AORN Professional Roles and Responsibilities 2

Question 1

An AORN perioperative nurse serves as the patient advocate during surgery primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Ensuring the patient's rights and preferences are upheld when they cannot speak for themselves

Answer

Patient advocacy is a core perioperative nursing role, especially since patients under anesthesia cannot advocate for themselves.

Question 2

Which document outlines the scope of practice specifically for perioperative nurses?

Accepted Answer

AORN's Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS)

Answer

The PNDS is AORN's standardized nursing language that defines perioperative nursing practice and patient outcomes.

Question 3

When a scrub technician performs a task outside their competency, the circulating RN's professional responsibility is to:

Accepted Answer

Intervene immediately to protect patient safety

Answer

The circulating RN maintains accountability for overall patient safety and must intervene when any team member exceeds their competency.

Question 4

AORN's Standards of Perioperative Nursing Practice are best described as:

Accepted Answer

Authoritative statements that define the responsibilities of perioperative nurses

Answer

AORN's standards are authoritative, evidence-based statements that define the expected competencies and responsibilities of perioperative nurses.

Question 5

A perioperative nurse notices a colleague appears impaired at the start of a shift. The MOST appropriate action is to:

Accepted Answer

Report the concern to the charge nurse or supervisor immediately

Answer

An impaired colleague poses an immediate patient safety risk, requiring prompt reporting to a supervisor before any patient care occurs.

(AORN) Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses Practice Test