Oklahoma Surgical Technologist Exam
Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
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1. Which action by the surgical technologist is most appropriate when
preparing the sterile field before the start of an operative
procedure?
A. Open all sterile supplies and place them on the field before the patient
enters the room
B. Verify package integrity, expiration dates, sterilization indicators, and
appropriate sterility before placing supplies onto the field
C. Remove sterile instruments from their packages with bare hands to
prevent glove contamination
D. Place sterile supplies below waist level temporarily if the back table
becomes crowded
Answer: B. Verify package integrity, expiration dates, sterilization
indicators, and appropriate sterility before placing supplies onto the
field.
,Rationale: The surgical technologist is responsible for maintaining
sterile technique and must assess the integrity and sterility of supplies
before they enter the sterile field. Packages that are torn, wet,
punctured, improperly sealed, or otherwise questionable must not be
used.
2. During surgical hand antisepsis, which principle is most important
for maintaining effective microbial reduction?
A. Keep the hands lower than the elbows throughout the entire
procedure
B. Scrub only the fingertips because they contact instruments most
frequently
C. Maintain the hands above the elbows after completing the surgical
hand antisepsis
D. Dry the hands using a towel from the operating-room floor
Answer: C. Maintain the hands above the elbows after completing the
surgical hand antisepsis.
Rationale: Keeping the hands above the elbows allows water to flow
from the cleaner hands toward the less-clean forearms rather than back
toward the hands. Proper surgical hand antisepsis reduces transient
microorganisms and helps maintain aseptic technique.
3. A surgical technologist notices that a sterile instrument has fallen
below the level of the sterile field. What should the technologist
do?
,A. Return the instrument to the sterile field because it has not touched
the floor
B. Wipe the instrument with an antiseptic solution and continue using it
C. Consider the instrument contaminated and replace it with a sterile
instrument
D. Ask the surgeon whether the instrument may continue to be used
Answer: C. Consider the instrument contaminated and replace it with a
sterile instrument.
Rationale: Any sterile item that falls below the established sterile field is
considered contaminated because its sterility can no longer be assured.
It must be removed and replaced rather than returned to the field.
4. Which microorganism is classified as a gram-positive, spore-forming
anaerobic bacterium commonly associated with surgical wound
infections and antibiotic-associated colitis?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Clostridioides difficile
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Staphylococcus epidermidis
Answer: B. Clostridioides difficile.
Rationale: Clostridioides difficile is a gram-positive, spore-forming
anaerobic organism associated particularly with antibiotic-associated
diarrhea and colitis. Its spores are resistant to many routine
, environmental cleaning methods and require appropriate sporicidal
practices.
5. Which type of suture is classified as absorbable?
A. Nylon
B. Polypropylene
C. Polydioxanone
D. Stainless steel
Answer: C. Polydioxanone.
Rationale: Polydioxanone is a synthetic absorbable monofilament
suture. Nylon, polypropylene, and stainless steel are generally classified
as nonabsorbable materials.
6. Which surgical instrument is specifically designed to grasp delicate
tissue without causing significant trauma?
A. Allis tissue forceps
B. Babcock tissue forceps
C. Kocher clamp
D. Towel clamp
Answer: B. Babcock tissue forceps.
Rationale: Babcock forceps have broad, atraumatic, fenestrated jaws
designed to grasp delicate tubular or soft tissues such as bowel without
Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf.
1. Which action by the surgical technologist is most appropriate when
preparing the sterile field before the start of an operative
procedure?
A. Open all sterile supplies and place them on the field before the patient
enters the room
B. Verify package integrity, expiration dates, sterilization indicators, and
appropriate sterility before placing supplies onto the field
C. Remove sterile instruments from their packages with bare hands to
prevent glove contamination
D. Place sterile supplies below waist level temporarily if the back table
becomes crowded
Answer: B. Verify package integrity, expiration dates, sterilization
indicators, and appropriate sterility before placing supplies onto the
field.
,Rationale: The surgical technologist is responsible for maintaining
sterile technique and must assess the integrity and sterility of supplies
before they enter the sterile field. Packages that are torn, wet,
punctured, improperly sealed, or otherwise questionable must not be
used.
2. During surgical hand antisepsis, which principle is most important
for maintaining effective microbial reduction?
A. Keep the hands lower than the elbows throughout the entire
procedure
B. Scrub only the fingertips because they contact instruments most
frequently
C. Maintain the hands above the elbows after completing the surgical
hand antisepsis
D. Dry the hands using a towel from the operating-room floor
Answer: C. Maintain the hands above the elbows after completing the
surgical hand antisepsis.
Rationale: Keeping the hands above the elbows allows water to flow
from the cleaner hands toward the less-clean forearms rather than back
toward the hands. Proper surgical hand antisepsis reduces transient
microorganisms and helps maintain aseptic technique.
3. A surgical technologist notices that a sterile instrument has fallen
below the level of the sterile field. What should the technologist
do?
,A. Return the instrument to the sterile field because it has not touched
the floor
B. Wipe the instrument with an antiseptic solution and continue using it
C. Consider the instrument contaminated and replace it with a sterile
instrument
D. Ask the surgeon whether the instrument may continue to be used
Answer: C. Consider the instrument contaminated and replace it with a
sterile instrument.
Rationale: Any sterile item that falls below the established sterile field is
considered contaminated because its sterility can no longer be assured.
It must be removed and replaced rather than returned to the field.
4. Which microorganism is classified as a gram-positive, spore-forming
anaerobic bacterium commonly associated with surgical wound
infections and antibiotic-associated colitis?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Clostridioides difficile
C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Staphylococcus epidermidis
Answer: B. Clostridioides difficile.
Rationale: Clostridioides difficile is a gram-positive, spore-forming
anaerobic organism associated particularly with antibiotic-associated
diarrhea and colitis. Its spores are resistant to many routine
, environmental cleaning methods and require appropriate sporicidal
practices.
5. Which type of suture is classified as absorbable?
A. Nylon
B. Polypropylene
C. Polydioxanone
D. Stainless steel
Answer: C. Polydioxanone.
Rationale: Polydioxanone is a synthetic absorbable monofilament
suture. Nylon, polypropylene, and stainless steel are generally classified
as nonabsorbable materials.
6. Which surgical instrument is specifically designed to grasp delicate
tissue without causing significant trauma?
A. Allis tissue forceps
B. Babcock tissue forceps
C. Kocher clamp
D. Towel clamp
Answer: B. Babcock tissue forceps.
Rationale: Babcock forceps have broad, atraumatic, fenestrated jaws
designed to grasp delicate tubular or soft tissues such as bowel without
