Page 1 of 115
NBSTSA PSI CST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
NBSTSA PSI CST EXAM
Exam Coverage
Surgical technologist roles, responsibilities, professional standards, ethics, and
perioperative patient safety
Surgical asepsis, sterile technique, sterile fields, surgical attire, and environmental
controls
Surgical instrumentation, identification, handling, inspection, counts, and proper care
Surgical procedures across general, orthopedic, cardiovascular, gynecologic,
genitourinary, neurologic, and specialty surgery
Preoperative patient preparation, positioning, skin preparation, draping, and prevention
of positioning injuries
Anesthesia principles, medications, airway management, monitoring, and perioperative
complications
Hemostasis, electrosurgery, lasers, energy devices, suction, irrigation, and surgical
equipment
Surgical specimens, cultures, tissue handling, labeling, transport, and chain-of-custody
principles
Sterilization, disinfection, decontamination, packaging, storage, infection prevention,
and biological monitoring
Surgical emergencies, postoperative complications, trauma, transfusion safety,
communication, and patient-centered care
Questions
1. Which principle is most important when establishing and maintaining a sterile surgical
field?
A. Keep sterile objects below waist level
B. Consider anything below waist level contaminated
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C. Turn away from the sterile field frequently
D. Allow sterile and contaminated items to overlap
Answer: B
Rationale: Items below waist level are considered outside the sterile field and therefore
contaminated.
2. What is the primary responsibility of the surgical technologist during the intraoperative
period?
A. Diagnose the patient's condition
B. Administer general anesthesia independently
C. Maintain aseptic technique and anticipate the surgical team's needs
D. Determine the postoperative diagnosis
Answer: C
Rationale: The CST supports the surgical team while maintaining sterility, preparing equipment,
handling instruments, and anticipating procedural needs.
3. Which area of a surgical gown is considered sterile?
A. Front from chest to sterile-field level and sleeves
B. Entire gown including the back
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C. Back only
D. Neckline and axillary regions
Answer: A
Rationale: The front of the gown and sleeves are considered sterile within accepted boundaries;
the back and areas below the sterile field are not.
4. Why should a sterile team member keep hands above waist level after gowning and
gloving?
A. It improves circulation
B. It prevents contamination of the gloves and hands
C. It reduces fatigue
D. It makes counting easier
Answer: B
Rationale: Keeping hands within the sterile field reduces the risk of accidental contamination.
5. Which action should occur when a sterile glove becomes punctured during surgery?
A. Continue if the glove appears clean
B. Cover the hole with tape
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C. Change the contaminated glove using sterile technique
D. Remove both gowns
Answer: C
Rationale: A compromised glove is no longer an effective barrier and should be replaced
promptly.
6. What is the primary purpose of surgical hand antisepsis?
A. Eliminate every microorganism permanently
B. Reduce transient flora and suppress resident microorganisms
C. Sterilize the hands completely
D. Replace sterile gloves
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis substantially reduces microorganisms before sterile gowning
and gloving.
7. Which item is required when entering an operating room where an open sterile field is
present?
A. Sterile gown immediately upon entering
B. Appropriate surgical attire and hair covering
NBSTSA PSI CST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
NBSTSA PSI CST EXAM
Exam Coverage
Surgical technologist roles, responsibilities, professional standards, ethics, and
perioperative patient safety
Surgical asepsis, sterile technique, sterile fields, surgical attire, and environmental
controls
Surgical instrumentation, identification, handling, inspection, counts, and proper care
Surgical procedures across general, orthopedic, cardiovascular, gynecologic,
genitourinary, neurologic, and specialty surgery
Preoperative patient preparation, positioning, skin preparation, draping, and prevention
of positioning injuries
Anesthesia principles, medications, airway management, monitoring, and perioperative
complications
Hemostasis, electrosurgery, lasers, energy devices, suction, irrigation, and surgical
equipment
Surgical specimens, cultures, tissue handling, labeling, transport, and chain-of-custody
principles
Sterilization, disinfection, decontamination, packaging, storage, infection prevention,
and biological monitoring
Surgical emergencies, postoperative complications, trauma, transfusion safety,
communication, and patient-centered care
Questions
1. Which principle is most important when establishing and maintaining a sterile surgical
field?
A. Keep sterile objects below waist level
B. Consider anything below waist level contaminated
, Page 2 of 115
C. Turn away from the sterile field frequently
D. Allow sterile and contaminated items to overlap
Answer: B
Rationale: Items below waist level are considered outside the sterile field and therefore
contaminated.
2. What is the primary responsibility of the surgical technologist during the intraoperative
period?
A. Diagnose the patient's condition
B. Administer general anesthesia independently
C. Maintain aseptic technique and anticipate the surgical team's needs
D. Determine the postoperative diagnosis
Answer: C
Rationale: The CST supports the surgical team while maintaining sterility, preparing equipment,
handling instruments, and anticipating procedural needs.
3. Which area of a surgical gown is considered sterile?
A. Front from chest to sterile-field level and sleeves
B. Entire gown including the back
, Page 3 of 115
C. Back only
D. Neckline and axillary regions
Answer: A
Rationale: The front of the gown and sleeves are considered sterile within accepted boundaries;
the back and areas below the sterile field are not.
4. Why should a sterile team member keep hands above waist level after gowning and
gloving?
A. It improves circulation
B. It prevents contamination of the gloves and hands
C. It reduces fatigue
D. It makes counting easier
Answer: B
Rationale: Keeping hands within the sterile field reduces the risk of accidental contamination.
5. Which action should occur when a sterile glove becomes punctured during surgery?
A. Continue if the glove appears clean
B. Cover the hole with tape
, Page 4 of 115
C. Change the contaminated glove using sterile technique
D. Remove both gowns
Answer: C
Rationale: A compromised glove is no longer an effective barrier and should be replaced
promptly.
6. What is the primary purpose of surgical hand antisepsis?
A. Eliminate every microorganism permanently
B. Reduce transient flora and suppress resident microorganisms
C. Sterilize the hands completely
D. Replace sterile gloves
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis substantially reduces microorganisms before sterile gowning
and gloving.
7. Which item is required when entering an operating room where an open sterile field is
present?
A. Sterile gown immediately upon entering
B. Appropriate surgical attire and hair covering
