NCCT SURGICAL TECH COMBINED
SET EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
When returning from lunch in the cafeteria and re-entering the surgical suite, the
minimum amount of time for a surgical hand scrub should be - Answer- 5 minutes.
A patient presents to the operating room for a hydrocelectomy. Which of the following
dressings should the surgical technologist anticipate needing? - Answer- scrotal support
The patient is scheduled for insertion of a permanent pacemaker at 0800. In addition to
key surgical team members, the absence of which of the following individuals would
cause the case to be delayed? - Answer- manufacturer representative
Which of the following actions by the surgical technologist reduces the risk of bioburden
accumulation on serrated hemostatic forceps postoperatively? - Answer- Soak in
enzymatic solution within 20 minutes.
In which of the following circumstances is it appropriate for the surgical technologist to
perform immediate-use steam sterilization for "just in time" processing? - Answer- The
procedure is emergent.
The patient is scheduled to have a Meniscal repair done on his right knee. Which of the
following best represents how the site should be marked in the preoperative holding
area to verify correct surgical site? - Answer- A "yes" written on the right knee, with a
small line showing where the incision will be.
The surgical technologist is scrubbed in on a scheduled breast biopsy with a frozen
section. After removing the specimen the surgeon tags the specimen with suture at 6
o'clock and passes it to the technologist. Which of the following should the technologist
do first? - Answer- Ask the surgeon to identify the specimen.
During a colon resection, an endo GIA misfired. Where should the surgical technologist
bring the endo GIA after surgery? - Answer- decontamination area
In a sterilized package, a chemical indicator is used to - Answer- confirm that the
package was exposed to sterilization.
If a Frazier suction tip falls on the floor during a procedure the proper protocol for flash
autoclaving the item in a gravity displacement sterilizer is to - Answer- flush the lumen
and autoclave for 10 minutes at 270 degrees F.
,The surgical technologist is opening for a procedure and notices the wrapped item she
just opened has a hole in the outer layer. Which of the following is the proper course of
action? - Answer- Discard the item and retrieve a new one.
The surgical technologist is working on an emergent knee disarticulation. Which of the
following scissors should the technologist expect to pass to cut the anterior cruciate
ligament? - Answer- curved Mayo
The surgical technologist is preparing the OR suite for a patient's transurethral resection
of the prostate (TURP). Which of the following supplies should the surgical technologist
anticipate? - Answer- continuous bladder irrigation solution
Which of the following hemostatic agents must be handled dry? - Answer- microfibrillar
collagen/Avitene
A 21-year-old patient is rushed to the OR with a self-inflicted stab wound to the groin.
The wound is an inch in length and the patient has flat lined with a steady flow of blood
pumping from the small wound. Which of the following items should the surgical
technologist have ready for the surgeon? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) -
Answer- lap sponges, knife blade, Yankauer suction
While cleaning the back table after a cystoscopy case, the tray of instruments
accidentally falls on the floor. After retrieving all instruments, which of the following
should the surgical technologist do before returning instruments to decontamination? -
Answer- Visually inspect the instruments.
The patient coming into surgery is from northern India. After induction the anesthesia
provider asks for hair clippers to trim the patients beard to tape the endotracheal tube in
place. Which of the following is the appropriate action? - Answer- Inform the anesthesia
provider of the patient's religion.
The surgeon performed a RT right breast biopsy and informed the surgical technologist
that it is a frozen specimen ready to send to the lab. How should the surgical
technologist give the specimen to the circulator? - Answer- in a sterile container
When moving a conscious patient from a stretcher to the operating table, which of the
following should the surgical technologist do first? - Answer- Align the stretcher and
operating table and lock the wheels.
After connecting the water seal drainage system to the chest tube, where should the
technologist place the water seal drainage system? - Answer- below the level of the
thoracic cavity
Following placement of dressings on the back of a patient after a Posterolateral
Instrumented Lumbar Fusion (PLIF), the circulator notices bleeding at the surgical site
, and notifies the surgeon. The surgical technologist has broken sterility to help move the
patient. Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take? - Answer-
Prepare to scrub, re-gown, and re-glove.
Which of the following factors determine if a disposable sterile supply item is acceptable
to use? - Answer- package integrity and expiration date
When transferring a patient to the operation room table, the surgical technologist should
- Answer- transfer medical equipment first and then move the patient.
For which of the following drains is a sterile safety pin used? - Answer- Penrose
When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use
sterilization unit, which of the following parameters must be met for sterilization with
gravity displacement steam? (Select the two (2) correct answers.) - Answer- 3-4 minute
exposure time, 270o F
Which of the following is the correct means of sterilizing a non-flexible fiber optic
endoscope? - Answer- steam
A patient is having a hysteroscopy for myomectomy excision. The patient has been
under anesthesia for an hour and is starting to show signs of extreme swelling. Which of
the following is most critical to monitor in order to prevent these symptoms? - Answer-
fluid intake and output
The surgical technologist has just completed scrubbing for a right knee arthroscopy. As
the surgeon takes down the tourniquet, and the surgical technologist begins to
breakdown the back table, a plume of smoke is seen coming from the sterile field.
Which of the following is the most likely source of this smoke? - Answer- The light
source was left on and the drape is igniting.
When using an internal stapling device during an endoscopic case the surgical
technologist should hand the stapler to the surgeon with the mouth of the stapler -
Answer- closed and facing away from the surgeon.
A patient is having a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy. If the surgeon is
unable to extract the uterus vaginally, which of the following equipment should the
surgical technologist have available to retrieve the uterus? - Answer- morcellator
Which of the following is correct technique for opening a sterilized instrument tray as a
scrubbed surgical technologist using aseptic technique? - Answer- After the seal is
broken by circulator and the lid is removed, lift inner the basket from the tray.
The surgical technologist notices smoke and flames coming from the drape surrounding
the surgical site. Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take? -
Answer- Smother the drape with a wet sterile towel.
SET EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
When returning from lunch in the cafeteria and re-entering the surgical suite, the
minimum amount of time for a surgical hand scrub should be - Answer- 5 minutes.
A patient presents to the operating room for a hydrocelectomy. Which of the following
dressings should the surgical technologist anticipate needing? - Answer- scrotal support
The patient is scheduled for insertion of a permanent pacemaker at 0800. In addition to
key surgical team members, the absence of which of the following individuals would
cause the case to be delayed? - Answer- manufacturer representative
Which of the following actions by the surgical technologist reduces the risk of bioburden
accumulation on serrated hemostatic forceps postoperatively? - Answer- Soak in
enzymatic solution within 20 minutes.
In which of the following circumstances is it appropriate for the surgical technologist to
perform immediate-use steam sterilization for "just in time" processing? - Answer- The
procedure is emergent.
The patient is scheduled to have a Meniscal repair done on his right knee. Which of the
following best represents how the site should be marked in the preoperative holding
area to verify correct surgical site? - Answer- A "yes" written on the right knee, with a
small line showing where the incision will be.
The surgical technologist is scrubbed in on a scheduled breast biopsy with a frozen
section. After removing the specimen the surgeon tags the specimen with suture at 6
o'clock and passes it to the technologist. Which of the following should the technologist
do first? - Answer- Ask the surgeon to identify the specimen.
During a colon resection, an endo GIA misfired. Where should the surgical technologist
bring the endo GIA after surgery? - Answer- decontamination area
In a sterilized package, a chemical indicator is used to - Answer- confirm that the
package was exposed to sterilization.
If a Frazier suction tip falls on the floor during a procedure the proper protocol for flash
autoclaving the item in a gravity displacement sterilizer is to - Answer- flush the lumen
and autoclave for 10 minutes at 270 degrees F.
,The surgical technologist is opening for a procedure and notices the wrapped item she
just opened has a hole in the outer layer. Which of the following is the proper course of
action? - Answer- Discard the item and retrieve a new one.
The surgical technologist is working on an emergent knee disarticulation. Which of the
following scissors should the technologist expect to pass to cut the anterior cruciate
ligament? - Answer- curved Mayo
The surgical technologist is preparing the OR suite for a patient's transurethral resection
of the prostate (TURP). Which of the following supplies should the surgical technologist
anticipate? - Answer- continuous bladder irrigation solution
Which of the following hemostatic agents must be handled dry? - Answer- microfibrillar
collagen/Avitene
A 21-year-old patient is rushed to the OR with a self-inflicted stab wound to the groin.
The wound is an inch in length and the patient has flat lined with a steady flow of blood
pumping from the small wound. Which of the following items should the surgical
technologist have ready for the surgeon? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) -
Answer- lap sponges, knife blade, Yankauer suction
While cleaning the back table after a cystoscopy case, the tray of instruments
accidentally falls on the floor. After retrieving all instruments, which of the following
should the surgical technologist do before returning instruments to decontamination? -
Answer- Visually inspect the instruments.
The patient coming into surgery is from northern India. After induction the anesthesia
provider asks for hair clippers to trim the patients beard to tape the endotracheal tube in
place. Which of the following is the appropriate action? - Answer- Inform the anesthesia
provider of the patient's religion.
The surgeon performed a RT right breast biopsy and informed the surgical technologist
that it is a frozen specimen ready to send to the lab. How should the surgical
technologist give the specimen to the circulator? - Answer- in a sterile container
When moving a conscious patient from a stretcher to the operating table, which of the
following should the surgical technologist do first? - Answer- Align the stretcher and
operating table and lock the wheels.
After connecting the water seal drainage system to the chest tube, where should the
technologist place the water seal drainage system? - Answer- below the level of the
thoracic cavity
Following placement of dressings on the back of a patient after a Posterolateral
Instrumented Lumbar Fusion (PLIF), the circulator notices bleeding at the surgical site
, and notifies the surgeon. The surgical technologist has broken sterility to help move the
patient. Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take? - Answer-
Prepare to scrub, re-gown, and re-glove.
Which of the following factors determine if a disposable sterile supply item is acceptable
to use? - Answer- package integrity and expiration date
When transferring a patient to the operation room table, the surgical technologist should
- Answer- transfer medical equipment first and then move the patient.
For which of the following drains is a sterile safety pin used? - Answer- Penrose
When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use
sterilization unit, which of the following parameters must be met for sterilization with
gravity displacement steam? (Select the two (2) correct answers.) - Answer- 3-4 minute
exposure time, 270o F
Which of the following is the correct means of sterilizing a non-flexible fiber optic
endoscope? - Answer- steam
A patient is having a hysteroscopy for myomectomy excision. The patient has been
under anesthesia for an hour and is starting to show signs of extreme swelling. Which of
the following is most critical to monitor in order to prevent these symptoms? - Answer-
fluid intake and output
The surgical technologist has just completed scrubbing for a right knee arthroscopy. As
the surgeon takes down the tourniquet, and the surgical technologist begins to
breakdown the back table, a plume of smoke is seen coming from the sterile field.
Which of the following is the most likely source of this smoke? - Answer- The light
source was left on and the drape is igniting.
When using an internal stapling device during an endoscopic case the surgical
technologist should hand the stapler to the surgeon with the mouth of the stapler -
Answer- closed and facing away from the surgeon.
A patient is having a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy. If the surgeon is
unable to extract the uterus vaginally, which of the following equipment should the
surgical technologist have available to retrieve the uterus? - Answer- morcellator
Which of the following is correct technique for opening a sterilized instrument tray as a
scrubbed surgical technologist using aseptic technique? - Answer- After the seal is
broken by circulator and the lid is removed, lift inner the basket from the tray.
The surgical technologist notices smoke and flames coming from the drape surrounding
the surgical site. Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take? -
Answer- Smother the drape with a wet sterile towel.
