SOUTH PLAIN COLLEGE
Department of Allied Health – Surgical Technology With Answer Key
TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) – Version 7 Form SPC-ST
Comprehensive Entrance / Midterm Examination
Student Information (Print clearly)
Full Name: _________________________________
SPC Student ID: ___________________________
Date: _____________________________________
Start Time: _______________ End Time: _______________
Instructor: _____________________________________
Examination Rules
• No outside materials, phones, or smartwatches.
• Non-programmable calculator provided.
• No bathroom breaks during first 90 min or last 30 min.
• All answers must be on the bubble sheet.
• Scratch paper must be turned in.
Time Limits (strictly enforced)
Section Questions Time
Reading 45 55 min
Mathematics 38 57 min
Science 50 60 min
English & Language 37 37 min
Total 170 209 min
Scoring (Program standard)
• Exemplary (90-100%) → Automatic clinical clearance
• Proficient (78-89.9%) → Eligible for clinicals
• Developing (65-77.9%) → Remediation required
• Below Proficient (<65%) → Repeat course
,SECTION I – READING (45 questions – 55 minutes)
Questions 1–6 refer to the following passage:
Passage 1 (Informational – Sterile Field)
The sterile field is the defined area in the operating room that contains only sterilized supplies and
personnel in sterile attire. Once established, the field must be constantly monitored. Any item that falls
below waist level or above shoulder level is considered contaminated. The one-inch border around the
edge of a sterile drape is non-sterile. Sterile team members must never turn their backs to the field, as
sterility cannot be visually verified from behind. If a sterile person’s gown is punctured, the gown must
be changed immediately. Talking across the field is discouraged because droplets can travel 3 feet and
contaminate the field.
1. According to the passage, what is the status of the outer edge of a sterile drape?
A) Sterile, because it is part of the drape
B) Non-sterile for the first inch
C) Sterile only if covered by another drape
D) Non-sterile after 30 minutes
2. Which action would most directly violate the rules described?
A) A scrub nurse looking away from the field for 2 seconds
B) A surgeon reaching across the field to grab a clamp
C) A circulating nurse talking to the anesthesiologist from 5 feet away
D) A sterile person turning to answer a question from the door
3. The author’s primary purpose is to:
A) Compare sterile techniques in different hospitals
B) Persuade readers to become surgical technologists
C) Explain rules for maintaining a sterile field
D) Describe the history of aseptic technique
4. The word “punctured” in line 7 most nearly means:
A) Stained
B) Torn or pierced
C) Wet
D) Folded
5. Which of the following can be reasonably inferred?
A) Sterile fields are rarely contaminated in modern ORs
B) Voice droplets are a recognized source of contamination
C) Waist-level items are always sterile
D) Gowns are changed only after each case
6. The passage suggests that a sterile person who turns their back to the field:
A) Is acceptable if they turn back quickly
B) Must re-scrub and gown
C) Can still be considered sterile if they didn’t touch anything
D) Has contaminated only their back, not the field
Questions 7–12 refer to the following procedural chart:
Table: Surgical Sponge Count Protocol
, Time of Count Who Performs Action if Incorrect
Before incision Scrub + Circulating Report to surgeon; search patient/drapes/floor
Before closure of cavity Scrub + Circulating Stop closure; re-count; X-ray if needed
Before skin closure Scrub + Circulating Verify with second circulator
After skin closure Scrub + Circulating Document final count in record
7. Based on the table, how many counts are performed by both scrub and circulating together?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 1
8. What is the first action if a count is incorrect before cavity closure?
A) X-ray the patient
B) Notify the surgeon and stop closure
C) Document the discrepancy
D) Ask the surgeon to close quickly
9. The table implies that the most critical count is:
A) Before incision
B) Before cavity closure
C) Before skin closure
D) After skin closure
10. The purpose of the “second circulator” in the third row is most likely to:
A) Speed up the count
B) Provide an independent verification
C) Replace the scrub nurse
D) Record the count for legal purposes
11. The word “discrepancy” in the final row best means:
A) Agreement
B) Difference or mismatch
C) Delay
D) Contamination
12. Which of the following would be an appropriate time to perform a count?
A) After the patient is transferred to recovery
B) After the surgeon closes the fascia but before skin
C) Before the patient is intubated
D) After the sterile drapes are removed
Questions 13–18: Passage 3 (Narrative – First day in OR)
Maria, a first-semester surgical technology student, entered the operating suite for the first time. Her
heart pounded as the circulator handed her a gown. She remembered her instructor’s voice: “Never let
your hands drop below your waist.” She caught herself as her right hand drifted down. The surgeon
glanced at her and nodded slightly. Later, during the case, the scrub nurse asked for a “lap sponge.”
Maria froze – she had studied laparotomy sponges but couldn’t recall the shape. The circulator
Department of Allied Health – Surgical Technology With Answer Key
TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) – Version 7 Form SPC-ST
Comprehensive Entrance / Midterm Examination
Student Information (Print clearly)
Full Name: _________________________________
SPC Student ID: ___________________________
Date: _____________________________________
Start Time: _______________ End Time: _______________
Instructor: _____________________________________
Examination Rules
• No outside materials, phones, or smartwatches.
• Non-programmable calculator provided.
• No bathroom breaks during first 90 min or last 30 min.
• All answers must be on the bubble sheet.
• Scratch paper must be turned in.
Time Limits (strictly enforced)
Section Questions Time
Reading 45 55 min
Mathematics 38 57 min
Science 50 60 min
English & Language 37 37 min
Total 170 209 min
Scoring (Program standard)
• Exemplary (90-100%) → Automatic clinical clearance
• Proficient (78-89.9%) → Eligible for clinicals
• Developing (65-77.9%) → Remediation required
• Below Proficient (<65%) → Repeat course
,SECTION I – READING (45 questions – 55 minutes)
Questions 1–6 refer to the following passage:
Passage 1 (Informational – Sterile Field)
The sterile field is the defined area in the operating room that contains only sterilized supplies and
personnel in sterile attire. Once established, the field must be constantly monitored. Any item that falls
below waist level or above shoulder level is considered contaminated. The one-inch border around the
edge of a sterile drape is non-sterile. Sterile team members must never turn their backs to the field, as
sterility cannot be visually verified from behind. If a sterile person’s gown is punctured, the gown must
be changed immediately. Talking across the field is discouraged because droplets can travel 3 feet and
contaminate the field.
1. According to the passage, what is the status of the outer edge of a sterile drape?
A) Sterile, because it is part of the drape
B) Non-sterile for the first inch
C) Sterile only if covered by another drape
D) Non-sterile after 30 minutes
2. Which action would most directly violate the rules described?
A) A scrub nurse looking away from the field for 2 seconds
B) A surgeon reaching across the field to grab a clamp
C) A circulating nurse talking to the anesthesiologist from 5 feet away
D) A sterile person turning to answer a question from the door
3. The author’s primary purpose is to:
A) Compare sterile techniques in different hospitals
B) Persuade readers to become surgical technologists
C) Explain rules for maintaining a sterile field
D) Describe the history of aseptic technique
4. The word “punctured” in line 7 most nearly means:
A) Stained
B) Torn or pierced
C) Wet
D) Folded
5. Which of the following can be reasonably inferred?
A) Sterile fields are rarely contaminated in modern ORs
B) Voice droplets are a recognized source of contamination
C) Waist-level items are always sterile
D) Gowns are changed only after each case
6. The passage suggests that a sterile person who turns their back to the field:
A) Is acceptable if they turn back quickly
B) Must re-scrub and gown
C) Can still be considered sterile if they didn’t touch anything
D) Has contaminated only their back, not the field
Questions 7–12 refer to the following procedural chart:
Table: Surgical Sponge Count Protocol
, Time of Count Who Performs Action if Incorrect
Before incision Scrub + Circulating Report to surgeon; search patient/drapes/floor
Before closure of cavity Scrub + Circulating Stop closure; re-count; X-ray if needed
Before skin closure Scrub + Circulating Verify with second circulator
After skin closure Scrub + Circulating Document final count in record
7. Based on the table, how many counts are performed by both scrub and circulating together?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 1
8. What is the first action if a count is incorrect before cavity closure?
A) X-ray the patient
B) Notify the surgeon and stop closure
C) Document the discrepancy
D) Ask the surgeon to close quickly
9. The table implies that the most critical count is:
A) Before incision
B) Before cavity closure
C) Before skin closure
D) After skin closure
10. The purpose of the “second circulator” in the third row is most likely to:
A) Speed up the count
B) Provide an independent verification
C) Replace the scrub nurse
D) Record the count for legal purposes
11. The word “discrepancy” in the final row best means:
A) Agreement
B) Difference or mismatch
C) Delay
D) Contamination
12. Which of the following would be an appropriate time to perform a count?
A) After the patient is transferred to recovery
B) After the surgeon closes the fascia but before skin
C) Before the patient is intubated
D) After the sterile drapes are removed
Questions 13–18: Passage 3 (Narrative – First day in OR)
Maria, a first-semester surgical technology student, entered the operating suite for the first time. Her
heart pounded as the circulator handed her a gown. She remembered her instructor’s voice: “Never let
your hands drop below your waist.” She caught herself as her right hand drifted down. The surgeon
glanced at her and nodded slightly. Later, during the case, the scrub nurse asked for a “lap sponge.”
Maria froze – she had studied laparotomy sponges but couldn’t recall the shape. The circulator
