NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone through which the spinal
cord passes?
A. foramen ovale
B. foramen magnum
C. foramen rotundum
D. foramen of Bochdalek - ✔✔B. foramen magnum
Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR 1. A surgical
technologist was just informed that the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next case
in OR 1 is scheduled in two hours. Which of the following is the BEST course of action?
A. Cover the sterile field with a sterile drape and move it from OR 1 to OR 2.
B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and the setup in
OR 1 should be disposed of.
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,C. OR 1 should be left so that these supplies and instruments can be used by the next
case.
D. The surgical technologist should argue that the procedure be held in OR 1 as
planned. - ✔✔B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and
the setup in OR 1 should be disposed of.
Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to injury?
A. fever
B. infection
C. inflammation
D. immune reaction - ✔✔C. inflammation
Which of the following instruments is used for a common bile duct exploration?
A. Fogarty clamp
B. Randall forceps
C. Pennington clamp
D. Forester ring forceps - ✔✔B. Randall forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture?
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,A. avoiding the knot
B. using sharp scissors
C.opening the scissors wide when cutting
D. tagging the end of suture to be cut with a hemostat - ✔✔A. avoiding the knot
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during the cholecystectomy?
A.cystic artery and cystic duct
B.hepatic artery and hepatic duct
C. cystic artery and common bile duct
D. hepatic artery and pancreatic duct - ✔✔A.cystic artery and cystic duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile dressing to a skin graft
site?
A. pressure dressing
B. ABD pad
C. 4x4s
D. Steri-Strips - ✔✔A. pressure dressing
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, 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 - ✔✔C. Schroeder
On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient tells the nurse, "No matter
what happens, it will be okay." Which of the Five Stages of Grief is the patient MOST
likely in?
A. denial
B. bargaining
C. depression
D. acceptance - ✔✔D. acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a
craniotomy?
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone through which the spinal
cord passes?
A. foramen ovale
B. foramen magnum
C. foramen rotundum
D. foramen of Bochdalek - ✔✔B. foramen magnum
Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR 1. A surgical
technologist was just informed that the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next case
in OR 1 is scheduled in two hours. Which of the following is the BEST course of action?
A. Cover the sterile field with a sterile drape and move it from OR 1 to OR 2.
B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and the setup in
OR 1 should be disposed of.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,C. OR 1 should be left so that these supplies and instruments can be used by the next
case.
D. The surgical technologist should argue that the procedure be held in OR 1 as
planned. - ✔✔B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and
the setup in OR 1 should be disposed of.
Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to injury?
A. fever
B. infection
C. inflammation
D. immune reaction - ✔✔C. inflammation
Which of the following instruments is used for a common bile duct exploration?
A. Fogarty clamp
B. Randall forceps
C. Pennington clamp
D. Forester ring forceps - ✔✔B. Randall forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture?
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,A. avoiding the knot
B. using sharp scissors
C.opening the scissors wide when cutting
D. tagging the end of suture to be cut with a hemostat - ✔✔A. avoiding the knot
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during the cholecystectomy?
A.cystic artery and cystic duct
B.hepatic artery and hepatic duct
C. cystic artery and common bile duct
D. hepatic artery and pancreatic duct - ✔✔A.cystic artery and cystic duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile dressing to a skin graft
site?
A. pressure dressing
B. ABD pad
C. 4x4s
D. Steri-Strips - ✔✔A. pressure dressing
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, 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 - ✔✔C. Schroeder
On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient tells the nurse, "No matter
what happens, it will be okay." Which of the Five Stages of Grief is the patient MOST
likely in?
A. denial
B. bargaining
C. depression
D. acceptance - ✔✔D. acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a
craniotomy?
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
