NBSTSA CST Exam 2025 Study Guide & Practice Questions | Certified Surgical
Technologist Prep
1. Tympanosplasty Surgical operation performed for
the reconstruction of the eardrum
(tympanic membrane) and/or
small bones of the middle ear (os-
sicles)
2. After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates Regown and reglove the surgeon
the Duraprep applicator and proceeds to prep
the patient for surgery. What is the best action
to take at this time?
3. What position is used for a pneumonectomy? Lateral
4. What is the kraske position? Anatomical position in which the
patient is prone, with hips flexed
and elevated, head and feet down.
5. Which position is correct for a dilation and curet- Lithotomy
tage?
6. When a hernia is strangulated, which instru- Gastrointestinal
ment set is added to the general abdominal
set-up?
7. What is a fenestrated drape? A drape with an opening that allows
exposure of the operative site
8. Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have New sterile supplies and instru-
been opened in OR one. A surgical technologist ments should be obtained for OR
was just informed that the case has been moved two and the setup in OR one should
to OR two and the next case in OR one is sched- be disposed of
uled in two hours. What is the best course of
action?
, NBSTSA CST Exam 2025 Study Guide & Practice Questions | Certified Surgical
Technologist Prep
9. What is the first step in applying the pneumat- Padding the area where the tourni-
ic tourniquet necessary in creating a bloodless quet is to be wrapped with Webril
field?
10. For a splenectomy procedure, which clamp Satinsky
should be used?
11. Surgical loupes are used to: Magnify the surgical field
12. Which position is the patient placed in for a right Left lateral kidney
nephrectomy?
13. Once a surgical technologist dons a gown, the Absorbant and collect moisture
cuffs on the gown are considered unsterile be-
cause they are:
14. Instruments that come in contact with the Placed in a separate bin
appendiceal stump during an appendectomy
should be:
15. Which instrument is used to cross-clamp the in- Allen
testine during a bowel resection?
16. The primary purpose of chest tubes is to: Re-establish the negative pressure
17. Traction sutures are used on common duct ex- Hold the duct open
plorations to:
18. The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held Purse-string
in place by which of the following types of su-
ture?
19. Which catheter is most commonly used to per- Fogarty
form an embolectomy?
, NBSTSA CST Exam 2025 Study Guide & Practice Questions | Certified Surgical
Technologist Prep
20. A resectoscope is used in what prostatic ap- Transurethral
proach?
21. Which retractor is preferred for a groin incision? Weitlaner
22. What type of dressing is applied as a nonadher- Adaptic
ent dressing?
23. During an excisional biopsy of sentinel nodes, Placed in separate containers and
the surgical technologist should prepare speci- identify
mens using which method?
24. Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, Sigmoidectomy
which procedure might be performed on the
patient in the operating room?
25. When a break in antisecptic technique oc- Contaminating team member
curs, the surgical technologist in the scrub role
should first notify the:
26. Sponges that have been added to the sterile Surgical technologist in the scrub
field after a procedure has begun should be role and the circulator
counted by the:
27. What is a procedure for removing excess skin Rhytidectomy
from the face and neck?
28. Which rongeur is used to expand the antrosto- Kerrison
my in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
29. Which procedure is used to visualize the cystic, Cholangiography
hepatic, and common ducts?
, CST - NBSTSA Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_3xgjrf
30. Once the spinous process is exposed during a Kerrison rongeur
laminectomy, the next instrument needed for
the removal of the lamina is a:
31. What should the surgical technologist in the Remain sterile and keep the table
scrub role do during a cardiac emergency? sterile
32. What is used to stabilize a fractured finger? Kirschner wires
33. During the application of arch bars, the surgeon 25-gauge or 26-gauge stainless
will most likely use what between the teeth and steel wire
around the bar?
34. Which solution is used to identify diseased areas Lugol's
for a cold conization of the cervix?
35. When using power saws on bone, what action Irrigation
best helps prevent bone damage?
36. Which retractor is used in a C-section? De Lee
37. A nasogastric tube (NG) is used to: Drain the stomach
38. Which procedure requires an incision in the Mediastinoscopy
suprasternal nothc?
39. The surgical technologist in the scrub role must Track amount of irrigation used
keep track of blood loss as well as:
40. Following an abdominal surgery, the surgeon Fascia
has just closed the peritoneum. Which layer will
be sutured next?
41. Propofol
Technologist Prep
1. Tympanosplasty Surgical operation performed for
the reconstruction of the eardrum
(tympanic membrane) and/or
small bones of the middle ear (os-
sicles)
2. After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates Regown and reglove the surgeon
the Duraprep applicator and proceeds to prep
the patient for surgery. What is the best action
to take at this time?
3. What position is used for a pneumonectomy? Lateral
4. What is the kraske position? Anatomical position in which the
patient is prone, with hips flexed
and elevated, head and feet down.
5. Which position is correct for a dilation and curet- Lithotomy
tage?
6. When a hernia is strangulated, which instru- Gastrointestinal
ment set is added to the general abdominal
set-up?
7. What is a fenestrated drape? A drape with an opening that allows
exposure of the operative site
8. Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have New sterile supplies and instru-
been opened in OR one. A surgical technologist ments should be obtained for OR
was just informed that the case has been moved two and the setup in OR one should
to OR two and the next case in OR one is sched- be disposed of
uled in two hours. What is the best course of
action?
, NBSTSA CST Exam 2025 Study Guide & Practice Questions | Certified Surgical
Technologist Prep
9. What is the first step in applying the pneumat- Padding the area where the tourni-
ic tourniquet necessary in creating a bloodless quet is to be wrapped with Webril
field?
10. For a splenectomy procedure, which clamp Satinsky
should be used?
11. Surgical loupes are used to: Magnify the surgical field
12. Which position is the patient placed in for a right Left lateral kidney
nephrectomy?
13. Once a surgical technologist dons a gown, the Absorbant and collect moisture
cuffs on the gown are considered unsterile be-
cause they are:
14. Instruments that come in contact with the Placed in a separate bin
appendiceal stump during an appendectomy
should be:
15. Which instrument is used to cross-clamp the in- Allen
testine during a bowel resection?
16. The primary purpose of chest tubes is to: Re-establish the negative pressure
17. Traction sutures are used on common duct ex- Hold the duct open
plorations to:
18. The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held Purse-string
in place by which of the following types of su-
ture?
19. Which catheter is most commonly used to per- Fogarty
form an embolectomy?
, NBSTSA CST Exam 2025 Study Guide & Practice Questions | Certified Surgical
Technologist Prep
20. A resectoscope is used in what prostatic ap- Transurethral
proach?
21. Which retractor is preferred for a groin incision? Weitlaner
22. What type of dressing is applied as a nonadher- Adaptic
ent dressing?
23. During an excisional biopsy of sentinel nodes, Placed in separate containers and
the surgical technologist should prepare speci- identify
mens using which method?
24. Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, Sigmoidectomy
which procedure might be performed on the
patient in the operating room?
25. When a break in antisecptic technique oc- Contaminating team member
curs, the surgical technologist in the scrub role
should first notify the:
26. Sponges that have been added to the sterile Surgical technologist in the scrub
field after a procedure has begun should be role and the circulator
counted by the:
27. What is a procedure for removing excess skin Rhytidectomy
from the face and neck?
28. Which rongeur is used to expand the antrosto- Kerrison
my in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
29. Which procedure is used to visualize the cystic, Cholangiography
hepatic, and common ducts?
, CST - NBSTSA Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_3xgjrf
30. Once the spinous process is exposed during a Kerrison rongeur
laminectomy, the next instrument needed for
the removal of the lamina is a:
31. What should the surgical technologist in the Remain sterile and keep the table
scrub role do during a cardiac emergency? sterile
32. What is used to stabilize a fractured finger? Kirschner wires
33. During the application of arch bars, the surgeon 25-gauge or 26-gauge stainless
will most likely use what between the teeth and steel wire
around the bar?
34. Which solution is used to identify diseased areas Lugol's
for a cold conization of the cervix?
35. When using power saws on bone, what action Irrigation
best helps prevent bone damage?
36. Which retractor is used in a C-section? De Lee
37. A nasogastric tube (NG) is used to: Drain the stomach
38. Which procedure requires an incision in the Mediastinoscopy
suprasternal nothc?
39. The surgical technologist in the scrub role must Track amount of irrigation used
keep track of blood loss as well as:
40. Following an abdominal surgery, the surgeon Fascia
has just closed the peritoneum. Which layer will
be sutured next?
41. Propofol
