CCI First Edition CNOR Exam Prep Chapters 1-9 Questions and
Answers (10 numbered questions from each chapter)
1. Which patient population is more sensitive to dosage errors?
A. Male patients ages 25-40
B. Bariatric patients
C. A patient with a history of polypharmacy
D. Pediatric patients Correct Answer: D. Pediatric patients
Rationale: Pediatric patients are at higher risk of medication errors related to dosing for body
size. Patient weight should always be recorded in kilograms for medication dosage calculations.
Other populations at high risk including geriatric patients and those patient with impaired body
systems.
2. The goal of medication reconciliation is to:
A. inform the patient of anesthetic medication administered intraoperatively.
B. save the surgeon from having to look up medications later.
C. promote safe patient outcomes related to medication administration
D. save the floor nurse work when admitting the patient Correct Answer: C. promote safe
patient outcomes related to medication administration
Rationale: Medication reconciliation is done to promote safe patient outcomes. It is a process of
comparing the medications that a patient is currently using at home with medications that are
ordered for him or her by the current health care provider.
3. A perioperative nurse is assessing a patient preoperatively for carpal tunnel surgery. Which of
the following would be a possible contraindication to using a tourniquet on the operative side?
A. the patient is wearing a wedding ring on the operative side
B. The patient drank coffee with milk five hours ago
C. the patient has a dialysis access device on the operative side
D. the patient's dominant hand is the same as the operative side Correct Answer: C. The patient
has a dialysis access device on the operative side
Rationale: The perioperative nursing assessment should include any medication conditions that
may be contraindicated during the preparation and care of the patient undergoing surgery.
Tourniquet use is contraindicated on limbs with a dialysis access device present because use of
the tourniquet on that limb will diminish blood flow to the fistula, increasing the risk for clot
formation in the fistula.
4. Which of the following is part of the surgical safety checklist?
A. When the patient last ate food or drank liquids
B. Whether any special equipment, devices, or implants will be needed
C. Whom the surgeon should talk to after surgery
D. What pharmacy the patient uses Correct Answer: B. Whether any special equipment, devices,
or implants will be needed
,Rationale: The comprehensive surgical checklist is part of the Universal Protocol that is
supported and endorsed by both the World Health Organization and The Joint Commission.
Identifying if there are any special equipment, devices, or implants needed for the surgical
procedure is part of the preoperative check-in.
5. Which of the following authoritative organizations is responsible for delineating the accepted
list of nursing diagnosis?
A. NANDA International
B. American Nurses Association
C. AORN
D. The Joint Commission Correct Answer: A. NANDA International
Rationale: NANDA International is the organization responsible for creating and updating the
current list of nursing diagnoses. NANDA classifies human response patterns and standardizes
the terminology for all nursing diagnoses.
6. Surgical site marking should be performed by the:
A. patient before coming to the hospital
B. surgeon after the site and side (if applicable) have been surgically prepped and draped.
C. nurse doing the patient preoperative assessment
D. surgeon before the patient receives any sedatives Correct Answer: D. Surgeon before the
patient receives any sedatives
Rationale: Surgical site marking should be performed by the surgeon before the patient receives
any sedatives. The nurse performing the perioperative assessment verifies the site and side (if
applicable) and this site verification is performed again with the surgical team before the incision
is made.
7. What part of the preoperative assessment indicates that a patient is at risk for postoperative
deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. History of varicosities
B. History of alcohol abuse
C. Recent upper respiratory infection
D. Body mass index greater than 26 Correct Answer: A. History of varicosities
Rationale: During the preoperative assessment, the nurse should assess the patient for conditions
that may suggest an increased risk of DVT development. These risks include a personal or family
history of thrombosis, coagulopathy, blood clots, blood-clotting disorders, previous deep vein
thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, varicosities or leg swelling, smoking, or living sedentary or
nonambulatory lifestyle for more than 72 hours.
8. Actively warming surgical patients with forced air to prevent hypothermia should begin:
A. as soon as the patient enters the OR or procedure room
B. in the recovery room
C. in the preoperative holding area
, D. just before the surgeon makes the incision Correct Answer: C. in the preoperative holding
area
Rationale: Research has shown that, to be most effective, forced air warming should be initiated
in the preoperative holding area and continued intraoperatively. Preoperatively warming the
patient with forced air warming before induction of anesthesia minimizes heat loss more
effectively than use of warmed cotton blankets alone.
9. Which of the following indicators demonstrates a patient who is at increased risk of
developing a pressure ulcer during a surgical procedure?
A. Aged 50 or older
B. History of recent gallbladder surgery
C. Female patient
D. Poor preoperative nutritional status Correct Answer: D. Poor preoperative nutritional status
Rationale: The perioperative nurse should take additional precautions to decrease the risk of
developing a pressure ulcer in patients who are older than 70 years of age; who require vascular
procedures or any procedure lasting longer than four hours; who are thin, small in stature, or
have poor preoperative nutritional status; who are diabetic or have vascular disease; or who have
a preoperative Braden score that is less than 20.
10. The perioperative nurse performs a preoperative assessment on a surgical patient to aid in the
development of:
A. the complete medical record
B. the patient's plan of care
C. the surgeon's postoperative note
D. future research in perioperative nursing Correct Answer: B. the patient's plan of care
Rationale: The perioperative nurse must complete a preoperative assessment on his or her patient
to facilitate identification of the appropriate nursing diagnosis, development of a plan for the
appropriate interventions and care, and achievement of the desired surgical outcomes.
1. A patient's life-threatening injuries prevent required hair removal before transfer to the OR.
The best course of action for the perioperative nurse to follow is to:
A. leave the hair at the incision site and prep the patient
B. use a razor and 3" cloth tape to remove the hair
C. moisten the area to be prepped and use a disposable clipper
D. use a depilatory cream on the surgical site Correct Answer: C. moisten the area to be prepped
and use a disposable clipper
Rationale: Prevention of hair dispersal for hair removed in the OR may be accomplished by wet
clipping.
2. The optimal time to apply intermittent compression pneumatic devices to prevent deep vein
thrombosis is:
A. when the surgical procedure is scheduled
Answers (10 numbered questions from each chapter)
1. Which patient population is more sensitive to dosage errors?
A. Male patients ages 25-40
B. Bariatric patients
C. A patient with a history of polypharmacy
D. Pediatric patients Correct Answer: D. Pediatric patients
Rationale: Pediatric patients are at higher risk of medication errors related to dosing for body
size. Patient weight should always be recorded in kilograms for medication dosage calculations.
Other populations at high risk including geriatric patients and those patient with impaired body
systems.
2. The goal of medication reconciliation is to:
A. inform the patient of anesthetic medication administered intraoperatively.
B. save the surgeon from having to look up medications later.
C. promote safe patient outcomes related to medication administration
D. save the floor nurse work when admitting the patient Correct Answer: C. promote safe
patient outcomes related to medication administration
Rationale: Medication reconciliation is done to promote safe patient outcomes. It is a process of
comparing the medications that a patient is currently using at home with medications that are
ordered for him or her by the current health care provider.
3. A perioperative nurse is assessing a patient preoperatively for carpal tunnel surgery. Which of
the following would be a possible contraindication to using a tourniquet on the operative side?
A. the patient is wearing a wedding ring on the operative side
B. The patient drank coffee with milk five hours ago
C. the patient has a dialysis access device on the operative side
D. the patient's dominant hand is the same as the operative side Correct Answer: C. The patient
has a dialysis access device on the operative side
Rationale: The perioperative nursing assessment should include any medication conditions that
may be contraindicated during the preparation and care of the patient undergoing surgery.
Tourniquet use is contraindicated on limbs with a dialysis access device present because use of
the tourniquet on that limb will diminish blood flow to the fistula, increasing the risk for clot
formation in the fistula.
4. Which of the following is part of the surgical safety checklist?
A. When the patient last ate food or drank liquids
B. Whether any special equipment, devices, or implants will be needed
C. Whom the surgeon should talk to after surgery
D. What pharmacy the patient uses Correct Answer: B. Whether any special equipment, devices,
or implants will be needed
,Rationale: The comprehensive surgical checklist is part of the Universal Protocol that is
supported and endorsed by both the World Health Organization and The Joint Commission.
Identifying if there are any special equipment, devices, or implants needed for the surgical
procedure is part of the preoperative check-in.
5. Which of the following authoritative organizations is responsible for delineating the accepted
list of nursing diagnosis?
A. NANDA International
B. American Nurses Association
C. AORN
D. The Joint Commission Correct Answer: A. NANDA International
Rationale: NANDA International is the organization responsible for creating and updating the
current list of nursing diagnoses. NANDA classifies human response patterns and standardizes
the terminology for all nursing diagnoses.
6. Surgical site marking should be performed by the:
A. patient before coming to the hospital
B. surgeon after the site and side (if applicable) have been surgically prepped and draped.
C. nurse doing the patient preoperative assessment
D. surgeon before the patient receives any sedatives Correct Answer: D. Surgeon before the
patient receives any sedatives
Rationale: Surgical site marking should be performed by the surgeon before the patient receives
any sedatives. The nurse performing the perioperative assessment verifies the site and side (if
applicable) and this site verification is performed again with the surgical team before the incision
is made.
7. What part of the preoperative assessment indicates that a patient is at risk for postoperative
deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. History of varicosities
B. History of alcohol abuse
C. Recent upper respiratory infection
D. Body mass index greater than 26 Correct Answer: A. History of varicosities
Rationale: During the preoperative assessment, the nurse should assess the patient for conditions
that may suggest an increased risk of DVT development. These risks include a personal or family
history of thrombosis, coagulopathy, blood clots, blood-clotting disorders, previous deep vein
thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, varicosities or leg swelling, smoking, or living sedentary or
nonambulatory lifestyle for more than 72 hours.
8. Actively warming surgical patients with forced air to prevent hypothermia should begin:
A. as soon as the patient enters the OR or procedure room
B. in the recovery room
C. in the preoperative holding area
, D. just before the surgeon makes the incision Correct Answer: C. in the preoperative holding
area
Rationale: Research has shown that, to be most effective, forced air warming should be initiated
in the preoperative holding area and continued intraoperatively. Preoperatively warming the
patient with forced air warming before induction of anesthesia minimizes heat loss more
effectively than use of warmed cotton blankets alone.
9. Which of the following indicators demonstrates a patient who is at increased risk of
developing a pressure ulcer during a surgical procedure?
A. Aged 50 or older
B. History of recent gallbladder surgery
C. Female patient
D. Poor preoperative nutritional status Correct Answer: D. Poor preoperative nutritional status
Rationale: The perioperative nurse should take additional precautions to decrease the risk of
developing a pressure ulcer in patients who are older than 70 years of age; who require vascular
procedures or any procedure lasting longer than four hours; who are thin, small in stature, or
have poor preoperative nutritional status; who are diabetic or have vascular disease; or who have
a preoperative Braden score that is less than 20.
10. The perioperative nurse performs a preoperative assessment on a surgical patient to aid in the
development of:
A. the complete medical record
B. the patient's plan of care
C. the surgeon's postoperative note
D. future research in perioperative nursing Correct Answer: B. the patient's plan of care
Rationale: The perioperative nurse must complete a preoperative assessment on his or her patient
to facilitate identification of the appropriate nursing diagnosis, development of a plan for the
appropriate interventions and care, and achievement of the desired surgical outcomes.
1. A patient's life-threatening injuries prevent required hair removal before transfer to the OR.
The best course of action for the perioperative nurse to follow is to:
A. leave the hair at the incision site and prep the patient
B. use a razor and 3" cloth tape to remove the hair
C. moisten the area to be prepped and use a disposable clipper
D. use a depilatory cream on the surgical site Correct Answer: C. moisten the area to be prepped
and use a disposable clipper
Rationale: Prevention of hair dispersal for hair removed in the OR may be accomplished by wet
clipping.
2. The optimal time to apply intermittent compression pneumatic devices to prevent deep vein
thrombosis is:
A. when the surgical procedure is scheduled
