NBSTSA CST Practice Exam B
A SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST IS PREPARING THE D. HAVE THE SURGEON RETURN
INCISION SITE FOR THE DRESSING FOLLWING A
(TAH). THE PATIENT HAS DEVELOPED A HEMATOMA
AT THE INCISION SITE. THE SURGEON HAS LEFT THE
ROOM. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
SHOULD THE SURGICAL TECH TAKE?
A. PLACE A PRESSURE DRESSING
B. COVER WITH DERMABOND
C. STERI-STRIP THE INCISION
D. HAVE THE SURGEION RETURN
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS A SIGN OF CARDIAC C. CYANOSIS
ARREST?
A. EDEMA
B. CONVULSION
C. CYANOSIS
D. HYPERTENSION
The number of Staphylococcus aureus micro-organisms D. a thorough surgical hand scrub.
carried by the surgical technologist can be drastically
reduced by.
A. wearing a surgical cap.
B. wearing hospital scrubs.
C. keeping the OR doors closed.
D. a thorough surgical hand scrub.
List in order the sequence of induction for general C. 1, 3, 2, 4, and 5
anesthesia:
1. leads placed on the patient
2. induction agent is given through an IV
3. patient is prompted to breathe 100% oxygen
4. patient is intubated
5. anesthetic gas agent is selected and applied
A. 1, 3, 5, 4, and 2
B. 5, 2, 3, 1, and 4
C. 1, 3, 2, 4, and 5
D. 4, 2, 3, 1, and 5
Place the following phases of wound healing by first C. III, I, II
intention in correct order from first to last:
I. proliferation
II. remodeling
III. inflammatory
A. I, II, III
B. II, I, III
C. III, I, II
D. III, II, I
Stuvia 2026-2027
, NBSTSA CST Practice Exam B
A surgical technologist has selected the sutures for a C. Ask the surgeon if he would like to have his preference card updated and
procedure based on the surgeon's preference card. The proceed accordingly.
surgeon states he would like additional sutures and his
preference card is outdated. Which of the following is the
surgical technologist's BEST course of action?
A. Open all of the sutures that were collected and place
them on the back table just in case the surgeon needs
them.
B. Return the sutures that are not needed to sterile supply
and proceed with the case.
C. Ask the surgeon if he would like to have his preference
card updated and proceed accordingly.
D. Update the surgeon's preference card to reflect the
sutures that have been requested for this case.
While being transferred from the stretcher to the operating D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's concerns.
room bed, the patient expresses fear of not awakening
from anesthesia. The surgical technologist should.
A. proceed with the transfer and disregard patient
comments.
B. explain the action of the anesthetic agent.
C. reassure the patient that the anesthetic is safe.
D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's
concerns.
When preparing endoscopic cameras for ethylene oxide B. biological indicator
sterilization, which of the following monitoring processes
would be utilized to ensure all parameters of sterilization
were met?
A. external tape
B. biological indicator
C. dynamic air removal
D. internal strip
Which of the following rongeurs is used to expand the C. Kerrison
antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
A. Cushing
B. Bethune
C. Kerrison
D. Stille-Luer
The surgical technologist in the scrub role should remain B. carotid endarterectomy
sterile following which of the following surgical
procedures?
A. laparoscopic cholecystectomy
B. carotid endarterectomy
C. total hip arthroplasty
D. tympanoplasty
After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the B. Regown and reglove the surgeon.
DuraPrep applicator and proceeds to prep the patient for
surgery. Which of the following is the BEST action to take
at this time?
A. Assist the surgeon in draping the patient.
B. Regown and reglove the surgeon.
C. Remove drapes and start over.
D. Inform the supervisor.
Stuvia 2026-2027
, NBSTSA CST Practice Exam B
Local anesthetics containing epinephrine should NEVER D. digits and penis
be used in which of the following areas?
A. arms and legs
B. epidural spaces
C. wrists and ankles
D. digits and penis
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
During a procedure, a surgical technologist notices a hole B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
in his glove. Which of the following should be done next?
A. Continue the case.
B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving technique.
D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown and glove.
Which of the following is an unexpected occurrence that B. sentinel event
involves physiologic or psychologic injury or death?
A. unintentional tort
B. sentinel event
C. negligence
D. malpractice
Which of the following is a benign fluid-filled sac that D. hydrocele
develops in the anterior testis?
A. rectocele
B. cystocele
C. enterocele
D. hydrocele
When a cholecystectomy is performed, which of the C. common duct
following anatomical structures must be preserved?
A. cystic duct
B. cystic vein
C. common duct
D. cystic artery
Which of the following procedures treats a congenital D. pyloromyotomy
obstructed lesion found at the distal end of an infant's
stomach?
A. gastrostomy
B. Nissen fundoplication
C. Heller myotomy
D. pyloromyotomy
The safest method for placing a blade on a knife handle is C. needle holder
with a
A. Mixter.
B. gloved hand.
C. needle holder.
D. tissue forceps.
Stuvia 2026-2027
A SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST IS PREPARING THE D. HAVE THE SURGEON RETURN
INCISION SITE FOR THE DRESSING FOLLWING A
(TAH). THE PATIENT HAS DEVELOPED A HEMATOMA
AT THE INCISION SITE. THE SURGEON HAS LEFT THE
ROOM. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
SHOULD THE SURGICAL TECH TAKE?
A. PLACE A PRESSURE DRESSING
B. COVER WITH DERMABOND
C. STERI-STRIP THE INCISION
D. HAVE THE SURGEION RETURN
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS A SIGN OF CARDIAC C. CYANOSIS
ARREST?
A. EDEMA
B. CONVULSION
C. CYANOSIS
D. HYPERTENSION
The number of Staphylococcus aureus micro-organisms D. a thorough surgical hand scrub.
carried by the surgical technologist can be drastically
reduced by.
A. wearing a surgical cap.
B. wearing hospital scrubs.
C. keeping the OR doors closed.
D. a thorough surgical hand scrub.
List in order the sequence of induction for general C. 1, 3, 2, 4, and 5
anesthesia:
1. leads placed on the patient
2. induction agent is given through an IV
3. patient is prompted to breathe 100% oxygen
4. patient is intubated
5. anesthetic gas agent is selected and applied
A. 1, 3, 5, 4, and 2
B. 5, 2, 3, 1, and 4
C. 1, 3, 2, 4, and 5
D. 4, 2, 3, 1, and 5
Place the following phases of wound healing by first C. III, I, II
intention in correct order from first to last:
I. proliferation
II. remodeling
III. inflammatory
A. I, II, III
B. II, I, III
C. III, I, II
D. III, II, I
Stuvia 2026-2027
, NBSTSA CST Practice Exam B
A surgical technologist has selected the sutures for a C. Ask the surgeon if he would like to have his preference card updated and
procedure based on the surgeon's preference card. The proceed accordingly.
surgeon states he would like additional sutures and his
preference card is outdated. Which of the following is the
surgical technologist's BEST course of action?
A. Open all of the sutures that were collected and place
them on the back table just in case the surgeon needs
them.
B. Return the sutures that are not needed to sterile supply
and proceed with the case.
C. Ask the surgeon if he would like to have his preference
card updated and proceed accordingly.
D. Update the surgeon's preference card to reflect the
sutures that have been requested for this case.
While being transferred from the stretcher to the operating D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's concerns.
room bed, the patient expresses fear of not awakening
from anesthesia. The surgical technologist should.
A. proceed with the transfer and disregard patient
comments.
B. explain the action of the anesthetic agent.
C. reassure the patient that the anesthetic is safe.
D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's
concerns.
When preparing endoscopic cameras for ethylene oxide B. biological indicator
sterilization, which of the following monitoring processes
would be utilized to ensure all parameters of sterilization
were met?
A. external tape
B. biological indicator
C. dynamic air removal
D. internal strip
Which of the following rongeurs is used to expand the C. Kerrison
antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
A. Cushing
B. Bethune
C. Kerrison
D. Stille-Luer
The surgical technologist in the scrub role should remain B. carotid endarterectomy
sterile following which of the following surgical
procedures?
A. laparoscopic cholecystectomy
B. carotid endarterectomy
C. total hip arthroplasty
D. tympanoplasty
After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the B. Regown and reglove the surgeon.
DuraPrep applicator and proceeds to prep the patient for
surgery. Which of the following is the BEST action to take
at this time?
A. Assist the surgeon in draping the patient.
B. Regown and reglove the surgeon.
C. Remove drapes and start over.
D. Inform the supervisor.
Stuvia 2026-2027
, NBSTSA CST Practice Exam B
Local anesthetics containing epinephrine should NEVER D. digits and penis
be used in which of the following areas?
A. arms and legs
B. epidural spaces
C. wrists and ankles
D. digits and penis
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
During a procedure, a surgical technologist notices a hole B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
in his glove. Which of the following should be done next?
A. Continue the case.
B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving technique.
D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown and glove.
Which of the following is an unexpected occurrence that B. sentinel event
involves physiologic or psychologic injury or death?
A. unintentional tort
B. sentinel event
C. negligence
D. malpractice
Which of the following is a benign fluid-filled sac that D. hydrocele
develops in the anterior testis?
A. rectocele
B. cystocele
C. enterocele
D. hydrocele
When a cholecystectomy is performed, which of the C. common duct
following anatomical structures must be preserved?
A. cystic duct
B. cystic vein
C. common duct
D. cystic artery
Which of the following procedures treats a congenital D. pyloromyotomy
obstructed lesion found at the distal end of an infant's
stomach?
A. gastrostomy
B. Nissen fundoplication
C. Heller myotomy
D. pyloromyotomy
The safest method for placing a blade on a knife handle is C. needle holder
with a
A. Mixter.
B. gloved hand.
C. needle holder.
D. tissue forceps.
Stuvia 2026-2027
