MINDPLUG SOLUTIONS — EMPOWERING MINDS, BUILDING FUTURES
NCCT CST EXAM PREP – FULL
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, EXPLANATIONS
& CORRECT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
A patient is undergoing a right partial pneumonectomy. Which of the following drains
should the surgical technologist prepare for placement at the end of the case?
A. Jackson Pratt
B. chest tube
C. Penrose
D. Hemovac
B. chest tube
Rationale: Any time the chest cavity is entered and the normally present negative
intrapleural pressure is compromised, a chest tube must be placed to reestablish the
negative pressure. A penrose is a passive drain that is partially placed within the wound
allowing fluid to move out of the tube onto a dressing. The Jackson Pratt drain is commonly
used for general and abdominal procedures for moderate drainage. The Hemovac drainage
is commonly used for orthopedics for moderate drainage.
Which of the following must the surgical technologist verify before implants are opened
during a total knee replacement? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. expiration date
B. name of component
C. lot number
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT • ACADEMIC RESOURCES • PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
,MINDPLUG SOLUTIONS — EMPOWERING MINDS, BUILDING FUTURES
D. size
E. manufacturer name
A. expiration date
B. name of component
D. size
Rationale: Manufacturer name and lot number do not have to be verified by the surgical
technologist, but are charted by the circulator for documentation. Always verify implant
type, size, and expiration date, prior to opening.
In a sterilized package, a chemical indicator is used to
A. verify elimination of living flora on the package.
B. confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
C. show that no moisture entered the package.
D. ensure that the package is sterile.
B. confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
Rationale: The chemical indicator s are 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.
When a surgical technologist is being relieved at end of shift during a myomectomy, she is
required to
A. conduct a soft and sharps count.
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT • ACADEMIC RESOURCES • PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
,MINDPLUG SOLUTIONS — EMPOWERING MINDS, BUILDING FUTURES
B. initiate a time out.
C. conduct a complete count.
D. collect the specimen before leaving.
D. conduct a complete count.
Rationale: The surgical technologist should ensure that all countables are accounted for
prior to being relieved.
When returning from lunch in the cafeteria and re-entering the surgical suite, the minimum
amount of time for a surgical hand scrub should be
A. 10 minutes.
B. 3 minutes.
C. 5 minutes.
D. 6 minutes.
C. 5 minutes
Rationale: The initial surgical scrub of the day is 5 minutes, but subsequent scrubs are
required to be 3 minutes in duration - unless the surgical technologist leaves the surgical
suite. Anytime the technologist leaves the suite the hand scrub is 5 minutes, as though it
were the first scrub of the day.
An OB/GYN surgeon has posted an emergent laparoscopic case and the surgical
technologist notices that his reusable metal trocar has not been processed from the day
before. Which of the following sterilization methods is the best choice for this scenario?
A. ethylene oxide sterilization
B. gas sterilization
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT • ACADEMIC RESOURCES • PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
, MINDPLUG SOLUTIONS — EMPOWERING MINDS, BUILDING FUTURES
C. Steris
D. flash sterilization
D. flash sterilization
Rationale: Ethylene oxide is a type of gas sterilization that takes several hours to complete.
Steris is used for endoscopic equipment. Flash sterilization is the best option in this
scenario since the trocar is required for immediate use.
When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use
sterilization unit, which of the following parameters must be met for sterilization with
gravity displacement steam? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
A. 3-4 minute exposure time
B. 270 F
C. 10 minute exposure time
D. 132o F
E. 4 minute drying time
A. 3-4 minute exposure time
B. 270 F
Rationale: Per CDC guidelines, proper parameters for an unwrapped, non-porous item
with no lumen in a gravity displacement sterilizer are 132 degrees Celsius, or 270F for 3
minutes.
When reviewing the autoclave log, the surgical technologist should confirm that which of
the following items have been documented before using the instrumentation?
A. expiration date
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT • ACADEMIC RESOURCES • PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
NCCT CST EXAM PREP – FULL
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, EXPLANATIONS
& CORRECT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
A patient is undergoing a right partial pneumonectomy. Which of the following drains
should the surgical technologist prepare for placement at the end of the case?
A. Jackson Pratt
B. chest tube
C. Penrose
D. Hemovac
B. chest tube
Rationale: Any time the chest cavity is entered and the normally present negative
intrapleural pressure is compromised, a chest tube must be placed to reestablish the
negative pressure. A penrose is a passive drain that is partially placed within the wound
allowing fluid to move out of the tube onto a dressing. The Jackson Pratt drain is commonly
used for general and abdominal procedures for moderate drainage. The Hemovac drainage
is commonly used for orthopedics for moderate drainage.
Which of the following must the surgical technologist verify before implants are opened
during a total knee replacement? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. expiration date
B. name of component
C. lot number
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT • ACADEMIC RESOURCES • PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
,MINDPLUG SOLUTIONS — EMPOWERING MINDS, BUILDING FUTURES
D. size
E. manufacturer name
A. expiration date
B. name of component
D. size
Rationale: Manufacturer name and lot number do not have to be verified by the surgical
technologist, but are charted by the circulator for documentation. Always verify implant
type, size, and expiration date, prior to opening.
In a sterilized package, a chemical indicator is used to
A. verify elimination of living flora on the package.
B. confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
C. show that no moisture entered the package.
D. ensure that the package is sterile.
B. confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
Rationale: The chemical indicator s are 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.
When a surgical technologist is being relieved at end of shift during a myomectomy, she is
required to
A. conduct a soft and sharps count.
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT • ACADEMIC RESOURCES • PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
,MINDPLUG SOLUTIONS — EMPOWERING MINDS, BUILDING FUTURES
B. initiate a time out.
C. conduct a complete count.
D. collect the specimen before leaving.
D. conduct a complete count.
Rationale: The surgical technologist should ensure that all countables are accounted for
prior to being relieved.
When returning from lunch in the cafeteria and re-entering the surgical suite, the minimum
amount of time for a surgical hand scrub should be
A. 10 minutes.
B. 3 minutes.
C. 5 minutes.
D. 6 minutes.
C. 5 minutes
Rationale: The initial surgical scrub of the day is 5 minutes, but subsequent scrubs are
required to be 3 minutes in duration - unless the surgical technologist leaves the surgical
suite. Anytime the technologist leaves the suite the hand scrub is 5 minutes, as though it
were the first scrub of the day.
An OB/GYN surgeon has posted an emergent laparoscopic case and the surgical
technologist notices that his reusable metal trocar has not been processed from the day
before. Which of the following sterilization methods is the best choice for this scenario?
A. ethylene oxide sterilization
B. gas sterilization
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT • ACADEMIC RESOURCES • PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
, MINDPLUG SOLUTIONS — EMPOWERING MINDS, BUILDING FUTURES
C. Steris
D. flash sterilization
D. flash sterilization
Rationale: Ethylene oxide is a type of gas sterilization that takes several hours to complete.
Steris is used for endoscopic equipment. Flash sterilization is the best option in this
scenario since the trocar is required for immediate use.
When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use
sterilization unit, which of the following parameters must be met for sterilization with
gravity displacement steam? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
A. 3-4 minute exposure time
B. 270 F
C. 10 minute exposure time
D. 132o F
E. 4 minute drying time
A. 3-4 minute exposure time
B. 270 F
Rationale: Per CDC guidelines, proper parameters for an unwrapped, non-porous item
with no lumen in a gravity displacement sterilizer are 132 degrees Celsius, or 270F for 3
minutes.
When reviewing the autoclave log, the surgical technologist should confirm that which of
the following items have been documented before using the instrumentation?
A. expiration date
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT • ACADEMIC RESOURCES • PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
