NBSTSA CST EXAM A COMPREHENSIVE TEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the
surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
A.cuticular and subcuticular
B.subicular and subcutaneous
C.subcuticular and subcutaneous
D.subcutaneous and fascia - ✔✔A.cuticular and subcuticular
✔✔During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically
discovered?
A. esophagectomy
B. appendectomy
C. prostatectomy
D. varicocelectomy - ✔✔B. appendectomy
✔✔Which of the following layers are transected when a subcostal flank incision is used
for a nephrectomy?
A. pre-peritoneal fat
B. linea alba
C. oblique muscles
D. rectus abdominis muscle - ✔✔C. oblique muscles
✔✔A perforator is used for which of the following procedures?
A. cordotomy
B. craniotomy
C. laminectomy
D. spinal fusion - ✔✔B. craniotomy
,✔✔In preparation for a cranial aneurysm, which of the following pieces of equipment
would MOST likely be used?
A. microscope
B. cryoprobe
C. Jordan Day drill
D. Crutchfield tongs - ✔✔A. microscope
✔✔During strabismus surgery, which of the following is the first tissue layer that must
be incised?
A. iris
B. cornea
C. sclera
D. conjunctiva - ✔✔D. conjunctiva
✔✔When can instrument counts be omitted?
A. if an emergency procedure must be performed
B. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy
C. if instruments are needed in another operating room
D. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - ✔✔A. if an emergency procedure
must be performed
✔✔In which of the following positions is a patient placed for a right nephrectomy?
A. left lateral
B. right lateral
C. left lateral kidney
D. right lateral kidney - ✔✔C. left lateral kidney
✔✔Which of the following examples illustrates UNSAFE technique for disposing of
contaminated sharps?
A. Used suture needles and scalpel blades are removed from the needle counter and
individually placed in the biohazard sharps container.
B. Used suture needles and scalpel blades remain in the needle counter and the closed
needle counter is placed in the biohazard sharps container.
C. The biohazard sharps container is located as close as possible to the area in which
the items were used.
D. Disposable surgical blades are removed from knife handles with a needle holder or
other instrument. - ✔✔A. Used suture needles and scalpel blades are removed from the
needle counter and individually placed in the biohazard sharps container.
✔✔Why is the right kidney typically several centimeters lower than the left kidney?
A. The liver rests superior and anterior to the right kidney.
, B. The liver rests superior and posterior to the right kidney.
C. The liver rests inferior and anterior to the right kidney.
D. The liver rests inferior and posterior to the right kidney. - ✔✔A. The liver rests
superior and anterior to the right kidney.
✔✔Which of the following should be the MINIMUM exposure time in a flash sterilizer for
unwrapped instruments?
A. 1 minute
B. 3 minutes
C. 5 minutes
D. 7 minutes - ✔✔B. 3 minutes
✔✔If a routine surgical procedure was performed without consent, the surgeon
committed
A. assault.
B. battery.
C. malpractice.
D. liability. - ✔✔B. battery.
✔✔If an adult patient refuses a blood transfusion, the surgical staff should
A. not administer blood to the patient.
B. administer blood only in an emergency.
C. administer blood only after sedation.
D. not perform any procedure that may require a transfusion. - ✔✔A. not administer
blood to the patient.
✔✔During the intraoperative phase, which of the following activities can be completed
by both sterile and non-sterile members of the surgical team?
A.caring for the specimen
B.maintaining the patient's operative record
C.clearing residual blood from the surgical field
D.maintaining the sterile field and neutral zone - ✔✔A.caring for the specimen
✔✔A lumbar meningocele involves removal of
A. cerebrospinal fluid.
B. lumbar disc.
C. meninges.
D. a fluid-filled sac. - ✔✔D. a fluid-filled sac.
✔✔Wrinkle-free padding is applied to an extremity before application of a tourniquet to
avoid
A. skin injuries.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the
surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
A.cuticular and subcuticular
B.subicular and subcutaneous
C.subcuticular and subcutaneous
D.subcutaneous and fascia - ✔✔A.cuticular and subcuticular
✔✔During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically
discovered?
A. esophagectomy
B. appendectomy
C. prostatectomy
D. varicocelectomy - ✔✔B. appendectomy
✔✔Which of the following layers are transected when a subcostal flank incision is used
for a nephrectomy?
A. pre-peritoneal fat
B. linea alba
C. oblique muscles
D. rectus abdominis muscle - ✔✔C. oblique muscles
✔✔A perforator is used for which of the following procedures?
A. cordotomy
B. craniotomy
C. laminectomy
D. spinal fusion - ✔✔B. craniotomy
,✔✔In preparation for a cranial aneurysm, which of the following pieces of equipment
would MOST likely be used?
A. microscope
B. cryoprobe
C. Jordan Day drill
D. Crutchfield tongs - ✔✔A. microscope
✔✔During strabismus surgery, which of the following is the first tissue layer that must
be incised?
A. iris
B. cornea
C. sclera
D. conjunctiva - ✔✔D. conjunctiva
✔✔When can instrument counts be omitted?
A. if an emergency procedure must be performed
B. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy
C. if instruments are needed in another operating room
D. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - ✔✔A. if an emergency procedure
must be performed
✔✔In which of the following positions is a patient placed for a right nephrectomy?
A. left lateral
B. right lateral
C. left lateral kidney
D. right lateral kidney - ✔✔C. left lateral kidney
✔✔Which of the following examples illustrates UNSAFE technique for disposing of
contaminated sharps?
A. Used suture needles and scalpel blades are removed from the needle counter and
individually placed in the biohazard sharps container.
B. Used suture needles and scalpel blades remain in the needle counter and the closed
needle counter is placed in the biohazard sharps container.
C. The biohazard sharps container is located as close as possible to the area in which
the items were used.
D. Disposable surgical blades are removed from knife handles with a needle holder or
other instrument. - ✔✔A. Used suture needles and scalpel blades are removed from the
needle counter and individually placed in the biohazard sharps container.
✔✔Why is the right kidney typically several centimeters lower than the left kidney?
A. The liver rests superior and anterior to the right kidney.
, B. The liver rests superior and posterior to the right kidney.
C. The liver rests inferior and anterior to the right kidney.
D. The liver rests inferior and posterior to the right kidney. - ✔✔A. The liver rests
superior and anterior to the right kidney.
✔✔Which of the following should be the MINIMUM exposure time in a flash sterilizer for
unwrapped instruments?
A. 1 minute
B. 3 minutes
C. 5 minutes
D. 7 minutes - ✔✔B. 3 minutes
✔✔If a routine surgical procedure was performed without consent, the surgeon
committed
A. assault.
B. battery.
C. malpractice.
D. liability. - ✔✔B. battery.
✔✔If an adult patient refuses a blood transfusion, the surgical staff should
A. not administer blood to the patient.
B. administer blood only in an emergency.
C. administer blood only after sedation.
D. not perform any procedure that may require a transfusion. - ✔✔A. not administer
blood to the patient.
✔✔During the intraoperative phase, which of the following activities can be completed
by both sterile and non-sterile members of the surgical team?
A.caring for the specimen
B.maintaining the patient's operative record
C.clearing residual blood from the surgical field
D.maintaining the sterile field and neutral zone - ✔✔A.caring for the specimen
✔✔A lumbar meningocele involves removal of
A. cerebrospinal fluid.
B. lumbar disc.
C. meninges.
D. a fluid-filled sac. - ✔✔D. a fluid-filled sac.
✔✔Wrinkle-free padding is applied to an extremity before application of a tourniquet to
avoid
A. skin injuries.
