CNOR Trivia 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In sterile processing, what does the acronym 'IUSS' stand for?
- Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (Correct answer)
- Instrument Ultrasonic Sterilization System
- Integrated Universal Sterilization Standard
- Intraoperative Urgent Sterilization Sequence
Correct answer: Immediate Use Steam Sterilization
IUSS (Immediate Use Steam Sterilization) is the process of sterilizing an item for immediate patient use, formerly called flash sterilization; it should not be used as a routine sterilization method.
Question 2: What is the correct sequence for donning sterile attire in the OR?
- Gloves first, then gown
- Gown first, then gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask and cap first, then gown and gloves simultaneously
- Either gown or gloves can be donned first — order does not matter
Correct answer: Gown first, then gloves
The gown is donned first, secured, then sterile gloves are applied to maintain the integrity of the sterile field; gloves over the gown cuffs complete the sterile barrier.
Question 3: Which type of anesthesia blocks sensation to a specific body region by injecting anesthetic near a nerve trunk?
- General anesthesia
- Local infiltration
- Regional (nerve block) anesthesia (Correct answer)
- Monitored anesthesia care (MAC)
Correct answer: Regional (nerve block) anesthesia
Regional anesthesia (nerve block) interrupts nerve transmission to a specific body region by depositing local anesthetic near a major nerve or nerve plexus.
Question 4: Which body position is commonly used for posterior spinal, rectal, and some gluteal surgeries?
- Supine
- Trendelenburg
- Jackknife (Kraske) (Correct answer)
- Reverse Trendelenburg
Correct answer: Jackknife (Kraske)
The jackknife (Kraske) position flexes the patient at the hips with the buttocks elevated, providing excellent exposure for rectal, coccygeal, and perianal procedures.
Question 5: Surgical smoke (plume) in the OR poses health risks primarily because it contains:
- Radioactive particles and gamma radiation
- Viable cellular material, toxic chemicals, and viable viruses or bacteria (Correct answer)
- Only steam that condenses harmlessly when cooled
- Inert gas byproducts of combustion
Correct answer: Viable cellular material, toxic chemicals, and viable viruses or bacteria
Surgical smoke contains mutagenic/carcinogenic chemicals, viable cellular fragments, and potentially infectious viral and bacterial particles that pose inhalation risks to the surgical team.
Question 6: The responsibility for ensuring the patient's informed consent is documented before surgery rests primarily with:
- The circulating nurse
- The anesthesia provider
- The operating surgeon (Correct answer)
- The hospital administrator
Correct answer: The operating surgeon
Obtaining informed consent is the legal and ethical responsibility of the operating surgeon, who must explain the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Question 7: Which organization publishes the 'Guidelines for Perioperative Practice' that serves as a primary evidence-based resource for CNOR candidates?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) (Correct answer)
- The Joint Commission (TJC)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Correct answer: Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
AORN publishes the 'Guidelines for Perioperative Practice,' the comprehensive evidence-based resource that perioperative nurses, including CNOR candidates, use as their practice standard.
CNOR Trivia 5
In sterile processing, what does the acronym 'IUSS' stand for?