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NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM PRE SURGICAL CARE AND PREPARATION
TEST ACTUAL TEST BANK 2026/2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM APPROVED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
1. A surgical technologist is preparing a patient for an elective abdominal
procedure. During the preoperative period, the technologist reviews the patient's
identification, procedure, consent status, allergies, and surgical site with the
circulating nurse. The patient states that the procedure they are scheduled to
receive is different from what they discussed with the surgeon. What should the
surgical technologist do first?
A. Immediately report the discrepancy to the circulating nurse and appropriate
surgical team members before proceeding
B. Continue preparing the patient because the surgeon will verify the procedure in
the operating room
C. Ask the patient to sign another consent form before notifying the surgical team
D. Proceed with room preparation and discuss the discrepancy after anesthesia is
administered
Answer: A
2. Before a patient enters the operating room for an elective procedure, the
surgical technologist notices that the patient's identification band contains a
different date of birth from the information displayed on the surgical schedule.
The patient is alert and confirms their name verbally, but the discrepancy remains
unresolved. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Remove the identification band and replace it using the surgical schedule
B. Ask the patient's family member to confirm the patient's identity
C. Stop the preparation process and have the discrepancy verified through the
appropriate identification process
D. Proceed because the patient verbally confirmed their name
Answer: A
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3. A patient scheduled for surgery tells the preoperative nurse that they have
previously experienced a severe reaction to latex. The procedure involves
numerous supplies that may contain latex unless specifically identified as latex-
free. Which preparation is most appropriate?
A. Use standard supplies and monitor the patient closely for a reaction
B. Notify the surgical team and ensure appropriate latex-free precautions and
supplies are used
C. Administer prophylactic antibiotics before bringing the patient into the room
D. Delay the procedure until the patient receives another allergy test
Answer: D
4. During preoperative preparation, a patient scheduled for surgery reports taking
an anticoagulant medication at home and states that they took their usual dose
that morning. The surgical technologist understands that this information could
affect surgical safety. What is the most appropriate response?
A. Tell the patient to discontinue the medication permanently
B. Document the medication as a routine home medication without further action
C. Notify the appropriate nurse or surgical team member so the medication
history can be evaluated before surgery
D. Administer a medication intended to reverse anticoagulation without an order
Answer: B
5. A patient arrives in the preoperative area for a procedure requiring general
anesthesia. The patient reports eating a large meal shortly before arriving and
says that they were unaware of any fasting requirement. Which action should the
surgical technologist take?
A. Continue preparation because fasting is only required for emergency
procedures
B. Provide the patient with additional food so they will not become hungry
C. Immediately communicate the information to the appropriate perioperative
personnel before the procedure proceeds
D. Tell the patient that the procedure will definitely be canceled
,3
Answer: A
6. A surgical technologist is reviewing the preoperative checklist for a patient
undergoing orthopedic surgery. The checklist indicates that the operative site
should be identified before the patient is transported into the operating room.
Which principle is being applied?
A. Surgical-site verification and prevention of wrong-site surgery
B. Postoperative discharge planning
C. Sterilization monitoring
D. Instrument decontamination
Answer: A
7. A patient scheduled for a left knee procedure arrives in the operating room
with the surgical schedule indicating a left knee procedure, but the patient's
paperwork contains inconsistent information about the operative side. The
patient is unable to clarify the discrepancy because sedation has already been
administered. What should happen?
A. Proceed based on the schedule because it is the most recent document
B. Proceed based on the surgeon's preference
C. Stop and resolve the discrepancy using the established verification process
before surgery begins
D. Ask the anesthesia provider to determine which knee should be treated
Answer: C
8. During preoperative preparation, the surgical technologist notices that a patient
has jewelry on several fingers and a metal necklace. The patient says the jewelry
cannot be removed. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Leave all jewelry in place if it is covered with surgical drapes
B. Follow facility policy and communicate the issue to the appropriate
perioperative personnel before surgery
C. Remove the jewelry forcibly
D. Place the jewelry in the patient's clothing pocket
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Answer: B
9. A patient scheduled for surgery is wearing contact lenses and has removable
dental appliances. The patient is being prepared for anesthesia. Which action is
generally appropriate?
A. Leave all removable items in place during surgery
B. Follow facility policy for removal and safe storage of removable personal items
before anesthesia
C. Give the items to another patient for safekeeping
D. Discard the items because they are contaminated
Answer: B
10. A patient scheduled for abdominal surgery asks the surgical technologist why
they cannot eat or drink before surgery. Which explanation is most appropriate
within the technologist's role?
A. Explain that fasting requirements help reduce risks associated with anesthesia
and aspiration and reinforce the instructions provided by the licensed provider
B. Tell the patient that fasting is required solely because the surgeon prefers an
empty stomach
C. Explain the patient's exact anesthesia medication regimen
D. Tell the patient that fasting prevents postoperative infection
Answer: B
11. A surgical technologist is preparing the operating room for an elective
procedure. The preoperative assessment indicates that the patient has diabetes
and uses insulin. Which concern is particularly important during preparation?
A. Blood glucose management and communication of relevant diabetes
information to the perioperative team
B. Preventing the patient from receiving any postoperative analgesia
C. Removing all IV fluids from the operating room
D. Avoiding all skin antiseptic agents
Answer: D
NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM PRE SURGICAL CARE AND PREPARATION
TEST ACTUAL TEST BANK 2026/2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM APPROVED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
1. A surgical technologist is preparing a patient for an elective abdominal
procedure. During the preoperative period, the technologist reviews the patient's
identification, procedure, consent status, allergies, and surgical site with the
circulating nurse. The patient states that the procedure they are scheduled to
receive is different from what they discussed with the surgeon. What should the
surgical technologist do first?
A. Immediately report the discrepancy to the circulating nurse and appropriate
surgical team members before proceeding
B. Continue preparing the patient because the surgeon will verify the procedure in
the operating room
C. Ask the patient to sign another consent form before notifying the surgical team
D. Proceed with room preparation and discuss the discrepancy after anesthesia is
administered
Answer: A
2. Before a patient enters the operating room for an elective procedure, the
surgical technologist notices that the patient's identification band contains a
different date of birth from the information displayed on the surgical schedule.
The patient is alert and confirms their name verbally, but the discrepancy remains
unresolved. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Remove the identification band and replace it using the surgical schedule
B. Ask the patient's family member to confirm the patient's identity
C. Stop the preparation process and have the discrepancy verified through the
appropriate identification process
D. Proceed because the patient verbally confirmed their name
Answer: A
,2
3. A patient scheduled for surgery tells the preoperative nurse that they have
previously experienced a severe reaction to latex. The procedure involves
numerous supplies that may contain latex unless specifically identified as latex-
free. Which preparation is most appropriate?
A. Use standard supplies and monitor the patient closely for a reaction
B. Notify the surgical team and ensure appropriate latex-free precautions and
supplies are used
C. Administer prophylactic antibiotics before bringing the patient into the room
D. Delay the procedure until the patient receives another allergy test
Answer: D
4. During preoperative preparation, a patient scheduled for surgery reports taking
an anticoagulant medication at home and states that they took their usual dose
that morning. The surgical technologist understands that this information could
affect surgical safety. What is the most appropriate response?
A. Tell the patient to discontinue the medication permanently
B. Document the medication as a routine home medication without further action
C. Notify the appropriate nurse or surgical team member so the medication
history can be evaluated before surgery
D. Administer a medication intended to reverse anticoagulation without an order
Answer: B
5. A patient arrives in the preoperative area for a procedure requiring general
anesthesia. The patient reports eating a large meal shortly before arriving and
says that they were unaware of any fasting requirement. Which action should the
surgical technologist take?
A. Continue preparation because fasting is only required for emergency
procedures
B. Provide the patient with additional food so they will not become hungry
C. Immediately communicate the information to the appropriate perioperative
personnel before the procedure proceeds
D. Tell the patient that the procedure will definitely be canceled
,3
Answer: A
6. A surgical technologist is reviewing the preoperative checklist for a patient
undergoing orthopedic surgery. The checklist indicates that the operative site
should be identified before the patient is transported into the operating room.
Which principle is being applied?
A. Surgical-site verification and prevention of wrong-site surgery
B. Postoperative discharge planning
C. Sterilization monitoring
D. Instrument decontamination
Answer: A
7. A patient scheduled for a left knee procedure arrives in the operating room
with the surgical schedule indicating a left knee procedure, but the patient's
paperwork contains inconsistent information about the operative side. The
patient is unable to clarify the discrepancy because sedation has already been
administered. What should happen?
A. Proceed based on the schedule because it is the most recent document
B. Proceed based on the surgeon's preference
C. Stop and resolve the discrepancy using the established verification process
before surgery begins
D. Ask the anesthesia provider to determine which knee should be treated
Answer: C
8. During preoperative preparation, the surgical technologist notices that a patient
has jewelry on several fingers and a metal necklace. The patient says the jewelry
cannot be removed. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Leave all jewelry in place if it is covered with surgical drapes
B. Follow facility policy and communicate the issue to the appropriate
perioperative personnel before surgery
C. Remove the jewelry forcibly
D. Place the jewelry in the patient's clothing pocket
, 4
Answer: B
9. A patient scheduled for surgery is wearing contact lenses and has removable
dental appliances. The patient is being prepared for anesthesia. Which action is
generally appropriate?
A. Leave all removable items in place during surgery
B. Follow facility policy for removal and safe storage of removable personal items
before anesthesia
C. Give the items to another patient for safekeeping
D. Discard the items because they are contaminated
Answer: B
10. A patient scheduled for abdominal surgery asks the surgical technologist why
they cannot eat or drink before surgery. Which explanation is most appropriate
within the technologist's role?
A. Explain that fasting requirements help reduce risks associated with anesthesia
and aspiration and reinforce the instructions provided by the licensed provider
B. Tell the patient that fasting is required solely because the surgeon prefers an
empty stomach
C. Explain the patient's exact anesthesia medication regimen
D. Tell the patient that fasting prevents postoperative infection
Answer: B
11. A surgical technologist is preparing the operating room for an elective
procedure. The preoperative assessment indicates that the patient has diabetes
and uses insulin. Which concern is particularly important during preparation?
A. Blood glucose management and communication of relevant diabetes
information to the perioperative team
B. Preventing the patient from receiving any postoperative analgesia
C. Removing all IV fluids from the operating room
D. Avoiding all skin antiseptic agents
Answer: D
