NCCT Surgical Technology Preliminary
Which of the following retractors has sharp disposable inserts that must be disposed of in an
appropriate sharps container following the end of the surgical case?
Mayfield
Cloward
Bookwalter
Greenfield
Mayfield
The Mayfield is a headrest that pins the head for stabilization. The pins used are very sharp
and must be placed in the sharps container after the procedure. A Cloward is a hand held
retractor used in an anterior cervical procedure. The Bookwalter is a self-retaining retractor
used for open abdominal procedure. The Greenfield is a self-retaining retractor used on the
brain.
The surgeon is closing skin with the final stitch and all counts are complete. Which of the
following should the surgical technologist have ready for next step? (Select the three (3)
correct answers.)
Wet sponge
Dry sponge
ABD pad
Duraprep
Cottonoids
Wet Sponge, Dry Sponge, ABD Pad
After all counts are done and the incision has been closed, the sterile dressing should then
be opened. The incision needs to be cleaned with a wet sponge then dried with a dry
sponge. The dressing should be applied after the operative site has been cleaned and dried.
Which of the following items should the surgical technologist have in the room for an ORIF of
an ankle case? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
Reciprocating saw
Laminectomy tray
Extremity pack
Vascular tray
Small fragment tray
Extremity pack, Small fragment tray
,The ORIF Open Reduction Internal Fixation involves the ankle fracture which is an extremity
so an extremity pack will be needed. The Small fragment will also be need because it
contains screws, plates and drill bits that will be needed for the fixation.
In a sterilized package, a chemical indicator is used to:
-verify elimination of living flora on the package.
-confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
-show that no moisture entered the package.
-ensure that the package is sterile.
confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
Rationale: The chemical indicator is used internally and externally to show that the package
has been exposed to the sterilization process. They do not verify the sterility of the items in
the packages. They only mean that the package has had the right temperature, humidity,
and sterilant. It will not verify elimination of living flora on the package or that moisture is in
the package.
During an I&D of a back wound with the patient in the prone position the anesthesiologist
announces that the patient is turning blue and calls a code. Which of the following actions
should the surgical technologist take to assist?
-Assist the surgeon in closing the wound, remove the drapes, and flip the patient.
-Cover the wound and remove the Mayo and back table.
-Flip the patient immediately.
-Assist anesthesia with the patient while the surgeon continues surgery.
Cover the wound and remove the Mayo and back table.
Rationale: The first thing that needs to be done is to maintain the patient’s airway. The
wound should be covered and the mayo should be removed so the patient can be flipped in
order for anesthesia to take care of the airway, then assist anesthesia with the patient.
When closing fascia after a laparotomy, which of the following is the suture of choice?
Gore-Tex
PDS
Plain
Nurolon
PDS
Rationale: PDS has a longer absorption rate of 183-238 days, which makes it ideal for the
slow-healing fascia. Gore-Tex is typically used for anastomosis of vascular grafts or in valve
,repairs. Plain gut suture is not to be used on tissue under stress. Nurolon is a nonabsorbable
suture that loses some of its tensile strength over time.
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.)
Patient's name
Personnel involved
Type of anesthesia used
Location of the incident
Patient's weight
Patient’s name, Personnel involved, Location of the incident
Which member of the surgical team is in charge of the transfer of an immobile or
unconscious patient from the OR table to the stretcher?
Surgeon
Circulator
Anesthesia provider
Surgical technologist
Anesthesia provider
Rationale: The anesthesia provider is in control of the patient transfer and coordinates the
move. They have control of the head and the patient's airway. The surgeon most likely has
already left the room and cannot help with the transfer. The circulator is on the other side of
the bed waiting on the transfer device when anesthesia gives the permission. The surgical
technologist is on the other side waiting to help transfer the patient. There should always be
4 people to transfer a patient. Anesthesia is at the head of the bed and one person is on
each side with one at the end of the bed to help transfer the feet.
Which of the following steps are taken after the surgery has finished and the surgical
technologist is breaking scrub?
-Wipe blood off of gloves and remove them, then remove the gown.
-Using a gloved hand, untie the neck of the gown and pull away from the body, keeping all
blood on the gown.
-Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
-Ask the circulator to assist in removing the gown and gloves.
Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
, The scheduled case is a prostatectomy. The surgeon has requested chromic gut suture for
reanastomosis. If Chromic gut is unavailable, which of the following sutures is a viable
substitute?
Polyester/Dacron
Silk
Nylon
Vicryl
Vicryl
Rationale: The acceptable substitute for a Chromic Gut suture would be a Vicryl suture.
Vicryl, like Chromic Gut, it absorbable and would be the next best choice for re-anastomosis
in a prostatectomy.
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?
Steri-Strips
Bio-occlusive Opsite
ABD
Bolsters
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.
During the initial pre-operative count, the surgical technologist and circulator noticed that
there were 11 Raytecs in a package instead of 10. Which of the following should they do
about the extra sponge?
-Include the extra sponge in the count.
-Throw out one sponge to make it 10.
-Discard the entire package into a kick bucket and remove it from count.
-Remove the package and the sponges from room.
Remove the package and the sponges from room.
Rationale: If the patient has not entered the room the Raytecs are to be removed from the
sterile field. They are then taken out of the room. Sponges used during the case are counted
in the kick bucket so the incorrect sponges should not be placed in it. Raytec sponges come
in a total of 10, so subtracting one from the count would complicate the surgery if relief would
come in.
Which of the following retractors has sharp disposable inserts that must be disposed of in an
appropriate sharps container following the end of the surgical case?
Mayfield
Cloward
Bookwalter
Greenfield
Mayfield
The Mayfield is a headrest that pins the head for stabilization. The pins used are very sharp
and must be placed in the sharps container after the procedure. A Cloward is a hand held
retractor used in an anterior cervical procedure. The Bookwalter is a self-retaining retractor
used for open abdominal procedure. The Greenfield is a self-retaining retractor used on the
brain.
The surgeon is closing skin with the final stitch and all counts are complete. Which of the
following should the surgical technologist have ready for next step? (Select the three (3)
correct answers.)
Wet sponge
Dry sponge
ABD pad
Duraprep
Cottonoids
Wet Sponge, Dry Sponge, ABD Pad
After all counts are done and the incision has been closed, the sterile dressing should then
be opened. The incision needs to be cleaned with a wet sponge then dried with a dry
sponge. The dressing should be applied after the operative site has been cleaned and dried.
Which of the following items should the surgical technologist have in the room for an ORIF of
an ankle case? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
Reciprocating saw
Laminectomy tray
Extremity pack
Vascular tray
Small fragment tray
Extremity pack, Small fragment tray
,The ORIF Open Reduction Internal Fixation involves the ankle fracture which is an extremity
so an extremity pack will be needed. The Small fragment will also be need because it
contains screws, plates and drill bits that will be needed for the fixation.
In a sterilized package, a chemical indicator is used to:
-verify elimination of living flora on the package.
-confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
-show that no moisture entered the package.
-ensure that the package is sterile.
confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
Rationale: The chemical indicator is used internally and externally to show that the package
has been exposed to the sterilization process. They do not verify the sterility of the items in
the packages. They only mean that the package has had the right temperature, humidity,
and sterilant. It will not verify elimination of living flora on the package or that moisture is in
the package.
During an I&D of a back wound with the patient in the prone position the anesthesiologist
announces that the patient is turning blue and calls a code. Which of the following actions
should the surgical technologist take to assist?
-Assist the surgeon in closing the wound, remove the drapes, and flip the patient.
-Cover the wound and remove the Mayo and back table.
-Flip the patient immediately.
-Assist anesthesia with the patient while the surgeon continues surgery.
Cover the wound and remove the Mayo and back table.
Rationale: The first thing that needs to be done is to maintain the patient’s airway. The
wound should be covered and the mayo should be removed so the patient can be flipped in
order for anesthesia to take care of the airway, then assist anesthesia with the patient.
When closing fascia after a laparotomy, which of the following is the suture of choice?
Gore-Tex
PDS
Plain
Nurolon
PDS
Rationale: PDS has a longer absorption rate of 183-238 days, which makes it ideal for the
slow-healing fascia. Gore-Tex is typically used for anastomosis of vascular grafts or in valve
,repairs. Plain gut suture is not to be used on tissue under stress. Nurolon is a nonabsorbable
suture that loses some of its tensile strength over time.
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.)
Patient's name
Personnel involved
Type of anesthesia used
Location of the incident
Patient's weight
Patient’s name, Personnel involved, Location of the incident
Which member of the surgical team is in charge of the transfer of an immobile or
unconscious patient from the OR table to the stretcher?
Surgeon
Circulator
Anesthesia provider
Surgical technologist
Anesthesia provider
Rationale: The anesthesia provider is in control of the patient transfer and coordinates the
move. They have control of the head and the patient's airway. The surgeon most likely has
already left the room and cannot help with the transfer. The circulator is on the other side of
the bed waiting on the transfer device when anesthesia gives the permission. The surgical
technologist is on the other side waiting to help transfer the patient. There should always be
4 people to transfer a patient. Anesthesia is at the head of the bed and one person is on
each side with one at the end of the bed to help transfer the feet.
Which of the following steps are taken after the surgery has finished and the surgical
technologist is breaking scrub?
-Wipe blood off of gloves and remove them, then remove the gown.
-Using a gloved hand, untie the neck of the gown and pull away from the body, keeping all
blood on the gown.
-Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
-Ask the circulator to assist in removing the gown and gloves.
Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
, The scheduled case is a prostatectomy. The surgeon has requested chromic gut suture for
reanastomosis. If Chromic gut is unavailable, which of the following sutures is a viable
substitute?
Polyester/Dacron
Silk
Nylon
Vicryl
Vicryl
Rationale: The acceptable substitute for a Chromic Gut suture would be a Vicryl suture.
Vicryl, like Chromic Gut, it absorbable and would be the next best choice for re-anastomosis
in a prostatectomy.
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?
Steri-Strips
Bio-occlusive Opsite
ABD
Bolsters
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.
During the initial pre-operative count, the surgical technologist and circulator noticed that
there were 11 Raytecs in a package instead of 10. Which of the following should they do
about the extra sponge?
-Include the extra sponge in the count.
-Throw out one sponge to make it 10.
-Discard the entire package into a kick bucket and remove it from count.
-Remove the package and the sponges from room.
Remove the package and the sponges from room.
Rationale: If the patient has not entered the room the Raytecs are to be removed from the
sterile field. They are then taken out of the room. Sponges used during the case are counted
in the kick bucket so the incorrect sponges should not be placed in it. Raytec sponges come
in a total of 10, so subtracting one from the count would complicate the surgery if relief would
come in.
