NCCT CST Practice Exam
A 21-year-old patient is rushed to the OR with a self-inflicted stab wound to the groin. The
wound is an inch in length and the patient has flat lined with a steady flow of blood pumping
from the small wound. Which of the following items should the surgical technologist have
ready for the surgeon? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. Yankauer suction
B. lap sponges
C. Raytec sponges
D. Frazier suction
E. knife blade - ANS-A. Yankauer suction
B. lap sponges
E. knife blade
Rationale: Laparotomy sponges are needed because of the steady flow of blood that is
being lost. The yankauer suction is the appropriate suction to use because it can keep the
incision clear and absorb more fluid. A knife blade would be needed to extend the incision to
find out where the bleeding is coming from so it can be stopped. Raytec sponges cannot
absorb substantial amounts of blood. A Frazier suction is not needed because it is used for
smaller, precise suctioning.
A cardiac arrest occurs during a thoracotomy procedure, and the surgeon calls a CODE
BLUE. The surgeon is attempting to resuscitate the patient using CPR. Which of the
following is the responsibility of the surgical technologist in this situation?
A. Hand the surgeon a loaded needle holder and forceps for closing.
B. Break scrub and retrieve the code cart.
C. Prepare internal defibrillator paddles.
D. Prepare external defibrillator paddles. - ANS-C. prepare internal defibrillator paddles
Rationale: The surgery is already in progress when the Code Blue is called the surgical
technologist may be required to prepare the internal defibrillator paddles. The surgical
technologist does not break scrub to get the crash cart the circulator will get any necessary
equipment needed.
A charge nurse has just notified the surgical technologist to be prepared for a post-operative
emergency for a post salpingo-oophorectomy. Which of the following is the instrumentation
needed? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
A. Bookwalter retractor
B. C-section set
C. dilation and curettage set
D. major set
E. Mayfield retractor - ANS-A. Bookwalter retractor
D. major set
Rationale: The incision for this emergent procedure will most likely be a midline vertical
incision, which would require a larger self-retaining retractor such as a Bookwalter. A Major
,instrument set will also be needed because it will have all the basic instruments for incision,
dissection and hemostasis. A C-section set does have several basic instrumentation, but a
Major instrument tray will have more instruments to use. A dilation and curettage set only
has vaginal instruments in it. A Mayfield retractor is used during craniotomy procedures to
hold the head in place.
A GYN patient is scheduled to have a D&C procedure. To prevent the risk of skin and
neurovascular pressure or injury when the patient is placed in stirrups in the lithotomy
position, which of the following must the surgical team do?
A. Have a backup pair of stirrups available in room.
B. Have adequate padding available in room.
C. Ensure the surgeon is in the room during positioning.
D. Place patient in position before the anesthesia. - ANS-B. Have adequate padding
available in room.
Rationale: The patient's legs can be put in stirrups after anesthesia has given permission to
move the patient's legs. The surgeon does not have to be in the room to position the patient.
When positioning the legs in the stirrups it is necessary to pad the legs and feet.
A gynecologic oncology surgeon decides to bring her patient into the OR emergently after
seeing her in the office. The patient's abdomen is greatly distended, warm and firm to the
touch. Which of the following should the surgical technologist have available?
A. Andrews tip suction and Raytec sponges
B. Poole tip suction and Lap sponges
C. Poole tip suction and Raytec sponges
D. Andrews tip suction and Lap sponges - ANS-B. Poole tip suction and Lap sponges
Rationale: Poole suction can suction much more quickly than an Andrews tip, due to its size.
Lap sponges have the ability to absorb greater quantities of fluid than a raytec does.
A patient has a latex allergy and is scheduled for an abdominal hysterectomy. A catheter will
be inserted in the patient's bladder pre-operatively. Which of the following is the proper
catheter to use for this patient?
A. rubber Foley catheter
B. Teflon ureteral catheter
C. polyethylene Malecot catheter
D. silicone retention catheter - ANS-D. silicone retention catheter
Rationale: While Teflon, polyethylene, and silicone are all substitute material options for latex
products, the difference is in the types of catheters listed. A Malecot is a wing-tipped
catheter often used for suprapubic catheter placement. A ureteral catheter is placed in the
ureters, not the bladder. A rubber Foley is the traditional Foley that contains latex.
A patient is having a cervical cone biopsy. The surgeon prefers to not use a Bovie. Which of
the following solutions should the surgical technologist have available in the room for control
of bleeding?
A. Lugol's solution
B. acetic acid
C. Monsel's solution
D. collodian - ANS-C. Monsel's solution
,Rationale: Monsels solution is a chemical hemostatic agent, and Collodian is a skin
adhesive. Acetic acid is also known as vinegar which is used to identify areas of abnormal
tissue, not for hemostasis. Lugol's solution is an iodine to stain and disinfect.
A patient is having a hysteroscopy for myomectomy excision. The patient has been under
anesthesia for an hour and is starting to show signs of extreme swelling. Which of the
following is most critical to monitor in order to prevent these symptoms?
A. normal saline intake
B. time under anesthesia
C. fluid intake and output
D. glycine levels - ANS-C. fluid intake and output
Rationale: Excess fluid intake can cause fluid overload which causes edema. Monitoring
fluid output is to make sure fluid is not only entering the body, but exiting it as well to reduce
complications associated with edema. The volume and rate of flow of fluid must be carefully
monitored. Glycine is used to irrigate body cavities.
A patient is having a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy. If the surgeon is unable to
extract the uterus vaginally, which of the following equipment should the surgical
technologist have available to retrieve the uterus?
A. harmonic scalpel
B. ligasure
C. morcellator
D. enseal - ANS-C. morcellator
Rationale: Morcellation, during gynecological procedures, means cutting the specimen into
smaller pieces for easier removal. This has many benefits to the patient, including smaller
incisions and shorter surgery time. The harmonic scalpel would not be helpful in retrieving
the uterus because it is used to cut and coagulate tissue simultaneously. Ligasure and
Enseal are used to help seal vessels.
A patient is undergoing a right partial pneumonectomy. Which of the following drains should
the surgical technologist prepare for placement at the end of the case?
A. Jackson Pratt
B. chest tube
C. Penrose
D. Hemovac - ANS-B. chest tube
Rationale: Any time the chest cavity is entered and the normally present negative
intrapleural pressure is compromised, a chest tube must be placed to reestablish the
negative pressure. A penrose is a passive drain that is partially placed within the wound
allowing fluid to move out of the tube onto a dressing. The Jackson Pratt drain is commonly
used for general and abdominal procedures for moderate drainage. The Hemovac drainage
is commonly used for orthopedics for moderate drainage.
A patient presents to the operating room for a hydrocelectomy. Which of the following
dressings should the surgical technologist anticipate needing?
A. Ace bandage
B. gauze packing
C. scrotal support
D. Elastoplast - ANS-C. scrotal support
, Rationale: A hydrocelectomy is the accumulation of fluid in the membrane tunica vaginalis
which covers the male testes. The scrotal support would help support the male testes.
Elastoplast is tape and would not be used. Gauze packing is used to pack an incision and
not used as a dressing. An ace bandage is used on an extremity to cover dressings.
A patient presents to the operating room for irrigation and debridement of a wound caused
by penetrating trauma. The surgeon states that the wound will heal by secondary intention.
Which of the following dressing types should the surgical technologist ask the circulator for?
A. Steri-Strips
B. bio-occlusive Opsite
C. ABD
D. bolsters - ANS-C. ABD
Rationale: The ABD would be used because of the drainage that will follow after doing the
irrigation and debridement so it can absorb fluid. Steri strips and the bio-occlusive opsite
have an adhesive backing and would stick to the incision, so they are not the appropriate
dressing. Bolsters are used over suture strands to keep them from cutting into the skin when
suture is placed in a high tension area. A wound that will heal by secondary intention is not
sutured closed.
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. The recovery room nurse maintains possession of the labeled denture cup until post
surgery.
B. The circulator places the dentures in a labeled denture cup and keeps them with the
patient's chart.
C. The anesthesia provider holds the labeled denture cup until the patient is awake.
D. The charge nurse holds the labeled denture cup in a secure area until post surgery. -
ANS-B. The circulator places the dentures in a labeled denture cup and keeps them with the
patient's chart.
Rationale: Keeping the denture cup with the patient's chart, with a patient label on it, keeps it
traveling with the patient, until the patient is awake, and ready to take possession of the
dentures again.
A pressure dressing is most likely applied over a
A. fractured femur EX Fix.
B. skin graft.
C. cataract surgery.
D. TURP. - ANS-B. skin graft.
Rationale: The skin graft requires a pressure dressing—a three-layer dressing for the
absorption of excessive drainage used to promote wound healing. The other surgeries do
not require a pressure dressing.
A surgical technologist is in the process of opening sterile supplies for an abdominal
hysterectomy on a 300 lb. patient. After reviewing the preference card, which of the following
items should the technologist hold in order to watch costs? (Select the three (3) correct
answers.)
A. long Bovie tip
B. closing suture
C. 11 knife blade
A 21-year-old patient is rushed to the OR with a self-inflicted stab wound to the groin. The
wound is an inch in length and the patient has flat lined with a steady flow of blood pumping
from the small wound. Which of the following items should the surgical technologist have
ready for the surgeon? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. Yankauer suction
B. lap sponges
C. Raytec sponges
D. Frazier suction
E. knife blade - ANS-A. Yankauer suction
B. lap sponges
E. knife blade
Rationale: Laparotomy sponges are needed because of the steady flow of blood that is
being lost. The yankauer suction is the appropriate suction to use because it can keep the
incision clear and absorb more fluid. A knife blade would be needed to extend the incision to
find out where the bleeding is coming from so it can be stopped. Raytec sponges cannot
absorb substantial amounts of blood. A Frazier suction is not needed because it is used for
smaller, precise suctioning.
A cardiac arrest occurs during a thoracotomy procedure, and the surgeon calls a CODE
BLUE. The surgeon is attempting to resuscitate the patient using CPR. Which of the
following is the responsibility of the surgical technologist in this situation?
A. Hand the surgeon a loaded needle holder and forceps for closing.
B. Break scrub and retrieve the code cart.
C. Prepare internal defibrillator paddles.
D. Prepare external defibrillator paddles. - ANS-C. prepare internal defibrillator paddles
Rationale: The surgery is already in progress when the Code Blue is called the surgical
technologist may be required to prepare the internal defibrillator paddles. The surgical
technologist does not break scrub to get the crash cart the circulator will get any necessary
equipment needed.
A charge nurse has just notified the surgical technologist to be prepared for a post-operative
emergency for a post salpingo-oophorectomy. Which of the following is the instrumentation
needed? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
A. Bookwalter retractor
B. C-section set
C. dilation and curettage set
D. major set
E. Mayfield retractor - ANS-A. Bookwalter retractor
D. major set
Rationale: The incision for this emergent procedure will most likely be a midline vertical
incision, which would require a larger self-retaining retractor such as a Bookwalter. A Major
,instrument set will also be needed because it will have all the basic instruments for incision,
dissection and hemostasis. A C-section set does have several basic instrumentation, but a
Major instrument tray will have more instruments to use. A dilation and curettage set only
has vaginal instruments in it. A Mayfield retractor is used during craniotomy procedures to
hold the head in place.
A GYN patient is scheduled to have a D&C procedure. To prevent the risk of skin and
neurovascular pressure or injury when the patient is placed in stirrups in the lithotomy
position, which of the following must the surgical team do?
A. Have a backup pair of stirrups available in room.
B. Have adequate padding available in room.
C. Ensure the surgeon is in the room during positioning.
D. Place patient in position before the anesthesia. - ANS-B. Have adequate padding
available in room.
Rationale: The patient's legs can be put in stirrups after anesthesia has given permission to
move the patient's legs. The surgeon does not have to be in the room to position the patient.
When positioning the legs in the stirrups it is necessary to pad the legs and feet.
A gynecologic oncology surgeon decides to bring her patient into the OR emergently after
seeing her in the office. The patient's abdomen is greatly distended, warm and firm to the
touch. Which of the following should the surgical technologist have available?
A. Andrews tip suction and Raytec sponges
B. Poole tip suction and Lap sponges
C. Poole tip suction and Raytec sponges
D. Andrews tip suction and Lap sponges - ANS-B. Poole tip suction and Lap sponges
Rationale: Poole suction can suction much more quickly than an Andrews tip, due to its size.
Lap sponges have the ability to absorb greater quantities of fluid than a raytec does.
A patient has a latex allergy and is scheduled for an abdominal hysterectomy. A catheter will
be inserted in the patient's bladder pre-operatively. Which of the following is the proper
catheter to use for this patient?
A. rubber Foley catheter
B. Teflon ureteral catheter
C. polyethylene Malecot catheter
D. silicone retention catheter - ANS-D. silicone retention catheter
Rationale: While Teflon, polyethylene, and silicone are all substitute material options for latex
products, the difference is in the types of catheters listed. A Malecot is a wing-tipped
catheter often used for suprapubic catheter placement. A ureteral catheter is placed in the
ureters, not the bladder. A rubber Foley is the traditional Foley that contains latex.
A patient is having a cervical cone biopsy. The surgeon prefers to not use a Bovie. Which of
the following solutions should the surgical technologist have available in the room for control
of bleeding?
A. Lugol's solution
B. acetic acid
C. Monsel's solution
D. collodian - ANS-C. Monsel's solution
,Rationale: Monsels solution is a chemical hemostatic agent, and Collodian is a skin
adhesive. Acetic acid is also known as vinegar which is used to identify areas of abnormal
tissue, not for hemostasis. Lugol's solution is an iodine to stain and disinfect.
A patient is having a hysteroscopy for myomectomy excision. The patient has been under
anesthesia for an hour and is starting to show signs of extreme swelling. Which of the
following is most critical to monitor in order to prevent these symptoms?
A. normal saline intake
B. time under anesthesia
C. fluid intake and output
D. glycine levels - ANS-C. fluid intake and output
Rationale: Excess fluid intake can cause fluid overload which causes edema. Monitoring
fluid output is to make sure fluid is not only entering the body, but exiting it as well to reduce
complications associated with edema. The volume and rate of flow of fluid must be carefully
monitored. Glycine is used to irrigate body cavities.
A patient is having a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy. If the surgeon is unable to
extract the uterus vaginally, which of the following equipment should the surgical
technologist have available to retrieve the uterus?
A. harmonic scalpel
B. ligasure
C. morcellator
D. enseal - ANS-C. morcellator
Rationale: Morcellation, during gynecological procedures, means cutting the specimen into
smaller pieces for easier removal. This has many benefits to the patient, including smaller
incisions and shorter surgery time. The harmonic scalpel would not be helpful in retrieving
the uterus because it is used to cut and coagulate tissue simultaneously. Ligasure and
Enseal are used to help seal vessels.
A patient is undergoing a right partial pneumonectomy. Which of the following drains should
the surgical technologist prepare for placement at the end of the case?
A. Jackson Pratt
B. chest tube
C. Penrose
D. Hemovac - ANS-B. chest tube
Rationale: Any time the chest cavity is entered and the normally present negative
intrapleural pressure is compromised, a chest tube must be placed to reestablish the
negative pressure. A penrose is a passive drain that is partially placed within the wound
allowing fluid to move out of the tube onto a dressing. The Jackson Pratt drain is commonly
used for general and abdominal procedures for moderate drainage. The Hemovac drainage
is commonly used for orthopedics for moderate drainage.
A patient presents to the operating room for a hydrocelectomy. Which of the following
dressings should the surgical technologist anticipate needing?
A. Ace bandage
B. gauze packing
C. scrotal support
D. Elastoplast - ANS-C. scrotal support
, Rationale: A hydrocelectomy is the accumulation of fluid in the membrane tunica vaginalis
which covers the male testes. The scrotal support would help support the male testes.
Elastoplast is tape and would not be used. Gauze packing is used to pack an incision and
not used as a dressing. An ace bandage is used on an extremity to cover dressings.
A patient presents to the operating room for irrigation and debridement of a wound caused
by penetrating trauma. The surgeon states that the wound will heal by secondary intention.
Which of the following dressing types should the surgical technologist ask the circulator for?
A. Steri-Strips
B. bio-occlusive Opsite
C. ABD
D. bolsters - ANS-C. ABD
Rationale: The ABD would be used because of the drainage that will follow after doing the
irrigation and debridement so it can absorb fluid. Steri strips and the bio-occlusive opsite
have an adhesive backing and would stick to the incision, so they are not the appropriate
dressing. Bolsters are used over suture strands to keep them from cutting into the skin when
suture is placed in a high tension area. A wound that will heal by secondary intention is not
sutured closed.
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. The recovery room nurse maintains possession of the labeled denture cup until post
surgery.
B. The circulator places the dentures in a labeled denture cup and keeps them with the
patient's chart.
C. The anesthesia provider holds the labeled denture cup until the patient is awake.
D. The charge nurse holds the labeled denture cup in a secure area until post surgery. -
ANS-B. The circulator places the dentures in a labeled denture cup and keeps them with the
patient's chart.
Rationale: Keeping the denture cup with the patient's chart, with a patient label on it, keeps it
traveling with the patient, until the patient is awake, and ready to take possession of the
dentures again.
A pressure dressing is most likely applied over a
A. fractured femur EX Fix.
B. skin graft.
C. cataract surgery.
D. TURP. - ANS-B. skin graft.
Rationale: The skin graft requires a pressure dressing—a three-layer dressing for the
absorption of excessive drainage used to promote wound healing. The other surgeries do
not require a pressure dressing.
A surgical technologist is in the process of opening sterile supplies for an abdominal
hysterectomy on a 300 lb. patient. After reviewing the preference card, which of the following
items should the technologist hold in order to watch costs? (Select the three (3) correct
answers.)
A. long Bovie tip
B. closing suture
C. 11 knife blade
