NCCT CST PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
RIGHT ANSWERS.
The,circulating,nurse,notices,that,the,patient,is,actively,bleeding,from,one,of,the,operative,sites,and,the,s
urgeon,has,left,the,room.,Which,of,the,following,actions,should,the,surgical,technologist,take?
A.,Break,scrub,and,inform,the,surgeon.
B.,Remain,in,gown,and,gloves,and,apply,pressure.
C.,Break,scrub,and,monitor,the,sterile,field.
D.,Open,a,new,sterile,field,for,the,patient.,,,ANS,-B.,Remain,in,gown,and,gloves,and,apply,pressure.
Rationale:,The,surgical,technologist,should,remain,sterile,until,the,patient,is,out,of,the,operating,room,an
d,in,PACU.,If,the,surgical,technologist,has,not,broken,scrub,she,can,apply,pressure,until,the,surgeon,is,call
ed,back,into,the,room.,Since,the,field,remains,sterile,it,is,not,necessary,to,open,a,new,sterile,field.
The,surgical,technologist,is,helping,the,surgeon,complete,a,laparoscopic,cholecystectomy,and,the,surgeo
n,has,placed,the,dressing,on,the,patient.,Which,of,the,following,should,the,surgical,technologist,do,next?
A.,Remove,the,top,glove,,hold,the,dressing,in,place,,roll,away,the,drape,and,discard.
B.,Remove,Mayo,stand,,back,table,and,top,glove,,hold,the,dressing,in,place,,tear,the,drape,off,the,patient,
and,discard.
C.,Remove,top,glove,,hold,dressing,in,place,,tear,the,drape,off,patient,and,discard.
D.,Remove,the,Mayo,stand,,back,table,and,top,glove,,hold,the,dressing,in,place,,roll,away,the,drape,and,di
scard.,,,ANS,-
D.,Remove,the,Mayo,stand,,back,table,and,top,glove,,hold,the,dressing,in,place,,roll,away,the,drape,and,di
scard.
Rationale:,The,Mayo,stand,and,back,table,need,to,remain,sterile,until,the,patient,is,out,of,the,room.,The,t
op,gloves,need,replaced,to,prohibit,any,debris,from,getting,the,dressing,dirty.,By,holding,the,dressing,on,
with,the,clean,gloves,the,drape,can,be,removed,so,any,biohazardous,materials,are,contained,within,the,d
rapes,and,discarded.
A,tornado,warning,is,in,effect,and,power,has,been,switched,to,the,generator,due,to,downed,electrical,line
s.,The,hospital's,disaster,triage,protocol,has,been,activated.,A,surgical,procedure,is,in,progress.,Which,of,t
he,following,is,the,best,course,of,action,to,ensure,patient,safety?
,A.,Immediately,evacuate,the,patient,to,the,preoperative,holding,area.
B.,Finish,the,procedure,and,evacuate,the,patient.
C.,Place,wet,towels,under,door,and,finish,the,procedure.
D.,Cover,the,back,table,until,the,storm,passes.,,,ANS,-B.,Finish,the,procedure,and,evacuate,the,patient.
Rationale:,Follow,hospital's,disaster,plan,for,tornado,preparedness,and,response.,Under,Joint,Commissio
ns,standard,codes,,this,would,be,categorized,as,a,Code,Brown,,which,is,a,weather,related,emergency.,The
,best,option,in,this,instance,is,to,complete,the,case,,and,then,transfer,the,patient,to,a,safe,location,for,pos
t-operative,care.
Upon,opening,a,sterilized,instrument,tray,,the,surgical,technologist,finds,bioburden,inside,the,lumen,of,a,
metal,suction.,Which,of,the,following,actions,should,the,surgical,technologist,take?
A.,Isolate,the,sterilized,suction,,then,flush,the,bioburden,with,sterile,water.
B.,Remove,the,sterilized,suction,from,the,sterile,field.
C.,Isolate,the,sterilized,suction,on,the,sterile,field,with,a,sterile,towel.
D.,Remove,the,sterilized,instrument,tray,from,the,sterile,field.,,,ANS,-
D.,Remove,the,sterilized,instrument,tray,from,the,sterile,field.
Rationale:,The,surgical,technologist,should,check,and,inspect,instruments.,If,bioburden,is,found,,the,whol
e,tray,should,be,discarded,and,handed,off.,(When,in,doubt,throw,it,out.),The,tray,should,not,be,left,on,the
,sterile,field,at,all,,or,cleaned,on,the,sterile,field,,because,it,would,make,the,field,contaminated.
While,preparing,the,room,for,a,surgical,procedure,using,the,laser,,which,of,the,following,policies,ensure,t
he,laser,is,being,used,correctly?,(Select,the,three,(3),correct,answers.)
A.,Have,laparotomy,sponges,available.
B.,Post,warning,signs,outside,the,room
C.,Place,the,foot,control,next,to,the,circulator.
D.,Do,not,use,alcohol,based,preps.
E.,Wear,safety,goggles.,,,ANS,-B.,Post,warning,signs,outside,the,room.
D.,Do,not,use,alcohol,based,preps.
E.,Wear,safety,goggles.
,Rationale:,Posting,warning,signs,will,prevent,surgery,doors,from,opening,and,causing,unnecessary,harm,t
o,co-
workers,outside,the,room.,Not,using,alcohol,based,preps,will,decrease,the,risk,of,surgical,fires.,Safety,gog
gles,approved,for,that,specific,laser,will,prevent,injury,to,the,eye.,Laparotomy,sponges,should,be,wet,if,av
ailable.,The,doctor,should,be,in,control,of,the,foot,control,pedal,to,the,laser.
During,a,vaginal,hysterectomy,the,surgical,team,noticed,that,the,safety,belt,was,left,off,the,patient,before
,the,drape,was,applied,and,discovered,after,draping.,How,can,the,patient,be,secured,to,the,OR,bed,witho
ut,interrupting,the,sterile,field,or,procedure?
A.,The,surgical,technologist,can,watch,for,movement,of,the,patient,and,inform,the,circulator.
B.,The,anesthesiologist,can,secure,the,head,to,prevent,shifting.
C.,The,circulator,can,reach,under,the,sterile,drape,and,apply,the,safety,strap.
D.,The,surgeon,can,request,sterile,coban,to,secure,the,patient.,,,ANS,-
C.,The,circulator,can,reach,under,the,sterile,drape,and,apply,the,safety,strap.
Rationale:,The,underside,of,the,drape,is,not,sterile,,therefore,,can,be,touched,by,the,unsterile,circulating,
nurse,,while,she,secures,the,patient,with,the,safety,strap.
The,surgical,team,is,at,the,surgical,field,and,has,just,completed,the,time-
out.,The,surgeon,turns,to,the,surgical,technologist,and,asks,for,local.,Which,of,the,following,actions,shoul
d,the,surgical,technologist,take,next,before,passing,the,local?
A.,Read,aloud,the,medication,label,on,the,syringe.
B.,Pass,the,correctly,labeled,medication,syringe.
C.,Confirm,with,the,circulator,the,medication,label,on,the,syringe.
D.,Confirm,with,the,anesthesiologist,the,medication,on,the,syringe.,,,ANS,-
A.,Read,aloud,the,medication,label,on,the,syringe.
Rationale:,The,medication,has,already,been,verified,by,the,circulator,and,the,surgical,technologist,upon,pl
acement,on,the,sterile,field.,The,surgical,technologist,needs,to,read,aloud,the,syringe,contents,when,han
ding,the,syringe,to,the,surgeon.,The,anesthesiologist,is,not,part,of,the,sterile,team,environment.
The,surgeon,is,doing,a,laparoscopic,procedure,using,an,endo,GIA,stapler.,He,passes,the,stapler,to,the,surg
ical,technologist,and,asks,him,to,reload.,Which,of,the,following,should,the,technologist,do,to,the,stapler,b
efore,passing,back,to,the,surgeon?
, A.,Open,the,jaws.
B.,Pre-fire,the,jaws.
C.,Lubricate,the,jaws.
D.,Close,the,jaws.,,,ANS,-D.,Close,the,jaws.
Rationale:,The,jaws,must,be,closed,to,fit,through,the,laparoscopic,port.,Each,refill,is,single-
use,,therefore,pre-
firing,the,stapler,will,activate,the,staples,,rendering,the,reload,useless.,There,is,no,need,to,lubricate,the,ja
ws.
Which,member,of,the,surgical,team,is,in,charge,of,the,transfer,of,an,immobile,or,unconscious,patient,fro
m,the,OR,table,to,the,stretcher?
A.,surgeon
B.,circulator
C.,anesthesia,provider
D.,surgical,technologist,,,ANS,-C.,anesthesia,provider
Rationale:,The,anesthesia,provider,is,in,control,of,the,patient,transfer,and,coordinates,the,move.,They,ha
ve,control,of,the,head,and,the,patient's,airway.,The,surgeon,most,likely,has,already,left,the,room,and,can
not,help,with,the,transfer.,The,circulator,is,on,the,other,side,of,the,bed,waiting,on,the,transfer,device,whe
n,anesthesia,gives,the,permission.,The,surgical,technologist,is,on,the,other,side,waiting,to,help,transfer,th
e,patient.,There,should,always,be,4,people,to,transfer,a,patient.,Anesthesia,is,at,the,head,of,the,bed,and,o
ne,person,is,on,each,side,with,one,at,the,end,of,the,bed,to,help,transfer,the,feet.
The,surgical,technologist,observed,a,patient,fall,during,the,transfer,from,the,gurney,to,the,operating,bed.,
Which,of,the,following,items,are,required,in,the,incident,report?,(Select,the,three,(3),correct,answers.)
A.,patient's,name
B.,personnel,involved
C.,type,of,anesthesia,used
D.,location,of,the,incident
E.,patient's,weight,,,ANS,-A.,patient's,name
B.,personnel,involved
RIGHT ANSWERS.
The,circulating,nurse,notices,that,the,patient,is,actively,bleeding,from,one,of,the,operative,sites,and,the,s
urgeon,has,left,the,room.,Which,of,the,following,actions,should,the,surgical,technologist,take?
A.,Break,scrub,and,inform,the,surgeon.
B.,Remain,in,gown,and,gloves,and,apply,pressure.
C.,Break,scrub,and,monitor,the,sterile,field.
D.,Open,a,new,sterile,field,for,the,patient.,,,ANS,-B.,Remain,in,gown,and,gloves,and,apply,pressure.
Rationale:,The,surgical,technologist,should,remain,sterile,until,the,patient,is,out,of,the,operating,room,an
d,in,PACU.,If,the,surgical,technologist,has,not,broken,scrub,she,can,apply,pressure,until,the,surgeon,is,call
ed,back,into,the,room.,Since,the,field,remains,sterile,it,is,not,necessary,to,open,a,new,sterile,field.
The,surgical,technologist,is,helping,the,surgeon,complete,a,laparoscopic,cholecystectomy,and,the,surgeo
n,has,placed,the,dressing,on,the,patient.,Which,of,the,following,should,the,surgical,technologist,do,next?
A.,Remove,the,top,glove,,hold,the,dressing,in,place,,roll,away,the,drape,and,discard.
B.,Remove,Mayo,stand,,back,table,and,top,glove,,hold,the,dressing,in,place,,tear,the,drape,off,the,patient,
and,discard.
C.,Remove,top,glove,,hold,dressing,in,place,,tear,the,drape,off,patient,and,discard.
D.,Remove,the,Mayo,stand,,back,table,and,top,glove,,hold,the,dressing,in,place,,roll,away,the,drape,and,di
scard.,,,ANS,-
D.,Remove,the,Mayo,stand,,back,table,and,top,glove,,hold,the,dressing,in,place,,roll,away,the,drape,and,di
scard.
Rationale:,The,Mayo,stand,and,back,table,need,to,remain,sterile,until,the,patient,is,out,of,the,room.,The,t
op,gloves,need,replaced,to,prohibit,any,debris,from,getting,the,dressing,dirty.,By,holding,the,dressing,on,
with,the,clean,gloves,the,drape,can,be,removed,so,any,biohazardous,materials,are,contained,within,the,d
rapes,and,discarded.
A,tornado,warning,is,in,effect,and,power,has,been,switched,to,the,generator,due,to,downed,electrical,line
s.,The,hospital's,disaster,triage,protocol,has,been,activated.,A,surgical,procedure,is,in,progress.,Which,of,t
he,following,is,the,best,course,of,action,to,ensure,patient,safety?
,A.,Immediately,evacuate,the,patient,to,the,preoperative,holding,area.
B.,Finish,the,procedure,and,evacuate,the,patient.
C.,Place,wet,towels,under,door,and,finish,the,procedure.
D.,Cover,the,back,table,until,the,storm,passes.,,,ANS,-B.,Finish,the,procedure,and,evacuate,the,patient.
Rationale:,Follow,hospital's,disaster,plan,for,tornado,preparedness,and,response.,Under,Joint,Commissio
ns,standard,codes,,this,would,be,categorized,as,a,Code,Brown,,which,is,a,weather,related,emergency.,The
,best,option,in,this,instance,is,to,complete,the,case,,and,then,transfer,the,patient,to,a,safe,location,for,pos
t-operative,care.
Upon,opening,a,sterilized,instrument,tray,,the,surgical,technologist,finds,bioburden,inside,the,lumen,of,a,
metal,suction.,Which,of,the,following,actions,should,the,surgical,technologist,take?
A.,Isolate,the,sterilized,suction,,then,flush,the,bioburden,with,sterile,water.
B.,Remove,the,sterilized,suction,from,the,sterile,field.
C.,Isolate,the,sterilized,suction,on,the,sterile,field,with,a,sterile,towel.
D.,Remove,the,sterilized,instrument,tray,from,the,sterile,field.,,,ANS,-
D.,Remove,the,sterilized,instrument,tray,from,the,sterile,field.
Rationale:,The,surgical,technologist,should,check,and,inspect,instruments.,If,bioburden,is,found,,the,whol
e,tray,should,be,discarded,and,handed,off.,(When,in,doubt,throw,it,out.),The,tray,should,not,be,left,on,the
,sterile,field,at,all,,or,cleaned,on,the,sterile,field,,because,it,would,make,the,field,contaminated.
While,preparing,the,room,for,a,surgical,procedure,using,the,laser,,which,of,the,following,policies,ensure,t
he,laser,is,being,used,correctly?,(Select,the,three,(3),correct,answers.)
A.,Have,laparotomy,sponges,available.
B.,Post,warning,signs,outside,the,room
C.,Place,the,foot,control,next,to,the,circulator.
D.,Do,not,use,alcohol,based,preps.
E.,Wear,safety,goggles.,,,ANS,-B.,Post,warning,signs,outside,the,room.
D.,Do,not,use,alcohol,based,preps.
E.,Wear,safety,goggles.
,Rationale:,Posting,warning,signs,will,prevent,surgery,doors,from,opening,and,causing,unnecessary,harm,t
o,co-
workers,outside,the,room.,Not,using,alcohol,based,preps,will,decrease,the,risk,of,surgical,fires.,Safety,gog
gles,approved,for,that,specific,laser,will,prevent,injury,to,the,eye.,Laparotomy,sponges,should,be,wet,if,av
ailable.,The,doctor,should,be,in,control,of,the,foot,control,pedal,to,the,laser.
During,a,vaginal,hysterectomy,the,surgical,team,noticed,that,the,safety,belt,was,left,off,the,patient,before
,the,drape,was,applied,and,discovered,after,draping.,How,can,the,patient,be,secured,to,the,OR,bed,witho
ut,interrupting,the,sterile,field,or,procedure?
A.,The,surgical,technologist,can,watch,for,movement,of,the,patient,and,inform,the,circulator.
B.,The,anesthesiologist,can,secure,the,head,to,prevent,shifting.
C.,The,circulator,can,reach,under,the,sterile,drape,and,apply,the,safety,strap.
D.,The,surgeon,can,request,sterile,coban,to,secure,the,patient.,,,ANS,-
C.,The,circulator,can,reach,under,the,sterile,drape,and,apply,the,safety,strap.
Rationale:,The,underside,of,the,drape,is,not,sterile,,therefore,,can,be,touched,by,the,unsterile,circulating,
nurse,,while,she,secures,the,patient,with,the,safety,strap.
The,surgical,team,is,at,the,surgical,field,and,has,just,completed,the,time-
out.,The,surgeon,turns,to,the,surgical,technologist,and,asks,for,local.,Which,of,the,following,actions,shoul
d,the,surgical,technologist,take,next,before,passing,the,local?
A.,Read,aloud,the,medication,label,on,the,syringe.
B.,Pass,the,correctly,labeled,medication,syringe.
C.,Confirm,with,the,circulator,the,medication,label,on,the,syringe.
D.,Confirm,with,the,anesthesiologist,the,medication,on,the,syringe.,,,ANS,-
A.,Read,aloud,the,medication,label,on,the,syringe.
Rationale:,The,medication,has,already,been,verified,by,the,circulator,and,the,surgical,technologist,upon,pl
acement,on,the,sterile,field.,The,surgical,technologist,needs,to,read,aloud,the,syringe,contents,when,han
ding,the,syringe,to,the,surgeon.,The,anesthesiologist,is,not,part,of,the,sterile,team,environment.
The,surgeon,is,doing,a,laparoscopic,procedure,using,an,endo,GIA,stapler.,He,passes,the,stapler,to,the,surg
ical,technologist,and,asks,him,to,reload.,Which,of,the,following,should,the,technologist,do,to,the,stapler,b
efore,passing,back,to,the,surgeon?
, A.,Open,the,jaws.
B.,Pre-fire,the,jaws.
C.,Lubricate,the,jaws.
D.,Close,the,jaws.,,,ANS,-D.,Close,the,jaws.
Rationale:,The,jaws,must,be,closed,to,fit,through,the,laparoscopic,port.,Each,refill,is,single-
use,,therefore,pre-
firing,the,stapler,will,activate,the,staples,,rendering,the,reload,useless.,There,is,no,need,to,lubricate,the,ja
ws.
Which,member,of,the,surgical,team,is,in,charge,of,the,transfer,of,an,immobile,or,unconscious,patient,fro
m,the,OR,table,to,the,stretcher?
A.,surgeon
B.,circulator
C.,anesthesia,provider
D.,surgical,technologist,,,ANS,-C.,anesthesia,provider
Rationale:,The,anesthesia,provider,is,in,control,of,the,patient,transfer,and,coordinates,the,move.,They,ha
ve,control,of,the,head,and,the,patient's,airway.,The,surgeon,most,likely,has,already,left,the,room,and,can
not,help,with,the,transfer.,The,circulator,is,on,the,other,side,of,the,bed,waiting,on,the,transfer,device,whe
n,anesthesia,gives,the,permission.,The,surgical,technologist,is,on,the,other,side,waiting,to,help,transfer,th
e,patient.,There,should,always,be,4,people,to,transfer,a,patient.,Anesthesia,is,at,the,head,of,the,bed,and,o
ne,person,is,on,each,side,with,one,at,the,end,of,the,bed,to,help,transfer,the,feet.
The,surgical,technologist,observed,a,patient,fall,during,the,transfer,from,the,gurney,to,the,operating,bed.,
Which,of,the,following,items,are,required,in,the,incident,report?,(Select,the,three,(3),correct,answers.)
A.,patient's,name
B.,personnel,involved
C.,type,of,anesthesia,used
D.,location,of,the,incident
E.,patient's,weight,,,ANS,-A.,patient's,name
B.,personnel,involved
