Surgical tech exam review UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
In preparing a patient for surgery which of the following should be removed to facilitate oxygen
blood level assessment? - CORRECT ANSWER - A. Dentures
B. Hearing aids
C. Nail polish**
D. Makeup
What is the term used when a surgical team member who is on standby must return to the facility
to do a case? - CORRECT ANSWER - Called in
Which type of sterile gown uses battery-powered ventilation for the wearer? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Disposable fluid resistant
Which component of PPE has shown the ability to decrease disease transmission from needle
punctures? - CORRECT ANSWER - Double gloving
During the process of setting up the sterile field efficiency and economy of motion recommended
that the surgical technologist - CORRECT ANSWER - Move items only once if possible
During the surgical skin prep, areas that are considered contaminated should - CORRECT
ANSWER - Be scrubbed separately or last
The main purpose of the surgical skin prep is to - CORRECT ANSWER - Reduce Microbial
count on the skin to an incredible minimum
The patient undergoing laparotomy should be prepped - CORRECT ANSWER - From the
incision site outward toward the periphery in a circular motion
,Which of the following statements regarding hair removal is incorrect? - CORRECT
ANSWER - A. Hair must be shaved from every incisional site and ECG lead site**
B. Hair removal should be performed as close to the time of the procedure as possible
C. Hair removal is dependent upon surgeons preference, patient factors, and surgical site.
D. Hair removal using a razor can result in micro abrasions and increased microbial count.
Which position is routinely used for flexible colonoscopy procedures and may be performed on
the patient's stretcher? - CORRECT ANSWER - Sims
Which towel is placed first when squaring off the operative site - CORRECT ANSWER -
Same side as person applying towels
An assistant may be needed to properly perform which type of surgical skin prep? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Circumferential extremity
Which term best describes the condition of a surgical technologists skin following skin prep? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Surgically clean
What is the appropriate method for delivering a sterile item to the back table from a peel
package? - CORRECT ANSWER - Open package laterally and completely gently toss item
without touching glued edge or going over back table
Up to what area of the arms does a surgical technologist scrub? - CORRECT ANSWER -2
inches above the elbows
Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate method of performing a surgical skin
scrub preparation? - CORRECT ANSWER - Medical hand wash
Which of the gloving method should be performed by the surgical tech after donning a sterile
gown and before setting up the back table? - CORRECT ANSWER - Dressings
, Where is the safety belt or strap placed on a patient in supine position on the OR table? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 2 inches proximal to the knees
What would be the likely result of positioning the patients arms on arm boards at a greater than
90 degree angle from the torso? - CORRECT ANSWER - Brachial plexus hyper extension
The sitting position is a modification of which position? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fowlers
For which position would the head of the OR table be movies to the foot before the patient is
placed on the table? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lithotomy
Which position requires anesthesia administration and intubation to be performed on the patient's
stretcher prior to final positioning? - CORRECT ANSWER - Prone
Which of the following statements about lateral kidney positioning is incorrect - CORRECT
ANSWER - A. The lower leg is flexed, the upper leg is straight and a pillow is between then.
B. The lower leg is straight and the upper leg is fixed with a pillow under the lower leg.**
C. A small roll is placed under the no operative site auxiliary area to facilitate respiration.
Before opening any supplies for delivery to the sterile field what must verified? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Package integrity being intact and not violated
What is the term for the normal resident microbial populations found on the human skin? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Flora
What should the ST do with his or her gown and gloves in preparation for donning after
scrubbing? - CORRECT ANSWER - Open gown wrapper on unsterile mayo stand and open
and toss gloves into gown
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
In preparing a patient for surgery which of the following should be removed to facilitate oxygen
blood level assessment? - CORRECT ANSWER - A. Dentures
B. Hearing aids
C. Nail polish**
D. Makeup
What is the term used when a surgical team member who is on standby must return to the facility
to do a case? - CORRECT ANSWER - Called in
Which type of sterile gown uses battery-powered ventilation for the wearer? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Disposable fluid resistant
Which component of PPE has shown the ability to decrease disease transmission from needle
punctures? - CORRECT ANSWER - Double gloving
During the process of setting up the sterile field efficiency and economy of motion recommended
that the surgical technologist - CORRECT ANSWER - Move items only once if possible
During the surgical skin prep, areas that are considered contaminated should - CORRECT
ANSWER - Be scrubbed separately or last
The main purpose of the surgical skin prep is to - CORRECT ANSWER - Reduce Microbial
count on the skin to an incredible minimum
The patient undergoing laparotomy should be prepped - CORRECT ANSWER - From the
incision site outward toward the periphery in a circular motion
,Which of the following statements regarding hair removal is incorrect? - CORRECT
ANSWER - A. Hair must be shaved from every incisional site and ECG lead site**
B. Hair removal should be performed as close to the time of the procedure as possible
C. Hair removal is dependent upon surgeons preference, patient factors, and surgical site.
D. Hair removal using a razor can result in micro abrasions and increased microbial count.
Which position is routinely used for flexible colonoscopy procedures and may be performed on
the patient's stretcher? - CORRECT ANSWER - Sims
Which towel is placed first when squaring off the operative site - CORRECT ANSWER -
Same side as person applying towels
An assistant may be needed to properly perform which type of surgical skin prep? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Circumferential extremity
Which term best describes the condition of a surgical technologists skin following skin prep? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Surgically clean
What is the appropriate method for delivering a sterile item to the back table from a peel
package? - CORRECT ANSWER - Open package laterally and completely gently toss item
without touching glued edge or going over back table
Up to what area of the arms does a surgical technologist scrub? - CORRECT ANSWER -2
inches above the elbows
Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate method of performing a surgical skin
scrub preparation? - CORRECT ANSWER - Medical hand wash
Which of the gloving method should be performed by the surgical tech after donning a sterile
gown and before setting up the back table? - CORRECT ANSWER - Dressings
, Where is the safety belt or strap placed on a patient in supine position on the OR table? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 2 inches proximal to the knees
What would be the likely result of positioning the patients arms on arm boards at a greater than
90 degree angle from the torso? - CORRECT ANSWER - Brachial plexus hyper extension
The sitting position is a modification of which position? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fowlers
For which position would the head of the OR table be movies to the foot before the patient is
placed on the table? - CORRECT ANSWER - Lithotomy
Which position requires anesthesia administration and intubation to be performed on the patient's
stretcher prior to final positioning? - CORRECT ANSWER - Prone
Which of the following statements about lateral kidney positioning is incorrect - CORRECT
ANSWER - A. The lower leg is flexed, the upper leg is straight and a pillow is between then.
B. The lower leg is straight and the upper leg is fixed with a pillow under the lower leg.**
C. A small roll is placed under the no operative site auxiliary area to facilitate respiration.
Before opening any supplies for delivery to the sterile field what must verified? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Package integrity being intact and not violated
What is the term for the normal resident microbial populations found on the human skin? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Flora
What should the ST do with his or her gown and gloves in preparation for donning after
scrubbing? - CORRECT ANSWER - Open gown wrapper on unsterile mayo stand and open
and toss gloves into gown
