CST PRACTICE EXAM
"Prepare for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam with this comprehensive
practice exam. Includes questions on surgical procedures, sterilization, and patient care to
boost your confidence and readiness. Ideal for students and professionals aiming to pass the
CST certification."
Which of the following is a sign of cardiac arrest? A. edema B.convulsion C. cyanosis D.
hypertension ..... ANSWER ...... c
While being transferred from the stretcher to the operating room bed, the patient expresses
fear of not awakening from anesthesia. The surgical technologist should
A. proceed with the transfer and disregard patient comments.
B. explain the action of the anesthetic agent.
C. reassure the patient that the anesthetic is safe.
D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's concerns. ..... ANSWER ...... d
Which of the following rongeurs is used to expand the antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
A. Cushing
B. Bethune
C. Kerrison
D. Stille-Luer ..... ANSWER ...... c
During a procedure, a surgical technologist notices a hole in his glove. Which of the following
should be done next?
A. Continue the case.
B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving technique.
D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown and glove. ..... ANSWER ...... b
Which of the following is an unexpected occurrence that involves physiologic or psychologic
injury or death?
A. unintentional tort
,B. sentinel event
C. negligence
D. malpractice ..... ANSWER ...... b
The tissue that covers bones and provides movement to the skeletal system is
A. nerve.
B. cartilage.
C. muscle.
D. ligament. ..... ANSWER ...... C. Muscles are tissue that cover bone and provide movement
to the skeletal system.
Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the presence of infection?
A. stainless steel
B. polyglactin-910
C. plain gut
D. silk ..... ANSWER ...... A. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected areas
because it is non-absorbable with indefinite tensile strength
A 15-year-old girl with anemia will be undergoing an exploratory procedure and a blood
transfusion will be necessary. The parents are Jehovah's Witnesses and will not consent to a
blood transfusion, but the patient states that she wants the transfusion. The operating room
staff reports this to the nurse manager. Which of the following is the BEST course of action
now? A. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's clergy to provide an
intervention.
B. The operating room staff should inform the patient that her parents must give consent
before she can receive the transfusion.
C. The operating room staff should inform the patient that since she is a minor, she cannot
make health care decisions for herself.
D. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to request that
legal counsel becomes involved. ..... ANSWER ...... D. Since the patient is 15 and may
understand the consequences of her actions, the physician or nurse manager should contact the
hospital's administration to request that legal counsel becomes involved. They will be able to
advise the operating room staff as to the best course of action considering all of the legal and
ethical implications.
, A surgical technologist counts only 9 sponges in a pack on the initial count. After recounting
the sponges, it is confirmed that there are only 9 sponges in the pack. Which of the following is
the appropriate course of action?
A. Change the count sheet to match the initial count and use the sponges from the current
package.
B. Leave the current package on the surgical field; document the problem; open a new package;
recount.
C. Remove the current package from the surgical field, but not the operating room; document
the problem; open a new package; recount.
D. Remove the current package from the operating room; document the problem; open a new
package; and recount. ..... ANSWER ...... C. If a package of sponges contains an incorrect
number, it should immediately be handed off the sterile field and documented. It should be
bagged, labeled as incorrect, and placed in a remote location in the OR. A new package of
sponges should be opened and counted.
When utilizing a laparoscopic set-up, potential hazards associated with the equipment include
A. non-ionizing radiation.
B. nitrogen embolus.
C. pneumoperitoneum.
D. fiberoptic beam fire. ..... ANSWER ...... D. The intense fiberoptic beam can ignite the
patient's drapes and cause fires. Therefore, cameras should be turned off when not in use and
should be appropriately placed during procedures.
A patient with multiple trauma injuries requires surgical intervention. The patient has a
history of DVT and is currently taking anticoagulants. Which of the following should be done
to ensure a clot does not develop?
A. Administer a subcutaneous anticoagulant preoperatively.
B. Continue current anticoagulation therapy.
C. Place a sequential compression device on lower extremities.
D. Draw a PT-PTT and send the patient to surgery. ..... ANSWER ...... C. Sequential
compression devices are clinically proven to help in the prevention of developing clots.
Which of the following catheters is MOST commonly used to perform an embolectomy?
"Prepare for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam with this comprehensive
practice exam. Includes questions on surgical procedures, sterilization, and patient care to
boost your confidence and readiness. Ideal for students and professionals aiming to pass the
CST certification."
Which of the following is a sign of cardiac arrest? A. edema B.convulsion C. cyanosis D.
hypertension ..... ANSWER ...... c
While being transferred from the stretcher to the operating room bed, the patient expresses
fear of not awakening from anesthesia. The surgical technologist should
A. proceed with the transfer and disregard patient comments.
B. explain the action of the anesthetic agent.
C. reassure the patient that the anesthetic is safe.
D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's concerns. ..... ANSWER ...... d
Which of the following rongeurs is used to expand the antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
A. Cushing
B. Bethune
C. Kerrison
D. Stille-Luer ..... ANSWER ...... c
During a procedure, a surgical technologist notices a hole in his glove. Which of the following
should be done next?
A. Continue the case.
B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving technique.
D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown and glove. ..... ANSWER ...... b
Which of the following is an unexpected occurrence that involves physiologic or psychologic
injury or death?
A. unintentional tort
,B. sentinel event
C. negligence
D. malpractice ..... ANSWER ...... b
The tissue that covers bones and provides movement to the skeletal system is
A. nerve.
B. cartilage.
C. muscle.
D. ligament. ..... ANSWER ...... C. Muscles are tissue that cover bone and provide movement
to the skeletal system.
Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the presence of infection?
A. stainless steel
B. polyglactin-910
C. plain gut
D. silk ..... ANSWER ...... A. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected areas
because it is non-absorbable with indefinite tensile strength
A 15-year-old girl with anemia will be undergoing an exploratory procedure and a blood
transfusion will be necessary. The parents are Jehovah's Witnesses and will not consent to a
blood transfusion, but the patient states that she wants the transfusion. The operating room
staff reports this to the nurse manager. Which of the following is the BEST course of action
now? A. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's clergy to provide an
intervention.
B. The operating room staff should inform the patient that her parents must give consent
before she can receive the transfusion.
C. The operating room staff should inform the patient that since she is a minor, she cannot
make health care decisions for herself.
D. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to request that
legal counsel becomes involved. ..... ANSWER ...... D. Since the patient is 15 and may
understand the consequences of her actions, the physician or nurse manager should contact the
hospital's administration to request that legal counsel becomes involved. They will be able to
advise the operating room staff as to the best course of action considering all of the legal and
ethical implications.
, A surgical technologist counts only 9 sponges in a pack on the initial count. After recounting
the sponges, it is confirmed that there are only 9 sponges in the pack. Which of the following is
the appropriate course of action?
A. Change the count sheet to match the initial count and use the sponges from the current
package.
B. Leave the current package on the surgical field; document the problem; open a new package;
recount.
C. Remove the current package from the surgical field, but not the operating room; document
the problem; open a new package; recount.
D. Remove the current package from the operating room; document the problem; open a new
package; and recount. ..... ANSWER ...... C. If a package of sponges contains an incorrect
number, it should immediately be handed off the sterile field and documented. It should be
bagged, labeled as incorrect, and placed in a remote location in the OR. A new package of
sponges should be opened and counted.
When utilizing a laparoscopic set-up, potential hazards associated with the equipment include
A. non-ionizing radiation.
B. nitrogen embolus.
C. pneumoperitoneum.
D. fiberoptic beam fire. ..... ANSWER ...... D. The intense fiberoptic beam can ignite the
patient's drapes and cause fires. Therefore, cameras should be turned off when not in use and
should be appropriately placed during procedures.
A patient with multiple trauma injuries requires surgical intervention. The patient has a
history of DVT and is currently taking anticoagulants. Which of the following should be done
to ensure a clot does not develop?
A. Administer a subcutaneous anticoagulant preoperatively.
B. Continue current anticoagulation therapy.
C. Place a sequential compression device on lower extremities.
D. Draw a PT-PTT and send the patient to surgery. ..... ANSWER ...... C. Sequential
compression devices are clinically proven to help in the prevention of developing clots.
Which of the following catheters is MOST commonly used to perform an embolectomy?
