SURGICAL FIRST ASSIST STUDY GUIDE UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Q. What is septicemia - ✔✔A. Presence of pathogens contaminating the blood
Explanation: Septicemia means the blood has become septic (contaminated)--a
systemic infection. This condition is due to the presence of bacteria or pathogens in the
blood. It can start from infections elsewhere such as a respiratory infection or simple
infected cut and become worse very quickly. Septicemia is a serious, life-threatening
complication following surgery requiring prompt medical care.
✔✔Q. What is spinal anesthesia used to block - ✔✔A. Somatic sensory nerves and
motor fibers
Explanation: Spinal anesthesia blocks somatic sensory and motor fibers. It often used
for surgery on the legs or in the pelvic region.
✔✔Q. Actions undertaken by an individual to promote health and well being or to detect
disease when it is early or asymptomatic are known as which of the following? - ✔✔A.
Health behaviors.
Explanation: Health behaviors are behaviors undertaken by an individual before illness
presents itself. Health behaviors are focused on promoting health and well being, as
well as on catching disease in the early stages.
✔✔Q. Which of these surgical dressings could be used in minor surgeries and for minor
wounds to approximate small incisions and protect the wound? - ✔✔A. Steri-Strips
Explanation: When applying the Steri-Strips, a small amount of biological adhesive such
as benzoin spray can be applied before the strips are put on to help them have extra
adhesion. With some incisions, the Steri-Strips can protect the incision line and serves
as a dressing.
✔✔Q. The scrub technician receives a medication from the circulator. It is no longer in
its original container, which of the following interventions should the scrub technician do
next? - ✔✔A. Label the medication immediately
Explanation: Typically, most medications are clear in color and it would be very easy to
mix medications up if they are not labeled.
✔✔Q. What is a disadvantage of using a standardized care planning form in a
multidisciplinary setting? - ✔✔A. Reduce individual intervention.
Explanation: The need for a nurses individual intervention may diminish with
standardized care planning. It may also limit the focus to problems that are predictable.
The other answers are pros of standardized care planning.
✔✔Q. Of the following, which would be considered types of hemostats? - ✔✔A. Kelly
and Lambott
Explanation: A Lambott is considered an elevator.
The common hemostats would be:
, Kelly
Schnidt
Mosquito
Crile
Mayo
Right angle
Mixter
✔✔All of the following trade names would be correct for silk sutures except? - ✔✔A.
Vascufil
Explanation: Vascufil would be a trade name for polybutester sutrures. The silk suture
trade names would be: Mersilk, Sofsilk, Perma-hand.
✔✔Q. Of the following, which of the following procedures should be done first when
arriving in the
surgical department each day? - ✔✔A. The first hand cleansing with a brush scrub
Explanation: When a person arrives at the surgical department, the first thing that
should be done would be
the first hand cleansing with a brush scrub. When a person does a surgical scrubbing
they
should use a brush, antiseptic soap, and water.
✔✔Q. Nonabsorbable suture is used in what? - ✔✔A. Tendons
Explanation: Nonabsorbable sutures are used in places where additional wound support
is required such as in tendons and fascia. It is also often used in cardiovascular and
neurosurgery
✔✔Q. What agent should be used for prepping burned skin? - ✔✔A. Normal saline
Explanation: Normal saline solution should be used to prep burned skin. It can also be
used for denuded skin
✔✔Q. Which nursing intervention would you prioritize as first for a diagnosis of
ineffective thermoregulation with febrile signs? - ✔✔A. Administer antipyretics
Explanation: The patient has a fever and requires antipyretics. This should be prioritized
before the other nursing interventions. The temperature should be monitored after the
antipyretics are administered.
✔✔Q. The largest body cavity which extends from the diaphragm to the lesser pelvic
wall would be? - ✔✔A. Abdominal Cavity
Explanation: The abdominal cavity is the largest cavity in the body. This cavity holds the
stomach, liver, pancreas, intestines, spleen and kidneys.
✔✔Q. The hardest working organ in the human body even though it's only the size of a
closed fist would be which of the following? - ✔✔A. Heart
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Q. What is septicemia - ✔✔A. Presence of pathogens contaminating the blood
Explanation: Septicemia means the blood has become septic (contaminated)--a
systemic infection. This condition is due to the presence of bacteria or pathogens in the
blood. It can start from infections elsewhere such as a respiratory infection or simple
infected cut and become worse very quickly. Septicemia is a serious, life-threatening
complication following surgery requiring prompt medical care.
✔✔Q. What is spinal anesthesia used to block - ✔✔A. Somatic sensory nerves and
motor fibers
Explanation: Spinal anesthesia blocks somatic sensory and motor fibers. It often used
for surgery on the legs or in the pelvic region.
✔✔Q. Actions undertaken by an individual to promote health and well being or to detect
disease when it is early or asymptomatic are known as which of the following? - ✔✔A.
Health behaviors.
Explanation: Health behaviors are behaviors undertaken by an individual before illness
presents itself. Health behaviors are focused on promoting health and well being, as
well as on catching disease in the early stages.
✔✔Q. Which of these surgical dressings could be used in minor surgeries and for minor
wounds to approximate small incisions and protect the wound? - ✔✔A. Steri-Strips
Explanation: When applying the Steri-Strips, a small amount of biological adhesive such
as benzoin spray can be applied before the strips are put on to help them have extra
adhesion. With some incisions, the Steri-Strips can protect the incision line and serves
as a dressing.
✔✔Q. The scrub technician receives a medication from the circulator. It is no longer in
its original container, which of the following interventions should the scrub technician do
next? - ✔✔A. Label the medication immediately
Explanation: Typically, most medications are clear in color and it would be very easy to
mix medications up if they are not labeled.
✔✔Q. What is a disadvantage of using a standardized care planning form in a
multidisciplinary setting? - ✔✔A. Reduce individual intervention.
Explanation: The need for a nurses individual intervention may diminish with
standardized care planning. It may also limit the focus to problems that are predictable.
The other answers are pros of standardized care planning.
✔✔Q. Of the following, which would be considered types of hemostats? - ✔✔A. Kelly
and Lambott
Explanation: A Lambott is considered an elevator.
The common hemostats would be:
, Kelly
Schnidt
Mosquito
Crile
Mayo
Right angle
Mixter
✔✔All of the following trade names would be correct for silk sutures except? - ✔✔A.
Vascufil
Explanation: Vascufil would be a trade name for polybutester sutrures. The silk suture
trade names would be: Mersilk, Sofsilk, Perma-hand.
✔✔Q. Of the following, which of the following procedures should be done first when
arriving in the
surgical department each day? - ✔✔A. The first hand cleansing with a brush scrub
Explanation: When a person arrives at the surgical department, the first thing that
should be done would be
the first hand cleansing with a brush scrub. When a person does a surgical scrubbing
they
should use a brush, antiseptic soap, and water.
✔✔Q. Nonabsorbable suture is used in what? - ✔✔A. Tendons
Explanation: Nonabsorbable sutures are used in places where additional wound support
is required such as in tendons and fascia. It is also often used in cardiovascular and
neurosurgery
✔✔Q. What agent should be used for prepping burned skin? - ✔✔A. Normal saline
Explanation: Normal saline solution should be used to prep burned skin. It can also be
used for denuded skin
✔✔Q. Which nursing intervention would you prioritize as first for a diagnosis of
ineffective thermoregulation with febrile signs? - ✔✔A. Administer antipyretics
Explanation: The patient has a fever and requires antipyretics. This should be prioritized
before the other nursing interventions. The temperature should be monitored after the
antipyretics are administered.
✔✔Q. The largest body cavity which extends from the diaphragm to the lesser pelvic
wall would be? - ✔✔A. Abdominal Cavity
Explanation: The abdominal cavity is the largest cavity in the body. This cavity holds the
stomach, liver, pancreas, intestines, spleen and kidneys.
✔✔Q. The hardest working organ in the human body even though it's only the size of a
closed fist would be which of the following? - ✔✔A. Heart
