Surgical tech Exam study guide: Chapter 3
& 4 with correct answers and rationale
updated 2026
Chapter 3: The Surgical Patient
1. Which of the following is the most basic level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?
A. Safety needs
B. Physiological needs
C. Esteem needs
D. Self-actualization
Answer: B
Rationale: Physiological needs—such as water, oxygen, food, and temperature regulation—are the
most basic biological requirements and form the foundation of Maslow's pyramid. -2
2. A patient who refuses to accept the reality of a terminal diagnosis is exhibiting which coping
mechanism?
A. Rationalization
B. Regression
C. Denial
D. Repression
Answer: C
Rationale: Denial occurs when a patient does not want to accept the truth of what is occurring.
Rationalization involves attempting to explain the illness logically, while repression involves blocking
thoughts from conscious awareness. -3
3. Dr. Hans Selye defined stress as:
A. A psychological response to fear
B. A nonspecific response of the body to a demand
C. A conscious reaction to environmental stimuli
D. An emotional state resulting from conflict
Answer: B
Rationale: Selye defined stress as "a nonspecific response of the body to a demand" that can be
physical, chemical, or emotional in nature. -3
4. Which type of stress has positive, desirable implications?
A. Distress
B. Eustress
C. Hyperstress
D. Hypostress
Answer: B
Rationale: Eustress (prefix "eu" means well or good) is the positive form of stress, such as receiving a
promotion or getting married. Distress has negative implications. -3
,5. The irreversible loss of cardiac and respiratory function is known as:
A. Higher-brain death
B. Whole-brain death
C. Cardiac death
D. Clinical death
Answer: C
Rationale: Cardiac death is defined as the permanent absence of heartbeat and respiration. Higher-
brain death allows the brain stem to continue providing basic functions without higher
consciousness. -3
6. A patient with asthma requiring long-term management is experiencing which category of
death cause?
A. Accidental
B. Terminal
C. Prolonged (chronic)
D. Sudden
Answer: C
Rationale: Prolonged (chronic) death refers to a condition lasting more than 4–6 weeks, often
lifelong, that requires long-term management such as asthma or high blood pressure. -3
7. Which legal document allows patients to state in writing exactly what medical interventions
they are willing to endure to sustain life?
A. Power of attorney
B. Living will
C. Advance directive
D. Durable power of attorney
Answer: B
Rationale: A living will specifically documents the patient's wishes regarding medical interventions
for life support. Power of attorney appoints a health care proxy to make decisions on the patient's
behalf. -3
8. When a physician does nothing to preserve life, this is classified as:
A. Active euthanasia
B. Voluntary euthanasia
C. Passive euthanasia
D. Involuntary euthanasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Passive euthanasia occurs when the physician does nothing to preserve life. Active
euthanasia requires actions that speed the dying process, such as administering morphine. -3
9. The Roy Adaptation Model views the patient as:
A. A passive recipient of care
B. A biopsychosocial individual constantly interacting with the environment
C. A spiritual being with physical needs only
D. An independent entity separate from environmental influences
Answer: B
Rationale: Sister Callista Roy developed this model, viewing the patient as a biopsychosocial
individual who constantly interacts with the environment and has the ability to adapt using coping
skills. -2
, 10. Which of the following is a common factor that results in surgical intervention?
A. Routine physical examination
B. Genetic malformation
C. Annual vaccination
D. Nutritional counseling
Answer: B
Rationale: Common factors resulting in surgical intervention include genetic malformation, trauma,
benign/malignant neoplasm, disease, and psychological state. -2
11. A patient who regresses to an earlier stage of life and exhibits adolescent behaviors is using
which coping mechanism?
A. Denial
B. Rationalization
C. Regression
D. Repression
Answer: C
Rationale: Regression occurs when a patient reverts to behaviors unique to an earlier developmental
stage as a way of coping with illness or stress. -3
12. Which of the following describes a patient's need to be known and cared for as an individual?
A. Physiological needs
B. Safety needs
C. Love and belonging needs
D. Esteem needs
Answer: C
Rationale: Love and belonging needs are basic social needs involving being known and cared for as
an individual and caring for others. -2
13. Any need or activity related to genetics, physiology, or anatomy is classified as a:
A. Psychological need
B. Social need
C. Physical need
D. Spiritual need
Answer: C
Rationale: Physical needs are those related to genetics, physiology, or anatomy. Psychological needs
relate to self-understanding, social needs to interaction with others, and spiritual needs to one's
place in the universe. -2
14. The term for a positive, desirable form of stress is:
A. Distress
B. Eustress
C. Adaptation
D. Homeostasis
Answer: B
Rationale: Eustress is the positive form of stress. Examples include coming in first during a race,
receiving a promotion, or getting married. -3
15. Which stage of death involves the irreversible loss of higher brain function while the brain
stem continues basic functions?
A. Cardiac death
& 4 with correct answers and rationale
updated 2026
Chapter 3: The Surgical Patient
1. Which of the following is the most basic level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?
A. Safety needs
B. Physiological needs
C. Esteem needs
D. Self-actualization
Answer: B
Rationale: Physiological needs—such as water, oxygen, food, and temperature regulation—are the
most basic biological requirements and form the foundation of Maslow's pyramid. -2
2. A patient who refuses to accept the reality of a terminal diagnosis is exhibiting which coping
mechanism?
A. Rationalization
B. Regression
C. Denial
D. Repression
Answer: C
Rationale: Denial occurs when a patient does not want to accept the truth of what is occurring.
Rationalization involves attempting to explain the illness logically, while repression involves blocking
thoughts from conscious awareness. -3
3. Dr. Hans Selye defined stress as:
A. A psychological response to fear
B. A nonspecific response of the body to a demand
C. A conscious reaction to environmental stimuli
D. An emotional state resulting from conflict
Answer: B
Rationale: Selye defined stress as "a nonspecific response of the body to a demand" that can be
physical, chemical, or emotional in nature. -3
4. Which type of stress has positive, desirable implications?
A. Distress
B. Eustress
C. Hyperstress
D. Hypostress
Answer: B
Rationale: Eustress (prefix "eu" means well or good) is the positive form of stress, such as receiving a
promotion or getting married. Distress has negative implications. -3
,5. The irreversible loss of cardiac and respiratory function is known as:
A. Higher-brain death
B. Whole-brain death
C. Cardiac death
D. Clinical death
Answer: C
Rationale: Cardiac death is defined as the permanent absence of heartbeat and respiration. Higher-
brain death allows the brain stem to continue providing basic functions without higher
consciousness. -3
6. A patient with asthma requiring long-term management is experiencing which category of
death cause?
A. Accidental
B. Terminal
C. Prolonged (chronic)
D. Sudden
Answer: C
Rationale: Prolonged (chronic) death refers to a condition lasting more than 4–6 weeks, often
lifelong, that requires long-term management such as asthma or high blood pressure. -3
7. Which legal document allows patients to state in writing exactly what medical interventions
they are willing to endure to sustain life?
A. Power of attorney
B. Living will
C. Advance directive
D. Durable power of attorney
Answer: B
Rationale: A living will specifically documents the patient's wishes regarding medical interventions
for life support. Power of attorney appoints a health care proxy to make decisions on the patient's
behalf. -3
8. When a physician does nothing to preserve life, this is classified as:
A. Active euthanasia
B. Voluntary euthanasia
C. Passive euthanasia
D. Involuntary euthanasia
Answer: C
Rationale: Passive euthanasia occurs when the physician does nothing to preserve life. Active
euthanasia requires actions that speed the dying process, such as administering morphine. -3
9. The Roy Adaptation Model views the patient as:
A. A passive recipient of care
B. A biopsychosocial individual constantly interacting with the environment
C. A spiritual being with physical needs only
D. An independent entity separate from environmental influences
Answer: B
Rationale: Sister Callista Roy developed this model, viewing the patient as a biopsychosocial
individual who constantly interacts with the environment and has the ability to adapt using coping
skills. -2
, 10. Which of the following is a common factor that results in surgical intervention?
A. Routine physical examination
B. Genetic malformation
C. Annual vaccination
D. Nutritional counseling
Answer: B
Rationale: Common factors resulting in surgical intervention include genetic malformation, trauma,
benign/malignant neoplasm, disease, and psychological state. -2
11. A patient who regresses to an earlier stage of life and exhibits adolescent behaviors is using
which coping mechanism?
A. Denial
B. Rationalization
C. Regression
D. Repression
Answer: C
Rationale: Regression occurs when a patient reverts to behaviors unique to an earlier developmental
stage as a way of coping with illness or stress. -3
12. Which of the following describes a patient's need to be known and cared for as an individual?
A. Physiological needs
B. Safety needs
C. Love and belonging needs
D. Esteem needs
Answer: C
Rationale: Love and belonging needs are basic social needs involving being known and cared for as
an individual and caring for others. -2
13. Any need or activity related to genetics, physiology, or anatomy is classified as a:
A. Psychological need
B. Social need
C. Physical need
D. Spiritual need
Answer: C
Rationale: Physical needs are those related to genetics, physiology, or anatomy. Psychological needs
relate to self-understanding, social needs to interaction with others, and spiritual needs to one's
place in the universe. -2
14. The term for a positive, desirable form of stress is:
A. Distress
B. Eustress
C. Adaptation
D. Homeostasis
Answer: B
Rationale: Eustress is the positive form of stress. Examples include coming in first during a race,
receiving a promotion, or getting married. -3
15. Which stage of death involves the irreversible loss of higher brain function while the brain
stem continues basic functions?
A. Cardiac death
