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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Healthcare

Perioperative Nursing Certification Practice Test

Sharpen Your Surgical Care Exam Skills

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting a quiz on Perioperative Nursing Certification Practice Test.

Are you preparing for the perioperative nursing certification exam? This perioperative nursing quiz offers 15 targeted multiple-choice questions to reinforce your surgical care knowledge and boost confidence. Ideal for preoperative and postoperative care specialists, this practice test sharpens patient safety and aseptic technique skills. You can easily customize the quiz in our editor to tailor it to your study needs. For additional prep, explore related Nursing Knowledge Assessment Quiz and Nursing Entrance Exam Practice Quiz, or browse all quizzes.

Which action best demonstrates proper surgical hand antisepsis before a procedure?
Using an antimicrobial soap and water scrub for at least 2-6 minutes on each hand and forearm
Wearing sterile gloves over hands cleaned with water only
Washing hands with plain soap for one minute
Rubbing hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer for 30 seconds without washing
Using an antimicrobial soap and water scrub for the recommended duration reduces transient and resident flora on the skin. The specified 2-6 minute scrub allows effective removal of microorganisms and is endorsed in aseptic technique protocols.
What is the primary purpose of the surgical time-out performed before incision?
Assigning staff roles for the case
Confirming patient identity, surgical site, and procedure
Restocking supplies in the operating room
Cleaning and sterilizing all instruments
The surgical time-out is a universal protocol to verify patient identity, the correct surgical site, and the planned procedure. It prevents wrong-site and wrong-patient errors, enhancing perioperative safety.
Which instrument is primarily used for clamping small blood vessels during surgery?
Retractor
Tissue forceps
Scalpel
Hemostat
A hemostat is a clamp designed to occlude small blood vessels and control bleeding during surgery. It locks in place to maintain vessel compression until ligation or cauterization occurs.
During preoperative verification, which item is essential to confirm before transport to the operating room?
Known allergies
Family medical history
Spiritual or cultural beliefs
Patient dietary preferences
Confirming known allergies before surgery is critical to prevent intraoperative medication or latex reactions. Allergy verification is a standard component of the preoperative safety checklist.
Proper documentation of surgical counts at the end of a case should include which of the following?
The counts for sponges, sharps, and instruments
Only the instrument count
Only the number of sponges counted
Only the sharps count
Accurate documentation requires recording the counts of sponges, sharps, and instruments to ensure nothing is retained in the patient. This comprehensive approach reduces the risk of retained surgical items.
To maintain a sterile field, which practice is appropriate for the scrubbed surgical technologist?
Reaching across a sterile field to pass an instrument
Allowing water from scrub gutter to flow onto sterile drapes
Leaning over the sterile table to reach instruments
Keeping hands above waist level and within the sterile field
Maintaining hands above waist level prevents contamination by keeping them in view and within the sterile field. Any reach below waist or out of view risks contact with nonsterile areas.
What is the recommended skin prep motion and pattern when performing surgical site antisepsis?
Circular strokes moving from the incision site outward
Random back-and-forth strokes across the site
Crosshatch pattern ending at the incision site
Longitudinal strokes from head to foot
Circular strokes from the center outward reduce the spread of microorganisms back toward the cleaned area. This technique ensures contaminants are moved away from the incision site.
A count discrepancy is noted after closing one layer of tissue. What is the first action the team should take?
Notify the risk management department after case completion
Continue closing and order an intraoperative X-ray afterward
Stop closure, search the surgical field and surrounding area immediately
Document the discrepancy and finish the procedure
The first response to a count discrepancy is to halt closure and conduct a systematic search of the field and surrounding areas. Immediate action reduces the risk of a retained item before proceeding.
Which safety measure is required when using an electrosurgical unit on a patient?
Applying the dispersive electrode pad over a well-vascularized, dry area
Placing the electrode pad on a bony prominence for stability
Disconnecting the patient grounding before activation
Using wet drapes under the dispersive pad for better conduction
The dispersive (grounding) pad must be on a dry, well-vascularized area to ensure even current distribution and reduce burn risk. Incorrect pad placement or wet surfaces can cause skin injury.
Who is primarily responsible for documenting the surgical instrument and sponge counts?
Scrub technologist
Surgeon
Circulating nurse
Anesthesia provider
The circulating nurse oversees count documentation and ensures the scrub technologist's counts are recorded accurately. This role facilitates count reconciliation and patient safety.
Which postoperative sign is an early indicator of hypovolemia?
Bradycardia
Warm, flushed skin
Elevated blood pressure
Tachycardia
Tachycardia is a compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output when blood volume is low. Early recognition allows prompt fluid resuscitation.
What type of retractor is a Gelpi and where is it most commonly used?
Plastic, disposable for minor procedures
Handheld, moe suitable for large abdominal cases
Laparoscopic, for endoscopic visualization
Self-retaining with pointed tips for small incisions
The Gelpi retractor is self-retaining with sharp, pointed tips and is often used in orthopedic or small soft tissue procedures. Its design maintains wound exposure without continuous manual assistance.
What is the recommended operating room temperature range to reduce surgical site infection risk and maintain comfort?
15-18°C (59-64°F)
18-24°C (64-75°F)
30-35°C (86-95°F)
28-30°C (82-86°F)
An OR temperature of 18-24°C balances patient thermal regulation with staff comfort and helps minimize infection risk. Extremes can lead to hypothermia or heat stress.
During a laparoscopic procedure the camera lens repeatedly fogs. What is the best immediate action?
Call biomedical engineering to replace the entire tower
Increase CO2 insufflation to clear the view
Remove the scope and clean the lens with sterile saline or antifog solution
Continue and hope the fog clears on its own
Removing and cleaning the laparoscope with saline or a dedicated antifog agent restores visibility quickly. Addressing lens fog is essential to prevent surgical errors.
Which component is essential to include when obtaining informed consent for surgery?
Family agreement without patient signature
Consent from the nurse witnessing
Explanation of risks, benefits, and alternatives
Only the surgeon's signature
Informed consent requires that the patient understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the procedure. This ensures an autonomous, knowledgeable decision.
Under which circumstance is closed gloving most appropriate in the operating room?
When hands are considered nonsterile and need additional barrier
After gowning when hands remain inside the sterile cuffs
Before donning the surgical gown
For minor procedures where sterility is not critical
Closed gloving is performed after gowning with hands inside the gown cuffs, maintaining a sterile barrier. This technique prevents contamination when donning gloves.
Which steam sterilization cycle is appropriate for wrapped surgical instruments in a standard gravity displacement sterilizer?
134°C for 12 minutes at 30 psi
121°C for 4 minutes at 15 psi
121°C for 15 minutes at 15 psi
132°C for 4 minutes at 27 psi
A standard flash cycle for wrapped instruments often uses 132°C at 27 psi for 4 minutes. This ensures adequate sterilization without textile damage.
Before the first case of the day using a robotic surgery system, which check is most critical?
Ensuring all staff wear full protective lead aprons
Validating instrument calibration and system self-test completion
Confirming sponge counts are zero
Adjusting room temperature to maximum
Robotic systems require instrument calibration and a successful self-test to ensure accuracy and safety during surgery. Calibration errors can compromise precision and patient safety.
Following a wrong-site surgery event, what documentation is required according to safety protocols?
A verbal apology without formal documentation
An occurrence report, time-out verification, and root cause analysis
Replacing the surgical team immediately
Only a note in the patient's chart
Safety protocols mandate an occurrence report, documentation of the failed time-out, and a root cause analysis to prevent recurrence. This formal process drives system improvements.
A postoperative lab shows a potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
Document as low sodium and monitor glucose
Recognize hypokalemia and assess for muscle weakness or arrhythmias
Treat for hyperkalemia with calcium gluconate
Consider it within normal limits and continue routine care
A potassium of 3.0 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia, which can cause muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias. Prompt assessment and possible replacement are critical.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply aseptic techniques in surgical environments
  2. Identify key perioperative patient safety protocols
  3. Analyse surgical instrumentation and equipment functions
  4. Evaluate preoperative and postoperative patient assessments
  5. Demonstrate proper documentation for perioperative care

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master Aseptic Techniques - Keep the OR as germ-free as a superhero's lair! Sterilize every instrument, maintain a spotless field, and scrub those hands like a pro. These skills are your best defense against sneaky infections. Dive into aseptic secrets
    2. nurseslabs.com
  2. Implement Patient Safety Protocols - Think of checklists as your backstage pass to a flawless performance. Following standardized surgical safety steps helps you catch little details before they sneak up on you, so patients leave the OR with big smiles. Checklist crash course
    3. PMC article
  3. Understand Surgical Instruments - Meet your metal teammates! Learn each tool's name, purpose, and proper handling so you can pass scalpels and forceps like a pro DJ dropping beats. Efficiency here means smooth procedures and happier surgeons. Instrument guide
    4. nurseslabs.com
  4. Conduct Thorough Preoperative Assessments - Become the detective in scrubs: review medical histories, allergies, and meds to spot red flags before they become drama. A little extra sleuthing ensures a safer, stress-free surgery day. Preop prep tips
    5. ASLMS standards
  5. Perform Detailed Postoperative Evaluations - Your role isn't over when the last stitch is in place! Monitor vitals, wound healing, and pain levels like a vigilant guardian. Early detection of hiccups means patients bounce back faster. Postop recovery tips
    6. ASLMS standards
  6. Maintain Accurate Documentation - Be the record-keeping rock star! Jot down every detail of perioperative care with precision so your team can pick up where you left off - and the legal eagles stay happy. Documentation 101
    7. ASLMS standards
  7. Ensure Proper Skin Preparation - Think of antiseptics as your secret weapons against surgical site invaders. Apply the right agents with gentle technique to give microbes no place to hide. Skin prep strategies
    8. nursingcenter.com
  8. Manage Intraoperative Patient Positioning - Positioning isn't just comfort - it's prevention. Align patients to avoid pressure injuries, optimize surgical access, and keep everyone in the OR smiling. Positioning hacks
    9. nurseslabs.com
  9. Understand Anesthesia Implications - Put on your anesthesia radar! Know how different agents affect the body, watch for red-flag reactions, and coordinate with your anesthetist to keep patients in dreamland - safely. Anesthesia essentials
    10. nurseslabs.com
  10. Promote Effective Communication - Be the OR's best talker and listener! Clear, concise handoffs and real-time updates keep your team in perfect sync, creating a safe and supportive surgical symphony. Communication guide
    11. PMC article
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