NIFA STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2023 -2024
The number one patient safety issue identified in a survey of peri-operative nurses is
preventing: - answer Wrong site/procedure/patient surgery
Reprocessing (flashing) instruments in the OR is high risk because: - answer OR personnel not
properly trained to reprocess instruments
To safely transfer and position patients in a manner that prevents shearing, personnel should
use a mechanical lifting device for a supine-to-supine transfer of a patient weighing more than: -
answer 157 lbs
_______________ should be the primary decision makers for what equipment and supplies are
purchased and stocked in the difficult airway management cart. - answer Anesthesia personnel
Proper specimen management techniques prevent errors and include all of the following
EXCEPT: - answer Receiving specimens from the surgical field then affixing patient label to each
Preventing surgical fires is a top priority for all OR personnel and members of the surgical team
should perform all of the following duties EXCEPT: - answer Perform a weekly fire risk
assessment
Peri-operative hypothermia is an important issue for all anesthetized patients because of all of
the following EXCEPT: - answer Increases risk of renal failure
Recommendations for preventing retained surgical items include all of the following EXCEPT: -
answer Utilizing a multidisciplinary team to resolve incorrect counts
,Select the appropriate order for administering blood and blood products. - answer Verify
informed consent for blood, verify patient identification and blood type and unit numbers
against blood tag and requisition slip with second licensed person, sign slips
Weighing sponges is a valuable tool for meticulous calculation of blood and fluid loss when
conducted correctly and used in appropriate circumstances. Select the response that correctly
reflects the best practice in weighing sponges. - answer Keep a running total blood loss
calculated from available sponges during procedure
Laparoscopic procedures that emergently convert to open procedures place the patient at risk
for unintentional retained foreign objects (RFOs). What new and evolving risk reduction strategy
could prevent RFOs and frustrating, time-consuming miscount adventures at the end of these
procedures? - answer Replacing or tagging sponges and laparotomy instruments with
radiofrequency identification (RFID) chips
A female patient with end-stage pancreatic cancer was admitted from hospice for a celiac plexus
block to treat intractable pain. She had a Whipple procedure 18 months earlier and enjoyed a
good quality of life until 3 weeks ago. She wanted to be able to complete "getting her things in
order" and saying good-bye to her friends and family while enjoying her last days pain-free. The
patient insisted that her Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) status NOT be rescinded. She was conscious
and competent and knew - answer PSDA and advance directives
A patient was presented with the prepared informed consent form during the discussion with
her surgeon concerning her scheduled vaginal-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy. She
demonstrated and verbalized that she understood all of the tenets of the procedure, risks,
expected outcome, complications, and procedural process. Before she signed the consent form,
she informed the surgeon that she did not want any medical students or surgical residents
performing any parts of the procedure other than a - answer right to informed consent.
Early on, during the preliminary sponge count on closure of a repair of a ruptured abdominal
aortic aneurysm, the circulating nurse was unable to account for 2 lap sponges. He had
meticulously maintained accountability for all sponges and instruments discarded from the
sterile field and bagged each sponge carefully. He immediately turned and addressed the entire
team in a clear voice. Select the appropriate communication that the circulating nurse must
employ during this count discrepancy. - answer "We have a count discrepancy. We started with
70 sponges and find only 68. We are missing 2 lap sponges. Everyone, please check your areas.
, The OR is a danger-prone area for both patients and staff. Providing a safe environment of care
for the patient involves identifying, mitigating, and managing the hazards inherent in surgical
care. Choose the answer below that completes the blanks in this sentence: The risk of the
surgical hazard of _________________ can be mitigated through _______________________. -
answer wrong patient, wrong site, and wrong side surgery; site marking and presurgical
checklists
A patient was transferred to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) by the anesthesia provider and
perioperative nurse. A hand-off report was given, using situation, background, assessment,
recommendation (SBAR) format, to the accepting PACU nurse. The first element of information
that should be presented in the hand-off report is: - answer patient identification and procedure
performed.
If a staff person receives a needlestick injury, what is the first corrective action? - answer Wash
wound with soap and water; flush mucous membranes.
Contact with infected patients or infectious material places healthcare workers at risk for
occupational-acquired infection. Which communicable disease are healthcare workers at risk for
acquiring or transmitting? - answer Seasonal influenza
Select the appropriate nursing action that supports hands-free instrument passing and sharps
safety. - answer Create a neutral hands-free area between the scrub person and surgeon with a
basin or magnetic mat.
Select the guideline that complements the design of the culture of safety model. - answer
Incorporate safe practices into your daily work when handling sharps.
A neutral zone is a predetermined location on the surgical field where sharps are placed for
retrieval by the surgeon. Which of the following is a best practice for the use of the neutral
zone? - answer Announce the transfer of each sharp before placing it in the neutral zone.
ANSWERS 2023 -2024
The number one patient safety issue identified in a survey of peri-operative nurses is
preventing: - answer Wrong site/procedure/patient surgery
Reprocessing (flashing) instruments in the OR is high risk because: - answer OR personnel not
properly trained to reprocess instruments
To safely transfer and position patients in a manner that prevents shearing, personnel should
use a mechanical lifting device for a supine-to-supine transfer of a patient weighing more than: -
answer 157 lbs
_______________ should be the primary decision makers for what equipment and supplies are
purchased and stocked in the difficult airway management cart. - answer Anesthesia personnel
Proper specimen management techniques prevent errors and include all of the following
EXCEPT: - answer Receiving specimens from the surgical field then affixing patient label to each
Preventing surgical fires is a top priority for all OR personnel and members of the surgical team
should perform all of the following duties EXCEPT: - answer Perform a weekly fire risk
assessment
Peri-operative hypothermia is an important issue for all anesthetized patients because of all of
the following EXCEPT: - answer Increases risk of renal failure
Recommendations for preventing retained surgical items include all of the following EXCEPT: -
answer Utilizing a multidisciplinary team to resolve incorrect counts
,Select the appropriate order for administering blood and blood products. - answer Verify
informed consent for blood, verify patient identification and blood type and unit numbers
against blood tag and requisition slip with second licensed person, sign slips
Weighing sponges is a valuable tool for meticulous calculation of blood and fluid loss when
conducted correctly and used in appropriate circumstances. Select the response that correctly
reflects the best practice in weighing sponges. - answer Keep a running total blood loss
calculated from available sponges during procedure
Laparoscopic procedures that emergently convert to open procedures place the patient at risk
for unintentional retained foreign objects (RFOs). What new and evolving risk reduction strategy
could prevent RFOs and frustrating, time-consuming miscount adventures at the end of these
procedures? - answer Replacing or tagging sponges and laparotomy instruments with
radiofrequency identification (RFID) chips
A female patient with end-stage pancreatic cancer was admitted from hospice for a celiac plexus
block to treat intractable pain. She had a Whipple procedure 18 months earlier and enjoyed a
good quality of life until 3 weeks ago. She wanted to be able to complete "getting her things in
order" and saying good-bye to her friends and family while enjoying her last days pain-free. The
patient insisted that her Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) status NOT be rescinded. She was conscious
and competent and knew - answer PSDA and advance directives
A patient was presented with the prepared informed consent form during the discussion with
her surgeon concerning her scheduled vaginal-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy. She
demonstrated and verbalized that she understood all of the tenets of the procedure, risks,
expected outcome, complications, and procedural process. Before she signed the consent form,
she informed the surgeon that she did not want any medical students or surgical residents
performing any parts of the procedure other than a - answer right to informed consent.
Early on, during the preliminary sponge count on closure of a repair of a ruptured abdominal
aortic aneurysm, the circulating nurse was unable to account for 2 lap sponges. He had
meticulously maintained accountability for all sponges and instruments discarded from the
sterile field and bagged each sponge carefully. He immediately turned and addressed the entire
team in a clear voice. Select the appropriate communication that the circulating nurse must
employ during this count discrepancy. - answer "We have a count discrepancy. We started with
70 sponges and find only 68. We are missing 2 lap sponges. Everyone, please check your areas.
, The OR is a danger-prone area for both patients and staff. Providing a safe environment of care
for the patient involves identifying, mitigating, and managing the hazards inherent in surgical
care. Choose the answer below that completes the blanks in this sentence: The risk of the
surgical hazard of _________________ can be mitigated through _______________________. -
answer wrong patient, wrong site, and wrong side surgery; site marking and presurgical
checklists
A patient was transferred to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) by the anesthesia provider and
perioperative nurse. A hand-off report was given, using situation, background, assessment,
recommendation (SBAR) format, to the accepting PACU nurse. The first element of information
that should be presented in the hand-off report is: - answer patient identification and procedure
performed.
If a staff person receives a needlestick injury, what is the first corrective action? - answer Wash
wound with soap and water; flush mucous membranes.
Contact with infected patients or infectious material places healthcare workers at risk for
occupational-acquired infection. Which communicable disease are healthcare workers at risk for
acquiring or transmitting? - answer Seasonal influenza
Select the appropriate nursing action that supports hands-free instrument passing and sharps
safety. - answer Create a neutral hands-free area between the scrub person and surgeon with a
basin or magnetic mat.
Select the guideline that complements the design of the culture of safety model. - answer
Incorporate safe practices into your daily work when handling sharps.
A neutral zone is a predetermined location on the surgical field where sharps are placed for
retrieval by the surgeon. Which of the following is a best practice for the use of the neutral
zone? - answer Announce the transfer of each sharp before placing it in the neutral zone.
