NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
EXPERT VERIFIED GRADED A+
◉ An emaciated patient is scheduled for an abdominal hysterectomy
with removal of excessive skin on bilateral thighs. The circulator has
opted to place the ESU grounding pad on the patient's forearm. The
surgical technologist should suggest that the ESU pad be removed
and placed on Answer: the buttocks
◉ Which of the following are done during the initial count for a tubal
ligation case? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) Answer: state
the name of each item as you begin to count it, circulator records the
items counted, count laps, Raytecs, needles, and blades
◉ The surgical technologist has just completed scrubbing for a
repair of an abdominal aneurysm. The aneurysm repair ruptures
during transport from the operating room bed to the stretcher.
Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take
next? Answer: Don new gown and gloves.
◉ Which of the following is used to help maintain hemostasis
intraoperatively in neurosurgery? Answer: raney clips
,◉ Which of the following instruments should be passed to the
surgeon to achieve hemostasis at the beginning of an operative
procedure? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) Answer:
electrosurgical pen, sponge, suction device
◉ The patient will need surgical skin prep for a right arm
disarticulation at the shoulder. Which of the following is the correct
method for completing this prep? Answer: Begin at shoulder to
finger tips, including flank and chest, prepping the axilla last, using
as many sponges as needed, keeping the arm away from the bed.
◉ When disinfecting a flexible endoscope used on a patient with TB,
which of the following sterilization methods should be employed?
Answer: steris
◉ During a total hip replacement, how can a surgical technologist
prevent blood from drying on instruments? Answer: Place the
instruments in a basin of sterile water.
◉ Which of the following prep solutions is contraindicated for use
with a laser? Answer: Duraprep
◉ In the Sterile Processing Department, a DART test for autoclave
steam sterilizers should be run Answer: daily.
,◉ Upon opening a sterilized instrument tray, the surgical
technologist finds bioburden inside the lumen of a metal suction.
Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take?
Answer: Remove the sterilized instrument tray from the sterile field.
◉ The surgeon requests a non-absorbable suture for skin closure.
Which of the following sutures is non-absorbable? Answer: Nylon
◉ The anesthesia provider would typically ask the surgical
technologist how much fluid has been used in order to Answer:
estimate blood loss.
◉ Postoperatively a hernia repair patient complains of ulnar pain,
numbness and tingling bilaterally. The most likely cause of the
patient's discomfort is that the surgical technologist forgot to
Answer: place arm pads.
◉ The surgical technologist must discard a malfunctioning sterilant
and replace with a new one. Where should the technologist look to
find the proper disposal protocol for this product? Answer: hospital
MSDS log
◉ When steam sterilizing biological indicators, how long are they
incubated before the reading is recorded? Answer: 24 hours
, ◉ Ten minutes into an automatic chemical washer cycle for an
instrument string, the surgical technologist notices she has missed a
few critical instruments. Which of the following should the
technologist do? Answer: Wait until the washer stops and run a new
cycle with the instruments.
◉ During an otorhinolaryngologic procedure, which of the following
precautions should the surgical technologist take if the anesthesia
provider is using an uncuffed endotracheal tube? Answer: Moisten
sponges and place around the field prior to start of procedure to
minimize leakage and reduce heat buildup.
◉ Which of the following should the surgical technologist do
immediately before connecting the Jackson-Pratt drain to the
drainage tubing? Answer: Squeeze the bulb to apply manual suction.
◉ Prior to a case the surgical technologist determines the power
saw is not functioning. Which of the following is the most likely
cause? Answer: The battery has not been adequately charged.
◉ 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? Answer: 2
inches above the knees
COMPREHENSIVE TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
EXPERT VERIFIED GRADED A+
◉ An emaciated patient is scheduled for an abdominal hysterectomy
with removal of excessive skin on bilateral thighs. The circulator has
opted to place the ESU grounding pad on the patient's forearm. The
surgical technologist should suggest that the ESU pad be removed
and placed on Answer: the buttocks
◉ Which of the following are done during the initial count for a tubal
ligation case? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) Answer: state
the name of each item as you begin to count it, circulator records the
items counted, count laps, Raytecs, needles, and blades
◉ The surgical technologist has just completed scrubbing for a
repair of an abdominal aneurysm. The aneurysm repair ruptures
during transport from the operating room bed to the stretcher.
Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take
next? Answer: Don new gown and gloves.
◉ Which of the following is used to help maintain hemostasis
intraoperatively in neurosurgery? Answer: raney clips
,◉ Which of the following instruments should be passed to the
surgeon to achieve hemostasis at the beginning of an operative
procedure? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) Answer:
electrosurgical pen, sponge, suction device
◉ The patient will need surgical skin prep for a right arm
disarticulation at the shoulder. Which of the following is the correct
method for completing this prep? Answer: Begin at shoulder to
finger tips, including flank and chest, prepping the axilla last, using
as many sponges as needed, keeping the arm away from the bed.
◉ When disinfecting a flexible endoscope used on a patient with TB,
which of the following sterilization methods should be employed?
Answer: steris
◉ During a total hip replacement, how can a surgical technologist
prevent blood from drying on instruments? Answer: Place the
instruments in a basin of sterile water.
◉ Which of the following prep solutions is contraindicated for use
with a laser? Answer: Duraprep
◉ In the Sterile Processing Department, a DART test for autoclave
steam sterilizers should be run Answer: daily.
,◉ Upon opening a sterilized instrument tray, the surgical
technologist finds bioburden inside the lumen of a metal suction.
Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take?
Answer: Remove the sterilized instrument tray from the sterile field.
◉ The surgeon requests a non-absorbable suture for skin closure.
Which of the following sutures is non-absorbable? Answer: Nylon
◉ The anesthesia provider would typically ask the surgical
technologist how much fluid has been used in order to Answer:
estimate blood loss.
◉ Postoperatively a hernia repair patient complains of ulnar pain,
numbness and tingling bilaterally. The most likely cause of the
patient's discomfort is that the surgical technologist forgot to
Answer: place arm pads.
◉ The surgical technologist must discard a malfunctioning sterilant
and replace with a new one. Where should the technologist look to
find the proper disposal protocol for this product? Answer: hospital
MSDS log
◉ When steam sterilizing biological indicators, how long are they
incubated before the reading is recorded? Answer: 24 hours
, ◉ Ten minutes into an automatic chemical washer cycle for an
instrument string, the surgical technologist notices she has missed a
few critical instruments. Which of the following should the
technologist do? Answer: Wait until the washer stops and run a new
cycle with the instruments.
◉ During an otorhinolaryngologic procedure, which of the following
precautions should the surgical technologist take if the anesthesia
provider is using an uncuffed endotracheal tube? Answer: Moisten
sponges and place around the field prior to start of procedure to
minimize leakage and reduce heat buildup.
◉ Which of the following should the surgical technologist do
immediately before connecting the Jackson-Pratt drain to the
drainage tubing? Answer: Squeeze the bulb to apply manual suction.
◉ Prior to a case the surgical technologist determines the power
saw is not functioning. Which of the following is the most likely
cause? Answer: The battery has not been adequately charged.
◉ 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? Answer: 2
inches above the knees
