NBSTSA CST Exam A & B Study Guide
2. A carotid endarterectomy has just been finished and C. Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the patient
the dressing is on. The surgical technologist begins is transported to PACU
removing all sharps and non-disposable's from the
drapes before pushing everything back. According to the back table must remain sterile until the vascular patient leaves the room
best practice, which of the following should be the next
step?
A. Push the back table, Mayo, and basin back and tear it
down
B. Pull the drapes off and put them on the back table in
case they are needed again
C. Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep
sterile until the patient is transported to PACU
D. Leave the back table, mail, and basin close to patient
in case they are needed again.
3. Which of the following should be prepared for a C. Several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze
mastoid dressing?
Complex ear procedures require the use of a mastoid dressing, the surgical
A. Several squared gauze sponges tech will prepare several fluffed sponges with Kerlix &/or Kling (rolled gauze)
B. Rolled gauze and an abdominal pad
C. Several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze
D. Gauze sponges and a Velcro strap
4. Which of the following is a first step in applying the D. Padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril
pneumatic tourniquet?
Webril is wrapped first in order to provide protection to the area in which the
A. Wrapping the limb sequentially with an Esmarch tourniquet is placed and inflated
bandage from distal to proximal
B. Applying the pneumatic tourniquet to the limb and
immediately inflating it
C. Prepping the the limb with Chloraprep, including the
determined location of the tourniquet
D. Padding the limb where the tourniquet is wrapped
with Webril
5. When performing a dilation and curettage, which of C. Schroeder
the following instrument is used to grasp the cervix?
Schroeder is a tenaculum w/ a single tooth used to grasp the cervix
A. Sims
B. Auvard
C. Schroeder
D. Bozeman
, NBSTSA CST Exam A & B Study Guide
6. How many lobes do the right and left lung have, A. three, two
respectively?
The right lung has an upper, lower, and middle lobe. the left lung has only an
A. Three, two upper and lower lobe b/c of the position of the heart
B. Two, three
C. Three, Three
D. two, two
7. When a break in aseptic technique occurs, the B. contamination team member
surgical technologist should first notify the
Any break in technique must be corrected and each person is responsible for
A. Circulating nurse taking appropriate action to correct the error
B. Contaminating team member
C. OR supervisor
D. anesthesia provider
8. Which of the following pathological conditions may A. hydrocephalus
be caused by an excessive production of cerebrospinal
fluid in the brain? hydrocephalus is excessive production of a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in
the brain or ventricles
A. Hydrocephalus
B. encephalocele
C. Cranial bifida
D. craniosynostosis
9. If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an A. Lap sponges
abdominal procedure, the surgical technologist should
request additional Lap sponges are used to provide pressure on bleeding vessels or to absorb
excess blood
A. lap sponges
B. raytech sponges
C. kitners
D. cottonoids
10. Growth in the length of a long bone occurs at the C. Epiphysis plate
A. diaphysis Epiphyseal plate, or growth plate, is the center for ossification (natural process
B. medullary canal of bone formation) at each extremity of a longe bone
C. Epiphysis plate
D. Articular Cartilage
11. In which of the following situations can a DNR order A. patience durable POA (power of attorney) request it to be continued
be continued in an unconscious patient for a surgical
procedure? Many hospitals have a policy to resend the DNR during surgery. The patient
assigned power of attorney is legally permitted to make medical decisions
A. the patient durable POA requested to be continued when incapacitated
B. patient's family requested to be continued
C. Surgeon requested to be continued
D. the CRNA request it to be continued
, NBSTSA CST Exam A & B Study Guide
12. A surgeon asked for warm irrigation after a right D. aid visual inspection for leakage
hemicolectomy. Which of the following best describes
the reason for irrigation at this point in the procedure? A watertight seal of all anastomoses is essential to prevent peritonitis. Irrigation
aids and visually inspecting the seal
A. clean out the area of any loose tissue
B. to maintain the core body temperature
C. Do you eliminate any infection-causing microbes
D. new aid visual inspection for leakage
13. The rate per hour in air exchanges in the standard B. 15-25
OR suite is
A. 5-10
B. 15-25
C. 30-35
D. 40-50
14. If there is any question related to handling a specific C. Pathology
type of specimen, which of the following department
should be consulted? The pathology department receives all tissue samples and other specimens
from surgery
A. histology
B. laboratory
C. Pathology
D. Radioology
15. A patient's dentures are removed in the operating B. place them in a labeled cup and keep them with a patient's chart
room. Which of the following is a proper procedure for
the care of the dentures? Using this method the dentures will be returned to the correct patient because
they will be sent to the PACU
A. Return them to the patient's unit and leave them at
the nurses station
B. Place them in a labeled cup and keep them with a
patient's chart
C. Wrap them in a paper towel and give them to the
anesthesiologist
D. Ask the circulator to return them to the patient's
room
16. A patient is scheduled for laser removal of A. smoke evacuator
condyloma acuminata. As a safety precaution, the
surgical technologist should have which of the Smoke plume contains intact or fragmented bacteria and viruses; disease
following special equipment open and available? transmission through smoke plume is a known risk. Smoke evacuator's removes
smoke at the rate of 100 to 150 ft./min. at the side of generation
A. smoke evacuator
B. suction tip
C. Pulse Lavage
D. endo-catch bag
, NBSTSA CST Exam A & B Study Guide
17. Apart from trauma cases, which of the following B. verticale paramedian
incisions would be best for sigmoid surgery?
Verticle paramedian incisions, similar to median incisions, are used to provide
A. vertical midline access to any organ in the abdominal cavity; however, in cases of trauma, a
B. vertical paramedian median incision would be used. Lower left paramedian incisions are excellent
C. oblique subcostal for use in sigmoid surgery
D. lower transverse
18. Kidneys help regulate the blood levels of several D. sodium, potassium, and calcium
ions, including
Regulated by renal excretion
A. bicarbonate, water, and protein
B. protein, sodium, and bicarbonate
C. Potassium, protein, and sodium
D. sodium, potassium, and calcium
19. Which of the following is the most effective A. Pledget
mechanical method of controlling bleeding occurring
from needle holes and vessel anastomoses? A pledget is a small square of Teflon sutured over a hole in a vessel; it exerts
external pressure over any small needle holes to prevent bleeding and to
A. pledget promote clotting
B. Suction
C. Ligature
D. Clamp
20. Which of the following tags indicates the least D. Green
critical of patients in a triage situation?
Green indicates minor injuries
A. yellow
B. Black
C. Red
D. Green
21. During a craniotomy, removal of the bone flap is A. incision of the Dura matter
followed by
Dura mater is the first protective membranous layer over the brain and lies
A. incision of the Dura matter immeditely beneath the bone (cranium)
B. opening the Galea aponeurotica
C. Application of the Raney clips
D. repairing the Dura matter
2. A carotid endarterectomy has just been finished and C. Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the patient
the dressing is on. The surgical technologist begins is transported to PACU
removing all sharps and non-disposable's from the
drapes before pushing everything back. According to the back table must remain sterile until the vascular patient leaves the room
best practice, which of the following should be the next
step?
A. Push the back table, Mayo, and basin back and tear it
down
B. Pull the drapes off and put them on the back table in
case they are needed again
C. Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep
sterile until the patient is transported to PACU
D. Leave the back table, mail, and basin close to patient
in case they are needed again.
3. Which of the following should be prepared for a C. Several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze
mastoid dressing?
Complex ear procedures require the use of a mastoid dressing, the surgical
A. Several squared gauze sponges tech will prepare several fluffed sponges with Kerlix &/or Kling (rolled gauze)
B. Rolled gauze and an abdominal pad
C. Several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze
D. Gauze sponges and a Velcro strap
4. Which of the following is a first step in applying the D. Padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril
pneumatic tourniquet?
Webril is wrapped first in order to provide protection to the area in which the
A. Wrapping the limb sequentially with an Esmarch tourniquet is placed and inflated
bandage from distal to proximal
B. Applying the pneumatic tourniquet to the limb and
immediately inflating it
C. Prepping the the limb with Chloraprep, including the
determined location of the tourniquet
D. Padding the limb where the tourniquet is wrapped
with Webril
5. When performing a dilation and curettage, which of C. Schroeder
the following instrument is used to grasp the cervix?
Schroeder is a tenaculum w/ a single tooth used to grasp the cervix
A. Sims
B. Auvard
C. Schroeder
D. Bozeman
, NBSTSA CST Exam A & B Study Guide
6. How many lobes do the right and left lung have, A. three, two
respectively?
The right lung has an upper, lower, and middle lobe. the left lung has only an
A. Three, two upper and lower lobe b/c of the position of the heart
B. Two, three
C. Three, Three
D. two, two
7. When a break in aseptic technique occurs, the B. contamination team member
surgical technologist should first notify the
Any break in technique must be corrected and each person is responsible for
A. Circulating nurse taking appropriate action to correct the error
B. Contaminating team member
C. OR supervisor
D. anesthesia provider
8. Which of the following pathological conditions may A. hydrocephalus
be caused by an excessive production of cerebrospinal
fluid in the brain? hydrocephalus is excessive production of a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in
the brain or ventricles
A. Hydrocephalus
B. encephalocele
C. Cranial bifida
D. craniosynostosis
9. If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an A. Lap sponges
abdominal procedure, the surgical technologist should
request additional Lap sponges are used to provide pressure on bleeding vessels or to absorb
excess blood
A. lap sponges
B. raytech sponges
C. kitners
D. cottonoids
10. Growth in the length of a long bone occurs at the C. Epiphysis plate
A. diaphysis Epiphyseal plate, or growth plate, is the center for ossification (natural process
B. medullary canal of bone formation) at each extremity of a longe bone
C. Epiphysis plate
D. Articular Cartilage
11. In which of the following situations can a DNR order A. patience durable POA (power of attorney) request it to be continued
be continued in an unconscious patient for a surgical
procedure? Many hospitals have a policy to resend the DNR during surgery. The patient
assigned power of attorney is legally permitted to make medical decisions
A. the patient durable POA requested to be continued when incapacitated
B. patient's family requested to be continued
C. Surgeon requested to be continued
D. the CRNA request it to be continued
, NBSTSA CST Exam A & B Study Guide
12. A surgeon asked for warm irrigation after a right D. aid visual inspection for leakage
hemicolectomy. Which of the following best describes
the reason for irrigation at this point in the procedure? A watertight seal of all anastomoses is essential to prevent peritonitis. Irrigation
aids and visually inspecting the seal
A. clean out the area of any loose tissue
B. to maintain the core body temperature
C. Do you eliminate any infection-causing microbes
D. new aid visual inspection for leakage
13. The rate per hour in air exchanges in the standard B. 15-25
OR suite is
A. 5-10
B. 15-25
C. 30-35
D. 40-50
14. If there is any question related to handling a specific C. Pathology
type of specimen, which of the following department
should be consulted? The pathology department receives all tissue samples and other specimens
from surgery
A. histology
B. laboratory
C. Pathology
D. Radioology
15. A patient's dentures are removed in the operating B. place them in a labeled cup and keep them with a patient's chart
room. Which of the following is a proper procedure for
the care of the dentures? Using this method the dentures will be returned to the correct patient because
they will be sent to the PACU
A. Return them to the patient's unit and leave them at
the nurses station
B. Place them in a labeled cup and keep them with a
patient's chart
C. Wrap them in a paper towel and give them to the
anesthesiologist
D. Ask the circulator to return them to the patient's
room
16. A patient is scheduled for laser removal of A. smoke evacuator
condyloma acuminata. As a safety precaution, the
surgical technologist should have which of the Smoke plume contains intact or fragmented bacteria and viruses; disease
following special equipment open and available? transmission through smoke plume is a known risk. Smoke evacuator's removes
smoke at the rate of 100 to 150 ft./min. at the side of generation
A. smoke evacuator
B. suction tip
C. Pulse Lavage
D. endo-catch bag
, NBSTSA CST Exam A & B Study Guide
17. Apart from trauma cases, which of the following B. verticale paramedian
incisions would be best for sigmoid surgery?
Verticle paramedian incisions, similar to median incisions, are used to provide
A. vertical midline access to any organ in the abdominal cavity; however, in cases of trauma, a
B. vertical paramedian median incision would be used. Lower left paramedian incisions are excellent
C. oblique subcostal for use in sigmoid surgery
D. lower transverse
18. Kidneys help regulate the blood levels of several D. sodium, potassium, and calcium
ions, including
Regulated by renal excretion
A. bicarbonate, water, and protein
B. protein, sodium, and bicarbonate
C. Potassium, protein, and sodium
D. sodium, potassium, and calcium
19. Which of the following is the most effective A. Pledget
mechanical method of controlling bleeding occurring
from needle holes and vessel anastomoses? A pledget is a small square of Teflon sutured over a hole in a vessel; it exerts
external pressure over any small needle holes to prevent bleeding and to
A. pledget promote clotting
B. Suction
C. Ligature
D. Clamp
20. Which of the following tags indicates the least D. Green
critical of patients in a triage situation?
Green indicates minor injuries
A. yellow
B. Black
C. Red
D. Green
21. During a craniotomy, removal of the bone flap is A. incision of the Dura matter
followed by
Dura mater is the first protective membranous layer over the brain and lies
A. incision of the Dura matter immeditely beneath the bone (cranium)
B. opening the Galea aponeurotica
C. Application of the Raney clips
D. repairing the Dura matter
