CNOR Practice Exam Prep by CCI Questions
With Correct | 2026/27
Domain 1: Pre/Postoperative Patient Assessment and Diagnosis (15%)
Question 1
A patient with a history of malignant hyperthermia is scheduled for surgery. Which
preoperative action is most critical for the perioperative nurse to take?
A) Ensure the patient has a clear liquid diet 2 hours prior to surgery.
B) Confirm the availability of dantrolene sodium on the anesthesia cart.
C) Instruct the patient to remove all jewelry and nail polish.
D) Verify the patient has signed the surgical consent form.
Answer: B
Rationale: The most critical action for a patient with a history of malignant
hyperthermia is to ensure the emergency treatment, dantrolene sodium, is
immediately available in the operating room. This is a direct and life-saving
intervention. While options A, C, and D are standard preoperative steps, they are
not specific to the critical risk of malignant hyperthermia .
Question 2
During the preoperative assessment, the nurse notes that a patient has a latex
allergy. What is the priority action?
A) Place the patient in a private room.
B) Administer prophylactic diphenhydramine.
C) Schedule the patient as the first case of the day.
D) Ensure all latex-containing products are removed from the OR.
Answer: D
Rationale: The priority action is to create a latex-safe environment. The most
effective intervention is to remove all latex-containing products from the patient's
,environment, including the operating room, to prevent exposure and a potentially
life-threatening reaction .
Question 3
A patient is scheduled for a total knee arthroplasty. The nurse's preoperative
assessment reveals a history of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Which
postoperative risk is the patient most susceptible to?
A) Delayed wound healing.
B) Urinary retention.
C) Hypoventilation and respiratory depression.
D) Deep vein thrombosis.
Answer: C
Rationale: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are at high risk for respiratory
depression and hypoventilation in the postoperative period, especially following
anesthesia and opioid administration. This risk requires careful monitoring and
potential use of CPAP/BiPAP .
Question 4
Which patient statement indicates a need for further teaching regarding
preoperative preparation?
A) "I will stop taking my herbal supplements, like ginkgo biloba, 7 days before
surgery."
B) "I will continue to take my aspirin every day until the morning of surgery."
C) "I will not eat or drink anything after midnight, including water."
D) "I will bring my CPAP machine with me on the day of surgery."
Answer: B
Rationale: Aspirin is an anticoagulant and should typically be stopped 7 days
before surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding. The patient's statement indicates a
need for further teaching. The other statements demonstrate correct
understanding of preoperative instructions .
, Question 5
The perioperative nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which assessment
finding should be reported to the surgical team as a potential contraindication to
surgery?
A) The patient's blood glucose is 120 mg/dL.
B) The patient's temperature is 37.2°C (99°F).
C) The patient's white blood cell count is 15,000/mm³.
D) The patient's hemoglobin is 12.5 g/dL.
Answer: C
Rationale: An elevated white blood cell count (15,000/mm³) indicates a potential
infection. This finding could be a contraindication for elective surgery and should
be reported to the surgical team for evaluation. The other values are within
normal or acceptable ranges .
Question 6
In the preoperative phase, what is the primary purpose of the surgical site
marking?
A) To identify the patient's correct identity.
B) To ensure the correct procedure is performed on the correct site.
C) To confirm the patient's consent is valid.
D) To check for any allergies.
Answer: B
Rationale: The surgical site marking is a key component of the Universal Protocol
and is performed to ensure the correct procedure is performed on the correct
patient and at the correct site. Its primary purpose is to prevent wrong-site
surgery .
Question 7
The patient's chart indicates a history of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
With Correct | 2026/27
Domain 1: Pre/Postoperative Patient Assessment and Diagnosis (15%)
Question 1
A patient with a history of malignant hyperthermia is scheduled for surgery. Which
preoperative action is most critical for the perioperative nurse to take?
A) Ensure the patient has a clear liquid diet 2 hours prior to surgery.
B) Confirm the availability of dantrolene sodium on the anesthesia cart.
C) Instruct the patient to remove all jewelry and nail polish.
D) Verify the patient has signed the surgical consent form.
Answer: B
Rationale: The most critical action for a patient with a history of malignant
hyperthermia is to ensure the emergency treatment, dantrolene sodium, is
immediately available in the operating room. This is a direct and life-saving
intervention. While options A, C, and D are standard preoperative steps, they are
not specific to the critical risk of malignant hyperthermia .
Question 2
During the preoperative assessment, the nurse notes that a patient has a latex
allergy. What is the priority action?
A) Place the patient in a private room.
B) Administer prophylactic diphenhydramine.
C) Schedule the patient as the first case of the day.
D) Ensure all latex-containing products are removed from the OR.
Answer: D
Rationale: The priority action is to create a latex-safe environment. The most
effective intervention is to remove all latex-containing products from the patient's
,environment, including the operating room, to prevent exposure and a potentially
life-threatening reaction .
Question 3
A patient is scheduled for a total knee arthroplasty. The nurse's preoperative
assessment reveals a history of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Which
postoperative risk is the patient most susceptible to?
A) Delayed wound healing.
B) Urinary retention.
C) Hypoventilation and respiratory depression.
D) Deep vein thrombosis.
Answer: C
Rationale: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are at high risk for respiratory
depression and hypoventilation in the postoperative period, especially following
anesthesia and opioid administration. This risk requires careful monitoring and
potential use of CPAP/BiPAP .
Question 4
Which patient statement indicates a need for further teaching regarding
preoperative preparation?
A) "I will stop taking my herbal supplements, like ginkgo biloba, 7 days before
surgery."
B) "I will continue to take my aspirin every day until the morning of surgery."
C) "I will not eat or drink anything after midnight, including water."
D) "I will bring my CPAP machine with me on the day of surgery."
Answer: B
Rationale: Aspirin is an anticoagulant and should typically be stopped 7 days
before surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding. The patient's statement indicates a
need for further teaching. The other statements demonstrate correct
understanding of preoperative instructions .
, Question 5
The perioperative nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which assessment
finding should be reported to the surgical team as a potential contraindication to
surgery?
A) The patient's blood glucose is 120 mg/dL.
B) The patient's temperature is 37.2°C (99°F).
C) The patient's white blood cell count is 15,000/mm³.
D) The patient's hemoglobin is 12.5 g/dL.
Answer: C
Rationale: An elevated white blood cell count (15,000/mm³) indicates a potential
infection. This finding could be a contraindication for elective surgery and should
be reported to the surgical team for evaluation. The other values are within
normal or acceptable ranges .
Question 6
In the preoperative phase, what is the primary purpose of the surgical site
marking?
A) To identify the patient's correct identity.
B) To ensure the correct procedure is performed on the correct site.
C) To confirm the patient's consent is valid.
D) To check for any allergies.
Answer: B
Rationale: The surgical site marking is a key component of the Universal Protocol
and is performed to ensure the correct procedure is performed on the correct
patient and at the correct site. Its primary purpose is to prevent wrong-site
surgery .
Question 7
The patient's chart indicates a history of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
