NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist Self-
Assessment Examination A&B.
During a laparoscopic appendectomy, the appendix is perforated, and contents begin
spilling into the abdomen. Which of the following should the surgical technologist
anticipate as the NEXT step?
A.Suction the fluid from the abdomen.
B.Continue removing the appendix as planned.
C.Place a Kelly clamp over the perforation.
D.Close the wound and terminate the procedure. - Correct Answer A.Suction the fluid
from the abdomen.
A carotid endarterectomy has just been finished and the dressing is on. The surgical
technologist begins removing all sharps and non-disposables from the drapes before
pushing everything back. According to best practice, which of the following should be the
NEXT step?
tear it down.
A.Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and tear it down.
B.Pull the drapes off and put them on the back table in case they are needed again.
C.Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the patient is
transported to PACU.
D.Leave the back table, mayo, and basin close to patient in case they are needed again -
Correct Answer A.Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the
patient is transported to PACU.
Which of the following should be prepared for a mastoid dressing?
A.several squared gauze sponges
B.rolled gauze and an abdominal pad
C.several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze
D.gauze sponges and a Velcro strap - Correct Answer C.several fluffed sponges and
rolled gauze
,Which of the following is the FIRST step in applying the pneumatic tourniquet?
A.wrapping the limb sequentially with an Esmarch bandage from distal to proximal
B.applying the pneumatic tourniquet to the limb and immediately inflating it
C.prepping the limb with ChloraPrep, including the determined location of the tourniquet
D.padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril - Correct Answer
D.padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webri
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is used to
grasp the cervix?
A.Sims
B.Auvard
C.Schroeder
D.Bozeman - Correct Answer C.Schroeder is a tenaculum with a single tooth or a
vulsellum with a double tooth.
How many lobes do the right and left lungs have, respectively?
A.three, two
B.two, three
C.three, three
D.two, two - Correct Answer A.three, two
When a break in aseptic technique occurs, the surgical technologist should FIRST notify
the
A.circulating nurse.
B.contaminating team member.
C.OR supervisor.
D.anesthesia provider. - Correct Answer B.contaminating team member.
Which of the following pathological conditions may be caused by an excessive production
of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain?
A.hydrocephalus
B.encephalocele
C.cranial bifida
D.craniosynostosis - Correct Answer A.hydrocephalus
,If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an abdominal procedure, a surgical
technologist should request additional
A.lap sponges.
B.Raytec sponges.
C.Kitners.
D.cottonoids. - Correct Answer A. Lap sponges
Growth in the length of a long bone occurs at the
A.diaphysis.
B.medullary canal.
C.epiphyseal plate.
D.articular cartilage. - Correct Answer C.epiphyseal plate
In which of the following situations can a DNR order be continued in an unconscious
patient for a surgical procedure?
A.The patient's durable POA requests it be continued.
B.The patient's family requests it be continued.
C.The surgeon requests its be continued.
D.The CRNA requests it be continued - Correct Answer A.The patient's durable POA
requests it be continued.
A surgeon asks for warm irrigation after a right hemicolectomy. Which of the following
BEST describes the reason for irrigating at this point in the procedure?
A.to clean out the area of any loose tissue
B.to maintain the core body temperature
C.to eliminate any infection-causing microbes
D.to aid visual inspection for leakage - Correct Answer D.to aid visual inspection for
leakage
The rate per hour in air exchanges in a standard OR suite is
A.5-10.
B.15-25.
C.30-35.
, D.40-50. - Correct Answer B.15-25
If there is any question related to handling a specific type of specimen, which of the
following departments should be consulted
A.histology
B.laboratory
C.pathology
D.radiology - Correct Answer C.pathology
A patient's dentures are removed in the operating room. Which of the following is the
proper procedure for the care of the dentures?
A.Return them to the patient's unit and leave them at the nurses' station.
B.Place them in a labeled cup and keep them with the patient's chart.
C.Wrap them in a paper towel and give them to the anesthesiologist.
D.Ask the circulator to return them to the patient's room. - Correct Answer B.Place them in
a labeled cup and keep them with the patient's chart.
A patient is scheduled for laser removal of condyloma acuminata. As a safety precaution,
the surgical technologist should have which of the following special equipment open and
available?
A.smoke evacuator
B.suction tip
C.pulse lavage
D.endo-catch bag - Correct Answer A.smoke evacuator
Apart from trauma cases, which of the following incisions would be BEST for sigmoid
surgery?
A.vertical midline
B.vertical paramedian
C.oblique subcostal
D.lower transverse - Correct Answer A.vertical paramedian
The kidneys help regulate the blood levels of several ions, including
Assessment Examination A&B.
During a laparoscopic appendectomy, the appendix is perforated, and contents begin
spilling into the abdomen. Which of the following should the surgical technologist
anticipate as the NEXT step?
A.Suction the fluid from the abdomen.
B.Continue removing the appendix as planned.
C.Place a Kelly clamp over the perforation.
D.Close the wound and terminate the procedure. - Correct Answer A.Suction the fluid
from the abdomen.
A carotid endarterectomy has just been finished and the dressing is on. The surgical
technologist begins removing all sharps and non-disposables from the drapes before
pushing everything back. According to best practice, which of the following should be the
NEXT step?
tear it down.
A.Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and tear it down.
B.Pull the drapes off and put them on the back table in case they are needed again.
C.Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the patient is
transported to PACU.
D.Leave the back table, mayo, and basin close to patient in case they are needed again -
Correct Answer A.Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the
patient is transported to PACU.
Which of the following should be prepared for a mastoid dressing?
A.several squared gauze sponges
B.rolled gauze and an abdominal pad
C.several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze
D.gauze sponges and a Velcro strap - Correct Answer C.several fluffed sponges and
rolled gauze
,Which of the following is the FIRST step in applying the pneumatic tourniquet?
A.wrapping the limb sequentially with an Esmarch bandage from distal to proximal
B.applying the pneumatic tourniquet to the limb and immediately inflating it
C.prepping the limb with ChloraPrep, including the determined location of the tourniquet
D.padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril - Correct Answer
D.padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webri
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is used to
grasp the cervix?
A.Sims
B.Auvard
C.Schroeder
D.Bozeman - Correct Answer C.Schroeder is a tenaculum with a single tooth or a
vulsellum with a double tooth.
How many lobes do the right and left lungs have, respectively?
A.three, two
B.two, three
C.three, three
D.two, two - Correct Answer A.three, two
When a break in aseptic technique occurs, the surgical technologist should FIRST notify
the
A.circulating nurse.
B.contaminating team member.
C.OR supervisor.
D.anesthesia provider. - Correct Answer B.contaminating team member.
Which of the following pathological conditions may be caused by an excessive production
of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain?
A.hydrocephalus
B.encephalocele
C.cranial bifida
D.craniosynostosis - Correct Answer A.hydrocephalus
,If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an abdominal procedure, a surgical
technologist should request additional
A.lap sponges.
B.Raytec sponges.
C.Kitners.
D.cottonoids. - Correct Answer A. Lap sponges
Growth in the length of a long bone occurs at the
A.diaphysis.
B.medullary canal.
C.epiphyseal plate.
D.articular cartilage. - Correct Answer C.epiphyseal plate
In which of the following situations can a DNR order be continued in an unconscious
patient for a surgical procedure?
A.The patient's durable POA requests it be continued.
B.The patient's family requests it be continued.
C.The surgeon requests its be continued.
D.The CRNA requests it be continued - Correct Answer A.The patient's durable POA
requests it be continued.
A surgeon asks for warm irrigation after a right hemicolectomy. Which of the following
BEST describes the reason for irrigating at this point in the procedure?
A.to clean out the area of any loose tissue
B.to maintain the core body temperature
C.to eliminate any infection-causing microbes
D.to aid visual inspection for leakage - Correct Answer D.to aid visual inspection for
leakage
The rate per hour in air exchanges in a standard OR suite is
A.5-10.
B.15-25.
C.30-35.
, D.40-50. - Correct Answer B.15-25
If there is any question related to handling a specific type of specimen, which of the
following departments should be consulted
A.histology
B.laboratory
C.pathology
D.radiology - Correct Answer C.pathology
A patient's dentures are removed in the operating room. Which of the following is the
proper procedure for the care of the dentures?
A.Return them to the patient's unit and leave them at the nurses' station.
B.Place them in a labeled cup and keep them with the patient's chart.
C.Wrap them in a paper towel and give them to the anesthesiologist.
D.Ask the circulator to return them to the patient's room. - Correct Answer B.Place them in
a labeled cup and keep them with the patient's chart.
A patient is scheduled for laser removal of condyloma acuminata. As a safety precaution,
the surgical technologist should have which of the following special equipment open and
available?
A.smoke evacuator
B.suction tip
C.pulse lavage
D.endo-catch bag - Correct Answer A.smoke evacuator
Apart from trauma cases, which of the following incisions would be BEST for sigmoid
surgery?
A.vertical midline
B.vertical paramedian
C.oblique subcostal
D.lower transverse - Correct Answer A.vertical paramedian
The kidneys help regulate the blood levels of several ions, including
