COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM APPROVED
QUESTIONS WITH WELL ELABORATED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES (RELIABLE ANSWERS) CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION 2026 EDITION |GUARANTEED SUCCESS
A+ |FULL REVISED NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM REVIEW
REAL EXAM |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. The anesthesia provider would typically ask the surgical
technologist how much fluid has been used in order to:
A. Assess for anaphylaxis
B. Estimate blood loss (CORRECT ANSWER)
C. Evaluate for drug toxicity
D. Prevent malignant hyperthermia
Rationale: Fluid used during surgery (irrigation, suction, etc.) helps
the anesthesia provider estimate blood loss by comparing total fluid
used against what is recovered. This is a critical intraoperative
assessment that guides fluid replacement and hemodynamic
management. Anaphylaxis, drug toxicity, and malignant
hyperthermia are unrelated to fluid volume assessment.
2. The surgeon begins to close the uterus during a myomectomy.
Which action should the surgical technologist take before continuing
with wound closure?
,A. Initiate the closing count
B. Initiate the cavity count (CORRECT ANSWER)
C. Obtain sterile wound dressing material
D. Weigh the myoma
Rationale: When closing a cavity such as the uterus, a cavity count
must be performed before final closure to ensure no sponges, needles,
or instruments are left inside. This is a critical patient safety measure
required before the surgeon proceeds with wound closure.
3. The surgical technologist prepared a breast lump to send as a
frozen section to pathology. The specimen should be passed off
placed:
A. In normal saline
B. On a raytec sponge
C. On a telfa pad (CORRECT ANSWER)
D. In formalin
Rationale: Frozen section specimens should be placed on a Telfa pad
(non-adherent dressing) moistened with saline to prevent drying
while preserving cellular architecture for immediate pathological
examination. Formalin is used for permanent sections, not frozen
sections, as it would interfere with rapid freezing and sectioning.
4. Which steps are taken after surgery has finished and the surgical
technologist is breaking scrub?
,A. Wipe blood off gloves and remove them, then remove gown
B. Using a gloved hand, untie the neck of the gown and pull away
from body
C. Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the
gown forward into a ball (CORRECT ANSWER)
D. Ask the circulator to assist in removing the gown and gloves
Rationale: The correct method for breaking scrub involves wiping
gloves clean, grasping the gown at the shoulders from the inside, and
rolling it forward into a ball to contain contaminants. This technique
prevents the spread of blood and body fluids and maintains safety
during doffing of contaminated attire.
5. Following a triple bypass surgery, a patient goes into cardiac
arrest. What is the primary responsibility of the surgical technologist?
A. Remove sharps from sterile field
B. Retrieve the automated external defibrillator
C. Remain in gown and gloves to preserve the sterile field
(CORRECT ANSWER)
D. Assist the surgeon in delivering chest compressions
Rationale: During a cardiac arrest in the OR, the surgical
technologist's primary responsibility is to remain sterile to preserve
the sterile field in case the surgeon needs to reopen the chest.
Removing sharps, retrieving equipment, or performing chest
compressions would compromise the sterile field and is not the ST's
role in this scenario.
, 6. After completion of a CABG, the circulating nurse states
"Dressings are on and we have another case to follow. Go ahead and
clean up your table." Which response is best?
A. "I'll breakdown; I have a knife handle loaded."
B. "Agreed, the patient dressings are on."
C. "I will once the patient is out." (CORRECT ANSWER)
D. "Agreed, it will allow for a quick turnover."
Rationale: The surgical technologist must wait until the patient has
been safely transferred out of the OR before breaking down the
sterile field. Patient safety and dignity take precedence over turnover
speed. Breaking down while the patient is still in the room is unsafe
and unprofessional.
7. After a final count is performed following an abdominal aortic
aneurysm, what should the surgical technologist do immediately
after dressing the wound?
A. Dispose of sharps in an approved container
B. Place a wet towel over all instruments with box locks open
C. Gather unused supplies to be returned
D. Wait to break down the setup until the patient has been
transported to the ICU (CORRECT ANSWER)
Rationale: The sterile field must remain intact until the patient leaves
the OR. This ensures that if any emergency arises during patient