Question 1
The circulating nurse notices that the patient is actively bleeding from one of the operative
sites and the surgeon has left the room. Which of the following actions should the surgical
technologist take?
A. Break scrub and inform the surgeon.
B. Remain in gown and gloves and apply pressure.
C. Break scrub and monitor the sterile field.
D. Open a new sterile field for the patient.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Remain in gown and gloves and apply pressure.
Rationale: The surgical technologist should remain sterile until the patient is out of the
operating room and in PACU. If the surgical technologist has not broken scrub she can apply
pressure until the surgeon is called back into the room. Since the field remains sterile it is
not necessary to open a new sterile field.
Question 2
The surgical technologist is helping the surgeon complete a laparoscopic cholecystectomy
and the surgeon has placed the dressing on the patient. Which of the following should the
surgical technologist do next?
A. Remove the top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard.
B. Remove Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, tear the drape
off the patient and discard.
C. Remove top glove, hold dressing in place, tear the drape off patient and discard.
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,D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away
the drape and discard.
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away
the drape and discard.
Rationale: The Mayo stand and back table need to remain sterile until the patient is out of
the room. The top gloves need replaced to prohibit any debris from getting the dressing
dirty. By holding the dressing on with the clean gloves the drape can be removed so any
biohazardous materials are contained within the drapes and discarded.
Question 3
A tornado warning is in effect and power has been switched to the generator due to
downed electrical lines. The hospital's disaster triage protocol has been activated. A
surgical procedure is in progress. Which of the following is the best course of action to
ensure patient safety?
A. Immediately evacuate the patient to the preoperative holding area.
B. Finish the procedure and evacuate the patient.
C. Place wet towels under door and finish the procedure.
D. Cover the back table until the storm passes.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Finish the procedure and evacuate the patient.
Rationale: Follow hospital's disaster plan for tornado preparedness and response. Under
Joint Commissions standard codes, this would be categorized as a Code Brown, which is a
weather related emergency. The best option in this instance is to complete the case, and
then transfer the patient to a safe location for post-operative care.
Question 4
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,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?
A. Isolate the sterilized suction, then flush the bioburden with sterile water.
B. Remove the sterilized suction from the sterile field.
C. Isolate the sterilized suction on the sterile field with a sterile towel.
D. Remove the sterilized instrument tray from the sterile field.
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Remove the sterilized instrument tray from the sterile field.
Rationale: The surgical technologist should check and inspect instruments. If bioburden is
found, the whole tray should be discarded and handed off. (When in doubt throw it out.)
The tray should not be left on the sterile field at all, or cleaned on the sterile field, because it
would make the field contaminated.
Question 5
While preparing the room for a surgical procedure using the laser, which of the following
policies ensure the laser is being used correctly? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. Have laparotomy sponges available.
B. Post warning signs outside the room
C. Place the foot control next to the circulator.
D. Do not use alcohol based preps.
E. Wear safety goggles.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Post warning signs outside the room.
D. Do not use alcohol based preps.
E. Wear safety goggles.
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, Rationale: Posting warning signs will prevent surgery doors from opening and causing
unnecessary harm to co-workers outside the room. Not using alcohol based preps will
decrease the risk of surgical fires. Safety goggles approved for that specific laser will prevent
injury to the eye. Laparotomy sponges should be wet if available. The doctor should be in
control of the foot control pedal to the laser.
Question 6
During a vaginal hysterectomy the surgical team noticed that the safety belt was left off
the patient before the drape was applied and discovered after draping. How can the
patient be secured to the OR bed without interrupting the sterile field or procedure?
A. The surgical technologist can watch for movement of the patient and inform the
circulator.
B. The anesthesiologist can secure the head to prevent shifting.
C. The circulator can reach under the sterile drape and apply the safety strap.
D. The surgeon can request sterile coban to secure the patient.
CORRECT ANSWER
C. The circulator can reach under the sterile drape and apply the safety strap.
Rationale: The underside of the drape is not sterile, therefore, can be touched by the
unsterile circulating nurse, while she secures the patient with the safety strap.
Question 7
The surgical team is at the surgical field and has just completed the time-out. The surgeon
turns to the surgical technologist and asks for local. Which of the following actions should
the surgical technologist take next before passing the local?
A. Read aloud the medication label on the syringe.
B. Pass the correctly labeled medication syringe.
C. Confirm with the circulator the medication label on the syringe.
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@THE STUDY VAULT
The circulating nurse notices that the patient is actively bleeding from one of the operative
sites and the surgeon has left the room. Which of the following actions should the surgical
technologist take?
A. Break scrub and inform the surgeon.
B. Remain in gown and gloves and apply pressure.
C. Break scrub and monitor the sterile field.
D. Open a new sterile field for the patient.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Remain in gown and gloves and apply pressure.
Rationale: The surgical technologist should remain sterile until the patient is out of the
operating room and in PACU. If the surgical technologist has not broken scrub she can apply
pressure until the surgeon is called back into the room. Since the field remains sterile it is
not necessary to open a new sterile field.
Question 2
The surgical technologist is helping the surgeon complete a laparoscopic cholecystectomy
and the surgeon has placed the dressing on the patient. Which of the following should the
surgical technologist do next?
A. Remove the top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard.
B. Remove Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, tear the drape
off the patient and discard.
C. Remove top glove, hold dressing in place, tear the drape off patient and discard.
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@THE STUDY VAULT
,D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away
the drape and discard.
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away
the drape and discard.
Rationale: The Mayo stand and back table need to remain sterile until the patient is out of
the room. The top gloves need replaced to prohibit any debris from getting the dressing
dirty. By holding the dressing on with the clean gloves the drape can be removed so any
biohazardous materials are contained within the drapes and discarded.
Question 3
A tornado warning is in effect and power has been switched to the generator due to
downed electrical lines. The hospital's disaster triage protocol has been activated. A
surgical procedure is in progress. Which of the following is the best course of action to
ensure patient safety?
A. Immediately evacuate the patient to the preoperative holding area.
B. Finish the procedure and evacuate the patient.
C. Place wet towels under door and finish the procedure.
D. Cover the back table until the storm passes.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Finish the procedure and evacuate the patient.
Rationale: Follow hospital's disaster plan for tornado preparedness and response. Under
Joint Commissions standard codes, this would be categorized as a Code Brown, which is a
weather related emergency. The best option in this instance is to complete the case, and
then transfer the patient to a safe location for post-operative care.
Question 4
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,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?
A. Isolate the sterilized suction, then flush the bioburden with sterile water.
B. Remove the sterilized suction from the sterile field.
C. Isolate the sterilized suction on the sterile field with a sterile towel.
D. Remove the sterilized instrument tray from the sterile field.
CORRECT ANSWER
D. Remove the sterilized instrument tray from the sterile field.
Rationale: The surgical technologist should check and inspect instruments. If bioburden is
found, the whole tray should be discarded and handed off. (When in doubt throw it out.)
The tray should not be left on the sterile field at all, or cleaned on the sterile field, because it
would make the field contaminated.
Question 5
While preparing the room for a surgical procedure using the laser, which of the following
policies ensure the laser is being used correctly? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. Have laparotomy sponges available.
B. Post warning signs outside the room
C. Place the foot control next to the circulator.
D. Do not use alcohol based preps.
E. Wear safety goggles.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Post warning signs outside the room.
D. Do not use alcohol based preps.
E. Wear safety goggles.
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@THE STUDY VAULT
, Rationale: Posting warning signs will prevent surgery doors from opening and causing
unnecessary harm to co-workers outside the room. Not using alcohol based preps will
decrease the risk of surgical fires. Safety goggles approved for that specific laser will prevent
injury to the eye. Laparotomy sponges should be wet if available. The doctor should be in
control of the foot control pedal to the laser.
Question 6
During a vaginal hysterectomy the surgical team noticed that the safety belt was left off
the patient before the drape was applied and discovered after draping. How can the
patient be secured to the OR bed without interrupting the sterile field or procedure?
A. The surgical technologist can watch for movement of the patient and inform the
circulator.
B. The anesthesiologist can secure the head to prevent shifting.
C. The circulator can reach under the sterile drape and apply the safety strap.
D. The surgeon can request sterile coban to secure the patient.
CORRECT ANSWER
C. The circulator can reach under the sterile drape and apply the safety strap.
Rationale: The underside of the drape is not sterile, therefore, can be touched by the
unsterile circulating nurse, while she secures the patient with the safety strap.
Question 7
The surgical team is at the surgical field and has just completed the time-out. The surgeon
turns to the surgical technologist and asks for local. Which of the following actions should
the surgical technologist take next before passing the local?
A. Read aloud the medication label on the syringe.
B. Pass the correctly labeled medication syringe.
C. Confirm with the circulator the medication label on the syringe.
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@THE STUDY VAULT
