NCCT SCRUB TECH PRACTICE EXAM
2026 – SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY (TS-C)
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS
SECTION 1: MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING (Questions 1-70)
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which assessment
finding indicates the medication is having the desired effect?
a) Decreased heart rate
b) Increased blood pressure
c) Decreased peripheral edema
d) Increased jugular venous distention
Answer: c) Decreased peripheral edema
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to reduce fluid volume overload.
A decrease in peripheral edema indicates the medication is effectively
promoting diuresis. Increased JVD would indicate worsening fluid overload.
While blood pressure may decrease, it is not the primary indicator of
effectiveness for this specific medication in heart failure.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
a) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
,b) Intermittent bubbling in the water-seal chamber
c) Tidaling (fluctuation) in the water-seal chamber
d) Drainage of 50 mL in the first hour
Answer: a) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air
leak in the system, requiring immediate assessment and intervention.
Intermittent bubbling is normal with exhalation or coughing. Tidaling is a
normal expected finding. 50 mL of drainage in the first hour is within an
acceptable range.
3. Which dietary instruction is most important for a patient with chronic
kidney disease?
a) Increase intake of potassium-rich foods.
b) Increase intake of phosphorus-rich foods.
c) Limit intake of sodium and fluid.
d) Increase intake of protein.
Answer: c) Limit intake of sodium and fluid.
Rationale: In CKD, the kidneys lose their ability to excrete sodium and fluid,
leading to fluid overload, hypertension, and edema. Restricting sodium and
fluid is critical. Potassium and phosphorus are also typically restricted, not
increased. Protein is often restricted to decrease the workload on the kidneys.
4. A patient is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory value is
most specific to this condition?
a) Elevated serum amylase
b) Elevated serum lipase
c) Elevated liver enzymes
d) Decreased serum calcium
,Answer: b) Elevated serum lipase
Rationale: Serum lipase is more specific to the pancreas than amylase and
remains elevated longer, making it the preferred diagnostic test for acute
pancreatitis. Amylase can be elevated in other conditions like salivary gland
issues. Liver enzyme elevation and decreased calcium can occur but are not as
specific.
5. What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient experiencing a tonic-
clonic seizure?
a) Restrain the patient's limbs to prevent injury.
b) Place a tongue blade in the patient's mouth.
c) Protect the patient's head and turn them to the side.
d) Administer oral antiepileptic medication immediately.
Answer: c) Protect the patient's head and turn them to the side.
Rationale: Protecting the head prevents injury, and turning the patient to the
side helps maintain a patent airway and allows drainage of oral secretions.
Restraining limbs can cause fractures. Never place anything in the mouth
during a seizure. Oral medications are not given during the seizure.
6. A patient is diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which finding is
the most serious potential complication?
a) Chronic venous insufficiency
b) Pulmonary embolism
c) Post-thrombotic syndrome
d) Venous stasis ulcers
Answer: b) Pulmonary embolism
, Rationale: A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening complication of a
DVT when a clot dislodges and travels to the lungs. Other options are long-
term complications of DVT.
7. The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient with a new
colostomy. Which statement indicates a need for further teaching?
a) "I will need to change the pouch system every 3 to 5 days."
b) "I can irrigate the colostomy to help regulate bowel movements."
c) "I should avoid eating foods that cause gas and odor."
d) "I will not be able to take a shower or bath with the appliance on."
Answer: d) "I will not be able to take a shower or bath with the appliance on."
Rationale: Patients can shower or bathe with the appliance on. The other
statements are correct. Changing the pouch every 3-5 days is standard.
Irrigation can be done to regulate bowel movements. Avoiding gas-forming
foods is a common dietary measure.
8. Which clinical manifestation is a cardinal sign of diabetes mellitus?
a) Polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria
b) Polycythemia, polydipsia, polyuria
c) Polyuria, proteinuria, polydipsia
d) Polyphagia, polyuria, proteinuria
Answer: a) Polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria
Rationale: The three classic "polys" of diabetes are polyphagia (excessive
hunger), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and polyuria (excessive urination).
These result from hyperglycemia.
2026 – SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY (TS-C)
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS
SECTION 1: MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING (Questions 1-70)
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which assessment
finding indicates the medication is having the desired effect?
a) Decreased heart rate
b) Increased blood pressure
c) Decreased peripheral edema
d) Increased jugular venous distention
Answer: c) Decreased peripheral edema
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to reduce fluid volume overload.
A decrease in peripheral edema indicates the medication is effectively
promoting diuresis. Increased JVD would indicate worsening fluid overload.
While blood pressure may decrease, it is not the primary indicator of
effectiveness for this specific medication in heart failure.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
a) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
,b) Intermittent bubbling in the water-seal chamber
c) Tidaling (fluctuation) in the water-seal chamber
d) Drainage of 50 mL in the first hour
Answer: a) Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air
leak in the system, requiring immediate assessment and intervention.
Intermittent bubbling is normal with exhalation or coughing. Tidaling is a
normal expected finding. 50 mL of drainage in the first hour is within an
acceptable range.
3. Which dietary instruction is most important for a patient with chronic
kidney disease?
a) Increase intake of potassium-rich foods.
b) Increase intake of phosphorus-rich foods.
c) Limit intake of sodium and fluid.
d) Increase intake of protein.
Answer: c) Limit intake of sodium and fluid.
Rationale: In CKD, the kidneys lose their ability to excrete sodium and fluid,
leading to fluid overload, hypertension, and edema. Restricting sodium and
fluid is critical. Potassium and phosphorus are also typically restricted, not
increased. Protein is often restricted to decrease the workload on the kidneys.
4. A patient is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory value is
most specific to this condition?
a) Elevated serum amylase
b) Elevated serum lipase
c) Elevated liver enzymes
d) Decreased serum calcium
,Answer: b) Elevated serum lipase
Rationale: Serum lipase is more specific to the pancreas than amylase and
remains elevated longer, making it the preferred diagnostic test for acute
pancreatitis. Amylase can be elevated in other conditions like salivary gland
issues. Liver enzyme elevation and decreased calcium can occur but are not as
specific.
5. What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient experiencing a tonic-
clonic seizure?
a) Restrain the patient's limbs to prevent injury.
b) Place a tongue blade in the patient's mouth.
c) Protect the patient's head and turn them to the side.
d) Administer oral antiepileptic medication immediately.
Answer: c) Protect the patient's head and turn them to the side.
Rationale: Protecting the head prevents injury, and turning the patient to the
side helps maintain a patent airway and allows drainage of oral secretions.
Restraining limbs can cause fractures. Never place anything in the mouth
during a seizure. Oral medications are not given during the seizure.
6. A patient is diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which finding is
the most serious potential complication?
a) Chronic venous insufficiency
b) Pulmonary embolism
c) Post-thrombotic syndrome
d) Venous stasis ulcers
Answer: b) Pulmonary embolism
, Rationale: A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening complication of a
DVT when a clot dislodges and travels to the lungs. Other options are long-
term complications of DVT.
7. The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient with a new
colostomy. Which statement indicates a need for further teaching?
a) "I will need to change the pouch system every 3 to 5 days."
b) "I can irrigate the colostomy to help regulate bowel movements."
c) "I should avoid eating foods that cause gas and odor."
d) "I will not be able to take a shower or bath with the appliance on."
Answer: d) "I will not be able to take a shower or bath with the appliance on."
Rationale: Patients can shower or bathe with the appliance on. The other
statements are correct. Changing the pouch every 3-5 days is standard.
Irrigation can be done to regulate bowel movements. Avoiding gas-forming
foods is a common dietary measure.
8. Which clinical manifestation is a cardinal sign of diabetes mellitus?
a) Polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria
b) Polycythemia, polydipsia, polyuria
c) Polyuria, proteinuria, polydipsia
d) Polyphagia, polyuria, proteinuria
Answer: a) Polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria
Rationale: The three classic "polys" of diabetes are polyphagia (excessive
hunger), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and polyuria (excessive urination).
These result from hyperglycemia.
