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The CBN exam has 175 questions and runs 3 hours.
These 10 free CBN questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Bariatric Nurse blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
During procedure counseling, a patient with a BMI of 44 kg/m² asks for sleeve gastrectomy because it does not bypass the intestine. The patient has daily reflux despite optimized acid suppression, and endoscopy shows erosive esophagitis. Which comparison should the nurse include when discussing sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass?
Correct answer: C - Gastric bypass may improve reflux, whereas sleeve gastrectomy can worsen it.
A preoperative assessment records a STOP-Bang score of 6 for a patient who has never undergone a sleep study. While awake, the patient's oxygen saturation is 97% on room air. What can the nurse conclude from these findings?
Correct answer: B - Obstructive sleep apnea risk is high, but severity remains undetermined.
A 16-year-old with class III obesity and type 2 diabetes is referred for metabolic and bariatric surgery evaluation. Depression has been stable with treatment for the past year; there is no suicidality or substance use. The adolescent participates in care, the family can support follow-up, and linear growth is ongoing. Which recommendation is consistent with ASMBS pediatric guidance?
Correct answer: D - Proceed with multidisciplinary evaluation while continuing mental health care.
Eighteen hours after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a patient's heart rate rises from 88 to 126/min and remains elevated after prescribed analgesia. Respirations are 26/min, temperature is 37.4°C (99.3°F), and new left shoulder pain is present. A contrast swallow performed earlier showed no leak. The abdomen is soft. The nurse's immediate priority is to:
Correct answer: A - Obtain urgent surgical assessment; keep the patient NPO and closely monitored.
On the first night after uncomplicated Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a patient with established obstructive sleep apnea is preparing to sleep. The patient is alert when awake, has no nausea or vomiting, and has an order to resume the usual CPAP settings. A colleague worries that positive pressure will disrupt the gastrojejunostomy. The appropriate response is to:
Correct answer: D - Use the prescribed CPAP during sleep and continue respiratory monitoring.
At discharge after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a patient with a previous deep-vein thrombosis has a prescription for 14 days of enoxaparin at home. The patient walks independently. Hemoglobin and platelet counts are stable, renal function is normal, and there are small, nonexpanding bruises at injection sites without other bleeding. The patient asks whether the injections can stop. Which instruction should be reinforced?
Correct answer: A - Complete the prescribed course and keep walking regularly.
At a routine visit after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a patient wants a simpler supplement schedule. The prescribed daily regimen includes 60 mg of elemental iron and 1,200 mg of elemental calcium as calcium citrate. Other supplements have already been reconciled. Which proposed schedule best supports absorption of both minerals?
Correct answer: D - Take iron at breakfast, 600 mg calcium at lunch, and 600 mg calcium at bedtime.
Two years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a patient reports tremor, sweating, and difficulty concentrating about two hours after carbohydrate-heavy meals. During one episode, venous plasma glucose is 46 mg/dL; symptoms resolve after oral glucose. There are no fasting or overnight episodes, and the patient takes no insulin or insulin secretagogue. Which diagnosis best explains the pattern?
Correct answer: A - Post-bariatric hypoglycemia
An obstetric clinic asks the bariatric nurse to help plan gestational diabetes screening for a patient at 26 weeks' gestation, three years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The patient has previously developed cramping, palpitations, and diarrhea after concentrated sweet drinks. There is no known preexisting diabetes. Which plan should the nurse discuss with the obstetric team?
Correct answer: B - A seven-point capillary glucose profile each day for one week
A bariatric program reports a mean 12-month total weight loss of 31% after sleeve gastrectomy. The calculation includes the 45 patients who attended follow-up, although 100 patients were eligible for that visit. Outcomes for the other 55 patients are unknown. Before using the result to compare programs, the quality nurse should recognize that:
Correct answer: C - The mean describes attendees; missing outcomes may bias the program-level estimate.
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