CNIM COMPREHENSIVE 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Which of the following is a source of intraoperative physiologic artifacts?
1. Cell saver
2. Blood warmer
3. Electrocardiogram
4. Electrooculogram - ✔✔3. Electrocardiogram
✔✔If there is a 60 Hz interference in all channels when recording preoperative median
nerve SSEPs, which of the following electrodes should be adjusted first?
1. CPi
2. EPc
3. Ground electrode
4. Stimulating electrode - ✔✔3. Ground electrode
✔✔The pneumatic drill has which of the following effects on BAEPs?
1. None
2. Prolongs wave V
3. Increases I-III interpeak latency
4. Increases III-V interpeak latency - ✔✔2. Prolongs wave V
✔✔Which of the following would most affect the ability to record BAEPs?
1. Drill
2. Retractor
3. Coagulator
4. Anesthetic agent - ✔✔3. Coagulator
✔✔Evoked potential data is obliterated with
1. Midas rex drilling
2. Monopolar cautery
3. C-arm use
4. Transcranial doppler use - ✔✔2. Monopolar cautery
✔✔Which of the following most often causes a temporary threshold shift on the
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials during CPA surgery?
1. Drilling
2. Bipolar cautery
3. Warm irrigation
4. CUSA - ✔✔1. Drilling
✔✔To avoid a false positive the baseline is best taken
1. In preoperative holding
2. Post-incision
, 3. Pre-intubation
4. Post-intubation - ✔✔2. Post-incision
✔✔Vascular compromise of the posterior cerebral artery will most likely have what
effect on the MNSEP?
1. Loss of P14/N18
2. Loss of N20/P22
3. Loss of N13
4. Loss of Erb's point - ✔✔1. Loss of P14/N18
✔✔Standard (universal) precautions are used to reduce the transmission of
1. Hepatitis A virus
2. Reproductive spores
3. Bloodborne pathogens
4. Mycobacterium tuberculosis - ✔✔3. Bloodborne pathogens
✔✔Which of the following diseases results from infection by a bloodborne pathogen?
1. Varicella
2. Hepatitis B
3. Mononucleosis
4. Herpes zoster - ✔✔2. Hepatitis B
✔✔When is leakage current present in an evoked potential instrument?
1. Only if the ground is broken
2. Only when used with an extension cord
3. Only when a ground loop is present
4. Whenever the instrument is connected to a power source - ✔✔4. Whenever the
instrument is connected to a power source
✔✔What is the maximum allowable leakage of evoked potential instrument chassis
current?
1. 100 microamperes
2. 200 microamperes
3. 300 microamperes
4. 500 microamperes - ✔✔1. 100 microamperes
✔✔The monitoring team must ensure that stimulus parameters are within safe limits to
1. Avoid tissue damage
2. Protect equipment from breakdown
3. Minimize 60 Hz interference
4. Prevent chassis current leakage - ✔✔1. Avoid tissue damage
✔✔Transcranial Motor Evoked Potentials transmit primarily through which spinal cord
tract?
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Which of the following is a source of intraoperative physiologic artifacts?
1. Cell saver
2. Blood warmer
3. Electrocardiogram
4. Electrooculogram - ✔✔3. Electrocardiogram
✔✔If there is a 60 Hz interference in all channels when recording preoperative median
nerve SSEPs, which of the following electrodes should be adjusted first?
1. CPi
2. EPc
3. Ground electrode
4. Stimulating electrode - ✔✔3. Ground electrode
✔✔The pneumatic drill has which of the following effects on BAEPs?
1. None
2. Prolongs wave V
3. Increases I-III interpeak latency
4. Increases III-V interpeak latency - ✔✔2. Prolongs wave V
✔✔Which of the following would most affect the ability to record BAEPs?
1. Drill
2. Retractor
3. Coagulator
4. Anesthetic agent - ✔✔3. Coagulator
✔✔Evoked potential data is obliterated with
1. Midas rex drilling
2. Monopolar cautery
3. C-arm use
4. Transcranial doppler use - ✔✔2. Monopolar cautery
✔✔Which of the following most often causes a temporary threshold shift on the
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials during CPA surgery?
1. Drilling
2. Bipolar cautery
3. Warm irrigation
4. CUSA - ✔✔1. Drilling
✔✔To avoid a false positive the baseline is best taken
1. In preoperative holding
2. Post-incision
, 3. Pre-intubation
4. Post-intubation - ✔✔2. Post-incision
✔✔Vascular compromise of the posterior cerebral artery will most likely have what
effect on the MNSEP?
1. Loss of P14/N18
2. Loss of N20/P22
3. Loss of N13
4. Loss of Erb's point - ✔✔1. Loss of P14/N18
✔✔Standard (universal) precautions are used to reduce the transmission of
1. Hepatitis A virus
2. Reproductive spores
3. Bloodborne pathogens
4. Mycobacterium tuberculosis - ✔✔3. Bloodborne pathogens
✔✔Which of the following diseases results from infection by a bloodborne pathogen?
1. Varicella
2. Hepatitis B
3. Mononucleosis
4. Herpes zoster - ✔✔2. Hepatitis B
✔✔When is leakage current present in an evoked potential instrument?
1. Only if the ground is broken
2. Only when used with an extension cord
3. Only when a ground loop is present
4. Whenever the instrument is connected to a power source - ✔✔4. Whenever the
instrument is connected to a power source
✔✔What is the maximum allowable leakage of evoked potential instrument chassis
current?
1. 100 microamperes
2. 200 microamperes
3. 300 microamperes
4. 500 microamperes - ✔✔1. 100 microamperes
✔✔The monitoring team must ensure that stimulus parameters are within safe limits to
1. Avoid tissue damage
2. Protect equipment from breakdown
3. Minimize 60 Hz interference
4. Prevent chassis current leakage - ✔✔1. Avoid tissue damage
✔✔Transcranial Motor Evoked Potentials transmit primarily through which spinal cord
tract?
