ABSA SA-C CertifiCAtion exAm —
Verified PrACtiCe QueStionS with
AnSwerS
PerioPerAtiVe PAtient SAfety And
PreoPerAtiVe PrePArAtion
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 patient has recovered from anesthesia.
Answer: B
Rationale: Verification through the surgical safety checklist, including the "time-out"
protocol, is a critical patient safety measure required by The Joint Commission to prevent
wrong-site, wrong-patient, and wrong-procedure surgeries .
2. According to the Joint Commission Universal Protocol, what three elements must be
confirmed during the preoperative "time out" procedure?
A. Patient age, diagnosis, and insurance status
B. Correct patient identity, correct procedure, and correct surgical site
C. Surgeon name, anesthesia type, and operative duration
D. Blood type, allergies, and fasting status
Answer: B
Rationale: The Universal Protocol mandates a preoperative "timeout" verifying correct
patient identity, correct procedure, and correct surgical site (including laterality) to prevent
wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-person surgery .
3. A patient is undergoing a colon resection and has poorly controlled diabetes mellitus
with a blood glucose of 280 mg/dL. The surgical assistant should recognize that this finding
increases the risk for which complication?
A. Malignant hyperthermia
B. Surgical site infection and poor wound healing
,C. Venous thromboembolism only
D. Anaphylaxis to antibiotics
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperglycemia impairs neutrophil function and collagen synthesis, increasing
infection risk and delaying wound healing. Elective surgery may be postponed to improve
glycemic control .
4. A patient has a documented allergy to latex. What action should the surgical assistant
take when setting up the operating room?
A. Wear standard gloves but avoid latex drapes
B. Remove all latex-containing products from the room and use latex-safe alternatives
C. Only avoid latex gloves
D. Use a latex-free prep solution only
Answer: B
Rationale: A latex allergy requires complete avoidance of all latex products, including gloves,
drapes, catheters, and tourniquets. Non-latex alternatives should be used throughout the
surgical procedure .
Aseptic Technique and Sterile Field
5. Which of the following is NOT considered part of a sterile field?
A. Sterile drapes covering the operative area
B. Gloves of a sterile person who has folded their arms
C. Sterile instruments placed on a draped table
D. The gown of a sterile team member (front from waist to shoulders)
Answer: B
Rationale: When a sterile person folds their arms, the gloves are no longer considered
sterile because they have been placed in a non-sterile position (armpits area). The hands
should remain clasped in front of the body above waist level to maintain sterility .
6. The presence of only one living microorganism on an object means that the object is:
A. Sterile
B. Clean
C. Contaminated
D. Disinfected
Answer: C
Rationale: The presence of any living microorganism, even a single one, renders an object
contaminated. Sterility is an absolute state; an object is either sterile or not .
7. What is the primary purpose of maintaining the sterile field throughout surgery?
, A. To improve visibility for the surgeon.
B. To reduce operating room noise.
C. To minimize the risk of surgical site infection by preventing microbial contamination.
D. To shorten the duration of the operation.
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary purpose of maintaining a sterile field is to prevent surgical site
infections by minimizing microbial contamination of the surgical wound .
8. Which statement concerning masks is NOT true?
A. Masks should cover both nose and mouth
B. Ties may be tied crisscross on top of head
C. Masks should be changed between cases
D. Masks are worn to protect the patient from the surgical team
Answer: B
Rationale: Mask ties should be tied securely at the back of the head, not crisscrossed on top
of the head. Proper tying ensures the mask fits snugly and provides adequate filtration .
9. In draping a table, the scrub nurse drapes from ___ to ___ protecting her gloves ___.
A. Front, back, by cupping
B. Back, front, by cradling
C. Front, back, by cuffing drape edge
D. Back, front, by holding tightly
Answer: C
Rationale: The scrub nurse drapes from front to back, protecting gloved hands by cuffing the
drape edge over the hands. This prevents contamination of gloves during the draping
process .
10. The purpose of the hand scrub by the team is to render their skin:
A. Sterile
B. Surgically Clean
C. Disinfected
D. Aseptic
Answer: B
Rationale: The hand scrub renders the skin "surgically clean," which means reducing the
microbial count to a safe level. It is impossible to sterilize living skin; the goal is to minimize
contamination .
11. After steam sterilization, which items should NOT be considered sterile?
Verified PrACtiCe QueStionS with
AnSwerS
PerioPerAtiVe PAtient SAfety And
PreoPerAtiVe PrePArAtion
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 patient has recovered from anesthesia.
Answer: B
Rationale: Verification through the surgical safety checklist, including the "time-out"
protocol, is a critical patient safety measure required by The Joint Commission to prevent
wrong-site, wrong-patient, and wrong-procedure surgeries .
2. According to the Joint Commission Universal Protocol, what three elements must be
confirmed during the preoperative "time out" procedure?
A. Patient age, diagnosis, and insurance status
B. Correct patient identity, correct procedure, and correct surgical site
C. Surgeon name, anesthesia type, and operative duration
D. Blood type, allergies, and fasting status
Answer: B
Rationale: The Universal Protocol mandates a preoperative "timeout" verifying correct
patient identity, correct procedure, and correct surgical site (including laterality) to prevent
wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-person surgery .
3. A patient is undergoing a colon resection and has poorly controlled diabetes mellitus
with a blood glucose of 280 mg/dL. The surgical assistant should recognize that this finding
increases the risk for which complication?
A. Malignant hyperthermia
B. Surgical site infection and poor wound healing
,C. Venous thromboembolism only
D. Anaphylaxis to antibiotics
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperglycemia impairs neutrophil function and collagen synthesis, increasing
infection risk and delaying wound healing. Elective surgery may be postponed to improve
glycemic control .
4. A patient has a documented allergy to latex. What action should the surgical assistant
take when setting up the operating room?
A. Wear standard gloves but avoid latex drapes
B. Remove all latex-containing products from the room and use latex-safe alternatives
C. Only avoid latex gloves
D. Use a latex-free prep solution only
Answer: B
Rationale: A latex allergy requires complete avoidance of all latex products, including gloves,
drapes, catheters, and tourniquets. Non-latex alternatives should be used throughout the
surgical procedure .
Aseptic Technique and Sterile Field
5. Which of the following is NOT considered part of a sterile field?
A. Sterile drapes covering the operative area
B. Gloves of a sterile person who has folded their arms
C. Sterile instruments placed on a draped table
D. The gown of a sterile team member (front from waist to shoulders)
Answer: B
Rationale: When a sterile person folds their arms, the gloves are no longer considered
sterile because they have been placed in a non-sterile position (armpits area). The hands
should remain clasped in front of the body above waist level to maintain sterility .
6. The presence of only one living microorganism on an object means that the object is:
A. Sterile
B. Clean
C. Contaminated
D. Disinfected
Answer: C
Rationale: The presence of any living microorganism, even a single one, renders an object
contaminated. Sterility is an absolute state; an object is either sterile or not .
7. What is the primary purpose of maintaining the sterile field throughout surgery?
, A. To improve visibility for the surgeon.
B. To reduce operating room noise.
C. To minimize the risk of surgical site infection by preventing microbial contamination.
D. To shorten the duration of the operation.
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary purpose of maintaining a sterile field is to prevent surgical site
infections by minimizing microbial contamination of the surgical wound .
8. Which statement concerning masks is NOT true?
A. Masks should cover both nose and mouth
B. Ties may be tied crisscross on top of head
C. Masks should be changed between cases
D. Masks are worn to protect the patient from the surgical team
Answer: B
Rationale: Mask ties should be tied securely at the back of the head, not crisscrossed on top
of the head. Proper tying ensures the mask fits snugly and provides adequate filtration .
9. In draping a table, the scrub nurse drapes from ___ to ___ protecting her gloves ___.
A. Front, back, by cupping
B. Back, front, by cradling
C. Front, back, by cuffing drape edge
D. Back, front, by holding tightly
Answer: C
Rationale: The scrub nurse drapes from front to back, protecting gloved hands by cuffing the
drape edge over the hands. This prevents contamination of gloves during the draping
process .
10. The purpose of the hand scrub by the team is to render their skin:
A. Sterile
B. Surgically Clean
C. Disinfected
D. Aseptic
Answer: B
Rationale: The hand scrub renders the skin "surgically clean," which means reducing the
microbial count to a safe level. It is impossible to sterilize living skin; the goal is to minimize
contamination .
11. After steam sterilization, which items should NOT be considered sterile?
