AORN PERIOP 101 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
Evidence-based practice questions are typically formatted as PICO questions. What does PICO stand for?
a) Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
b) Patient, Investigation, Comparison, Outlier
c) Population, Intervention, Counter-Intervention, Outlier
d) Problem, Investigation, Counter-Intervention, Outcome - correct answer-a
Every member of the healthcare team has a role to play in cost containment. Which of the following is a
n example of how the perioperative RN can participate in cost containment in the OR?
a) Ask the surgeon to use a less expensive implant
b) Begin cleaning the OR for the next case before the patient leaves the room
c) Open all supplies listed on preference card, including "available" supplies
d) Verify with surgeon before opening suture - correct answer-d
An RN who attends continuing nursing education and has verified skills, knowledge, and attitudes about
perioperative nursing is demonstrating accountability in his/her:
a) Certification requirements for professional achievement in perioperative nursing
b) Collaboration among team members
c) Professional growth and maintenance of competency
d) Verification of nursing knowledge - correct answer-c
Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning use of the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Pra
ctice?
a) Both medical and nursingRlicensing boards require health care institutions to comply with the AORN g
uidelines
b) The AORN Guidelines legally supersede departmental and institutional policies
c) The AORN Guidelines reflect scientific evidence of how nurses actually practice in perioperative settin
gs
d) Work setting and situation variationsRmay determine the extent to which AORN Guidelines can be ap
plied - correct answer-d
,Which of the following is NOT an example of an ethical dilemma that perioperative nurses may encount
er?
a) Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order for a surgical patient
b) Family disagreement regardings possible organ donation
c) Family disagreement about a below the knee amputation on an 18 year old who has already given co
nsent
d) Human experimentation - correct answer-c
The phrase "At least one individual failed to do what a similarly situated, reasonable, and prudent profe
ssional would have done under similar circumstances" is the definition of:
a) Abandonment
b) Negligence
c) Unethical behavior
d) Malpractice - correct answer-b
All of the following are accurate descriptions of "professional accountability" EXCEPT:
a) Becoming certified in your specialty
b) Collaborating with peers in selecting the right instruments and right equipment for each patient
c) Pursuing a higher academic degree
d) Relying ONLY on peer evaluations
e) Staying current with changes in your specialty - correct answer-d
Part of the AORN standards of Professional Practice mandate that nurses evaluate the quality of their nu
rsing practice. Four ways to ensure professional practice related to the AORN practice include: maintaini
ng competency, the use of evidence-based practice, certification, and:
a) Mentoring student nurses
b) Pursuit of lifelong learning
c) Achieving a minimum of an associate's degree
d) Achievement of an advanced practice nurse degree - correct answer-b
,After transferringRa male patient into the Phase I PACU, the perioperative RN could reasonably expect th
e PACU RN to FIRST:
a) Administer medication to the patient for nausea and vomiting
b) Ask the patient is he has any pain
c) Assess the patient's airway and respirations
d) Care for this patient and two other patients asRassigned - correct answer-c
During a handover report to the PACU RN, the perioperative RN may use a communication method iden
tified by the acronym "SBAR." What does SBAR stand for?
a) Safety, Background, Actions, Recovery expectations
b) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
c) Safety concerns, Background, Assessment, Responsibility
d) Surgeon, Background, Assessment, Recovery time -Rcorrect answer-b
A 40-year-
old male patient is awake and alert in the post anesthesia care unit after right shoulder surgery. WhatRis
the BEST measure to assess the patient's pain?
a) Discuss the patient's pain with a close family member
b) Observe facial expressions and behaviors
c) AskRpatient to describe his pain or use a standardized pain scale
d) Monitor vital sign changes - correct answer-c
What would be the MOST important information for a nurse in Preadmission Testing (PAT) to collect on
an insulin dependent diabetic patient?
a) How long the patient has been diabetic
b) If there is someone to drive them home
c) The last time the patient ate or drank
d) The type of insulin the patient takes - correct answer-d
, The Perianesthesia nurse has ASPAN to guide their practice. What does ASPAN stand for?
a) American Sterilization of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
b) Association of Specialized PeriAnesthesia Nursing
c) American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nursing
d) Association of Surgical Post Anesthesia NursingR-Rcorrect answer-c
You have completed your case and must now transport your patient to PACU. To give report to the PACU
nurse, your facility requires that you provide report in SBAR, which stands for:
a) Safety, Background, Actions, Recovery, Expectations
b) Safety concerns, Background, Assessment, Responsibilities
c) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendations
d) Surgeon, Background, Assessment, Recovery time -Rcorrect answer-c
You have just transferred your patient into the Phase I PACU. Which activities would you expect to obser
ve FIRST?
a) Administering medication for nausea and vomiting
b) Asking patients if they have any pain
c) Assessing patient airway and respirations
d) Caring for patients in 1:3 ratio - correct answer-c
ARhand-
over communication report is given by the anesthesia professional and the ?
a) Surgical resident
b) Medical student
c) OR nurse
d) Inpatient nurse - correct answer-c
What should be included as part of the psychological nursing assessment?
a) Anxiety, temperature, and religious beliefs
b) Anxiety, temperature, and cultural practices
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
Evidence-based practice questions are typically formatted as PICO questions. What does PICO stand for?
a) Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
b) Patient, Investigation, Comparison, Outlier
c) Population, Intervention, Counter-Intervention, Outlier
d) Problem, Investigation, Counter-Intervention, Outcome - correct answer-a
Every member of the healthcare team has a role to play in cost containment. Which of the following is a
n example of how the perioperative RN can participate in cost containment in the OR?
a) Ask the surgeon to use a less expensive implant
b) Begin cleaning the OR for the next case before the patient leaves the room
c) Open all supplies listed on preference card, including "available" supplies
d) Verify with surgeon before opening suture - correct answer-d
An RN who attends continuing nursing education and has verified skills, knowledge, and attitudes about
perioperative nursing is demonstrating accountability in his/her:
a) Certification requirements for professional achievement in perioperative nursing
b) Collaboration among team members
c) Professional growth and maintenance of competency
d) Verification of nursing knowledge - correct answer-c
Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning use of the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Pra
ctice?
a) Both medical and nursingRlicensing boards require health care institutions to comply with the AORN g
uidelines
b) The AORN Guidelines legally supersede departmental and institutional policies
c) The AORN Guidelines reflect scientific evidence of how nurses actually practice in perioperative settin
gs
d) Work setting and situation variationsRmay determine the extent to which AORN Guidelines can be ap
plied - correct answer-d
,Which of the following is NOT an example of an ethical dilemma that perioperative nurses may encount
er?
a) Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order for a surgical patient
b) Family disagreement regardings possible organ donation
c) Family disagreement about a below the knee amputation on an 18 year old who has already given co
nsent
d) Human experimentation - correct answer-c
The phrase "At least one individual failed to do what a similarly situated, reasonable, and prudent profe
ssional would have done under similar circumstances" is the definition of:
a) Abandonment
b) Negligence
c) Unethical behavior
d) Malpractice - correct answer-b
All of the following are accurate descriptions of "professional accountability" EXCEPT:
a) Becoming certified in your specialty
b) Collaborating with peers in selecting the right instruments and right equipment for each patient
c) Pursuing a higher academic degree
d) Relying ONLY on peer evaluations
e) Staying current with changes in your specialty - correct answer-d
Part of the AORN standards of Professional Practice mandate that nurses evaluate the quality of their nu
rsing practice. Four ways to ensure professional practice related to the AORN practice include: maintaini
ng competency, the use of evidence-based practice, certification, and:
a) Mentoring student nurses
b) Pursuit of lifelong learning
c) Achieving a minimum of an associate's degree
d) Achievement of an advanced practice nurse degree - correct answer-b
,After transferringRa male patient into the Phase I PACU, the perioperative RN could reasonably expect th
e PACU RN to FIRST:
a) Administer medication to the patient for nausea and vomiting
b) Ask the patient is he has any pain
c) Assess the patient's airway and respirations
d) Care for this patient and two other patients asRassigned - correct answer-c
During a handover report to the PACU RN, the perioperative RN may use a communication method iden
tified by the acronym "SBAR." What does SBAR stand for?
a) Safety, Background, Actions, Recovery expectations
b) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
c) Safety concerns, Background, Assessment, Responsibility
d) Surgeon, Background, Assessment, Recovery time -Rcorrect answer-b
A 40-year-
old male patient is awake and alert in the post anesthesia care unit after right shoulder surgery. WhatRis
the BEST measure to assess the patient's pain?
a) Discuss the patient's pain with a close family member
b) Observe facial expressions and behaviors
c) AskRpatient to describe his pain or use a standardized pain scale
d) Monitor vital sign changes - correct answer-c
What would be the MOST important information for a nurse in Preadmission Testing (PAT) to collect on
an insulin dependent diabetic patient?
a) How long the patient has been diabetic
b) If there is someone to drive them home
c) The last time the patient ate or drank
d) The type of insulin the patient takes - correct answer-d
, The Perianesthesia nurse has ASPAN to guide their practice. What does ASPAN stand for?
a) American Sterilization of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
b) Association of Specialized PeriAnesthesia Nursing
c) American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nursing
d) Association of Surgical Post Anesthesia NursingR-Rcorrect answer-c
You have completed your case and must now transport your patient to PACU. To give report to the PACU
nurse, your facility requires that you provide report in SBAR, which stands for:
a) Safety, Background, Actions, Recovery, Expectations
b) Safety concerns, Background, Assessment, Responsibilities
c) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendations
d) Surgeon, Background, Assessment, Recovery time -Rcorrect answer-c
You have just transferred your patient into the Phase I PACU. Which activities would you expect to obser
ve FIRST?
a) Administering medication for nausea and vomiting
b) Asking patients if they have any pain
c) Assessing patient airway and respirations
d) Caring for patients in 1:3 ratio - correct answer-c
ARhand-
over communication report is given by the anesthesia professional and the ?
a) Surgical resident
b) Medical student
c) OR nurse
d) Inpatient nurse - correct answer-c
What should be included as part of the psychological nursing assessment?
a) Anxiety, temperature, and religious beliefs
b) Anxiety, temperature, and cultural practices
