AORN AORN Medication Safety

Question 1

What is the correct method for transferring a medication from a vial to the sterile field?

Accepted Answer

The circulator holds the vial while the scrub person withdraws the medication using sterile technique, or the circulator pours it into a sterile container

Answer

Medications are transferred to the sterile field either by the circulator presenting the vial for the scrub to withdraw from, or by pouring into a sterile basin, maintaining sterility throughout.

Question 2

How should all medications and solutions on the sterile back table be labeled?

Accepted Answer

Each container must be labeled with the drug name, concentration, and amount immediately upon transfer to the field

Answer

AORN and The Joint Commission require that every medication and solution on the sterile field be labeled immediately — even if only one medication is present — to prevent mix-ups.

Question 3

Which of the following is considered a 'high-alert medication' in the perioperative setting?

Accepted Answer

Heparin

Answer

Heparin is classified as a high-alert medication because errors in its administration can cause catastrophic anticoagulation events; it requires independent double-checks.

Question 4

What must the scrub person do before handing a medication syringe to the surgeon?

Accepted Answer

Verbally state the drug name and concentration to the surgeon and confirm acknowledgment

Answer

A verbal read-back exchange between the scrub person and surgeon before medication delivery is a required safety check that reduces wrong-drug administration.

Question 5

When should medications on the sterile field be discarded?

Accepted Answer

At the end of the procedure or when the sterile field is broken, whichever comes first

Answer

Any medication remaining on the sterile field must be discarded when the field is broken or the procedure ends to prevent use of potentially contaminated or degraded drugs.

(AORN) Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses Practice Test

(AORN) Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses Practice Test

AORN AORN Medication Safety