CNO Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CNO facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following responsibilities falls exclusively under the mandate of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)? → Establishing requirements for entry to practice to ensure public safety.
2. Which of the following best describes 'implied consent' in nursing practice? → Consent inferred from a client's actions or behavior
3. The CNO's requirement for all regulated health colleges in Ontario to establish and maintain a Quality Assurance Program is mandated by which legislation? → The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA)
4. According to CNO principles, which factor most significantly contributes to medication errors in nursing practice? → Interruptions during medication preparation and administration
5. Which of the following best describes a 'near-miss' in clinical safety terminology? → An event that could have caused harm but was intercepted before reaching the client
6. Which of the following situations would require a nurse to ensure a new consent is obtained before proceeding? → The treatment plan has changed significantly from what was originally consented to
7. A nurse observes a colleague administering medication without performing client identification checks. What is the most appropriate action? → Address the concern directly with the colleague and, if needed, escalate to a supervisor
8. The obligation to answer for the professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities of one's activities and duties. → Accountability
9. A client asks 'What is this medication for?' before the nurse administers it. What is the nurse's primary obligation? → Provide clear information about the medication to support ongoing informed consent
10. Under the Health Care Consent Act, how is capacity to consent assessed for a client with dementia who requires multiple procedures? → Specifically for each treatment decision being made
11. A nurse is caring for a client on contact precautions. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) must be donned before entering the client's room? → Gloves and gown at minimum before room entry
12. To determine if performing a specific activity is within their scope of practice, a nurse must consider three essential components. These are: → Authority, Context, and Competence.
13. Under the Regulated Health Professions Act, when is a nurse legally required to self-report to the CNO? → Within 30 days of being charged with any offence.
14. A nurse auscultates a client's abdomen before and after administering a nasogastric tube feeding. What is the purpose of this assessment? → To confirm tube placement and assess bowel sounds indicating gut motility
15. When documenting a health assessment finding as 'WNL,' what does this abbreviation mean? → Within Normal Limits
16. A client who consented to surgery last week now expresses hesitation immediately before the procedure. What should the nurse do? → Stop and notify the surgeon, as clients may withdraw consent at any time
17. During a mental status examination, which assessment tool is commonly used to screen for cognitive impairment in older adults? → MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination)
18. Which of the following is a mandatory component of the CNO's Quality Assurance (QA) Program for all nurses in the General and Extended classes? → Engaging in practice reflection and developing a Learning Plan annually.
19. In clinical decision making, which action best reflects evidence-based practice as required by CNO standards? → Using validated research evidence combined with clinical expertise and client preferences
20. A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which action is most important in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)? → Maintain strict aseptic technique throughout the insertion procedure
21. Actively supporting a right and good cause; supporting others for speaking for themselves or speaking on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. → Advocate
22. A nurse is performing a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment. Which three components are evaluated? → Eye opening, verbal response, and motor response
23. A client writes to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) stating that a nurse assaulted him during care. What action may CNO take in this situation? → Investigate the allegation
24. A nurse has been randomly selected by the CNO for a Quality Assurance (QA) Assessment. What is the primary purpose of this component of the QA Program? → To promote continuing competence and the quality improvement of a nurse's practice.
25. When using the SBAR communication tool during client handover, what does the 'R' stand for? → Recommendation
26. When a nurse identifies an adverse event that caused client harm, which action reflects CNO's transparency and disclosure standards? → Ensure the client and family are informed of what happened as soon as possible
27. A nurse notes that a client's capillary refill time is 4 seconds. How should the nurse interpret this finding? → Abnormal — may indicate poor peripheral perfusion
28. A nurse is caring for a client who speaks limited English. How should the nurse best conduct the health assessment? → Use a trained professional interpreter to ensure accurate communication
29. When assessing a client's skin turgor, the nurse pinches the skin on the back of the hand and notes it returns slowly. This finding suggests: → Dehydration or decreased skin elasticity
30. A capable client refuses a treatment the nurse believes is in the client's best interest. What is the nurse's most appropriate response? → Respect the refusal, document it, and report to the team