NBSTSA PRACTICE EXAM B
1. Which of the following is considered the MOST important skill for a surgical
technologist?
A. management of specimens
B. management of sponges
C. maintaining an orderly setup
D. ensuring adequate lighting
A. Management of specimens
2. During the postoperative phase, the personnel primarily responsible for
transporting soiled instrumentation to decontamination is the
A. housekeeping staff.
B. anesthesia technician.
C. surgical technologist.
D. central processing technician.
C. Surgical technologist
3. The surgical incision that allows for the BEST xvisualization xfor xa xBillroth
xI xprocedure xis
A. McBurney's.
B. Pfannenstiel.
C. midline.
D. subcostal.
C. xMidline
4. CSF xis xformed xin xthe xlateral xventricles xof xa xpatient xand xmay xnot xproperly
xflow xinto xthe xthird xventricle xthrough xthe xforamen xof
A. Magendie xinto xthe xfourth xventricle.
B. Monro xinto xthe xfourth xventricle.
,C. Sylvius xinto xthe xfourth xventricle.
D. Luschka xinto xthe xfourth xventricle.
C. xSylvius xinto xthe xfourth xventricle
5. During xan xexcisional xbiopsy xof xsentinel xnodes, xthe xsurgical xtechnologist
xshould xprepare xspecimens xusing xwhich xof xthe xfollowing xmethods?
A. Place xon xa xRaytec xto xbe xhanded xoff xto xthe xcirculator.
B. Separate xon xTelfa xand xpass xto xthe xcirculator.
C. Place xin xseparate xcontainers xand xidentify.
D. Place xin xspecimen xcontainer xheld xby xthe xcirculator xusing xa xhemostat.
C. xPlace xin xseparate xcontainers xand xidentify
6. A xsurgical xtechnologist xreceived xthe xfollowing xmedications xonto xthe xsterile
xfield: x0.9% xsodium xchloride, xbacitracin x1 xgm, xand x0.25% xMarcaine xwith
xepinephrine. xWhich xof xthe xfollowing xis xthe xMOST xappropriate xway xto xlabel
xthese xmedications?
A. saline x+ xbacitracin xand x.25 xMarcaine x+ xepinephrine
B. NACL x+ x1 xgm xbaci xand x0.25 xmarc xw/epi
C. saline x+ xbaci xand x0.25% xmarc xwith xepi
D. 0.9% xsaline x+ x1 xgm xbacitracin xand x0.25% xMarcaine xwith xepinephrine
D. x0.9% xsaline x+ x1 xgm xbacitracin xand x0.25% xMarcaine xwith xepinephrine
7. A xthyroidectomy xthat xwas xdone xearlier xin xthe xday xis xbeing xbrought xback
xfor xexcessive xbleeding xfrom xthe xincision. xWhich xof xthe xfollowing xitems xare
xneeded xfor xthis xcase?
A. Monocryl xsuture xand xharmonic xscalpel
B. laps, xsilk xties, xand xhemoclips
C. Vicryl xties, xpledgets, xand xAlexis
D. nylon xsuture, xRaytec, xand xGeralds
B. laps, xsilk xties, xand xhemoclips
8. If xthere xis xany xquestion xrelated xto xhandling xa xspecific xtype xof xspecimen,
xwhich xof xthe xfollowing xdepartments xshould xbe xconsulted?
A. histology
,B. laboratory
C. pathology
D. radiology
C. Pathology
9. The xrequired xnumber xof xair xexchanges xper xhour xin xan xOR xis
A. 5 xto x10.
B. 15 xto x25.
C. 30 xto x35.
D. 40 xto x50.
B. x15 xto x25
10. A xspecial-made xinstrument xwithout xa xbackup xfalls xto xthe xfloor xduring
xa xprocedure. xWhich xof xthe xfollowing xis xthe xBEST xreason xto xhesitate
xperforming ximmediate-use xsterilization?
A. The xsterilizer xis xused xfor ximplantable xdevices, xbut xnot xinstruments.
B. The xmanufacturer's xstandards xfor xsterilizing xthe xinstrument xare xunknown.
C. The xstaff xfeels xuncomfortable xtransporting xthe xunwrapped xinstrument xto xthe
xOR xafter xsterilization.
D. There xare xno xwrappers xor xpouches xavailable xfor xsterilizing xthe xinstrument.
B. xThe xmanufacturer's xstandards xfor xsterilizing xthe xinstrument xare xunknown.
11. When xtransferring xa xthoracotomy xpatient xto xrecovery, xthe xchest xdrainage
xsystem xshould xbe
A. disconnected.
B. placed xat xthe xpatient's xside.
C. positioned xabove xthe xpatient's xhead.
D. maintained xbelow xthe xpatient's xchest xlevel.
D. xMaintained xbelow xthe xpatient's xchest xlevel
12. Which xof xthe xfollowing xprocedures xrequires xan xincision xin xthe
xsuprasternal xnotch?
A. mediastinoscopy
, B. bronchoscopy
C. parotidectomy
D. pericardectomy
A. Mediastionscopy
13. When xpreparing xsurgical xspecimens, xin xaddition xto xthe xsurgical
xtechnologist, xwho xelse xis xresponsible xfor xaccurately xlabeling xthe xspecimen?
A. surgeon xand xanesthesiologist
B. circulating xnurse xand xfirst xassistant
C. anesthesiologist xand xfirst xassistant
D. surgeon xand xcirculating xnurse
D. xSurgeon xand xcirculating xnurse
14. A xT-tube xdrain xmay xbe xused xfollowing
A. xa xsplenectomy.
B. xa xcholedochotomy.
C. xan xappendectomy.
D. xa xherniorrhaphy.
B. xa xcholedochotomy
15. When xassisting xwith xthe xclosure xof xa xskin xincision xand xoperating xthe
xskin xstapler, xthe xsurgical xtechnologist xplaces xthe xstaples xthrough xwhich
xtwo xlayers?
A. cuticular xand xsubcuticular
B. subicular xand xsubcutaneous
C. subcuticular xand xsubcutaneous
D. subcutaneous xand xfascia
A. cuticular xand xsubcuticular
16. A xtype xof xregional xanesthesia xin xwhich xa xtourniquet xis xapplied xand
xlocal xanesthetic xis xadministered xintravenously xis xcalled xa
A. Bier xblock.
B. peripheral xnerve xblock.
1. Which of the following is considered the MOST important skill for a surgical
technologist?
A. management of specimens
B. management of sponges
C. maintaining an orderly setup
D. ensuring adequate lighting
A. Management of specimens
2. During the postoperative phase, the personnel primarily responsible for
transporting soiled instrumentation to decontamination is the
A. housekeeping staff.
B. anesthesia technician.
C. surgical technologist.
D. central processing technician.
C. Surgical technologist
3. The surgical incision that allows for the BEST xvisualization xfor xa xBillroth
xI xprocedure xis
A. McBurney's.
B. Pfannenstiel.
C. midline.
D. subcostal.
C. xMidline
4. CSF xis xformed xin xthe xlateral xventricles xof xa xpatient xand xmay xnot xproperly
xflow xinto xthe xthird xventricle xthrough xthe xforamen xof
A. Magendie xinto xthe xfourth xventricle.
B. Monro xinto xthe xfourth xventricle.
,C. Sylvius xinto xthe xfourth xventricle.
D. Luschka xinto xthe xfourth xventricle.
C. xSylvius xinto xthe xfourth xventricle
5. During xan xexcisional xbiopsy xof xsentinel xnodes, xthe xsurgical xtechnologist
xshould xprepare xspecimens xusing xwhich xof xthe xfollowing xmethods?
A. Place xon xa xRaytec xto xbe xhanded xoff xto xthe xcirculator.
B. Separate xon xTelfa xand xpass xto xthe xcirculator.
C. Place xin xseparate xcontainers xand xidentify.
D. Place xin xspecimen xcontainer xheld xby xthe xcirculator xusing xa xhemostat.
C. xPlace xin xseparate xcontainers xand xidentify
6. A xsurgical xtechnologist xreceived xthe xfollowing xmedications xonto xthe xsterile
xfield: x0.9% xsodium xchloride, xbacitracin x1 xgm, xand x0.25% xMarcaine xwith
xepinephrine. xWhich xof xthe xfollowing xis xthe xMOST xappropriate xway xto xlabel
xthese xmedications?
A. saline x+ xbacitracin xand x.25 xMarcaine x+ xepinephrine
B. NACL x+ x1 xgm xbaci xand x0.25 xmarc xw/epi
C. saline x+ xbaci xand x0.25% xmarc xwith xepi
D. 0.9% xsaline x+ x1 xgm xbacitracin xand x0.25% xMarcaine xwith xepinephrine
D. x0.9% xsaline x+ x1 xgm xbacitracin xand x0.25% xMarcaine xwith xepinephrine
7. A xthyroidectomy xthat xwas xdone xearlier xin xthe xday xis xbeing xbrought xback
xfor xexcessive xbleeding xfrom xthe xincision. xWhich xof xthe xfollowing xitems xare
xneeded xfor xthis xcase?
A. Monocryl xsuture xand xharmonic xscalpel
B. laps, xsilk xties, xand xhemoclips
C. Vicryl xties, xpledgets, xand xAlexis
D. nylon xsuture, xRaytec, xand xGeralds
B. laps, xsilk xties, xand xhemoclips
8. If xthere xis xany xquestion xrelated xto xhandling xa xspecific xtype xof xspecimen,
xwhich xof xthe xfollowing xdepartments xshould xbe xconsulted?
A. histology
,B. laboratory
C. pathology
D. radiology
C. Pathology
9. The xrequired xnumber xof xair xexchanges xper xhour xin xan xOR xis
A. 5 xto x10.
B. 15 xto x25.
C. 30 xto x35.
D. 40 xto x50.
B. x15 xto x25
10. A xspecial-made xinstrument xwithout xa xbackup xfalls xto xthe xfloor xduring
xa xprocedure. xWhich xof xthe xfollowing xis xthe xBEST xreason xto xhesitate
xperforming ximmediate-use xsterilization?
A. The xsterilizer xis xused xfor ximplantable xdevices, xbut xnot xinstruments.
B. The xmanufacturer's xstandards xfor xsterilizing xthe xinstrument xare xunknown.
C. The xstaff xfeels xuncomfortable xtransporting xthe xunwrapped xinstrument xto xthe
xOR xafter xsterilization.
D. There xare xno xwrappers xor xpouches xavailable xfor xsterilizing xthe xinstrument.
B. xThe xmanufacturer's xstandards xfor xsterilizing xthe xinstrument xare xunknown.
11. When xtransferring xa xthoracotomy xpatient xto xrecovery, xthe xchest xdrainage
xsystem xshould xbe
A. disconnected.
B. placed xat xthe xpatient's xside.
C. positioned xabove xthe xpatient's xhead.
D. maintained xbelow xthe xpatient's xchest xlevel.
D. xMaintained xbelow xthe xpatient's xchest xlevel
12. Which xof xthe xfollowing xprocedures xrequires xan xincision xin xthe
xsuprasternal xnotch?
A. mediastinoscopy
, B. bronchoscopy
C. parotidectomy
D. pericardectomy
A. Mediastionscopy
13. When xpreparing xsurgical xspecimens, xin xaddition xto xthe xsurgical
xtechnologist, xwho xelse xis xresponsible xfor xaccurately xlabeling xthe xspecimen?
A. surgeon xand xanesthesiologist
B. circulating xnurse xand xfirst xassistant
C. anesthesiologist xand xfirst xassistant
D. surgeon xand xcirculating xnurse
D. xSurgeon xand xcirculating xnurse
14. A xT-tube xdrain xmay xbe xused xfollowing
A. xa xsplenectomy.
B. xa xcholedochotomy.
C. xan xappendectomy.
D. xa xherniorrhaphy.
B. xa xcholedochotomy
15. When xassisting xwith xthe xclosure xof xa xskin xincision xand xoperating xthe
xskin xstapler, xthe xsurgical xtechnologist xplaces xthe xstaples xthrough xwhich
xtwo xlayers?
A. cuticular xand xsubcuticular
B. subicular xand xsubcutaneous
C. subcuticular xand xsubcutaneous
D. subcutaneous xand xfascia
A. cuticular xand xsubcuticular
16. A xtype xof xregional xanesthesia xin xwhich xa xtourniquet xis xapplied xand
xlocal xanesthetic xis xadministered xintravenously xis xcalled xa
A. Bier xblock.
B. peripheral xnerve xblock.
