-yr-old patient who was in a sledding accident and who
is accompanied by his parents. The patient is alert, oriented, in pain, has a blood pressure of
80/60, pulse of 120, and RR of 24. The abdomen is distended and tender. After being
transferred to the OR bed, the patient is very apprehensive and complains of being cold. The
nurse should confirm the patient's name, allergies, and operative procedure by:
a. Speaking with the patient and reading the patient's chart
b. Telephone conversation with the ER nurse
c. Use of the ER record provided
d. Telephone conversation with a parent of the patient - ansa
A critically injured patient requires immediate surgery, but all unassigned personnel have
limited OR experience. In this situation, the charge nurse should:
a. Assist the available personnel in caring for the patient
b. Reassign experienced personnel to the emergency procedure
c. Personally assume care for the critically injured patient
d. Call in additional personnel to handle the emergency - ansb
The nurse's initial response to a patient who develops signs of cyanosis during the
preoperative assessment is to:
,Comprehensive Study Guide on
CNOR Exam LATEST VERSION
HIGHLY GRADED for Top Score.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
a. Administer O2 and start an IV line
b. Begin CPR
c. Read the history and physical to determine health status
d. Assess for breath sounds and airway obstruction - ansd
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Must be sterile
-Will enter sterile tissue or the vascular system - anscritical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Instruments
-Cutting endoscopic accessories and endoscopes (ex. BIOPSY FORCEPS)
-Cardiac and urinary catheters (still fall into this category even though it does not meet the
TRUE definition) - anscritical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-SHOULD be sterile, but high-level disinfection (kills everything EXCEPT SPORES)
acceptable if manufacturers' instructions require (going to be sterilized unless manufacturer
specifically says not to)
-Contacts broken skin or mucous membrane - anssemi-critical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Respiratory therapy
-Anesthesia equipment
-Bronchoscopes
-GI endoscopes - anssemi-critical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-Intermediate or low-level disinfection or cleaning
-Will come in contact with skin
-Ex. washing with soap and water/wiping equipment down/laundry - ansnon-critical
*SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM*
Critical, semi-critical, or non-critical?
-OR bed
-Linens
-EKG leads
, Comprehensive Study Guide on
CNOR Exam LATEST VERSION
HIGHLY GRADED for Top Score.
Latest Updated 2026/2027
-BP cuffs
-Tourniquets - ansnon-critical
TRUE OR FALSE
There needs to be a physical separation (or a wall) between a decontamination area and
processing area where instruments are processed - anstrue
*Sterile Processing*
Decontamination area or processing area?
-Has a high bioburden
-NEGATIVE airflow
-LOWER temperature - ansdecontamination
*Sterile Processing*
Decontamination area or processing area?
-POSITIVE airflow
-HIGHER temperature - ansprocessing
True or false
You can skip the decontamination process in sterile processing - ansfalse
Can you walk through a decontamination area with sterile supplies in your hand? - ansno
Can you walk through a place with autoclaves with soiled instruments in your hand? - ansno
__________ is the most CRITICAL step to prevent infection - ansdecontamination (cleaning)
Is an enzymatic agent a disinfectant? - ansno
A(n) __________ agent is used to pre-treat instruments. It is non-drying and is NOT a
disinfectant. It is something that BREAKS DOWN organic material. It digests that organic
material and makes it something that is easy to clean and disinfect. It DISSOLVES the
organic stuff and INCLUDES PROTEASES. - ansenzymatic
The size and length of brush lumens to clean instruments is determined by the manufacturer. -
anstrue
__________ is very difficult to get off instruments once it's on there. This adds texture on
instruments where spores can hide. - ansbiofilm
What is considered more effective:
Automated cleaning (ultrasonic & washers) or manual cleaning? - ansautomated
What type of sterilizers do pre-vacuum autoclave (dynamic air-removal) and gravity
displacement autoclaves fall under? - anssteam
Both pre-vacuum autoclaves (dynamic air-removal) and gravity displacement autoclaves end
in a chamber full of __________ - anssteam
*Steam Sterilization*
