COMPREHENSIVE CNOR EXAM 2026-2027 PREPARATION AND
SURGICAL SAFETY GUIDE/NEWEST UPDATE!!!!
What is the CNOR exam?
The CNOR exam is a certification exam for registered nurses who specialize in perioperative
nursing.
What are the requirements to take the CNOR exam?
Candidates must be currently working full- or part-time as a nurse, hold a current RN license,
and have at least 2 years and 2400 hours of recent surgical practice, including one year in the
operating room.
What is the format of the CNOR exam?
The CNOR exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in 3 hours
and 45 minutes.
What is the passing score for the CNOR exam?
A score of 620 is required to pass the CNOR exam.
What are the components of the CNOR exam?
The exam covers patient assessment and diagnosis, plan of care development, management of
intraoperative activities, communication and documentation, infection prevention and control,
emergency situations, and professional accountability.
What is the purpose of the Take 2 Program?
The Take 2 Program allows candidates to take the CNOR exam twice within a 12-month period
if they do not pass on the first attempt.
What is required for CNOR recertification?
To recertify, nurses must earn 300 professional points during the certification years and have at
least 500 hours of perioperative nursing practice, with 250 of those hours being intraoperative.
What are the application deadlines for the CNOR exam?
, 2
Application deadlines vary by testing months; for example, applications for August, September,
and October testing must be submitted by July.
What should you do after receiving application approval for the CNOR exam?
You will receive an authorization to test email with your candidate ID number, and you can
schedule your exam through the PSI website.
What items should you bring on the day of the CNOR exam?
You should bring a valid ID and as little personal items as possible.
What is the significance of the nursing process in the CNOR exam?
The exam is structured around the nursing process, which includes assessment, nursing
diagnosis, identification of outcomes, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
What are some test-taking strategies for the CNOR exam?
Read and follow directions carefully, think about AORN's guidelines for perioperative practice,
and prioritize patient safety.
What is the recommended study strategy for the CNOR exam?
Assess your competency level, study according to that level, organize study groups, and take
practice tests.
What is the role of the perioperative nurse during a procedure under local anesthesia?
The perioperative nurse must monitor the patient for any adverse reactions and take immediate
action if complications arise.
What should a nurse do if the needle count is incorrect during surgery?
The best plan of action is to inform the surgeon of hospital policy and document subsequent
actions.
, 3
What is the first action a supervisor should take if an unsterile solution is dispensed to a
sterile field?
The supervisor's first action should be to initiate an incident report.
What should a nurse do if they are unable to conduct counts during surgery?
The nurse should immediately notify the OR supervisor and document the absence of counts.
What is the optimum patient position during surgery?
The optimum patient position provides access and exposure while maintaining circulatory and
respiratory functions and not compromising neuromuscular structures.
What should a perioperative nurse have available for an 8-month pregnant patient
undergoing surgery?
The nurse should have a wedge cushion or pillow to place under the patient's left side to prevent
compression of the inferior vena cava.
What is the correct configuration for loading a sterilizer with trays and wrapped towels?
The towels should be placed on the top shelf and the trays on the bottom shelf.
What is fasciculation in the context of anesthesia induction?
Fasciculation is a muscle twitching response that may occur with the administration of
depolarizing muscle relaxants like succinylcholine.
Atracurium besylate
A neuromuscular blocker used to induce muscle relaxation during surgery.
Pancuronium bromide
A neuromuscular blocking agent used to facilitate intubation and provide muscle relaxation
during surgery.
What should the nurse confirm with the patient in the OR?
, 4
The nurse should confirm the patient's name, allergies, and operative procedure by speaking with
the patient and reading the patient's chart.
What should the charge nurse do in an emergency with unassigned personnel?
The charge nurse should reassign experienced personnel to the emergency procedure.
What is the initial response to cyanosis during preoperative assessment?
The nurse's initial response should be to assess for breath sounds and airway obstruction.
What is a personal study plan?
A structured approach to studying that incorporates individual learning styles and preferences.
What are the three learning styles?
Kinesthetic, visual, and auditory.
How do kinesthetic learners prefer to learn?
Kinesthetic learners prefer participating in activities themselves after a short explanation.
How do visual learners prefer to learn?
Visual learners prefer reading or looking at diagrams or demonstrations.
How do auditory learners prefer to learn?
Auditory learners prefer listening to lectures or spoken instructions.
What helps kinesthetic learners stay alert when inactive?
Kinesthetic learners find ways to move.
What helps visual learners stay alert when inactive?
Visual learners stare, watch something, or doodle.
What helps auditory learners stay alert when inactive?
Auditory learners listen to sounds around them, hum, or talk to themselves.
What qualities do kinesthetic learners have?
SURGICAL SAFETY GUIDE/NEWEST UPDATE!!!!
What is the CNOR exam?
The CNOR exam is a certification exam for registered nurses who specialize in perioperative
nursing.
What are the requirements to take the CNOR exam?
Candidates must be currently working full- or part-time as a nurse, hold a current RN license,
and have at least 2 years and 2400 hours of recent surgical practice, including one year in the
operating room.
What is the format of the CNOR exam?
The CNOR exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in 3 hours
and 45 minutes.
What is the passing score for the CNOR exam?
A score of 620 is required to pass the CNOR exam.
What are the components of the CNOR exam?
The exam covers patient assessment and diagnosis, plan of care development, management of
intraoperative activities, communication and documentation, infection prevention and control,
emergency situations, and professional accountability.
What is the purpose of the Take 2 Program?
The Take 2 Program allows candidates to take the CNOR exam twice within a 12-month period
if they do not pass on the first attempt.
What is required for CNOR recertification?
To recertify, nurses must earn 300 professional points during the certification years and have at
least 500 hours of perioperative nursing practice, with 250 of those hours being intraoperative.
What are the application deadlines for the CNOR exam?
, 2
Application deadlines vary by testing months; for example, applications for August, September,
and October testing must be submitted by July.
What should you do after receiving application approval for the CNOR exam?
You will receive an authorization to test email with your candidate ID number, and you can
schedule your exam through the PSI website.
What items should you bring on the day of the CNOR exam?
You should bring a valid ID and as little personal items as possible.
What is the significance of the nursing process in the CNOR exam?
The exam is structured around the nursing process, which includes assessment, nursing
diagnosis, identification of outcomes, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
What are some test-taking strategies for the CNOR exam?
Read and follow directions carefully, think about AORN's guidelines for perioperative practice,
and prioritize patient safety.
What is the recommended study strategy for the CNOR exam?
Assess your competency level, study according to that level, organize study groups, and take
practice tests.
What is the role of the perioperative nurse during a procedure under local anesthesia?
The perioperative nurse must monitor the patient for any adverse reactions and take immediate
action if complications arise.
What should a nurse do if the needle count is incorrect during surgery?
The best plan of action is to inform the surgeon of hospital policy and document subsequent
actions.
, 3
What is the first action a supervisor should take if an unsterile solution is dispensed to a
sterile field?
The supervisor's first action should be to initiate an incident report.
What should a nurse do if they are unable to conduct counts during surgery?
The nurse should immediately notify the OR supervisor and document the absence of counts.
What is the optimum patient position during surgery?
The optimum patient position provides access and exposure while maintaining circulatory and
respiratory functions and not compromising neuromuscular structures.
What should a perioperative nurse have available for an 8-month pregnant patient
undergoing surgery?
The nurse should have a wedge cushion or pillow to place under the patient's left side to prevent
compression of the inferior vena cava.
What is the correct configuration for loading a sterilizer with trays and wrapped towels?
The towels should be placed on the top shelf and the trays on the bottom shelf.
What is fasciculation in the context of anesthesia induction?
Fasciculation is a muscle twitching response that may occur with the administration of
depolarizing muscle relaxants like succinylcholine.
Atracurium besylate
A neuromuscular blocker used to induce muscle relaxation during surgery.
Pancuronium bromide
A neuromuscular blocking agent used to facilitate intubation and provide muscle relaxation
during surgery.
What should the nurse confirm with the patient in the OR?
, 4
The nurse should confirm the patient's name, allergies, and operative procedure by speaking with
the patient and reading the patient's chart.
What should the charge nurse do in an emergency with unassigned personnel?
The charge nurse should reassign experienced personnel to the emergency procedure.
What is the initial response to cyanosis during preoperative assessment?
The nurse's initial response should be to assess for breath sounds and airway obstruction.
What is a personal study plan?
A structured approach to studying that incorporates individual learning styles and preferences.
What are the three learning styles?
Kinesthetic, visual, and auditory.
How do kinesthetic learners prefer to learn?
Kinesthetic learners prefer participating in activities themselves after a short explanation.
How do visual learners prefer to learn?
Visual learners prefer reading or looking at diagrams or demonstrations.
How do auditory learners prefer to learn?
Auditory learners prefer listening to lectures or spoken instructions.
What helps kinesthetic learners stay alert when inactive?
Kinesthetic learners find ways to move.
What helps visual learners stay alert when inactive?
Visual learners stare, watch something, or doodle.
What helps auditory learners stay alert when inactive?
Auditory learners listen to sounds around them, hum, or talk to themselves.
What qualities do kinesthetic learners have?
