NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist CST Exam B Study Guide 2026/2027 | Practice Test Prep
The number of Staphylococcus aureus micro-organisms D. a thorough surgical hand scrub.
carried by the surgical technologist can be drastically
reduced by.
A. wearing a surgical cap.
B. wearing hospital scrubs.
C. keeping the OR doors closed.
D. a thorough surgical hand scrub.
List in order the sequence of induction for general C. 1, 3, 2, 4, and 5
anesthesia:
1. leads placed on the patient
2. induction agent is given through an IV
3. patient is prompted to breathe 100% oxygen
4. patient is intubated
5. anesthetic gas agent is selected and applied
A. 1, 3, 5, 4, and 2
B. 5, 2, 3, 1, and 4
C. 1, 3, 2, 4, and 5
D. 4, 2, 3, 1, and 5
Place the following phases of wound healing by first C. III, I, II
intention in correct order from first to last:
I. proliferation
II. remodeling
III. inflammatory
A. I, II, III
B. II, I, III
C. III, I, II
D. III, II, I
, NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist CST Exam B Study Guide 2026/2027 | Practice Test Prep
A surgical technologist has selected the sutures for a C. Ask the surgeon if he would like to have his preference card updated and
procedure based on the surgeon's preference card. The proceed accordingly.
surgeon states he would like additional sutures and his
preference card is outdated. Which of the following is
the surgical technologist's BEST course of action?
A. Open all of the sutures that were collected and
place them on the back table just in case the surgeon
needs them.
B. Return the sutures that are not needed to sterile
supply and proceed with the case.
C. Ask the surgeon if he would like to have his
preference card updated and proceed accordingly.
D. Update the surgeon's preference card to reflect the
sutures that have been requested for this case.
While being transferred from the stretcher to the D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's concerns.
operating room bed, the patient expresses fear of not
awakening from anesthesia. The surgical technologist
should.
A. proceed with the transfer and disregard patient
comments.
B. explain the action of the anesthetic agent.
C. reassure the patient that the anesthetic is safe.
D. have the anesthesia care provider address the
patient's concerns.
When preparing endoscopic cameras for ethylene B. biological indicator
oxide sterilization, which of the following monitoring
processes would be utilized to ensure all parameters of
sterilization were met?
A. external tape
B. biological indicator
C. dynamic air removal
D. internal strip
Which of the following rongeurs is used to expand the C. Kerrison
antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
A. Cushing
B. Bethune
C. Kerrison
D. Stille-Luer
The surgical technologist in the scrub role should B. carotid endarterectomy
remain sterile following which of the following surgical
procedures?
A. laparoscopic cholecystectomy
B. carotid endarterectomy
C. total hip arthroplasty
D. tympanoplasty
, NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist CST Exam B Study Guide 2026/2027 | Practice Test Prep
After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the B. Regown and reglove the surgeon.
DuraPrep applicator and proceeds to prep the patient
for surgery. Which of the following is the BEST action to
take at this time?
A. Assist the surgeon in draping the patient.
B. Regown and reglove the surgeon.
C. Remove drapes and start over.
D. Inform the supervisor.
Local anesthetics containing epinephrine should D. digits and penis
NEVER be used in which of the following areas?
A. arms and legs
B. epidural spaces
C. wrists and ankles
D. digits and penis
To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical B. surgical gloves
procedure, which of the following should be removed
LAST by the surgical technologist in the scrub role?
A. patient's drapes
B. surgical gloves
C. surgical gown
D. Mayo stand drape
During a procedure, a surgical technologist notices a B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
hole in his glove. Which of the following should be
done next?
A. Continue the case.
B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving
technique.
D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown and glove.
Which of the following is an unexpected occurrence B. sentinel event
that involves physiologic or psychologic injury or
death?
A. unintentional tort
B. sentinel event
C. negligence
D. malpractice
The number of Staphylococcus aureus micro-organisms D. a thorough surgical hand scrub.
carried by the surgical technologist can be drastically
reduced by.
A. wearing a surgical cap.
B. wearing hospital scrubs.
C. keeping the OR doors closed.
D. a thorough surgical hand scrub.
List in order the sequence of induction for general C. 1, 3, 2, 4, and 5
anesthesia:
1. leads placed on the patient
2. induction agent is given through an IV
3. patient is prompted to breathe 100% oxygen
4. patient is intubated
5. anesthetic gas agent is selected and applied
A. 1, 3, 5, 4, and 2
B. 5, 2, 3, 1, and 4
C. 1, 3, 2, 4, and 5
D. 4, 2, 3, 1, and 5
Place the following phases of wound healing by first C. III, I, II
intention in correct order from first to last:
I. proliferation
II. remodeling
III. inflammatory
A. I, II, III
B. II, I, III
C. III, I, II
D. III, II, I
, NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist CST Exam B Study Guide 2026/2027 | Practice Test Prep
A surgical technologist has selected the sutures for a C. Ask the surgeon if he would like to have his preference card updated and
procedure based on the surgeon's preference card. The proceed accordingly.
surgeon states he would like additional sutures and his
preference card is outdated. Which of the following is
the surgical technologist's BEST course of action?
A. Open all of the sutures that were collected and
place them on the back table just in case the surgeon
needs them.
B. Return the sutures that are not needed to sterile
supply and proceed with the case.
C. Ask the surgeon if he would like to have his
preference card updated and proceed accordingly.
D. Update the surgeon's preference card to reflect the
sutures that have been requested for this case.
While being transferred from the stretcher to the D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's concerns.
operating room bed, the patient expresses fear of not
awakening from anesthesia. The surgical technologist
should.
A. proceed with the transfer and disregard patient
comments.
B. explain the action of the anesthetic agent.
C. reassure the patient that the anesthetic is safe.
D. have the anesthesia care provider address the
patient's concerns.
When preparing endoscopic cameras for ethylene B. biological indicator
oxide sterilization, which of the following monitoring
processes would be utilized to ensure all parameters of
sterilization were met?
A. external tape
B. biological indicator
C. dynamic air removal
D. internal strip
Which of the following rongeurs is used to expand the C. Kerrison
antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
A. Cushing
B. Bethune
C. Kerrison
D. Stille-Luer
The surgical technologist in the scrub role should B. carotid endarterectomy
remain sterile following which of the following surgical
procedures?
A. laparoscopic cholecystectomy
B. carotid endarterectomy
C. total hip arthroplasty
D. tympanoplasty
, NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist CST Exam B Study Guide 2026/2027 | Practice Test Prep
After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the B. Regown and reglove the surgeon.
DuraPrep applicator and proceeds to prep the patient
for surgery. Which of the following is the BEST action to
take at this time?
A. Assist the surgeon in draping the patient.
B. Regown and reglove the surgeon.
C. Remove drapes and start over.
D. Inform the supervisor.
Local anesthetics containing epinephrine should D. digits and penis
NEVER be used in which of the following areas?
A. arms and legs
B. epidural spaces
C. wrists and ankles
D. digits and penis
To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical B. surgical gloves
procedure, which of the following should be removed
LAST by the surgical technologist in the scrub role?
A. patient's drapes
B. surgical gloves
C. surgical gown
D. Mayo stand drape
During a procedure, a surgical technologist notices a B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
hole in his glove. Which of the following should be
done next?
A. Continue the case.
B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving
technique.
D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown and glove.
Which of the following is an unexpected occurrence B. sentinel event
that involves physiologic or psychologic injury or
death?
A. unintentional tort
B. sentinel event
C. negligence
D. malpractice
