NBSTSA Practice Questions and
answers already passed 2026/2027
What is the principle behind event-related sterility in surgical instruments?
a. Sterility is maintained until the package is opened
b. Expiry dates determine sterility
c. Sterility depends on the storage conditions
d. Regular checks are required to maintain sterility - correct answer ✔a. Sterility is maintained until
the package is opened
How many sponge counts are typically performed during a Cesarean section?
a. Two: before incision and before closing the uterus
b. Four: before incision, after removing the baby, before closing the uterus, and before closing the skin
c. Three: before incision, before closing the uterus, and before closing the skin
d. Five: before incision, after opening the uterus, after removing the baby, before closing the uterus, and
before closing the skin - correct answer ✔b. Four: before incision, after removing the baby, before
closing the uterus, and before closing the skin
Which method is considered part of thermal hemostasis techniques?
a. Use of bipolar electrocautery
,b. Application of direct manual pressure
c. Use of absorbable hemostatic agents
d. Deployment of vascular clips - correct answer ✔a. Use of bipolar electrocautery
What is the correct protocol for handling a sterilized instrument tray?
a. Check for integrity of the wrapping before opening
b. Open the tray on any clean, flat surface
c. Immediately verify internal indicators after opening
d. Open the tray without touching the inside contents - correct answer ✔a. Check for integrity of the
wrapping before opening
Polydioxanone sutures are best suited for which surgical application?
a. Approximating soft tissues
b. Ligating major blood vessels
c. Repairs requiring short-term tensile strength
d. Facial tissue repair - correct answer ✔a. Approximating soft tissues
Which instrument is NOT commonly used in eyelid surgery?
a. Bishop-Harmon forceps
b. Stevens tenotomy scissors
c. Gigli saw
d. Colibri forceps - correct answer ✔c. Gigli saw
,For an elective sigmoidectomy, which incision would be most suitable?
a. Pfannenstiel incision
b. Midline laparotomy
c. Lower transverse incision
d. Oblique incision - correct answer ✔b. Midline laparotomy
What instrument is used for guiding a vascular graft between two incisions?
a. Tunneler
b. Hemostat
c. DeBakey vascular forceps
d. Randall Stone forceps - correct answer ✔a. Tunneler
Which emergency situation is most likely to occur in a large city and typically does not require Federal
assistance?
a. Pandemic
b. Natural disaster
c. Mass casualty event
d. Terrorism - correct answer ✔c. Mass casualty event
The redness associated with inflammation is primarily due to:
a. Vasoconstriction
b. Vasodilation
, c. Coagulation
d. Phagocytosis - correct answer ✔b. Vasodilation
Before performing a cesarean section, what structure must be identified and protected?
a. Uterine artery
b. Fallopian tube
c. Ovarian ligament
d. Round ligament - correct answer ✔a. Uterine artery
Which medical suffix refers to a condition related to speech?
a. -logia
b. -phasia
c. -graphy
d. -lalia - correct answer ✔b. -phasia
What is an important consideration in breast reconstruction immediately after a mastectomy?
a. Immediate reconstruction should be avoided
b. Separate surgical setups may be needed
c. The use of hypertonic solutions for irrigation
d. Immediate lymph node transplantation - correct answer ✔b. Separate surgical setups may be
needed
Where can one find comprehensive information about chemicals used in the operating room?
answers already passed 2026/2027
What is the principle behind event-related sterility in surgical instruments?
a. Sterility is maintained until the package is opened
b. Expiry dates determine sterility
c. Sterility depends on the storage conditions
d. Regular checks are required to maintain sterility - correct answer ✔a. Sterility is maintained until
the package is opened
How many sponge counts are typically performed during a Cesarean section?
a. Two: before incision and before closing the uterus
b. Four: before incision, after removing the baby, before closing the uterus, and before closing the skin
c. Three: before incision, before closing the uterus, and before closing the skin
d. Five: before incision, after opening the uterus, after removing the baby, before closing the uterus, and
before closing the skin - correct answer ✔b. Four: before incision, after removing the baby, before
closing the uterus, and before closing the skin
Which method is considered part of thermal hemostasis techniques?
a. Use of bipolar electrocautery
,b. Application of direct manual pressure
c. Use of absorbable hemostatic agents
d. Deployment of vascular clips - correct answer ✔a. Use of bipolar electrocautery
What is the correct protocol for handling a sterilized instrument tray?
a. Check for integrity of the wrapping before opening
b. Open the tray on any clean, flat surface
c. Immediately verify internal indicators after opening
d. Open the tray without touching the inside contents - correct answer ✔a. Check for integrity of the
wrapping before opening
Polydioxanone sutures are best suited for which surgical application?
a. Approximating soft tissues
b. Ligating major blood vessels
c. Repairs requiring short-term tensile strength
d. Facial tissue repair - correct answer ✔a. Approximating soft tissues
Which instrument is NOT commonly used in eyelid surgery?
a. Bishop-Harmon forceps
b. Stevens tenotomy scissors
c. Gigli saw
d. Colibri forceps - correct answer ✔c. Gigli saw
,For an elective sigmoidectomy, which incision would be most suitable?
a. Pfannenstiel incision
b. Midline laparotomy
c. Lower transverse incision
d. Oblique incision - correct answer ✔b. Midline laparotomy
What instrument is used for guiding a vascular graft between two incisions?
a. Tunneler
b. Hemostat
c. DeBakey vascular forceps
d. Randall Stone forceps - correct answer ✔a. Tunneler
Which emergency situation is most likely to occur in a large city and typically does not require Federal
assistance?
a. Pandemic
b. Natural disaster
c. Mass casualty event
d. Terrorism - correct answer ✔c. Mass casualty event
The redness associated with inflammation is primarily due to:
a. Vasoconstriction
b. Vasodilation
, c. Coagulation
d. Phagocytosis - correct answer ✔b. Vasodilation
Before performing a cesarean section, what structure must be identified and protected?
a. Uterine artery
b. Fallopian tube
c. Ovarian ligament
d. Round ligament - correct answer ✔a. Uterine artery
Which medical suffix refers to a condition related to speech?
a. -logia
b. -phasia
c. -graphy
d. -lalia - correct answer ✔b. -phasia
What is an important consideration in breast reconstruction immediately after a mastectomy?
a. Immediate reconstruction should be avoided
b. Separate surgical setups may be needed
c. The use of hypertonic solutions for irrigation
d. Immediate lymph node transplantation - correct answer ✔b. Separate surgical setups may be
needed
Where can one find comprehensive information about chemicals used in the operating room?
