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NCCT SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST PRACTICE EXAM: PRE-
SURGICAL CARE AND PREPARATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
1. A surgical technologist is assigned to prepare the operating room for an elective abdominal
procedure. Before opening any sterile supplies or beginning the surgical setup, the technologist
reviews the procedure, verifies that the required specialty equipment is available, checks the
operating room for cleanliness, and confirms that all equipment is functioning properly. Which
action should receive the highest priority during this initial preparation?
A. Arrange the instruments according to personal preference
B. Verify the procedure, patient, equipment, and required supplies
C. Open all sterile packages immediately
D. Place medications on the sterile field before anesthesia arrives
Answer: B
2. During preoperative preparation for a scheduled surgical procedure, the surgical technologist
reviews the patient's chart and notices that the documented procedure differs from the procedure
listed on the operating room schedule. The patient is already in the preoperative area and the
surgical team is preparing to begin. What is the most appropriate action for the technologist?
A. Continue preparing because the surgeon can correct the discrepancy later
B. Change the schedule independently to match the chart
C. Immediately bring the discrepancy to the attention of the appropriate surgical team members
D. Ask the patient which procedure should be performed
Answer: C
3. A patient scheduled for surgery arrives in the operating room, and the surgical technologist
participates in the preoperative verification process. The team needs to ensure that the correct
patient is undergoing the correct procedure at the correct anatomical site. Which process is
specifically intended to reduce errors involving wrong-patient, wrong-procedure, and wrong-site
surgery?
A. Surgical hand antisepsis
B. Surgical safety verification and time-out
C. Instrument sterilization
D. Postoperative debriefing only
,2
Answer: B
4. While preparing the operating room for a procedure involving implantation of a prosthetic
device, the surgical technologist reviews the surgeon's preference card and gathers instruments,
implants, supplies, and specialty equipment. Which consideration is particularly important when
preparing for an implant procedure?
A. Ensuring that implant information and required components are available and appropriately
verified
B. Removing all backup supplies from the room
C. Opening every available implant regardless of the procedure
D. Allowing the implant to remain outside its designated packaging until needed
Answer: A
5. A surgical technologist is preparing a patient for an operative procedure in which
electrosurgical equipment will be used. Before the patient enters the operating room, the
technologist verifies that the electrosurgical unit, active electrode, dispersive electrode
equipment, and appropriate accessories are available. Which factor is most important when
selecting the placement of a dispersive electrode?
A. It should be placed over a bony prominence
B. It should be positioned over clean, dry, well-perfused tissue appropriate for the device
C. It should be placed directly over an implanted metal device
D. It should always be placed on the surgical incision
Answer: B
6. A patient scheduled for surgery has arrived in the preoperative area. During preparation, the
healthcare team discovers that the patient reports having eaten a substantial meal shortly before
arrival despite instructions to remain fasting. The surgical technologist is asked to assist with the
preparation process. What should the technologist do?
A. Ignore the information because fasting is only an anesthesia concern
B. Immediately notify the appropriate perioperative team member
C. Give the patient additional water
D. Tell the patient that the surgery must automatically be canceled
Answer: B
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7. Before a patient is transferred to the operating room, the surgical technologist participates in
verifying information contained in the patient's identification band and operative documentation.
Which information should be carefully correlated before proceeding?
A. Patient identity, procedure, and operative site
B. Patient's occupation and marital status
C. Patient's preferred meal and room temperature
D. Patient's employment history and insurance provider only
Answer: A
8. A surgical technologist receives a surgeon's preference card for a procedure that requires
several specialty instruments. The technologist notices that the card has not been updated in
several months and that the surgeon recently changed the technique. What is the best approach?
A. Prepare only the instruments listed because preference cards cannot be questioned
B. Verify the current procedural requirements with the appropriate team members and available
resources
C. Eliminate specialty instruments to save setup time
D. Open every instrument in the department
Answer: B
9. A patient is scheduled for surgery involving the lower extremity. During the preoperative
process, the surgical team must ensure that the correct operative extremity has been identified
according to facility policy. Which principle is most important?
A. The surgical technologist independently determines the operative site
B. Site verification should be performed using appropriate patient and procedural information
before surgery
C. The circulating nurse should identify the site only after incision
D. The surgeon does not need to participate in site verification
Answer: B
10. Before beginning an operative procedure, the surgical technologist assists with preparing the
operating room and ensuring that necessary equipment is safe to use. An electrical device
produces an unusual sound when switched on during testing. What should the technologist do?
NCCT SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST PRACTICE EXAM: PRE-
SURGICAL CARE AND PREPARATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
1. A surgical technologist is assigned to prepare the operating room for an elective abdominal
procedure. Before opening any sterile supplies or beginning the surgical setup, the technologist
reviews the procedure, verifies that the required specialty equipment is available, checks the
operating room for cleanliness, and confirms that all equipment is functioning properly. Which
action should receive the highest priority during this initial preparation?
A. Arrange the instruments according to personal preference
B. Verify the procedure, patient, equipment, and required supplies
C. Open all sterile packages immediately
D. Place medications on the sterile field before anesthesia arrives
Answer: B
2. During preoperative preparation for a scheduled surgical procedure, the surgical technologist
reviews the patient's chart and notices that the documented procedure differs from the procedure
listed on the operating room schedule. The patient is already in the preoperative area and the
surgical team is preparing to begin. What is the most appropriate action for the technologist?
A. Continue preparing because the surgeon can correct the discrepancy later
B. Change the schedule independently to match the chart
C. Immediately bring the discrepancy to the attention of the appropriate surgical team members
D. Ask the patient which procedure should be performed
Answer: C
3. A patient scheduled for surgery arrives in the operating room, and the surgical technologist
participates in the preoperative verification process. The team needs to ensure that the correct
patient is undergoing the correct procedure at the correct anatomical site. Which process is
specifically intended to reduce errors involving wrong-patient, wrong-procedure, and wrong-site
surgery?
A. Surgical hand antisepsis
B. Surgical safety verification and time-out
C. Instrument sterilization
D. Postoperative debriefing only
,2
Answer: B
4. While preparing the operating room for a procedure involving implantation of a prosthetic
device, the surgical technologist reviews the surgeon's preference card and gathers instruments,
implants, supplies, and specialty equipment. Which consideration is particularly important when
preparing for an implant procedure?
A. Ensuring that implant information and required components are available and appropriately
verified
B. Removing all backup supplies from the room
C. Opening every available implant regardless of the procedure
D. Allowing the implant to remain outside its designated packaging until needed
Answer: A
5. A surgical technologist is preparing a patient for an operative procedure in which
electrosurgical equipment will be used. Before the patient enters the operating room, the
technologist verifies that the electrosurgical unit, active electrode, dispersive electrode
equipment, and appropriate accessories are available. Which factor is most important when
selecting the placement of a dispersive electrode?
A. It should be placed over a bony prominence
B. It should be positioned over clean, dry, well-perfused tissue appropriate for the device
C. It should be placed directly over an implanted metal device
D. It should always be placed on the surgical incision
Answer: B
6. A patient scheduled for surgery has arrived in the preoperative area. During preparation, the
healthcare team discovers that the patient reports having eaten a substantial meal shortly before
arrival despite instructions to remain fasting. The surgical technologist is asked to assist with the
preparation process. What should the technologist do?
A. Ignore the information because fasting is only an anesthesia concern
B. Immediately notify the appropriate perioperative team member
C. Give the patient additional water
D. Tell the patient that the surgery must automatically be canceled
Answer: B
, 3
7. Before a patient is transferred to the operating room, the surgical technologist participates in
verifying information contained in the patient's identification band and operative documentation.
Which information should be carefully correlated before proceeding?
A. Patient identity, procedure, and operative site
B. Patient's occupation and marital status
C. Patient's preferred meal and room temperature
D. Patient's employment history and insurance provider only
Answer: A
8. A surgical technologist receives a surgeon's preference card for a procedure that requires
several specialty instruments. The technologist notices that the card has not been updated in
several months and that the surgeon recently changed the technique. What is the best approach?
A. Prepare only the instruments listed because preference cards cannot be questioned
B. Verify the current procedural requirements with the appropriate team members and available
resources
C. Eliminate specialty instruments to save setup time
D. Open every instrument in the department
Answer: B
9. A patient is scheduled for surgery involving the lower extremity. During the preoperative
process, the surgical team must ensure that the correct operative extremity has been identified
according to facility policy. Which principle is most important?
A. The surgical technologist independently determines the operative site
B. Site verification should be performed using appropriate patient and procedural information
before surgery
C. The circulating nurse should identify the site only after incision
D. The surgeon does not need to participate in site verification
Answer: B
10. Before beginning an operative procedure, the surgical technologist assists with preparing the
operating room and ensuring that necessary equipment is safe to use. An electrical device
produces an unusual sound when switched on during testing. What should the technologist do?
