NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A:
Certification Questions and Answers|
100% Verified| (Latest!!)
What is the first step in preparing a patient for surgery?
Confirm the patient's identity, procedure, and surgical site to ensure proper patient
preparation.
How should a surgical technologist assist with patient positioning during surgery?
Ensure the patient is positioned securely and comfortably, allowing optimal access to the
surgical site.
What is the role of the surgical technologist when draping the patient for surgery?
Ensure the sterile drapes cover the patient appropriately while leaving the surgical site
exposed.
What should the surgical technologist do if the sterile field is breached during the draping
process?
Immediately notify the surgical team, replace any contaminated drapes, and re-establish the
sterile field.
How does the surgical technologist ensure proper sterilization of instruments before surgery?
1
, Verify that all instruments are properly sterilized, either autoclaved or sterilized using
another method, and check for any damage or contamination.
What is the role of the surgical technologist in maintaining a sterile field during the procedure?
Monitor the sterile field continuously, ensuring that only sterile items come into contact with
it and that non-sterile items are kept away.
What is the best practice when passing instruments to the surgeon?
Pass instruments with the sterile tips facing the surgeon, ensuring that the handles do not
touch the sterile field.
How should the surgical technologist handle a situation where a sterile instrument is dropped
during surgery?
Immediately inform the team, remove the contaminated instrument, and provide a new sterile
one if necessary.
What should the surgical technologist do if there is an issue with the sterilization of a surgical
instrument?
Report the issue immediately, remove the unsterile item from the sterile field, and replace it
with a properly sterilized one.
What is the surgical technologist’s role during a time-out procedure before surgery?
2
, Participate in the time-out process to verify patient identity, surgical site, and procedure to
prevent errors.
How does the surgical technologist assist with positioning the patient during a spinal surgery?
Ensure proper alignment and support of the spine, making adjustments to the table as needed
to maintain optimal positioning.
When assisting with draping for a laparotomy, how should the surgical technologist proceed?
Ensure that the drape is placed securely around the surgical site, leaving the abdominal area
exposed and sterile.
What is the correct procedure for passing a needle holder to the surgeon?
Pass the needle holder in the closed position, ensuring it remains sterile and safe for use by
the surgeon.
How does the surgical technologist assist in the identification and use of surgical instruments?
Ensure that the proper instruments are sterile, organized, and available for the surgeon to use
during each stage of the procedure.
What is the role of the surgical technologist when a laser is used during surgery?
Ensure laser safety protocols are followed, including the use of appropriate eyewear and
keeping the laser off when not in use.
3
, How should a surgical technologist handle an instrument that is not functioning properly during
surgery?
Immediately inform the surgeon, and provide a replacement instrument if necessary.
What should the surgical technologist do if there is a discrepancy in the surgical instruments
being used?
Notify the surgical team immediately to ensure the correct instrument is being used for the
procedure.
What is the surgical technologist’s responsibility during the procedure to maintain the sterile
field?
Maintain the sterile field by continuously monitoring the area, handling only sterile
instruments, and ensuring no contamination occurs.
What is the role of the surgical technologist in assisting with the closure of a surgical site?
Assist by passing sutures, needle holders, and other instruments required for wound closure
while maintaining the sterile field.
How should the surgical technologist handle a surgical sponge during the procedure?
Ensure that all sponges are counted and monitored throughout the procedure, removing them
promptly as needed and keeping track of their location.
4
Certification Questions and Answers|
100% Verified| (Latest!!)
What is the first step in preparing a patient for surgery?
Confirm the patient's identity, procedure, and surgical site to ensure proper patient
preparation.
How should a surgical technologist assist with patient positioning during surgery?
Ensure the patient is positioned securely and comfortably, allowing optimal access to the
surgical site.
What is the role of the surgical technologist when draping the patient for surgery?
Ensure the sterile drapes cover the patient appropriately while leaving the surgical site
exposed.
What should the surgical technologist do if the sterile field is breached during the draping
process?
Immediately notify the surgical team, replace any contaminated drapes, and re-establish the
sterile field.
How does the surgical technologist ensure proper sterilization of instruments before surgery?
1
, Verify that all instruments are properly sterilized, either autoclaved or sterilized using
another method, and check for any damage or contamination.
What is the role of the surgical technologist in maintaining a sterile field during the procedure?
Monitor the sterile field continuously, ensuring that only sterile items come into contact with
it and that non-sterile items are kept away.
What is the best practice when passing instruments to the surgeon?
Pass instruments with the sterile tips facing the surgeon, ensuring that the handles do not
touch the sterile field.
How should the surgical technologist handle a situation where a sterile instrument is dropped
during surgery?
Immediately inform the team, remove the contaminated instrument, and provide a new sterile
one if necessary.
What should the surgical technologist do if there is an issue with the sterilization of a surgical
instrument?
Report the issue immediately, remove the unsterile item from the sterile field, and replace it
with a properly sterilized one.
What is the surgical technologist’s role during a time-out procedure before surgery?
2
, Participate in the time-out process to verify patient identity, surgical site, and procedure to
prevent errors.
How does the surgical technologist assist with positioning the patient during a spinal surgery?
Ensure proper alignment and support of the spine, making adjustments to the table as needed
to maintain optimal positioning.
When assisting with draping for a laparotomy, how should the surgical technologist proceed?
Ensure that the drape is placed securely around the surgical site, leaving the abdominal area
exposed and sterile.
What is the correct procedure for passing a needle holder to the surgeon?
Pass the needle holder in the closed position, ensuring it remains sterile and safe for use by
the surgeon.
How does the surgical technologist assist in the identification and use of surgical instruments?
Ensure that the proper instruments are sterile, organized, and available for the surgeon to use
during each stage of the procedure.
What is the role of the surgical technologist when a laser is used during surgery?
Ensure laser safety protocols are followed, including the use of appropriate eyewear and
keeping the laser off when not in use.
3
, How should a surgical technologist handle an instrument that is not functioning properly during
surgery?
Immediately inform the surgeon, and provide a replacement instrument if necessary.
What should the surgical technologist do if there is a discrepancy in the surgical instruments
being used?
Notify the surgical team immediately to ensure the correct instrument is being used for the
procedure.
What is the surgical technologist’s responsibility during the procedure to maintain the sterile
field?
Maintain the sterile field by continuously monitoring the area, handling only sterile
instruments, and ensuring no contamination occurs.
What is the role of the surgical technologist in assisting with the closure of a surgical site?
Assist by passing sutures, needle holders, and other instruments required for wound closure
while maintaining the sterile field.
How should the surgical technologist handle a surgical sponge during the procedure?
Ensure that all sponges are counted and monitored throughout the procedure, removing them
promptly as needed and keeping track of their location.
4
