Page 1 of 57
NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM REVIEW |
FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS | BRAND NEW!
Which of the following retractors has sharp disposable inserts
that must be disposed of in an appropriate sharp container
following the end of the surgical case?
Mayfield
Cloward
Bookwalter
Greenfield - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Mayfield
Rationale: The Mayfield is a headrest that pins the head for
stabilization. The pins used are very sharp and must be placed in
the sharps container after the procedure. A Cloward is a hand
held retractor used in an anterior cervical procedure. The
Bookwalter is a self-retaining retractor used for open abdominal
procedure. The Greenfield is a self-retaining retractor used on
the brain.
The scheduled case is a prostatectomy. The surgeon has
requested chromic gut suture for reanastomosis. If Chromic gut
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is unavailable, which of the following sutures is a viable
substitute?
Polyester/Dacron
Silk
Nylon
Vicryl - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Vicryl
Rationale: The acceptable substitute for a Chromic Gut suture
would be a Vicryl suture. Vicryl, like Chromic Gut, it absorbable
and would be the next best choice for reanastomosis in a
prostatectomy.
At the end of each case the surgical technologist should
soak the instruments in normal saline.
rinse blood from the instruments with sterile water.
wipe the instruments off with a wet towel.
have the circulator inspect the instruments. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
rinse blood from the instruments with sterile water.
Rationale: Instruments should only be wiped off and soaked in
sterile water. Instruments should never be placed in saline
because salt causes pitting and corrosion. The circulator would
not inspect the instruments because she is taking care of the
patient and doing charting. Wiping off instruments with a wet
towel would help, but that is not the best action to take at the end
of the case.
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When donning a sterile gown, the surgical technologist should
stand close to sterile field.
slip one arm through at a time.
pull the sleeves past the fingers.
keep the inside of the gown toward the body. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
keep the inside of the gown toward the body.
Rationale: When donning sterile attire, keep the practice in mind
of sterile-to sterile, unsterile-to-unsterile. The inside of the
gown is unsterile, as are your chest and torso. Holding the inside
of the gown towards your body helps to assure the outside of the
gown remains sterile.
The surgeon is performing an inguinal herniorraphy procedure
and has made the incision and dissected down a short way into
the underlying tissue. Which of the following retractors should
the surgical technologist have ready to pass?
Bookwalter
Senn
Harrington
Army-Navy - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Army-Navy
Rationale: To facilitate proper exposure for length and depth of
incision for hernia repair, Army-Navy retractors are best utilized
for retraction needs of short depths, as is specified in this case
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description. A Bookwalter is a large self-retaining retractor used
in larger abdominal procedures. A Senn is a small, hand-held
retractor for superficial incisions. A Harrington is a larger hand-
held retractor often used to retract the liver or spleen.
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?
Apply sterile gloves, then remove and replace the dressing.
Prepare to scrub, re-gown, and re-glove.
Apply pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops.
Transport the patient to PACU with instructions to change
dressings immediately. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Prepare to scrub, re-
gown, and re-glove.
Rationale: Since the surgical technologist broke scrub to help
move the patient she will need to re-scrub, re-gown, and re-
glove in case the surgeon needs to go back to see where the
bleeding is coming from. Even if replaced the dressing could still
continue to bleed. It is important for the surgeon to check the
incision to see where the bleeding is coming from. The bleeding
may not stop even if the surgical technologist applies pressure to
the wound.
NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM REVIEW |
FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS | BRAND NEW!
Which of the following retractors has sharp disposable inserts
that must be disposed of in an appropriate sharp container
following the end of the surgical case?
Mayfield
Cloward
Bookwalter
Greenfield - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Mayfield
Rationale: The Mayfield is a headrest that pins the head for
stabilization. The pins used are very sharp and must be placed in
the sharps container after the procedure. A Cloward is a hand
held retractor used in an anterior cervical procedure. The
Bookwalter is a self-retaining retractor used for open abdominal
procedure. The Greenfield is a self-retaining retractor used on
the brain.
The scheduled case is a prostatectomy. The surgeon has
requested chromic gut suture for reanastomosis. If Chromic gut
,Page 2 of 57
is unavailable, which of the following sutures is a viable
substitute?
Polyester/Dacron
Silk
Nylon
Vicryl - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Vicryl
Rationale: The acceptable substitute for a Chromic Gut suture
would be a Vicryl suture. Vicryl, like Chromic Gut, it absorbable
and would be the next best choice for reanastomosis in a
prostatectomy.
At the end of each case the surgical technologist should
soak the instruments in normal saline.
rinse blood from the instruments with sterile water.
wipe the instruments off with a wet towel.
have the circulator inspect the instruments. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
rinse blood from the instruments with sterile water.
Rationale: Instruments should only be wiped off and soaked in
sterile water. Instruments should never be placed in saline
because salt causes pitting and corrosion. The circulator would
not inspect the instruments because she is taking care of the
patient and doing charting. Wiping off instruments with a wet
towel would help, but that is not the best action to take at the end
of the case.
,Page 3 of 57
When donning a sterile gown, the surgical technologist should
stand close to sterile field.
slip one arm through at a time.
pull the sleeves past the fingers.
keep the inside of the gown toward the body. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer >
keep the inside of the gown toward the body.
Rationale: When donning sterile attire, keep the practice in mind
of sterile-to sterile, unsterile-to-unsterile. The inside of the
gown is unsterile, as are your chest and torso. Holding the inside
of the gown towards your body helps to assure the outside of the
gown remains sterile.
The surgeon is performing an inguinal herniorraphy procedure
and has made the incision and dissected down a short way into
the underlying tissue. Which of the following retractors should
the surgical technologist have ready to pass?
Bookwalter
Senn
Harrington
Army-Navy - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Army-Navy
Rationale: To facilitate proper exposure for length and depth of
incision for hernia repair, Army-Navy retractors are best utilized
for retraction needs of short depths, as is specified in this case
, Page 4 of 57
description. A Bookwalter is a large self-retaining retractor used
in larger abdominal procedures. A Senn is a small, hand-held
retractor for superficial incisions. A Harrington is a larger hand-
held retractor often used to retract the liver or spleen.
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?
Apply sterile gloves, then remove and replace the dressing.
Prepare to scrub, re-gown, and re-glove.
Apply pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops.
Transport the patient to PACU with instructions to change
dressings immediately. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Prepare to scrub, re-
gown, and re-glove.
Rationale: Since the surgical technologist broke scrub to help
move the patient she will need to re-scrub, re-gown, and re-
glove in case the surgeon needs to go back to see where the
bleeding is coming from. Even if replaced the dressing could still
continue to bleed. It is important for the surgeon to check the
incision to see where the bleeding is coming from. The bleeding
may not stop even if the surgical technologist applies pressure to
the wound.
