AORN AORN Medication Safety and Pharmacology

Question 1

Which practice is required when labeling medications on the sterile field according to AORN standards?

Accepted Answer

Label all medications immediately when transferred to the sterile field

Answer

Label medications only if more than two are present

Answer

Label medications after the procedure is complete

Answer

Label medications only when requested by the surgeon

Question 2

What is the perioperative nurse's responsibility when a surgeon requests an unlabeled medication on the sterile field?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to administer the unlabeled medication

Answer

Administer it if the surgeon verbally confirms the drug

Answer

Document verbal confirmation and proceed

Answer

Allow the scrub technician to decide

Question 3

During a surgical procedure, a medication cup without a label is found on the back table. What is the correct action?

Accepted Answer

Discard the unlabeled medication and notify the team

Answer

Ask the circulator what it might be

Answer

Cover the cup and continue the procedure

Answer

Transfer it to a labeled container

Question 4

Which information is required on a medication label applied to the sterile field per AORN guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Drug name, concentration, and expiration date/time

Answer

Drug name and surgeon's initials only

Answer

Drug name and lot number only

Answer

Drug name and patient allergies

Question 5

A perioperative nurse is preparing heparin for use on the sterile field. Which safety step is most critical?

Accepted Answer

Independent double-check of concentration with another qualified provider

Answer

Verbal confirmation with the anesthesia provider alone

Answer

Documentation in the anesthesia record before use

Answer

Checking the surgeon's preference card for the dose

Question 6

Which of the following is considered a high-alert medication in the perioperative setting per ISMP guidelines used by AORN?

Accepted Answer

Concentrated electrolytes

Answer

Normal saline

Answer

Sterile water for irrigation

Answer

Povidone-iodine solution