Page 1 of 72
ABSA SURGICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION — COMPLETE STUDY - EXAM
QUESTIONS LATEST EDITION 2026 – 2027 VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
1. Before the surgical incision is made, the surgical assistant's primary
responsibility is to ensure that:
A) The operative note has already been completed
B) The correct patient, procedure, site, and required equipment have been verified
according to the surgical safety checklist
C) The wound dressing has been applied
D) The surgical team has taken a break
Correct Answer: B) The correct patient, procedure, site, and required equipment
have been verified according to the surgical safety checklist
Rationale: Verification through the surgical safety checklist is the critical safety
measure performed before incision to prevent wrong-site, wrong-patient, and wrong-
procedure surgeries. The "time out" is a formal process in which all team members
must participate just prior to incision.
2. A patient is scheduled for surgery and has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order.
What should the surgical team do?
A) Automatically suspend the DNR order during surgery
B) Discuss the DNR order with the patient and/or family and determine the plan for the
perioperative period
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C) Ignore the DNR order
D) Proceed with surgery without addressing the DNR
Correct Answer: B) Discuss the DNR order with the patient and/or family and
determine the plan for the perioperative period
Rationale: DNR orders should be discussed with the patient and/or family before
surgery to determine the plan for the perioperative period. Many facilities require a
"required reconsideration" of the DNR order before proceeding with surgery.
3. The surgical "time-out" is performed primarily to:
A) Allow staff to prepare instruments
B) Confirm patient identity, procedure, operative site, and team readiness before
incision
C) Count surgical sponges
D) Prepare postoperative orders
Correct Answer: B) Confirm patient identity, procedure, operative site, and team
readiness before incision
Rationale: The time-out is a critical patient safety measure established by The Joint
Commission's Universal Protocol. It is performed immediately before incision to verify
the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site.
4. Which medication should be reviewed preoperatively due to its effect on platelet
function?
A) Metformin
B) Aspirin
C) Lisinopril
D) Levothyroxine
Correct Answer: B) Aspirin
Rationale: Aspirin irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation for the life of the platelet (7–
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10 days). It should be reviewed preoperatively and typically withheld before elective
surgery to reduce bleeding risk.
5. A patient has a history of malignant hyperthermia. Which preoperative action is
most important?
A) Administer dantrolene preoperatively
B) Ensure a malignant hyperthermia cart is available
C) Avoid all anesthetics
D) Use only local anesthesia
Correct Answer: B) Ensure a malignant hyperthermia cart is available
Rationale: For patients with a history of malignant hyperthermia, the surgical team
must ensure that a malignant hyperthermia cart (containing dantrolene) is available.
Triggering agents such as succinylcholine and volatile anesthetics should be avoided.
6. A patient is scheduled for surgery and takes metformin for diabetes. What is the
appropriate preoperative management?
A) Continue metformin as usual
B) Hold metformin 24–48 hours before surgery
C) Increase the metformin dose
D) Discontinue metformin permanently
Correct Answer: B) Hold metformin 24–48 hours before surgery
Rationale: Metformin should typically be held 24–48 hours before surgery due to the
risk of lactic acidosis, particularly in patients with renal impairment or those undergoing
procedures with potential for hemodynamic instability.
7. Which laboratory test is most important to evaluate before surgery in a patient
with a history of bleeding disorders?
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A) Complete blood count
B) Prothrombin time (PT) and Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
C) Serum electrolytes
D) Liver function tests
Correct Answer: B) Prothrombin time (PT) and Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
Rationale: PT and PTT assess the coagulation cascade and are essential for evaluating
bleeding risk in patients with bleeding disorders. Abnormal results may indicate the
need for factor replacement or other interventions.
8. When positioning a patient for surgery, the surgical assistant should prioritize:
A) Surgeon preference only
B) Patient comfort only
C) Patient safety, pressure point protection, and optimal surgical access
D) Speed of positioning
Correct Answer: C) Patient safety, pressure point protection, and optimal surgical
access
Rationale: Patient positioning must balance surgical access with safety, including
protection of pressure points, prevention of nerve injury, and maintenance of circulation
and respiration.
9. The Trendelenburg position involves:
A) The patient lying flat on their back
B) The patient's head lowered below the level of the heart
C) The patient lying on their stomach
D) The patient's head elevated above the level of the heart
Correct Answer: B) The patient's head lowered below the level of the heart
Rationale: Trendelenburg positioning involves lowering the head of the bed below the
ABSA SURGICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION — COMPLETE STUDY - EXAM
QUESTIONS LATEST EDITION 2026 – 2027 VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
1. Before the surgical incision is made, the surgical assistant's primary
responsibility is to ensure that:
A) The operative note has already been completed
B) The correct patient, procedure, site, and required equipment have been verified
according to the surgical safety checklist
C) The wound dressing has been applied
D) The surgical team has taken a break
Correct Answer: B) The correct patient, procedure, site, and required equipment
have been verified according to the surgical safety checklist
Rationale: Verification through the surgical safety checklist is the critical safety
measure performed before incision to prevent wrong-site, wrong-patient, and wrong-
procedure surgeries. The "time out" is a formal process in which all team members
must participate just prior to incision.
2. A patient is scheduled for surgery and has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order.
What should the surgical team do?
A) Automatically suspend the DNR order during surgery
B) Discuss the DNR order with the patient and/or family and determine the plan for the
perioperative period
, Page 2 of 72
C) Ignore the DNR order
D) Proceed with surgery without addressing the DNR
Correct Answer: B) Discuss the DNR order with the patient and/or family and
determine the plan for the perioperative period
Rationale: DNR orders should be discussed with the patient and/or family before
surgery to determine the plan for the perioperative period. Many facilities require a
"required reconsideration" of the DNR order before proceeding with surgery.
3. The surgical "time-out" is performed primarily to:
A) Allow staff to prepare instruments
B) Confirm patient identity, procedure, operative site, and team readiness before
incision
C) Count surgical sponges
D) Prepare postoperative orders
Correct Answer: B) Confirm patient identity, procedure, operative site, and team
readiness before incision
Rationale: The time-out is a critical patient safety measure established by The Joint
Commission's Universal Protocol. It is performed immediately before incision to verify
the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site.
4. Which medication should be reviewed preoperatively due to its effect on platelet
function?
A) Metformin
B) Aspirin
C) Lisinopril
D) Levothyroxine
Correct Answer: B) Aspirin
Rationale: Aspirin irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation for the life of the platelet (7–
, Page 3 of 72
10 days). It should be reviewed preoperatively and typically withheld before elective
surgery to reduce bleeding risk.
5. A patient has a history of malignant hyperthermia. Which preoperative action is
most important?
A) Administer dantrolene preoperatively
B) Ensure a malignant hyperthermia cart is available
C) Avoid all anesthetics
D) Use only local anesthesia
Correct Answer: B) Ensure a malignant hyperthermia cart is available
Rationale: For patients with a history of malignant hyperthermia, the surgical team
must ensure that a malignant hyperthermia cart (containing dantrolene) is available.
Triggering agents such as succinylcholine and volatile anesthetics should be avoided.
6. A patient is scheduled for surgery and takes metformin for diabetes. What is the
appropriate preoperative management?
A) Continue metformin as usual
B) Hold metformin 24–48 hours before surgery
C) Increase the metformin dose
D) Discontinue metformin permanently
Correct Answer: B) Hold metformin 24–48 hours before surgery
Rationale: Metformin should typically be held 24–48 hours before surgery due to the
risk of lactic acidosis, particularly in patients with renal impairment or those undergoing
procedures with potential for hemodynamic instability.
7. Which laboratory test is most important to evaluate before surgery in a patient
with a history of bleeding disorders?
, Page 4 of 72
A) Complete blood count
B) Prothrombin time (PT) and Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
C) Serum electrolytes
D) Liver function tests
Correct Answer: B) Prothrombin time (PT) and Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
Rationale: PT and PTT assess the coagulation cascade and are essential for evaluating
bleeding risk in patients with bleeding disorders. Abnormal results may indicate the
need for factor replacement or other interventions.
8. When positioning a patient for surgery, the surgical assistant should prioritize:
A) Surgeon preference only
B) Patient comfort only
C) Patient safety, pressure point protection, and optimal surgical access
D) Speed of positioning
Correct Answer: C) Patient safety, pressure point protection, and optimal surgical
access
Rationale: Patient positioning must balance surgical access with safety, including
protection of pressure points, prevention of nerve injury, and maintenance of circulation
and respiration.
9. The Trendelenburg position involves:
A) The patient lying flat on their back
B) The patient's head lowered below the level of the heart
C) The patient lying on their stomach
D) The patient's head elevated above the level of the heart
Correct Answer: B) The patient's head lowered below the level of the heart
Rationale: Trendelenburg positioning involves lowering the head of the bed below the
