NCCT SURGICAL TECH PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
The surgical technologist is preparing for a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy.
Which of the following equipment is needed for the procedure?
A. endoscopic retrieval bag
B. harmonic scalpel
C. endoscopic GIA
D. Alexis retractor - Answer -B. harmonic scalpel
Which of the following positioning equipment is needed when preparing to do a
posterior spinal fusion of the T3-L2 range?
Which of the following positioning equipment is needed when preparing to do a
posterior spinal fusion of the T3-L2 range?
A. Wilson frame
B. Mayfield head frame
C. bean bag
D. fracture table - Answer -A. Wilson frame
3. When preparing the room for a total knee arthroplasty which of the following items is
necessary to occlude blood flow during the surgical procedure?
A. Coban
B. stockinette
C. tourniquet
D. Esmark - Answer -C. tourniquet
The surgeon is starting an exploratory laparotomy on an elderly female patient with a
very large rotund abdomen. Which of the following supplies should the surgical
technologist have available in the room?
A. Laparoscopic instruments and a Bookwalter retractor.
B. Bowel instrumentation and a Bookwalter retractor.
C. Laparoscopic instruments and a Balfour retractor.
D. Bowel instrumentation and a Balfour retractor. - Answer -B. Bowel instrumentation
and a Bookwalter retractor.
In an appendectomy where the patient is morbidly obese, which of the following self-
retaining retractors is most appropriate to have on the sterile field?
A. O'Sullivan-O'Connor
B. Balfour
C. Weitlaner
D. Gelpi - Answer -B. Balfour
,When performing pediatric surgery, the temperature of the room must be adjusted
before the patient enters approximately
A. 30 minutes prior and between 75.6 and 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
B. one hour prior and between 75.6 and 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
C. 30 minutes prior and between 78.8 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
D. one hour prior and between 78.8 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit. - Answer -C. 30
minutes prior and between 78.8 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
The patient is scheduled for a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy. When
opening supplies for the case the surgical technologist should open
A. three prep trays: one for the vaginal prep, one for catheter placement, and one for
the abdomen.
B. one prep tray for abdomen, catheter placement, and vaginal prep.
C. two prep trays: one for abdomen and one for vaginal prep and catheter placement.
D. one prep tray and separate sponges for vaginal prep, abdomen, and catheter
placement. - Answer -C. two prep trays: one for abdomen and one for vaginal prep and
catheter placement.
When performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a cholangiogram, the surgical
technologist will need to have
A. indigo carmine.
B. benzoine tincture.
C. methelyne blue.
D. contrast medium. - Answer -D. contrast medium.
Which of the following irrigation will the surgeon need during an AV graft anastomosis?
A. antibiotic saline
B. heparin saline
C. sterile water
D. normal saline - Answer -B. heparin saline
Which of the following equipment is essential for a VATS procedure? (Select the three
(3) correct answers.)
A. Wilson frame
B. bean bag
C. video tower
D. Jackson table
E. pillows - Answer -B. bean bag
C. video tower
E. pillows
The surgical team is in the midst of the Time Out Protocol with the OR charge nurse
present to audit their briefing. After stating the procedure, site of procedure, antibiotics
administered, patient history, patient name and everyone in the room agreeing to the
briefing, the charge nurse declared it a failed briefing. Which of the following elements
of a Time Out did the surgical team exclude?
, A. verification of the floor the patient will return to
B. verification of blood type
C. verification that the proper implants are in the room
D. verification of the surgical consent form - Answer -C. verification that the proper
implants are in the room
Which of the following are verified in the Time Out process? (Select the three (3) correct
answers.)
A. patient's identity
B. patient's blood type
C. correct site
D. procedure to be performed
E. patient's date of birth - Answer -A. patient's identity
C. correct site
D. procedure to be performed
The nurse initiates a surgical time out with the surgeon not present and states the
wrong patient identifiers. Which of the following is the best action for the surgical
technologist to take?
A. Ask the nurse to repeat the time out once the physician is in the room.
B. Report this sentinel event through the facility compliance hotline.
C. Perform the time out with the correct patient identifiers.
D. Allow the nurse to complete the time out. - Answer -A. Ask the nurse to repeat the
time out once the physician is in the room.
Which of the following is a special consideration before the procedure for a burn
patient?
A. amount of light in the room
B. temperature of room
C. laminar air flow rates
D. type of operating room bed - Answer -B. temperature of room
The surgical technologist is told to inspect the minor procedure rooms to ensure all of
the basic furniture is present. How many suction systems are required in each room?
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. none - Answer -B. two
Which of the following retractors should the surgical technologist have available for an
emergent open laparotomy?
A. Mayfield
B. Balfour
C. Cloward
D. Army-Navy - Answer -B. Balfour
ANSWERS
The surgical technologist is preparing for a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy.
Which of the following equipment is needed for the procedure?
A. endoscopic retrieval bag
B. harmonic scalpel
C. endoscopic GIA
D. Alexis retractor - Answer -B. harmonic scalpel
Which of the following positioning equipment is needed when preparing to do a
posterior spinal fusion of the T3-L2 range?
Which of the following positioning equipment is needed when preparing to do a
posterior spinal fusion of the T3-L2 range?
A. Wilson frame
B. Mayfield head frame
C. bean bag
D. fracture table - Answer -A. Wilson frame
3. When preparing the room for a total knee arthroplasty which of the following items is
necessary to occlude blood flow during the surgical procedure?
A. Coban
B. stockinette
C. tourniquet
D. Esmark - Answer -C. tourniquet
The surgeon is starting an exploratory laparotomy on an elderly female patient with a
very large rotund abdomen. Which of the following supplies should the surgical
technologist have available in the room?
A. Laparoscopic instruments and a Bookwalter retractor.
B. Bowel instrumentation and a Bookwalter retractor.
C. Laparoscopic instruments and a Balfour retractor.
D. Bowel instrumentation and a Balfour retractor. - Answer -B. Bowel instrumentation
and a Bookwalter retractor.
In an appendectomy where the patient is morbidly obese, which of the following self-
retaining retractors is most appropriate to have on the sterile field?
A. O'Sullivan-O'Connor
B. Balfour
C. Weitlaner
D. Gelpi - Answer -B. Balfour
,When performing pediatric surgery, the temperature of the room must be adjusted
before the patient enters approximately
A. 30 minutes prior and between 75.6 and 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
B. one hour prior and between 75.6 and 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
C. 30 minutes prior and between 78.8 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
D. one hour prior and between 78.8 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit. - Answer -C. 30
minutes prior and between 78.8 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
The patient is scheduled for a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy. When
opening supplies for the case the surgical technologist should open
A. three prep trays: one for the vaginal prep, one for catheter placement, and one for
the abdomen.
B. one prep tray for abdomen, catheter placement, and vaginal prep.
C. two prep trays: one for abdomen and one for vaginal prep and catheter placement.
D. one prep tray and separate sponges for vaginal prep, abdomen, and catheter
placement. - Answer -C. two prep trays: one for abdomen and one for vaginal prep and
catheter placement.
When performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a cholangiogram, the surgical
technologist will need to have
A. indigo carmine.
B. benzoine tincture.
C. methelyne blue.
D. contrast medium. - Answer -D. contrast medium.
Which of the following irrigation will the surgeon need during an AV graft anastomosis?
A. antibiotic saline
B. heparin saline
C. sterile water
D. normal saline - Answer -B. heparin saline
Which of the following equipment is essential for a VATS procedure? (Select the three
(3) correct answers.)
A. Wilson frame
B. bean bag
C. video tower
D. Jackson table
E. pillows - Answer -B. bean bag
C. video tower
E. pillows
The surgical team is in the midst of the Time Out Protocol with the OR charge nurse
present to audit their briefing. After stating the procedure, site of procedure, antibiotics
administered, patient history, patient name and everyone in the room agreeing to the
briefing, the charge nurse declared it a failed briefing. Which of the following elements
of a Time Out did the surgical team exclude?
, A. verification of the floor the patient will return to
B. verification of blood type
C. verification that the proper implants are in the room
D. verification of the surgical consent form - Answer -C. verification that the proper
implants are in the room
Which of the following are verified in the Time Out process? (Select the three (3) correct
answers.)
A. patient's identity
B. patient's blood type
C. correct site
D. procedure to be performed
E. patient's date of birth - Answer -A. patient's identity
C. correct site
D. procedure to be performed
The nurse initiates a surgical time out with the surgeon not present and states the
wrong patient identifiers. Which of the following is the best action for the surgical
technologist to take?
A. Ask the nurse to repeat the time out once the physician is in the room.
B. Report this sentinel event through the facility compliance hotline.
C. Perform the time out with the correct patient identifiers.
D. Allow the nurse to complete the time out. - Answer -A. Ask the nurse to repeat the
time out once the physician is in the room.
Which of the following is a special consideration before the procedure for a burn
patient?
A. amount of light in the room
B. temperature of room
C. laminar air flow rates
D. type of operating room bed - Answer -B. temperature of room
The surgical technologist is told to inspect the minor procedure rooms to ensure all of
the basic furniture is present. How many suction systems are required in each room?
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. none - Answer -B. two
Which of the following retractors should the surgical technologist have available for an
emergent open laparotomy?
A. Mayfield
B. Balfour
C. Cloward
D. Army-Navy - Answer -B. Balfour
