Surgical Technology Mock Certification Exam –
Questions With Proficient Solutions
A patient is having surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Which of the
following structures are the tendons of the rotator cuff attached to?
Correct Answer - Humerus
Any unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or
psychological injury or the risk there of Correct Answer -
Sentinel event
Who is authorized to sign the informed surgical consent for a patient
who is not mentally competent or is incapacitated? Correct
Answer - Agency representative (two surgeons)
Which stage of grief is a patient in when he or she begins to state:"
Just let me live to see my daughter finish school?" Correct Answer
- Bargaining
A 10-year-old patient is scheduled for surgery in an operating room
(OR) with a low temperature. What can be done to keep this patient
from becoming hypothermic? Correct Answer - Warm the OR
prior to the patient's arrival
The first priority in treating a trauma patient is Correct Answer -
Opening the airway
A pregnant patient has been diagnosed as having appendicitis and
needs surgery. When should the surgery be performed? Correct
Answer - Immediately
How should the surgical tech handle a bullet that has been removed
from a surgical patient? Correct Answer - With sterile gauze
,To keep airborne contamination in the OR to a minimum, how many
maximum air changes should take place? Correct Answer - 20
per hour
When using a laser, which precaution is best to use? Correct
Answer - Place wet towels around the operative site
Escherichia coli resides on humans in the lumen of the Correct
Answer - Intestines
The most commonly transmitted pathogen in the OR is Correct
Answer - Staphylococcus aureus
A patient has just been found to have a postsurgical infection. Which
source is most likely the primary means of infecting this patient?
Correct Answer - SSI from the patient's own skin
The ST has just passed a new #10 blade to the surgeon to make the
first incision on the skin. The surgeon has requested a #10 blade
again. What should the ST do? Correct Answer - Change the
blade to a new blade and pass
When an ST must move to the head of the OR table to retrieve a
sponge, he or she must move: Correct Answer - back to back
A circulator is preparing to pour medication into a sterile container.
What should the ST do? Correct Answer - Hold the container
away from the back table
An ST needs a step stool during a surgical procedure. When is the
best time to position the step stool? Correct Answer - Before
the ST approaches the OR table
, An ST enters an OR at the beginning of the shift and notices a spot of
blood on the wall. When should the blood be removed? Correct
Answer - At the moment it is noticed
Who should dispose of sharps from the back table at the end of a
case? Correct Answer - ST
When is the best time to schedule a dirty case? Correct Answer -
At the end of the day
Which position is used for a breast augmentation? Correct Answer
- Dorsal recumbent(supine)
Which of the following is a monofilament suture? Correct Answer
- monocryl
Which instrument would be used to hold a bone in place during an
orthopedic procedure? Correct Answer - Lowman
Which of the following destroys bacterial spores? Correct Answer
- Sterilant
Which position will the patient be in if a Wilson frame is in use?
Correct Answer - Prone
Which of the following is a chemical high level disinfectant?
Correct Answer - Glutaraldehyde (2%)
Which cleaning process includes a lubrication "milking" phase?
Correct Answer - Washer sterilizer
When placing an instrument in a plastic-paper peel pouch why
should air be evacuated from the pouch before it is sealed?
Correct Answer - The package could rupture during sterilization
Questions With Proficient Solutions
A patient is having surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Which of the
following structures are the tendons of the rotator cuff attached to?
Correct Answer - Humerus
Any unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or
psychological injury or the risk there of Correct Answer -
Sentinel event
Who is authorized to sign the informed surgical consent for a patient
who is not mentally competent or is incapacitated? Correct
Answer - Agency representative (two surgeons)
Which stage of grief is a patient in when he or she begins to state:"
Just let me live to see my daughter finish school?" Correct Answer
- Bargaining
A 10-year-old patient is scheduled for surgery in an operating room
(OR) with a low temperature. What can be done to keep this patient
from becoming hypothermic? Correct Answer - Warm the OR
prior to the patient's arrival
The first priority in treating a trauma patient is Correct Answer -
Opening the airway
A pregnant patient has been diagnosed as having appendicitis and
needs surgery. When should the surgery be performed? Correct
Answer - Immediately
How should the surgical tech handle a bullet that has been removed
from a surgical patient? Correct Answer - With sterile gauze
,To keep airborne contamination in the OR to a minimum, how many
maximum air changes should take place? Correct Answer - 20
per hour
When using a laser, which precaution is best to use? Correct
Answer - Place wet towels around the operative site
Escherichia coli resides on humans in the lumen of the Correct
Answer - Intestines
The most commonly transmitted pathogen in the OR is Correct
Answer - Staphylococcus aureus
A patient has just been found to have a postsurgical infection. Which
source is most likely the primary means of infecting this patient?
Correct Answer - SSI from the patient's own skin
The ST has just passed a new #10 blade to the surgeon to make the
first incision on the skin. The surgeon has requested a #10 blade
again. What should the ST do? Correct Answer - Change the
blade to a new blade and pass
When an ST must move to the head of the OR table to retrieve a
sponge, he or she must move: Correct Answer - back to back
A circulator is preparing to pour medication into a sterile container.
What should the ST do? Correct Answer - Hold the container
away from the back table
An ST needs a step stool during a surgical procedure. When is the
best time to position the step stool? Correct Answer - Before
the ST approaches the OR table
, An ST enters an OR at the beginning of the shift and notices a spot of
blood on the wall. When should the blood be removed? Correct
Answer - At the moment it is noticed
Who should dispose of sharps from the back table at the end of a
case? Correct Answer - ST
When is the best time to schedule a dirty case? Correct Answer -
At the end of the day
Which position is used for a breast augmentation? Correct Answer
- Dorsal recumbent(supine)
Which of the following is a monofilament suture? Correct Answer
- monocryl
Which instrument would be used to hold a bone in place during an
orthopedic procedure? Correct Answer - Lowman
Which of the following destroys bacterial spores? Correct Answer
- Sterilant
Which position will the patient be in if a Wilson frame is in use?
Correct Answer - Prone
Which of the following is a chemical high level disinfectant?
Correct Answer - Glutaraldehyde (2%)
Which cleaning process includes a lubrication "milking" phase?
Correct Answer - Washer sterilizer
When placing an instrument in a plastic-paper peel pouch why
should air be evacuated from the pouch before it is sealed?
Correct Answer - The package could rupture during sterilization
