CNOR EXAM STUDY PLAN
The Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) often receives requests for information on how to study and
what to study when preparing for the CNOR exam. The following information is being offered as an example of
how to organize topics and references in developing a study plan. Subjects are arranged by their relationship
to commonly encountered perioperative tasks, knowledge, and abilities. The key words can be used to further
identify not only what is included in each topic but also act as a reference for individual learning needs.
This tool may be modified for individuals as a self-paced learning aid or used in group settings as part of a
CNOR exam prep curriculum. This plan is to be used as a guide only and is not meant to serve as an
exhaustive review of all available literature. Information on specific specialties is not included in this plan.
Additional methods and resources for studying should be explored based on the needs and experience of the
applicant.
Required Reference

AORN’s Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, 2013 Edition
Highly Recommended References (any of the following)


Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery, Jane Rothrock, Editor, 14th Edition, Elsevier, 2011
Berry and Kohn’s Operating Room Technique, Nancymarie Phillips, Editor, 12th Edition, Elsevier,
2013
Additional References




Essentials of Perioperative Nursing, Spry, C., 5th Edition, 2014
Surgical Technology Principles and Practice, Fuller, JK., 5th Edition, 2010
Pathophysiology Textbook – McCance & Huether and Porth are both very good.
Laboratory Manual – Mosby is well regarded, but there are many available.
Key:



Alexander’s – Alexander's Care of the Patient in Surgery (2011), 14th edition
AORN SRP – Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices (2013); Position statements are
accessed at http://www.aorn.org/Clinical_Practice/Position_Statements/Position_Statements.aspx
Berry & Kohn’s – Berry and Kohn’s Operating Room Technique (2013), 11th edition
SUBJECT
AREA/DOMAIN
1: PREOPERATIVE
PATIENT
ASSESSMENT &
DIAGNOSIS
TOPIC/KEY WORDS
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Advanced directives/DNR
 AORN SRP: Section 1, II; Position statement: DNR
 Alexander’s, Chapters 1, 2, 4, 9, 25, 26, 29; Unit II:
Surgical interventions
 Berry and Kohn’s, Chapters 2, 3, 7- 9, 11- 13, 21, 23,
25, 30
Age/culturally specific
assessment
Anatomy/physiology
Nursing diagnosis
Pre-op testing
Diagnostic studies
Laboratory results
Pain
Pathophysiology
SUBJECT
AREA/DOMAIN
TOPIC/KEY WORDS
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Pharmacology
Universal Protocol
Surgical Consent
2: IDENTIFY
EXPECTED
OUTCOMES &
DEVELOP AN
INDIVIDUALIZED
PLAN OF CARE
Age-specific needs
Pt. response to surgery
(behavioral/physical)
 AORN SRP: Section I, Exhibit B; II, III
 Alexander’s, Chapters 1; Unit II; Unit III
 Berry and Kohn’s, Chapters 2, 7, 9, 11, 21
Communication/hand offs
Community/facility
resources
Disease processes
Legal/ethical
responsibilities/
patient rights
Nursing process
Perioperative safety
PNDS
Patient/family education
needs/ resources
Transcultural nursing
theory
3:
INTRAOPERATIVE
ACTIVITIES
Anatomy/physiology
Anesthesia
agents/management
Aseptic technique
Documentation
Environmental cleaning
Environmental
management
Ergonomics
Expected outcomes
Hazardous materials
Implants/explants
Intraoperative blood
salvage
Instruments, supplies
/equipment/manufacturers’
recommendations
 AORN SRP: Units II and III; Position statements: Noise
in the perioperative practice setting; Creating a practice
environment of safety
 Alexander’s, Chapters 2- 8, 30; Unit II, Unit III
 Berry and Kohn’s, Chapters 2, 7, 10-13, 15, 16, 19-29,
31; Section 12
SUBJECT
AREA/DOMAIN
TOPIC/KEY WORDS
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Medication administration
Pain management
Patient advocacy
Pharmacology
Physiologic response to
surgery
Potential complications
Prevention of retained
surgical items/counts
Principles of infection
control/standard and
transmission-based
Principles of
patient/personnel safety
Principles of wound
healing/skin
integrity/wound
classifications
Problem solving/critical
thinking skills
Professional standards of
care
Regulatory guidelines
Skin antisepsis
Specimens
Surgical procedures
Universal protocol
4:COMMUNICATION Collaborative
reporting/critical values
Communication
techniques
Confidentiality
Interdisciplinary plan of
care
Interviewing techniques
Medication reconciliation
Universal protocol
 AORN SRP: Transfer of patient care information;
Perioperative health care information; Medication
safety
 Alexander’s, Chapters 1,2
 Berry and Kohn’s, Chapters 2, 3, 6, 7, 21
SUBJECT
AREA/DOMAIN
5:TRANSFER of
CARE
TOPIC/KEY WORDS
Coordination between
interdisciplinary care
services
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
 AORN SRP: Transfer of patient care information
 Alexander’s, Chapters 2, 9, 25, 26; Unit II
 Berry and Kohn’s, Chapters 11, 25, 30
Documentation
Patient education
Post-op complications
Post-op follow-up
Transfer of care criteria
6: CLEANING,
DISINFECTING,
PACKAGING,
STERILIZING,
TRANSPORTING &
STORING
INSTRUMENTS/
SUPPLIES
Documentation
Environmental conditions
for sterilization/storage
Handling/disposition of
hazardous/biohazardous
materials
Infection
prevention/standard/
transmission based
 AORN SRP: High level disinfection; Prevention of
transmissible infections; Cleaning/processing flexible
endoscopes; Cleaning /care of instruments/powered
equipment; Sterilization; Selection/use of packaging
systems; Safe environment of care; Guidance
statement: Role of the health care industry rep
 Alexander’s, Chapters 3, 7, 30
 Berry and Kohn’s, Chapters 13-18
Microbiology
Principles of
cleaning/disinfection
Principles of
packaging/sterilization
Principles of
transporting/storage
Professional/regulatory
standards
7: EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS
Anaphylaxis
Cardiac arrest
Fire
Malignant hyperthermia
Natural disasters
Terrorism
 AORN SRP: Safe environment of care; Managing
patient receiving moderate sedation; Prevention of
transmissible infections; pp. 129, 149-151, 220-224
 Alexander’s, pp. 32-33, 40-42, 64-66, 98, 104, 128,
139,-141, 235-237, 272-277, 278-280, 369, 673, 12781280, Chapters 23, 24, 25, 27
 Berry and Kohn’s, pp. 20-21, 85, 126, 224-226, 230231, 248, 251, 513, 575-576, 682-683, 733, 744, 765,
800-801, 815-816, 919-920; Chapter 31
Trauma
8: MANAGEMENT
OF PERSONNEL,
SERVICES, AND
MATERIALS
Acquiring equipment,
supplies, and personnel
Basic
management/delegation
 AORN SRP: Section 1, Exhibit B; Sterilization;
Guidance statements: Perioperative staffing; Safe oncall practices; Role of health care industry rep.
Position statements: Responsibility for mentoring;
SUBJECT
AREA/DOMAIN
TOPIC/KEY WORDS
Environmental
consciousness
Product evaluation/cost
containment
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Environmental responsibility; Allied health care
providers; Value of clinical learning activities.
 Alexander’s, Chapters 1, 2
 Berry and Kohn’s, pp. 213, 300-301, 325-326;
Chapters 1,2,4, 3, 6
Role of health care
industry representative
Scope of practice
Visitors/students
9: PROFESSIONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY
Competence standards
Evidence-based practice
Disruptive behavior
Performance
improvement
Regulatory standards
Research
Resources for
professional growth
Scope of practice
 AORN SRP: Section I, Exhibit B; Guidance statement:
Creating a patient safety culture
Position statement: Criminalization of human errors
 Alexander’s, Chapters 1, 30
 Berry and Kohn’s, Section 1, Chapters 4, 6,