Surgical Technology Certification Exam Practice Questions and Answers

Surgical Technology Certification Exam Practice Questions and Answers The surgeon asks that multiple suture and hernia mesh that were not on the preference card be opened during the repair of a large umbilical hernia. The surgical technologist should recognize that: a. items on the preference card are only to be changed by the surgeon or the unit clerk b. sterile supply associates who stock the hernia mesh are responsible for adding hernia mesh to the preference card c. preference card changes are unnecessary; both hernia mesh and suture are case dependent. d. suture may be case dependent, but the hernia mesh is integral to the procedure and should be added to the preference card - ANSWER-Answer: D Which of the following precautions should be taken by the surgical team when working with polymethyl methacrylate as a bone cement? a. wear latex free gloves, as polymethyl methacrylate interacts negatively with latex b. remove contact lenses as polymethyl methacrylate can melt contact lenses and cause corneal burns c. make sure the patient does not have a latex allergy because polymethyl methacrylate and latex have the same chemical properties d. Limit the # of sponges on the field as polymethyl methacrylate can negatively interact with the cotton fibers in the sponges. - ANSWER-Answer: B Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FIRST PUBLISH NOVEMBER, 2024 Copyright ©Stuvia International BV Page 2/68 Which of the following daily tests must be performed on the pre-vacuum sterilizer before using it? a. Gravity b. Biological indicator c. Bowie-Dick d. Chemical indicator - ANSWER-Answer: C What is the minimum exposure time in a flash sterilizer for unwrapped instruments? a. 1 minute b. 3 minutes c. 5 minutes d. 7 minutes - ANSWER-Answer: B [pre-vac] no lumen - 3 minutes ; lumen - 4 minutes Which of the following is the correct temperature for the flash sterilizer operation? a. 132*C (270*F) b. 126*C (260*F) c. 135*C (275*F) d. 129*C (265*F) - ANSWER-Answer: A Which of the following is the proper temperature and time that the chamber of a steam sterilizer must reach in order to ensure that all spores have been eliminated? a. 270*F for 4 minutes Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FIRST PUBLISH NOVEMBER, 2024 Copyright ©Stuvia International BV Page 3/68 b. 350*F for 4 minutes c. 240*F for 10 minutes d. 350*F for 10 mintues - ANSWER-Answer: A [pre-vac] temp: 270*F ; time: 3-4 minutes ; pressure: 27 psi The Sterrad sterilization system most commonly uses which of the following chemical solutions? a. hydrogen peroxide b. gluteraldehyde c. alcohol d. peracetic acid - ANSWER-Answer: A [Sterrad] make sure its plugged in - needs electricity Which of the following is used to achieve high level disinfection with a minimum exposure time of 20-45 minutes? a. chlorine bleach compounds b. gluteraldehyde c. hydrogen peroxide d. iodine and iodophors - ANSWER-Answer: B During decontamination of a flexible endoscope, which of the following tests should be given to inspect the proper function of the endoscope and to ensure that it can be properly sterilized? a. leak test Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FIRST PUBLISH NOVEMBER, 2024 Copyright ©Stuvia International BV Page 4/68 b. electrical component test c. bacteria swab test d. fiber optic light test - ANSWER-Answer: A Which of the following is the fastest method of sterilization? a. gas b. steam c. steris d. dry heat - ANSWER-Answer: B Which of the following is the correct temperature for pre-vacuum sterilization? a. 212*F b. 170*F c. 300*F d. 270*F - ANSWER-Answer: D Which of the following tests is specifically meant to test and monitor the efficiency of the high - vacuum steam sterilizer? a. biological indicator test b. DART test c. chemical indicator test d. EtO test - ANSWER-Answer: B Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FIRST PUBLISH NOVEMBER, 2024 Copyright ©Stuvia International BV Page 5/68 DART test = Bowie Dick test The surgical team must verify each package is properly labeled with a. date of processing and method of sterilization b. date of processing and indicator c. method of sterilization and expiration date d. indicator and expiration date - ANSWER-Answer: B How many times a day should a DART test be preformed? a. with every load b. every shift change c. once every 24 hours d. weekly - ANSWER-Answer: C How often must a biological control test be run? a. every day b. every cycle c. once a week d. once a month - ANSWER-Answer: A [pg. 163] The Bowie-Dick test for pre-vacuum sterilizers checks for which of the following conditions? Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FIRST PUBLISH NOVEMBER, 2024 Copyright ©Stuvia International BV Page 6/68 a. that the appropriate steam level was reached b. air leaks in the sterilizer chamber c. broken sterilizer jacket d. that the sterilizer is ready to process instruments - ANSWER-Answer: B lot control numbers should be placed on each package sterilized and on the... a. sterilizer maintenance record b. sterilization load record c. nursing documentation d. cover of the patient's chart - ANSWER-Answer: B How long is a 3M Attest 1292 steam biological indicator incubated before the reading is recorded? a. 12 hours b. 36 hours c. 24 hours d. 48 hours - ANSWER-Answer: C 12 hours - rapid ; 24 hours - not rapid During a vascular procedure a vessel is ligated. The surgeon states that she will repair the vessel after bleeding is controlled. Which needle type would she most likely require to complete this task? a. control release needle b. French eyed needle Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FIRST PUBLISH NOVEMBER, 2024 Copyright ©Stuvia International BV Page 7/68 c. tapered needle d. cutting needle - ANSWER-Answer: C When steam sterilizing biological indicators, how long are they incubated before the reading is recorded? a. 48 hours b. 24 hours c. 12 hours d. 72 hours - ANSWER-Answer: B An OB-GYN surgeon has posted a laparoscopic partial hysterectomy and has informed the surgical team that the ovaries are remaining. However, the fallopian tubes will require ligation involoving the tubes being clipped and cauterized. Which of the following instruments should the surgical technologist open a. a Flishie and hemoclip applier b. a Flishie and Kleppinger c. a Kleppinger and harmonic scalpel d. a harmonic scalpel and hemoclip applier - ANSWER-Answer: D Which of the following instruments can be decontaminated in the washer-sterilizer? a. colonoscope b. power drill c. laser coated instrument set d. phaco instrument set - ANSWER-Answer: C Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FIRST PUBLISH NOVEMBER, 2024 Copyright ©Stuvia International BV Page 8/68 The patient has undergone cardiac bypass surgery. Protamine has been administered and the surgeon is preparing to close the sternotomy. Bleeding is a postoperative concern. Which of the following systems should the surgical technologist anticipate the surgeon will use? a. Hemovac b. Jackson Pratt c. Pleur-Evac d. Penrose - ANSWER-Answer: C A patient presents to the operating room for irrigation and debridement of a wound caused by penetrating trauma. The surgeon states that the wound will heal by secondary intention. Which of the following dressing types should the surgical technologist ask the circulator for? a. ABD b. bolsters c. bio-occlusive strips d. Steri-strips - ANSWER-Answer: A During an abdominoperineal repair, which of the following is the most appropriate stapler to assemble and hand to the surgeon to perform an anastomosis between the proximal and distal ends of the colon? a. TA b. GIA c. EEA d. LDS - ANSWER-Answer: C Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FIRST PUBLISH NOVEMBER, 2024 Copyright ©Stuvia International BV Page 9/68 A pressure dressing is most likely applied over a a. TURP b. skin graft c. fractured femur EX fix d. cataract surgery - ANSWER-Answer: B During an open laparotomy the surgeon drops a Poole suction tip before irrigating. It is the only suction tip available and it has to be re-sterilized to be used later in the procedure. Which of the following types of sterilization should the surgical technologist use? a. ethylene oxide b. gravity displacement c. pre vac d. cobalt 60 radiation - ANSWER-Answer: C When disinfecting a flexible endoscope used on a patient with TB, which of the following sterilization methods should be employed? a. steris b. steam c. enzymatic d. bleach - ANSWER-Answer: A