CST Practice Exam 1, 2 & 3 Bundle 2026 | 525 Questions with Answers | NBSTSA Test Bank

CST –Certified Surgical Technologist
practice exam 1, 2 & 3 latest
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1. Which cranial nerve is affected by trigeminal neuralgia?
a. I
b. V
c. VI
d. VII - CORRECT ANSWERS-b. V

2. What is used to lubricate the donor site and reduce friction from the dermatome?
a. Bacitracin ointment
b. Lodophor solution
c. Petrolatum gel
d. Mineral oil - CORRECT ANSWERS-d. Mineral oil

3. Which of the following is an example of proper sterile technique when performing the
prep for a split-thickness skin graft?
a. Donor site first
b. Recipient site first
c. Donor site only
d. Recipient site only - CORRECT ANSWERS-a. Donor site first

4. What is the recommended range of intra-abdominal pressure in an adult patient when
using an insufflator during a laparoscopic procedure?
a. 8-11 mm Hg
b. 12-15 mm Hg
c. 16-19 mm Hg
d. 20-23 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWERS-b. 12-15 mm Hg

5. Which of these terms refers to the inability to direct both eyes at the same object?

,a. Strabismus
b. Chalazion
c. Glaucoma
d. Cataract - CORRECT ANSWERS-a. Strabismus

6. What procedure is perform to correct chronic cerebral ischemia?
a. Rhizotomy
b. Cranioplasty
c. Arteriography
d. Endarterectomy - CORRECT ANSWERS-d. Endarterectomy

7. According to the Rule of Nines, what percentage is assigned to the front and back of
the trunk?
a. 27%
b. 18%
c. 4 1/2%
d. 1% - CORRECT ANSWERS-b. 18%

8. Which term refers to an abnormal increase in the number of cells?
a. Atrophy
b. Dysplasia
c. Hyperplasia
d. Hypertrophy - CORRECT ANSWERS-c. Hyperplasia

9. A second intention wound heals by:
a. Granulation
b. Evisceration
c. Primary union
d. Delayed suturing - CORRECT ANSWERS-a. Granulation

10. Intraoperative ventricular arrhythmias are treated with:
a. Lidocaine
b. Digitoxin
c. Prostigmin
d. Furosemide - CORRECT ANSWERS-a. Lidocaine

11. How many milliters equal 2 ounces?
a. 40
b. 50
c. 60
d. 70 - CORRECT ANSWERS-c. 60

12. Covering a sterile back table for later us is:
a. Permissible for up to one hour before the procedure
b. Permissible in instances of an emergency
c. Not permissible for up to 2 hours before the procedure

,d. Not permissible under any circumstances - CORRECT ANSWERS-d. Not
permissible under any circumstances

13. In which position would a patient be placed to counteract hypovolemia?
a. Left lateral
b. Right lateral
c. Trendelenburg
d. Reverse Trendelenburg - CORRECT ANSWERS-c. Trendelenburg

14. Which of the following types of suture create the least tissue trauma and drag?
a. Swaged multifilament
b. Swaged monofilament
c. Threaded multifilament
d. Threaded monofilament - CORRECT ANSWERS-b. Swaged monofilament

15. Which organization has legal oversight for the safety of healthcare providers in the
work place?
a. EPA
b. CDC
c. OSHA
d. NIOSH - CORRECT ANSWERS-c. OSHA

16. Which level of maslow's hierarchy of needs is most applicable to the surgical
patient?
a. Esteem and prestige
b. Love and belonging
c. Safety and security
d. Physiological and survival - CORRECT ANSWERS-d. Physiological and survival

17. Which of the following would be incorrect technique when removing the sterile gown
and gloves?
a. Circulator unties gown
b. Gown removed inside-out
c. Gloves removed inside out
d. Gloves removed first - CORRECT ANSWERS-d. Gloves removed first

18. What type of procedure might require a laparoscopy combination drape?
a. Pilonidal cystectomy
b. Subacromial decompression
c. Abdomnioperineal resection
d. Femorofemoral bypass - CORRECT ANSWERS-c. Abdomnioperineal resection

19. Cell destruction by steam sterilization occurs by:
a. Cellular membrane damage
b. Interrupt cellular division
c. Altering cellular DNA

, d. Coagulation of protein - CORRECT ANSWERS-d. Coagulation of protein

20. Which technique is not acceptable when draping?
a. Hold the drapes 12 inches above the patient until over the draping site
b. Protect gloved hand by cuffing end of drape over it
c. Unfold drape before bringing upto the OR table
d. Place drapes on dry area when setting up back table - CORRECT ANSWERS-c.
Unfold drape before bringing upto the OR table

21. A patient's fingernail polish is removed to:
a. Prevent surgical wound infection
b. Allow temperature to be recorded
c. Prevent ESU exit pathway
d. Allow for use of pulse oximeter - CORRECT ANSWERS-d. Allow for use of pulse
oximeter

22. What is the purpose of maintaining air exchange rate at 15-20 time per hour in the
OR?
a. Reduce microbial count
b. Increase humidity
c. Provide comfortable environment
d. Decrease static electricity - CORRECT ANSWERS-a. Reduce microbial count

23. How many mL of water is necessary to inflate a 5mL balloon on the foley indwelling
catheter?
a. 5 mL
b. 10 mL
c. 15 mL
d. 20 mL - CORRECT ANSWERS-b. 10 mL

24. If an opthalmologist orders trimming of eyelashes, how is it safely performed?
a. Electric trimmer used on dry lashes
b. Electric trimmer used on wet lashes
c. Fine scissors without water-soluble gel
d. Fine scissors coated with water-soluble gel - CORRECT ANSWERS-d. Fine scissors
coated with water-soluble gel

25. What is the correct technique for performing the surgical skin prep?
a. Incision site to periphery using circular motion
b. Periphery to incision site using circular motion
c. Incision site to periphery using back-and-forth motion
d. Periphery to incision site using back-and-forth motion - CORRECT ANSWERS-a.
Incision site to periphery using circular motion

26. The laboratory test that determines the ratio of erythrocytes to whole blood is:
a. Reticulocyte count