1|Page
NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A – Complete
Certification Prep & Practice Review {LATEST 2026/
2027 UPDATE} COMPLETE ACTUAL AND
AUTHENTIC EXAM | BRAND NEW!
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How should the
surgical technologist respond?
A.Acknowledge the neighbor.
B.Reassure the neighbor that everything will be fine.
C.Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first.
D.Ignore the neighbor, even if greeted. ......ANSWER......C. Do not
acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an
appendectomy should be
A.placed in a separate basin.
B.wiped with a saline sponge.
C.returned to the Mayo stand.
D. wiped with an alcohol sponge. ......ANSWER......A.placed in a
separate basin.
pg. 1
,2|Page
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of a
strangulated hernia?
A. shock
B. necrosis
C. infection
D. hemorrhage ......ANSWER......B. necrosis
Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for draping the
patient?
A.Hold the drapes high until directly over the patient.
B.Protect the gloved hands by cuffing the drapes.
C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
D.Place the drapes on a dry area. ......ANSWER......C.Readjust the
drapes as necessary after placement.
Which of the following structures is separated first when a paramedian
incision is performed?
A. peritoneum
B. transverse abdominis
C. external oblique
D. rectus abdominis ......ANSWER......D. rectus abdominis
pg. 2
,3|Page
Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to stabilize a cervical
fracture?
A. Kirschner wire
B. Hoffman device
C. Steinmann pins
D. Mayfield clamp ......ANSWER......D. Mayfield clamp
During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is controlled
by
A. Gelfoam.
B. irrigation.
C. cauterization.
D. suture ligature. ......ANSWER......C. cauterization.
To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical procedure, which of
the following should be removed LAST by the surgical technologist in
the scrub role?
A. patient's drapes
B. surgical gloves
C. surgical gown
D. Mayo stand drape ......ANSWER......B. surgical gloves
pg. 3
, 4|Page
In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon must enter
which of the following?
A. synovial membrane
B. Gerota's fascia
C. Hesselbach's triangle
D. suprapleural membrane ......ANSWER......B. Gerota's fascia
Which of the following is the MOST common straight catheter used
prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery in the OR?
A. Foley
B. Pezzer
C. Malecot
D. Robinson ......ANSWER......D. Robinson
A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of surgery?
A. hysterectomy
B. prostatectomy
C. bladder suspension
D. anterior colporrhaphy ......ANSWER......C. bladder suspension
Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which of the following
procedures might be performed on the patient in the operating room?
pg. 4
NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A – Complete
Certification Prep & Practice Review {LATEST 2026/
2027 UPDATE} COMPLETE ACTUAL AND
AUTHENTIC EXAM | BRAND NEW!
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How should the
surgical technologist respond?
A.Acknowledge the neighbor.
B.Reassure the neighbor that everything will be fine.
C.Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first.
D.Ignore the neighbor, even if greeted. ......ANSWER......C. Do not
acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an
appendectomy should be
A.placed in a separate basin.
B.wiped with a saline sponge.
C.returned to the Mayo stand.
D. wiped with an alcohol sponge. ......ANSWER......A.placed in a
separate basin.
pg. 1
,2|Page
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of a
strangulated hernia?
A. shock
B. necrosis
C. infection
D. hemorrhage ......ANSWER......B. necrosis
Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for draping the
patient?
A.Hold the drapes high until directly over the patient.
B.Protect the gloved hands by cuffing the drapes.
C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
D.Place the drapes on a dry area. ......ANSWER......C.Readjust the
drapes as necessary after placement.
Which of the following structures is separated first when a paramedian
incision is performed?
A. peritoneum
B. transverse abdominis
C. external oblique
D. rectus abdominis ......ANSWER......D. rectus abdominis
pg. 2
,3|Page
Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to stabilize a cervical
fracture?
A. Kirschner wire
B. Hoffman device
C. Steinmann pins
D. Mayfield clamp ......ANSWER......D. Mayfield clamp
During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is controlled
by
A. Gelfoam.
B. irrigation.
C. cauterization.
D. suture ligature. ......ANSWER......C. cauterization.
To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical procedure, which of
the following should be removed LAST by the surgical technologist in
the scrub role?
A. patient's drapes
B. surgical gloves
C. surgical gown
D. Mayo stand drape ......ANSWER......B. surgical gloves
pg. 3
, 4|Page
In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon must enter
which of the following?
A. synovial membrane
B. Gerota's fascia
C. Hesselbach's triangle
D. suprapleural membrane ......ANSWER......B. Gerota's fascia
Which of the following is the MOST common straight catheter used
prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery in the OR?
A. Foley
B. Pezzer
C. Malecot
D. Robinson ......ANSWER......D. Robinson
A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of surgery?
A. hysterectomy
B. prostatectomy
C. bladder suspension
D. anterior colporrhaphy ......ANSWER......C. bladder suspension
Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which of the following
procedures might be performed on the patient in the operating room?
pg. 4
