2025 NBSTSA CST Exam Questions and Answers
1. Surgical operation performed for the reconstruction of the eardrum
(tym- panic membrane) and/or small bones of the middle ear (ossicles)✔✔✔
Tympanos-plasty
2. After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the Duraprep applicator
and proceeds to prep the patient for surgery. What is the best action to take
at this time?✔✔✔ Regown and reglove the surgeon
3. What position is used for a pneumonectomy?✔✔✔ Lateral
4. What is the kraske position?✔✔✔ Anatomical position in which the patient is
prone,with hips flexed and elevated, head and feet down.
5. Which position is correct for a dilation and curettage?✔✔✔ Lithotomy
6. When a hernia is strangulated, which instrument set is added to the
general abdominal set-up?✔✔✔ Gastrointestinal
7. What is a fenestrated drape?✔✔✔ A drape with an opening that allows
exposureof the operative site
8. Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR one.
,A surgical technologist was just informed that the case has been moved to
OR two and the next case in OR one is scheduled in two hours. What is the
best course of action?✔✔✔ New sterile supplies and instruments should be
obtainedfor OR two and the setup in OR one should be disposed of
9. What is the first step in applying the pneumatic tourniquet necessary
in creating a bloodless field?✔✔✔ Padding the area where the tourniquet is
to bewrapped with Webril
10. For a splenectomy procedure, which clamp should be used?✔✔✔
Satinsky
11. Surgical loupes are used to✔✔✔ Magnify the surgical field
12. Which position is the patient placed in for a right
nephrectomy?✔✔✔ Leftlateral kidney
13. Once a surgical technologist dons a gown, the cuffs on the gown are
considered unsterile because they are✔✔✔ Absorbant and collect
moisture
14. Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an
appendectomy should be✔✔✔ Placed in a separate bin
,15. Which instrument is used to cross-clamp the intestine during a bowel
resection?✔✔✔ Allen
16. The primary purpose of chest tubes is to✔✔✔ Re-establish the negative
pres-sure
, 17. Traction sutures are used on common duct explorations to✔✔✔ Hold the
ductopen
18. The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of the
following types of suture?✔✔✔ Purse-string
19. Which catheter is most commonly used to perform an
embolectomy?✔✔✔ -
Fogarty
20. A resectoscope is used in what prostatic approach?✔✔✔ Transurethral
21. Which retractor is preferred for a groin incision?✔✔✔ Weitlaner
22. What type of dressing is applied as a nonadherent dressing?✔✔✔
Adaptic
23. During an excisional biopsy of sentinel nodes, the surgical technologist
should prepare specimens using which method?✔✔✔ Placed in separate
contain-ers and identify
24. Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which procedure might be per-
formed on the patient in the operating room?✔✔✔ Sigmoidectomy
25. When a break in antisecptic technique occurs, the surgical technologist
1. Surgical operation performed for the reconstruction of the eardrum
(tym- panic membrane) and/or small bones of the middle ear (ossicles)✔✔✔
Tympanos-plasty
2. After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the Duraprep applicator
and proceeds to prep the patient for surgery. What is the best action to take
at this time?✔✔✔ Regown and reglove the surgeon
3. What position is used for a pneumonectomy?✔✔✔ Lateral
4. What is the kraske position?✔✔✔ Anatomical position in which the patient is
prone,with hips flexed and elevated, head and feet down.
5. Which position is correct for a dilation and curettage?✔✔✔ Lithotomy
6. When a hernia is strangulated, which instrument set is added to the
general abdominal set-up?✔✔✔ Gastrointestinal
7. What is a fenestrated drape?✔✔✔ A drape with an opening that allows
exposureof the operative site
8. Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR one.
,A surgical technologist was just informed that the case has been moved to
OR two and the next case in OR one is scheduled in two hours. What is the
best course of action?✔✔✔ New sterile supplies and instruments should be
obtainedfor OR two and the setup in OR one should be disposed of
9. What is the first step in applying the pneumatic tourniquet necessary
in creating a bloodless field?✔✔✔ Padding the area where the tourniquet is
to bewrapped with Webril
10. For a splenectomy procedure, which clamp should be used?✔✔✔
Satinsky
11. Surgical loupes are used to✔✔✔ Magnify the surgical field
12. Which position is the patient placed in for a right
nephrectomy?✔✔✔ Leftlateral kidney
13. Once a surgical technologist dons a gown, the cuffs on the gown are
considered unsterile because they are✔✔✔ Absorbant and collect
moisture
14. Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an
appendectomy should be✔✔✔ Placed in a separate bin
,15. Which instrument is used to cross-clamp the intestine during a bowel
resection?✔✔✔ Allen
16. The primary purpose of chest tubes is to✔✔✔ Re-establish the negative
pres-sure
, 17. Traction sutures are used on common duct explorations to✔✔✔ Hold the
ductopen
18. The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of the
following types of suture?✔✔✔ Purse-string
19. Which catheter is most commonly used to perform an
embolectomy?✔✔✔ -
Fogarty
20. A resectoscope is used in what prostatic approach?✔✔✔ Transurethral
21. Which retractor is preferred for a groin incision?✔✔✔ Weitlaner
22. What type of dressing is applied as a nonadherent dressing?✔✔✔
Adaptic
23. During an excisional biopsy of sentinel nodes, the surgical technologist
should prepare specimens using which method?✔✔✔ Placed in separate
contain-ers and identify
24. Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which procedure might be per-
formed on the patient in the operating room?✔✔✔ Sigmoidectomy
25. When a break in antisecptic technique occurs, the surgical technologist
