NBSTSA Practice Exam – Part 2 | Questions &
Answers | Latest Update 2026 | Exam Prep
PDF | Graded A+
101. To maintain ergonomic positioning while completing continuing education credits at
a computer, the surgical technologist should
A. elevate feet in a chair.
B. cross legs.
C. extend elbows from the midline.
D. maintain wrists and hands in line with forearms. - correct answerD. maintain wrists
and hands in line with forearms.
Wrists and hands should be in line with forearms to ensure proper posture and
circulation.
102. Which of the following instruments may be used to extend the arteriotomy during
carotid endarterectomy?
A. Mayo
B. Potts
C. Jorgenson
D. Stevens - correct answerB. Potts
An angled Potts scissor is typically used to extend arteriotomies.
103. Which of the following test monitors indicate if there is any residual air in the
sterilization chamber?
A. Bowie-Dick test
B. heat-sensitive pellet
C. chemical indicator tape
D. multi-parameter chemical indicator - correct answerA. Bowie-Dick test
The Bowie Dick test or DART tests for the presence of pure air in the sterilization
chamber.
104. While removing the drapes, the surgical technologist recognizes some bleeding
through the dressing. Which of the following should be the surgical technologist's FIRST
step?
A. Notify the nurse and allow PACU to address the bleeding.
,B. Request the nurse to document and apply a pressure dressing.
C. Cover the dressing so the bleeding cannot be seen.
D. Apply pressure and notify the surgeon. - correct answerD. Apply pressure and notify
the surgeon.
Pressure may temporarily stop the bleeding, but the surgeon should be notified.
105. Which of the following instruments is used to grasp the base of the hemorrhoid
during a hemorrhoidectomy?
A. Allis
B. Pennington
C. Kocher
D. mosquito - correct answerA. Allis
An Allis is a grasping forceps used to grasp the base of a hemorrhoid during a
hemorrhoidectomy.
106. The surgical incision that allows for the BEST visualization for a Billroth I procedure
is
A. McBurney's.
B. Pfannenstiel.
C. Midline
D. subcostal. - correct answerC. Midline
The midline incision runs along the linea alba and is used in most abdominal
procedures, as it provides visualization to most of the abdominal contents.
107. During an open repair of an indirect hernia, which of the following drains should a
surgical technologist have available to pass the surgeon once the spermatic cord has
been dissected?
A. Malecot
B. T-tube
C. Jackson-Pratt
D. Penrose - correct answerD. Penrose
A small Penrose drain is used to retract the spermatic vessels and vas deferens
(spermatic cord). A surgical technologist should moisten the drain before passing it to
the surgeon.
108. During ophthalmic procedures, the surgeon will use which of the following paralytic
agents to dilate the pupil?
A. cycloplegics
, B. miotics
C. viscoelastic
D. BSS - correct answerA. cycloplegics
Cycloplegics act as a paralytic agent and provide pupil dilation
109. Which of the following is a benign fluid-filled sac that develops in the anterior
testis?
A. rectocele
B. cystocele
C. enterocele
D. hydrocele - correct answerD. hydrocele
A hydrocele is a benign fluid-filled sac that develops in the anterior testis.
A. A rectocele is caused by herniation of the rectum into the vaginal wall.
B. A cystocele is a herniation of the bladder into the vaginal wall.
C. An enterocele occurs when a weakness of the uterosacral ligaments allow the
intestine to bulge into the vaginal vault.
110. Which of the following is considered a contaminated area when evaluating a
patient's skin for the preoperative prep?
A. groin
B. toes
C. body hair
D. draining sinus - correct answerD. draining sinus
A draining sinus is a contaminated area of the body. If the area is in the operating site,
the surrounding area should be prepped first and the sinus should be prepped last.
111. A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of surgery?
A. hysterectomy
B. prostatectomy
C. bladder suspension
D. anterior colporrhaphy - correct answerC. bladder suspension
The Stamey needle is used only in the Stamey procedure to treat incontinence. This is a
type of bladder suspension procedure.
112. Which of the following scissors is MOST likely found in a basic hysterectomy set-
up?
Answers | Latest Update 2026 | Exam Prep
PDF | Graded A+
101. To maintain ergonomic positioning while completing continuing education credits at
a computer, the surgical technologist should
A. elevate feet in a chair.
B. cross legs.
C. extend elbows from the midline.
D. maintain wrists and hands in line with forearms. - correct answerD. maintain wrists
and hands in line with forearms.
Wrists and hands should be in line with forearms to ensure proper posture and
circulation.
102. Which of the following instruments may be used to extend the arteriotomy during
carotid endarterectomy?
A. Mayo
B. Potts
C. Jorgenson
D. Stevens - correct answerB. Potts
An angled Potts scissor is typically used to extend arteriotomies.
103. Which of the following test monitors indicate if there is any residual air in the
sterilization chamber?
A. Bowie-Dick test
B. heat-sensitive pellet
C. chemical indicator tape
D. multi-parameter chemical indicator - correct answerA. Bowie-Dick test
The Bowie Dick test or DART tests for the presence of pure air in the sterilization
chamber.
104. While removing the drapes, the surgical technologist recognizes some bleeding
through the dressing. Which of the following should be the surgical technologist's FIRST
step?
A. Notify the nurse and allow PACU to address the bleeding.
,B. Request the nurse to document and apply a pressure dressing.
C. Cover the dressing so the bleeding cannot be seen.
D. Apply pressure and notify the surgeon. - correct answerD. Apply pressure and notify
the surgeon.
Pressure may temporarily stop the bleeding, but the surgeon should be notified.
105. Which of the following instruments is used to grasp the base of the hemorrhoid
during a hemorrhoidectomy?
A. Allis
B. Pennington
C. Kocher
D. mosquito - correct answerA. Allis
An Allis is a grasping forceps used to grasp the base of a hemorrhoid during a
hemorrhoidectomy.
106. The surgical incision that allows for the BEST visualization for a Billroth I procedure
is
A. McBurney's.
B. Pfannenstiel.
C. Midline
D. subcostal. - correct answerC. Midline
The midline incision runs along the linea alba and is used in most abdominal
procedures, as it provides visualization to most of the abdominal contents.
107. During an open repair of an indirect hernia, which of the following drains should a
surgical technologist have available to pass the surgeon once the spermatic cord has
been dissected?
A. Malecot
B. T-tube
C. Jackson-Pratt
D. Penrose - correct answerD. Penrose
A small Penrose drain is used to retract the spermatic vessels and vas deferens
(spermatic cord). A surgical technologist should moisten the drain before passing it to
the surgeon.
108. During ophthalmic procedures, the surgeon will use which of the following paralytic
agents to dilate the pupil?
A. cycloplegics
, B. miotics
C. viscoelastic
D. BSS - correct answerA. cycloplegics
Cycloplegics act as a paralytic agent and provide pupil dilation
109. Which of the following is a benign fluid-filled sac that develops in the anterior
testis?
A. rectocele
B. cystocele
C. enterocele
D. hydrocele - correct answerD. hydrocele
A hydrocele is a benign fluid-filled sac that develops in the anterior testis.
A. A rectocele is caused by herniation of the rectum into the vaginal wall.
B. A cystocele is a herniation of the bladder into the vaginal wall.
C. An enterocele occurs when a weakness of the uterosacral ligaments allow the
intestine to bulge into the vaginal vault.
110. Which of the following is considered a contaminated area when evaluating a
patient's skin for the preoperative prep?
A. groin
B. toes
C. body hair
D. draining sinus - correct answerD. draining sinus
A draining sinus is a contaminated area of the body. If the area is in the operating site,
the surrounding area should be prepped first and the sinus should be prepped last.
111. A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of surgery?
A. hysterectomy
B. prostatectomy
C. bladder suspension
D. anterior colporrhaphy - correct answerC. bladder suspension
The Stamey needle is used only in the Stamey procedure to treat incontinence. This is a
type of bladder suspension procedure.
112. Which of the following scissors is MOST likely found in a basic hysterectomy set-
up?
