AORN Review for Final Exam
Latest 2026 Update; consists of
the actual exam questions with all
the correct answers
Course
AORN
1. Which action by the circulating nurse best helps prevent retained surgical items?
A. Documenting counts after wound closure
B. Performing counts according to facility policy throughout the procedure
C. Counting only sponges used during the procedure
D. Delegating all counts to unlicensed personnel
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical counts should be performed at prescribed intervals according to policy to
prevent retained surgical items.
2. What is the primary purpose of the surgical "time-out"?
A. Confirm staff lunch schedules
B. Verify patient identity, procedure, and surgical site before incision
C. Complete postoperative documentation
D. Count instruments
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The time-out is a critical patient safety measure designed to prevent wrong-patient,
wrong-site, and wrong-procedure events.
3. Which patient is at highest risk for perioperative hypothermia?
A. Young adult undergoing a 20-minute procedure
B. Patient having a lengthy abdominal surgery under general anesthesia
C. Patient receiving local anesthesia for a skin biopsy
D. Patient having an eye examination
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Long surgical procedures and general anesthesia significantly increase hypothermia
risk.
4. The scrub person notices a break in sterile technique. What is the most appropriate
action?
A. Ignore it if no one else noticed
B. Correct the contamination immediately and report it
C. Wait until the procedure ends
D. Cover the contaminated area
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Any contamination must be addressed immediately to maintain a sterile environment
and reduce infection risk.
5. Which positioning complication is associated with prolonged pressure on bony
prominences?
A. Hypertension
B. Pressure injury
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Bronchospasm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Improper positioning can lead to tissue ischemia and pressure injuries.
6. What is the primary goal of surgical hand antisepsis?
A. Remove all microorganisms permanently
B. Reduce transient and resident microbial counts on the hands
C. Sterilize surgical gloves
D. Eliminate the need for sterile technique
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis significantly reduces microorganisms and lowers surgical
site infection risk.
7. Which statement regarding electrosurgical safety is correct?
,A. Alcohol-based prep solutions may increase fire risk if not allowed to dry completely
B. Electrosurgery eliminates all fire risks
C. Oxygen concentration is unrelated to surgical fires
D. Grounding pads are optional
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Flammable prep solutions must dry completely before draping and use of ignition
sources.
8. What is the most important intervention for preventing surgical site infections?
A. Maintaining aseptic technique throughout the procedure
B. Increasing operating room traffic
C. Shortening documentation time
D. Limiting instrument counts
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Strict aseptic technique remains one of the most effective methods for preventing
surgical site infections.
9. Which responsibility belongs primarily to the circulating nurse?
A. Passing instruments to the surgeon
B. Maintaining the sterile field from within the field
C. Advocating for the patient and coordinating perioperative care
D. Performing the surgical incision
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The circulating nurse serves as the patient's advocate and manages activities outside
the sterile field.
10. During specimen handling, the nurse should first:
A. Place the specimen in a drawer
B. Verify the specimen label and patient identification according to policy
C. Send the specimen without documentation
D. Transfer responsibility to environmental services
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Accurate specimen identification is essential to prevent diagnostic and treatment
errors.
11. Which factor contributes most significantly to surgical site infections (SSIs)?
A. Operating room wall color
B. Breaks in aseptic technique
C. Patient age alone
D. Surgical instrument brand
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Breaks in aseptic technique allow microorganisms to enter the surgical field and
significantly increase SSI risk.
12. The perioperative nurse notices moisture on the outside of a wrapped sterile tray. What
action is appropriate?
A. Use the tray immediately
B. Consider the tray contaminated and remove it from service
C. Dry the tray with a sterile towel
D. Use the contents for minor procedures only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Moisture can allow microorganisms to penetrate packaging, compromising sterility.
13. Which action best prevents wrong-site surgery?
A. Counting instruments before incision
B. Performing site marking and a surgical time-out
C. Completing documentation after surgery
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Site marking and the time-out process are critical components of wrong-site surgery
prevention.
14. What is the primary purpose of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery?
A. Treat existing infections
B. Reduce the risk of surgical site infections
Latest 2026 Update; consists of
the actual exam questions with all
the correct answers
Course
AORN
1. Which action by the circulating nurse best helps prevent retained surgical items?
A. Documenting counts after wound closure
B. Performing counts according to facility policy throughout the procedure
C. Counting only sponges used during the procedure
D. Delegating all counts to unlicensed personnel
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical counts should be performed at prescribed intervals according to policy to
prevent retained surgical items.
2. What is the primary purpose of the surgical "time-out"?
A. Confirm staff lunch schedules
B. Verify patient identity, procedure, and surgical site before incision
C. Complete postoperative documentation
D. Count instruments
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The time-out is a critical patient safety measure designed to prevent wrong-patient,
wrong-site, and wrong-procedure events.
3. Which patient is at highest risk for perioperative hypothermia?
A. Young adult undergoing a 20-minute procedure
B. Patient having a lengthy abdominal surgery under general anesthesia
C. Patient receiving local anesthesia for a skin biopsy
D. Patient having an eye examination
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Long surgical procedures and general anesthesia significantly increase hypothermia
risk.
4. The scrub person notices a break in sterile technique. What is the most appropriate
action?
A. Ignore it if no one else noticed
B. Correct the contamination immediately and report it
C. Wait until the procedure ends
D. Cover the contaminated area
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Any contamination must be addressed immediately to maintain a sterile environment
and reduce infection risk.
5. Which positioning complication is associated with prolonged pressure on bony
prominences?
A. Hypertension
B. Pressure injury
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Bronchospasm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Improper positioning can lead to tissue ischemia and pressure injuries.
6. What is the primary goal of surgical hand antisepsis?
A. Remove all microorganisms permanently
B. Reduce transient and resident microbial counts on the hands
C. Sterilize surgical gloves
D. Eliminate the need for sterile technique
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis significantly reduces microorganisms and lowers surgical
site infection risk.
7. Which statement regarding electrosurgical safety is correct?
,A. Alcohol-based prep solutions may increase fire risk if not allowed to dry completely
B. Electrosurgery eliminates all fire risks
C. Oxygen concentration is unrelated to surgical fires
D. Grounding pads are optional
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Flammable prep solutions must dry completely before draping and use of ignition
sources.
8. What is the most important intervention for preventing surgical site infections?
A. Maintaining aseptic technique throughout the procedure
B. Increasing operating room traffic
C. Shortening documentation time
D. Limiting instrument counts
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Strict aseptic technique remains one of the most effective methods for preventing
surgical site infections.
9. Which responsibility belongs primarily to the circulating nurse?
A. Passing instruments to the surgeon
B. Maintaining the sterile field from within the field
C. Advocating for the patient and coordinating perioperative care
D. Performing the surgical incision
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The circulating nurse serves as the patient's advocate and manages activities outside
the sterile field.
10. During specimen handling, the nurse should first:
A. Place the specimen in a drawer
B. Verify the specimen label and patient identification according to policy
C. Send the specimen without documentation
D. Transfer responsibility to environmental services
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Accurate specimen identification is essential to prevent diagnostic and treatment
errors.
11. Which factor contributes most significantly to surgical site infections (SSIs)?
A. Operating room wall color
B. Breaks in aseptic technique
C. Patient age alone
D. Surgical instrument brand
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Breaks in aseptic technique allow microorganisms to enter the surgical field and
significantly increase SSI risk.
12. The perioperative nurse notices moisture on the outside of a wrapped sterile tray. What
action is appropriate?
A. Use the tray immediately
B. Consider the tray contaminated and remove it from service
C. Dry the tray with a sterile towel
D. Use the contents for minor procedures only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Moisture can allow microorganisms to penetrate packaging, compromising sterility.
13. Which action best prevents wrong-site surgery?
A. Counting instruments before incision
B. Performing site marking and a surgical time-out
C. Completing documentation after surgery
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Site marking and the time-out process are critical components of wrong-site surgery
prevention.
14. What is the primary purpose of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery?
A. Treat existing infections
B. Reduce the risk of surgical site infections
