NBSTSA PSI CST EXAM REVIEW 2023 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

During a laparoscopic appendectomy, the appendix is perforated, and contents begin spilling into the abdomen. Which of the following should the surgical technologist anticipate as the NEXT step? a. Suction the fluid from the abdomen b. Continue removing the appendix as planned C. Place a Kelly clamp over the perforation D. Close the wound and terminate the procedure - Answer- A. Suction the fluid from the abdomen A carotid endarterectomy has just been finished and the dressing is on. The surgical technologist begins removing all sharps and non-disposables from the drapes before pushing everything back. According to best practices, which of the following should be the NEXT step? A. Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and tear it down B. Pull the drapes off and put them on the back table in case they are needed again. C. Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the patient is transported to PACU. D. Leave the back table, mayo, and basin close to patient in case they are needed again. - Answer- C. Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the patient is transported to PACU. Which of the following should be prepared for a mastoid dressing? A. several squared gauze sponges B. Rolled gauze and an abdominal pad C. several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze D. gauze sponges and a Velcro strap - Answer- C. Several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze Which of the following is the FIRST step in applying the pneumatic tourniquet? A. wrapping the limb sequentially with an Esmarch bandage from distal to proximal B. applying the pneumatic tourniquet to the limb and immediately inflating it C. prepping the limb with ChloraPrep, including the determined location of the tourniquet D. padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril - Answer- D. Padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is used to grasp the cervix? A. Sims B. Auvard C. Schroeder D. Bozeman - Answer- C. Schroeder How many lobes do the right and left lungs have, respectively? A. three, two B. two, three C. three, three D. two, two - Answer- A. Three, Two When a break in aseptic technique occurs, the surgical technologist should FIRST notify the A. circulating nurse. B. contaminating team member. C. OR supervisor. D. anesthesia provider. - Answer- B. Contaminating team member Which of the following pathological conditions may be caused by an excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain? A. hydrocephalus B. encephalocele C. cranial bifida D. craniosynostosis - Answer- A. Hydrocephalus If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an abdominal procedure, a surgical technologist should request additional A. lap sponges B. Raytec sponges. C. Kitners. D. cottonoids. - Answer- A. Lap Sponges Growth in the length of a long bone occurs at the A. diaphysis. B. medullary canal. C. epiphyseal plate. D. articular cartilage. - Answer- C. Epiphyseal plate In which of the following situations can a DNR order be continued in an unconscious patient for a surgical procedure? A. The patient's durable POA requests it be continued. B. The patient's family requests it be continued. C. The surgeon requests its be continued. D. The CRNA requests it be continued. - Answer- A. The patient's durable POA requests it be continued. A surgeon asks for warm irrigation after a right hemicolectomy. Which of the following BEST describes the reason for irrigating at this point in the procedure? A. to clean out the area of any loose tissue B. to maintain the core body temperature C. to eliminate any infection causing microbes D. to aid visual inspection for leakage - Answer- D. to aid visual inspection for leakage The rate per hour in air exchanges in a standard OR suite is A. 5-10. B. 15-25. C. 30-35. D. 40-50. - Answer- B. 15-25 If there is any question related to handling a specific type of specimen, which of the following departments should be consulted? A. histology B. laboratory C. pathology D. radiology - Answer- C. pathology A patient's dentures are removed in the operating room. Which of the following is the proper procedure for the care of the dentures? A. Return them to the patient's unit and leave them at the nurses' station. B. Place them in a labeled cup and keep them with the patient's chart. C. Wrap them in a paper towel and give them to the anesthesiologist. D. Ask the circulator to return them to the patient's room. - Answer- B. Place them in a labeled cup and keep them with the patient's chart A patient is scheduled for laser removal of condyloma acuminata. As a safety precaution, the surgical technologist should have which of the following special equipment open and available? A. smoke evacuator B. suction tip C. pulse lavage D. endocatch bag - Answer- A. Smoke evacuator Apart from trauma cases, which of the following incisions would be BEST for sigmoid surgery? A. vertical midline B. vertical paramedian C. oblique subcostal D. lower transverse - Answer- B. Vertical paramedian The kidneys help regulate the blood levels of several ions, including A. bicarbonate, water, and protein. B. protein, sodium, and bicarbonate. C. potassium, protein, and sodium. D. sodium, potassium, and calcium. - Answer- D. Sodium, potassium, and calcium Which of the following is the MOST effective mechanical method of controlling bleeding occurring from needle holes in vessel anastomoses? A. pledget B. suction C. ligature D. clamp - Answer- A. pledget Which of the following tags indicates the least critical of patients in a triage situation? A. yellow B. black C. red D. green - Answer- D. green During a craniotomy, removal of the bone flap is followed by A. incision of the dura mater. B. opening the galea aponeurotica. C. application of the Raney clips. D. repairing the dura mater. - Answer- A. incision of the dura mater After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the DuraPrep applicator and performs the initial skin prep 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. Pass off Bovie and suction. D. Inform the supervisor. - Answer- B. Regown and reglove the surgeon A specimen obtained for frozen section is generally removed from the sterile field intraoperatively because it A. needs to be labeled by the circulator. B. is sent to pathology immediately. C. will contaminate the sterile field. D. needs to be placed in formalin solution. - Answer- B. is sent to pathology immediately A surgeon is preparing to close the abdomen. Which of the following closing supplies should the surgical technologist have ready for closing the fascial layer? A. 0 suture and toothed tissue forceps B. 7-0 Vicryl and toothed tissue forceps C. retention sutures and toothed tissue forceps D. staples and Adson with teeth - Answer- A. 0 suture and toothed tissue forceps During a procedure, a hole is noticed in the surgical technologist's glove. What should the surgical technologist do 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. - Answer- B. change the glove using the open-gloving technique Which of the following instruments should be included in a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) setup? A. lithotrite B. urethrotome C. resectoscope D. Randall Stone - Answer- C. resectoscope Which of the following terms describes airway assessment by listening with a stethoscope? A. observation B. perfusion C. auscultation D. palpation - Answer- C. auscultation Which of the following techniques promotes safety and protection of the surgical technologist during the intraoperative phase? A. securing the electrosurgical pencil to the drapes with a Kelly clamp after every use B. recapping hypodermic needle C. establishing a neutral zone D. using PPE, except in endoscopic procedures - Answer- C. establishing a neutral zone Which of the following verifies that autoclave sterilization has occurred? A. chemical indicator B. Julian date C. heatsensitive tape D. biological indicator - Answer- D. biological indicator Which of the following instruments is used in otorhinolaryngology surgery? A. Heaney B. Baron C. Doyen D. Poole - Answer- B. Baron An organization that regulates the production of biological sterilization test packs inhouse is A. CDC. B. ANSI. C. AAMI. D. SDS. - Answer- C. AAMI For an open hemicolectomy, a surgical technologist is preparing a second mayo stand for the placement of dirty surgical instruments. Which of the following instruments is MOST likely to be placed on the second mayo stand? A. Penrose drain B. Bakes dilator C. Allis forceps D. Richardson retractor - Answer- C. Allis forceps When loading items in a gravity displaced steam sterilizer, heavy packs should be placed A. at the periphery of the load. B. on their sides. C. on the top rack. D. centered on the middle rack. - Answer- A. at the periphery of the load A liver laceration is identified during an emergency exploratory laparotomy. A surgical technologist should prepare a suture attached to which of the following types of needles? A. tapered B. reverse cutting C. blunt D. conventional cutting - Answer- C. blunt Which of the following instruments is used to thread a vascular graft from one incision to another? A. hemostat B. tunneler C. DeBakey vascular forceps D. Randall Stone forceps - Answer- B. Tunneler Which of the following combination of medications are commonly used during a MAC? A. nerve conduction blockades with supplemental analgesics, sedatives, or amnesics B. induction agents, anticholinergics, and antiemetics C. hemostatics, ringer's solution, analgesics, amnesics or sedatives D. tranquilizers, gastric acid management, or lubricants - Answer- A. nerve conduction blockades with supplemental analgesics, sedatives, or amnesics Which of the following items must the surgical technologist have available after a thyroidectomy? A. lap sponges, hemostatic clamps, and electrocautery. B. endotracheal tube, hemostatic clamps, and scalpel. C. knife handle, scalpel blade, and nasogastric tube. D. scalpel, hemostatic clamps, and tracheostomy tube. - Answer- D. Scalpel, hemostatic clamps, and tracheostomy tube Which of the following is the name of the avascular strip of tissue at the midline which runs from the xiphoid process to the pubis? A. linea semilunaris B. linea alba C. arcuate line D. midaxillary line - Answer- B. linea alba A threeway Foley catheter is inserted following a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in order to A. irrigate and aid in hemostasis. B. prevent the patient from getting out of bed. C. maintain accurate input and output records. D. keep the perineal area dry. - Answer- A. irrigate and aid in hemostasis A patient is in the supine position for a procedure. After the arms are placed on arm boards, padding is placed under the elbows to decrease pressure on which of the following nerves? A. brachial B. ulnar C. axillary D. median - Answer- B. Ulnar Which of the following supplies should be pulled by the surgical technologist for a thoracic procedure? A. water-sealed drainage system B. passive drainage system C. Jackson-Pratt drainage system D. Andrews-Pynchon suction - Answer- A. water-sealed drainage system The FIRST sign of malignant hyperthermia is A. muscle twitching. B. change in blood pressure. C. unexplained tachycardia. D. hemorrhage. - Answer- C. unexplained tachycardia Prior to the closure of an arteriotomy, which of the following solutions should the surgical technologist have ready for irrigation of the operative site? A. lactated Ringer's B. protamine sulfate C. sterile water D. heparinized saline - Answer- D. heparinized saline Herniation of the rectum through a weakened posterior vaginal wall is known as A. a rectocele. B. a cystocele. C. a varicocele. D. an enterocele. - Answer- A. rectocele