NCCT CST (2025) FULL ACTUAL PRACTICE EXAM | COMPLETE & ACCURATE
RATIONALES WITH SOLUTIONS
The surgical technologist places the patient in Fowler position with head secured by
craniotomy headrest. Which of the following locations indicates correct application of the
safety strap?
A. 2 inches above the knees
B. 2 inches below the knees
C. across the torso just below the sternum
D. across the torso just above the sternum
A. 2 inches above the knees
Rationale: Correct placement of the safety strap is two inches above the knees. Take care
to make sure the strap is not too tight. You should be able to slip two fingers under the strap
with ease. Placing the strap across the torso would not secure the legs to the bed. Placing
the strap below the knees does not provide adequate safety support to the rest of the body.
An OB-GYN surgeon has posted a laparoscopic partial hysterectomy and has informed the
surgical team that the ovaries are remaining. However, the fallopian tubes will require
ligation involving the tubes being clipped and cauterized. Which of the following
instruments should the surgical technologist open?
A. a Filshie and a Kleppinger
B. a harmonic scalpel and hemoclip applier
C. a Filshie and hemoclip applier
D. a Kleppinger and harmonic scalpel
A. a Filshie and a Kleppinger
,Rationale: A Filshie is a small titanium clip with a soft lining used specifically for female
sterilization. The Kleppinger would be used next as a secondary measure to cauterize the
exposed ends of the Fallopian tubes. A harmonic scalpel is used to cut and coagulate
tissue, but the Kleppinger offers a smaller, more precise coagulation area. Hemoclip
appliers are not used as a sterilization method.
When transferring a patient to the operation room table, the surgical technologist should
A. power off any medical equipment during the transfer.
B. ensure that the O.R table remains unlocked in order to position the table to the surgeon's
preference.
C. allow 5-6 fingerbreadths between the safety strap and the patient.
D. transfer medical equipment first and then move the patient.
D. transfer medical equipment first and then move the patient.
Rationale: Powering off medical equipment could harm the patient. Unlocked operating
room tables increase the patients risk for injury. The safety strap should be snug for the
safety of the patient without causing injury. Transferring medical equipment first ensures
the equipment remains functional throughout the transfer.
Instruments and supplies have been opened by the surgical technologist for a case in
Room 5. Soon after the surgical technologist was informed that the case has been moved
to Room 1, but there is a similar case scheduled for Room 5 later that morning. Which of
the following is the best course of action?
A. Cover the back table with a sterile drape and leave it in Room 5.
B. Leave the set-up in Room 5 to be used on the later case for no longer than one hour.
C. Leave the case in Room 5 in order to save costs and alert the charge nurse about the
move to Room 1.
D. Take unopened supplies to Room 1, build a new set-up, and break down Room 5.
,D. Take unopened supplies to Room 1, build a new set-up, and break down Room 5.
Rationale: If a room is delayed or cancelled, there is no way to ensure the set up remains
sterile, unless a staff member stays in the room and monitors. Facility policy may also
dictate a time frame for use of opened sterile items.
When cutting 7-0 nylon suture, which of the following is the best instrument to use?
A. straight Iris scissors
B. straight Mayo scissors
C. curved Metzenbaum scissors
D. curved Stevens tenotomy scissors
A. straight Iris scissors
Rationale: Suture should always be cut with a straight scissor, and one that is compatible
with the heaviness of the suture material being cut. The best choice is the straight Iris
scissor, since it is a smaller, finer scissor than a Mayo.
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
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.
The surgeon has removed a specimen for a fresh section and is sending it to the lab
immediately for a diagnosis. How should the technologist prepare the specimen for
retrieval?
A. Remove all sutures attached to the specimen and place in a specimen container.
B. Place the specimen in a dry specimen container.
C. Place the specimen in a container with saline to maintain moisture during transport.
D. Remove all sutures attached and place the specimen on Telfa in a dry specimen
container.
B. Place the specimen in a dry specimen container.
Rationale: A fresh specimen is one that has to be sent to the lab dry, and will then be fixed
with a fixative solution upon arrival in the lab. Never remove any sutures the surgeon
attached to the specimen which mark laterality.
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.)
RATIONALES WITH SOLUTIONS
The surgical technologist places the patient in Fowler position with head secured by
craniotomy headrest. Which of the following locations indicates correct application of the
safety strap?
A. 2 inches above the knees
B. 2 inches below the knees
C. across the torso just below the sternum
D. across the torso just above the sternum
A. 2 inches above the knees
Rationale: Correct placement of the safety strap is two inches above the knees. Take care
to make sure the strap is not too tight. You should be able to slip two fingers under the strap
with ease. Placing the strap across the torso would not secure the legs to the bed. Placing
the strap below the knees does not provide adequate safety support to the rest of the body.
An OB-GYN surgeon has posted a laparoscopic partial hysterectomy and has informed the
surgical team that the ovaries are remaining. However, the fallopian tubes will require
ligation involving the tubes being clipped and cauterized. Which of the following
instruments should the surgical technologist open?
A. a Filshie and a Kleppinger
B. a harmonic scalpel and hemoclip applier
C. a Filshie and hemoclip applier
D. a Kleppinger and harmonic scalpel
A. a Filshie and a Kleppinger
,Rationale: A Filshie is a small titanium clip with a soft lining used specifically for female
sterilization. The Kleppinger would be used next as a secondary measure to cauterize the
exposed ends of the Fallopian tubes. A harmonic scalpel is used to cut and coagulate
tissue, but the Kleppinger offers a smaller, more precise coagulation area. Hemoclip
appliers are not used as a sterilization method.
When transferring a patient to the operation room table, the surgical technologist should
A. power off any medical equipment during the transfer.
B. ensure that the O.R table remains unlocked in order to position the table to the surgeon's
preference.
C. allow 5-6 fingerbreadths between the safety strap and the patient.
D. transfer medical equipment first and then move the patient.
D. transfer medical equipment first and then move the patient.
Rationale: Powering off medical equipment could harm the patient. Unlocked operating
room tables increase the patients risk for injury. The safety strap should be snug for the
safety of the patient without causing injury. Transferring medical equipment first ensures
the equipment remains functional throughout the transfer.
Instruments and supplies have been opened by the surgical technologist for a case in
Room 5. Soon after the surgical technologist was informed that the case has been moved
to Room 1, but there is a similar case scheduled for Room 5 later that morning. Which of
the following is the best course of action?
A. Cover the back table with a sterile drape and leave it in Room 5.
B. Leave the set-up in Room 5 to be used on the later case for no longer than one hour.
C. Leave the case in Room 5 in order to save costs and alert the charge nurse about the
move to Room 1.
D. Take unopened supplies to Room 1, build a new set-up, and break down Room 5.
,D. Take unopened supplies to Room 1, build a new set-up, and break down Room 5.
Rationale: If a room is delayed or cancelled, there is no way to ensure the set up remains
sterile, unless a staff member stays in the room and monitors. Facility policy may also
dictate a time frame for use of opened sterile items.
When cutting 7-0 nylon suture, which of the following is the best instrument to use?
A. straight Iris scissors
B. straight Mayo scissors
C. curved Metzenbaum scissors
D. curved Stevens tenotomy scissors
A. straight Iris scissors
Rationale: Suture should always be cut with a straight scissor, and one that is compatible
with the heaviness of the suture material being cut. The best choice is the straight Iris
scissor, since it is a smaller, finer scissor than a Mayo.
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
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.
The surgeon has removed a specimen for a fresh section and is sending it to the lab
immediately for a diagnosis. How should the technologist prepare the specimen for
retrieval?
A. Remove all sutures attached to the specimen and place in a specimen container.
B. Place the specimen in a dry specimen container.
C. Place the specimen in a container with saline to maintain moisture during transport.
D. Remove all sutures attached and place the specimen on Telfa in a dry specimen
container.
B. Place the specimen in a dry specimen container.
Rationale: A fresh specimen is one that has to be sent to the lab dry, and will then be fixed
with a fixative solution upon arrival in the lab. Never remove any sutures the surgeon
attached to the specimen which mark laterality.
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.)
