CNAMB Exam Prep practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q21A 45-year-old male patient is scheduled for ambulatory surgery to excise a suspicious skin lesion on his back. The patient mentions that he has had similar lesions excised in the past, all of which were benign, so he isn't concerned about this one. What principle should the nurse consider when planning the back table set up and specimen retrieval?
✓ Correct answer: A. All suspicious lesions are considered malignant until proven benign; precautions to avoid contamination should be taken
Answer: All suspicious lesions are considered malignant until proven benign; precautions to avoid contamination should be taken. Regardless of a patient's history of benign lesions, every suspicious lesion must be treated as potentially malignant until histopathological evidence suggests otherwise. Surgical teams should employ all necessary precautions to prevent potential malignant cell spread and ensure that the specimen is properly sent for pathological examination.
Q22During intraoperative care in an ambulatory surgery setting, what behavior risks increasing personnel exposure to surgical smoke?
✓ Correct answer: D. Electrosurgical pencil use without smoke evacuation
Answer: Electrosurgical pencil use without smoke evacuation Surgical smoke contains toxic chemicals, viruses, bacteria, and cancerous cells. Exposure to surgical smoke can lead to various health issues such as respiratory problems, eye irritation, and even carcinogenic effects. It is crucial to use smoke evacuation systems to minimize exposure and improve air quality in the operating room.
Q23The surgeon orders the use of carbon dioxide laser for tissue ablation. The nurse knows which of these is true about the carbon dioxide laser?
✓ Correct answer: C. It offers precise cutting with minimal thermal damage to surrounding tissues.
Answer: It offers precise cutting with minimal thermal damage to surrounding tissues. Carbon dioxide lasers are preferred for their precision and the minimal thermal damage they cause to adjacent tissues. Unlike some other forms of energy used in surgery, they do not require a grounding pad because the laser energy is direct and does not flow through the patient's body. The beam's penetration depth can be controlled, thereby minimizing the risk of widespread tissue damage.
Q24Which prep solution is appropriate for a patient's skin prior to a minor dermatological procedure?
✓ Correct answer: C. Chlorhexidine in alcohol
Answer: Chlorhexidine in alcohol. Chlorhexidine in alcohol solution is effective against a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, providing comprehensive antisepsis for skin prior to dermatological procedures.
Q25These are all correct methods for handling endoscopic instruments except which one?
✓ Correct answer: A. Leaving the camera attached to the endoscope during cleaning and sterilization to protect it from detergents and sterilants.
Answer: Leaving the camera attached to the endoscope during cleaning and sterilization to protect it from detergents and sterilants. Never leave cameras, light cables, or other sensitive electronics attached to endoscopic instruments after use. These attachments can inhibit proper sterilization and damage the equipment. The other methods listed are correct actions: storing in a ventilated cabinet helps drying, testing equipment ensures functionality, and using a sterile sleeve prevents contamination.
Q26A surgeon has ordered cephalexin for a patient as a prophylactic antibiotic prior to a hernia repair surgery. What would be a possible contraindication for the use of this antibiotic?
✓ Correct answer: C. The patient has a known severe allergic reaction to cephalosporins
Answer: The patient has a known severe allergic reaction to cephalosporins. Cephalexin is part of the cephalosporin class of antibiotics and is often used for prophylaxis before surgery. It is generally well-tolerated but can cause allergic reactions in patients who have severe allergies to cephalosporins.
Q27A patient undergoing a regional anesthetic block in pre-op prior to a knee arthroscopy suddenly becomes shaky, tachycardic, hypertensive, and feels like they have palpitations. The medication used in the block was ropivacaine with epinephrine and they were premedicated with lorazepam. What are their symptoms most likely a result of?
✓ Correct answer: B. The epinephrine
Answer: The epinephrine. Epinephrine is added to local anesthetics to increase longevity through vasoconstriction. It is a potent stimulant and can cause an adrenergic response. Symptoms of overdose include tremors, nervousness, pallor, diaphoresis, palpitations, tachycardia, and hypertension. The maximum dose of ropivacaine with epinephrine should be carefully monitored to prevent systemic toxicity.
Q28A patient is scheduled for carpal tunnel release surgery under regional anesthesia using a femoral nerve block. What special supply is particularly important for this type of block?
✓ Correct answer: B. A nerve stimulator
Answer: A nerve stimulator Femoral nerve blocks are a type of regional anesthesia where the local anesthetic is injected near the femoral nerve to block sensation in the surgical area. A nerve stimulator is often used to help the anesthesiologist locate the nerve precisely by causing muscle contractions when the femoral nerve is close.
Q29The pre-operative nurse is assessing a patient scheduled for a laparoscopic appendectomy. The patient takes enalapril QD, levothyroxine QD, albuterol PRN, aspirin QD, and warfarin QD. The patient did not take any of their medications this morning, but took enalapril and warfarin last night at 22:00 (10 pm). They've been NPO since midnight. Which medication would the nurse expect the anesthesia provider to order preoperatively?
✓ Correct answer: D. A dose of intravenous vitamin K
Answer: A dose of intravenous vitamin K Since the patient takes warfarin, they are at risk for excessive bleeding during and after the surgery. Warfarin is an anticoagulant, and its effects need to be reversed in the preoperative period to minimize bleeding risks. Vitamin K is given to counteract the effects of warfarin and help in the proper clotting of blood. Another dose of enalapril would not be given because it could lead to perioperative hypotension. Levothyroxine and albuterol are usually continued if they were not missed doses as they do not impact surgery directly in an acute setting. Aspirin also complicates clotting and needs to be stopped before surgery.
Q30During a minor hand surgery at an ambulatory surgical center, a patient with a known severe allergy to bee stings is given local anesthesia containing lidocaine-epinephrine for the procedure. Shortly after application, the patient complains of lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and their skin appears dusky with a pulse oximetry reading of 82%. What should the nurse do next and what should they ask the first coworker that responds to prepare?
✓ Correct answer: A. They should immediately stop the procedure, administer oxygen at 15 liters via a non-rebreather mask, and ask the coworker to grab the anaphylaxis kit and prepare epinephrine for administration.
The correct answer is: They should immediately stop the procedure, administer oxygen at 15 liters via a non-rebreather mask, and ask the coworker to grab the anaphylaxis kit and prepare epinephrine for administration. The nurse should suspect anaphylactic reaction since the patient has a known severe allergy. Symptoms like shortness of breath, dusky skin, and low pulse oximetry indicate a serious reaction likely exacerbated by the local lidocaine-epinephrine mixture. Administering high-flow oxygen helps stabilize the patient while waiting for the rapid response team. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis as it counteracts severe allergic reaction symptoms by relaxing airway muscles and tightening blood vessels. Without timely administration, the patient risks further deterioration, including potential airway obstruction and cardiovascular collapse. In such scenarios, rapid recognition and treatment are key to preventing complications like hypoxia, hypotension, and shock.
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