NCCT CST Actual Exam questions and
verified answers 2026/2027 With
Complete Solutions Latest Update 2026
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.
D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the
dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard. - correct answers 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.
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 answers 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.
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 answers 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.
, 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
answers 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.
verified answers 2026/2027 With
Complete Solutions Latest Update 2026
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.
D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the
dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard. - correct answers 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.
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 answers 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.
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 answers 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.
, 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
answers 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.
