NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A
Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone B. foramen magnum
through which the spinal cord passes?
A. foramen ovale
B. foramen magnum
C. foramen rotundum
D. foramen of Bochdalek
Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and the setup
opened in OR 1. A surgical technologist was just informed in OR 1 should be disposed of.
that the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next case
in OR 1 is scheduled in two hours. Which of the following
is the BEST course of action?
A. Cover the sterile field with a sterile drape and move it
from OR 1 to OR 2.
B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be
obtained for OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be
disposed of.
C. OR 1 should be left so that these supplies and
instruments can be used by the next case.
D. The surgical technologist should argue that the
procedure be held in OR 1 as planned.
Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to C. inflammation
injury?
A. fever
B. infection
C. inflammation
D. immune reaction
Which of the following instruments is used for a common B. Randall forceps
bile duct exploration?
A. Fogarty clamp
B. Randall forceps
C. Pennington clamp
D. Forester ring forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important A. avoiding the knot
consideration when cutting suture?
A. avoiding the knot
B. using sharp scissors
C.opening the scissors wide when cutting
D. tagging the end of suture to be cut with a hemostat
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided A.cystic artery and cystic duct
during the cholecystectomy?
A.cystic artery and cystic duct
B.hepatic artery and hepatic duct
C. cystic artery and common bile duct
D. hepatic artery and pancreatic duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a A. pressure dressing
sterile dressing to a skin graft site?
A. pressure dressing
B. ABD pad
C. 4x4s
D. Steri-Strips
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the C. Schroeder
following instruments is used to grasp the cervix?
A. Sims
B. Auvard
C. Schroeder
D. Bozeman
Stuvia 2026-2027
, NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A
On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient D. acceptance
tells the nurse, "No matter what happens, it will be okay."
Which of the Five Stages of Grief is the patient MOST
likely in?
A. denial
B. bargaining
C. depression
D. acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of A. bayonet forceps
cottonoid strips during a craniotomy?
A. bayonet forceps
B. Russian forceps
C. Kelly clamp
D. angled DeBakey clamp
When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in A. pass back-to-back.
the sterile field, they should
A. pass back-to-back.
B. both face the wall.
C. pass side-to-side.
D. both face the sterile field.
Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate C. extracorporeal bypass
blood?
A. Doppler ultrasound
B. defibrillator
C. extracorporeal bypass
D. autotransfuser
The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate A. physiologic condition of the patient.
anesthetic agent is the
A. physiologic condition of the patient.
B. length of the procedure.
C. type of the procedure.
D. anxiety level of the patient.
If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they D.stacked inside the other and separated by a towel.
should be packaged with one basin
A.stacked inside the other and separated by impervious
material.
B.on its side and the other upside down.
C.stacked inside the other and wrapped in a towel.
D.stacked inside the other and separated by a towel.
Which of the following items may be used in positioning a D. bean bag
patient for a total hip arthroplasty?
A. fracture table
B. Wilson frame
C. Andrews frame
D. bean bag
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. C. Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first
How should the surgical technologist respond?
A.Acknowledge the neighbor.
B.Reassure the neighbor that everything will be fine.
C.Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first.
D.Ignore the neighbor, even if greeted.
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal A.placed in a separate basin.
stump during an appendectomy should be
A.placed in a separate basin.
B.wiped with a saline sponge.
C.returned to the Mayo stand.
D. wiped with an alcohol sponge.
Stuvia 2026-2027
, NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of B. necrosis
a strangulated hernia?
A. shock
B. necrosis
C. infection
D. hemorrhage
Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
draping the patient?
A.Hold the drapes high until directly over the patient.
B.Protect the gloved hands by cuffing the drapes.
C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
D.Place the drapes on a dry area.
Which of the following structures is separated first when a D. rectus abdominis
paramedian incision is performed?
A. peritoneum
B. transverse abdominis
C. external oblique
D. rectus abdominis
Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to D. Mayfield clamp
stabilize a cervical fracture?
A. Kirschner wire
B. Hoffman device
C. Steinmann pins
D. Mayfield clamp
During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is C. cauterization.
controlled by
A. Gelfoam.
B. irrigation.
C. cauterization.
D. suture ligature.
To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical B. surgical gloves
procedure, which of the following should be removed LAST
by the surgical technologist in the scrub role?
A. patient's drapes
B. surgical gloves
C. surgical gown
D. Mayo stand drape
In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon B. Gerota's fascia
must enter which of the following?
A. synovial membrane
B. Gerota's fascia
C. Hesselbach's triangle
D. suprapleural membrane
Which of the following is the MOST common straight D. Robinson
catheter used prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery
in the OR?
A. Foley
B. Pezzer
C. Malecot
D. Robinson
A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of C. bladder suspension
surgery?
A. hysterectomy
B. prostatectomy
C. bladder suspension
D. anterior colporrhaphy
Stuvia 2026-2027
Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone B. foramen magnum
through which the spinal cord passes?
A. foramen ovale
B. foramen magnum
C. foramen rotundum
D. foramen of Bochdalek
Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and the setup
opened in OR 1. A surgical technologist was just informed in OR 1 should be disposed of.
that the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next case
in OR 1 is scheduled in two hours. Which of the following
is the BEST course of action?
A. Cover the sterile field with a sterile drape and move it
from OR 1 to OR 2.
B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be
obtained for OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be
disposed of.
C. OR 1 should be left so that these supplies and
instruments can be used by the next case.
D. The surgical technologist should argue that the
procedure be held in OR 1 as planned.
Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to C. inflammation
injury?
A. fever
B. infection
C. inflammation
D. immune reaction
Which of the following instruments is used for a common B. Randall forceps
bile duct exploration?
A. Fogarty clamp
B. Randall forceps
C. Pennington clamp
D. Forester ring forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important A. avoiding the knot
consideration when cutting suture?
A. avoiding the knot
B. using sharp scissors
C.opening the scissors wide when cutting
D. tagging the end of suture to be cut with a hemostat
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided A.cystic artery and cystic duct
during the cholecystectomy?
A.cystic artery and cystic duct
B.hepatic artery and hepatic duct
C. cystic artery and common bile duct
D. hepatic artery and pancreatic duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a A. pressure dressing
sterile dressing to a skin graft site?
A. pressure dressing
B. ABD pad
C. 4x4s
D. Steri-Strips
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the C. Schroeder
following instruments is used to grasp the cervix?
A. Sims
B. Auvard
C. Schroeder
D. Bozeman
Stuvia 2026-2027
, NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A
On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient D. acceptance
tells the nurse, "No matter what happens, it will be okay."
Which of the Five Stages of Grief is the patient MOST
likely in?
A. denial
B. bargaining
C. depression
D. acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of A. bayonet forceps
cottonoid strips during a craniotomy?
A. bayonet forceps
B. Russian forceps
C. Kelly clamp
D. angled DeBakey clamp
When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in A. pass back-to-back.
the sterile field, they should
A. pass back-to-back.
B. both face the wall.
C. pass side-to-side.
D. both face the sterile field.
Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate C. extracorporeal bypass
blood?
A. Doppler ultrasound
B. defibrillator
C. extracorporeal bypass
D. autotransfuser
The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate A. physiologic condition of the patient.
anesthetic agent is the
A. physiologic condition of the patient.
B. length of the procedure.
C. type of the procedure.
D. anxiety level of the patient.
If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they D.stacked inside the other and separated by a towel.
should be packaged with one basin
A.stacked inside the other and separated by impervious
material.
B.on its side and the other upside down.
C.stacked inside the other and wrapped in a towel.
D.stacked inside the other and separated by a towel.
Which of the following items may be used in positioning a D. bean bag
patient for a total hip arthroplasty?
A. fracture table
B. Wilson frame
C. Andrews frame
D. bean bag
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. C. Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first
How should the surgical technologist respond?
A.Acknowledge the neighbor.
B.Reassure the neighbor that everything will be fine.
C.Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first.
D.Ignore the neighbor, even if greeted.
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal A.placed in a separate basin.
stump during an appendectomy should be
A.placed in a separate basin.
B.wiped with a saline sponge.
C.returned to the Mayo stand.
D. wiped with an alcohol sponge.
Stuvia 2026-2027
, NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of B. necrosis
a strangulated hernia?
A. shock
B. necrosis
C. infection
D. hemorrhage
Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
draping the patient?
A.Hold the drapes high until directly over the patient.
B.Protect the gloved hands by cuffing the drapes.
C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
D.Place the drapes on a dry area.
Which of the following structures is separated first when a D. rectus abdominis
paramedian incision is performed?
A. peritoneum
B. transverse abdominis
C. external oblique
D. rectus abdominis
Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to D. Mayfield clamp
stabilize a cervical fracture?
A. Kirschner wire
B. Hoffman device
C. Steinmann pins
D. Mayfield clamp
During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is C. cauterization.
controlled by
A. Gelfoam.
B. irrigation.
C. cauterization.
D. suture ligature.
To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical B. surgical gloves
procedure, which of the following should be removed LAST
by the surgical technologist in the scrub role?
A. patient's drapes
B. surgical gloves
C. surgical gown
D. Mayo stand drape
In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon B. Gerota's fascia
must enter which of the following?
A. synovial membrane
B. Gerota's fascia
C. Hesselbach's triangle
D. suprapleural membrane
Which of the following is the MOST common straight D. Robinson
catheter used prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery
in the OR?
A. Foley
B. Pezzer
C. Malecot
D. Robinson
A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of C. bladder suspension
surgery?
A. hysterectomy
B. prostatectomy
C. bladder suspension
D. anterior colporrhaphy
Stuvia 2026-2027
