NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A – Questions &
Answers | Latest Update 2026 | Exam Prep
PDF | Graded A+
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 - correct answerB. 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.
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. - correct answerB. 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 - correct answerC. 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 - correct answerB. Randall forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture?
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 - correct answerA. 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 - correct answerA.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 - correct answerA. pressure dressing
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 - correct answerC. 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 - correct answerD. acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a
craniotomy?
A. bayonet forceps
B. Russian forceps
C. Kelly clamp
D. angled DeBakey clamp - correct answerA. bayonet forceps
When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in the sterile field, they should
A. pass back-to-back.
B. both face the wall.
C. pass side-to-side.
D. both face the sterile field. - correct answerA. pass back-to-back.
Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate blood?
, A. Doppler ultrasound
B. defibrillator
C. extracorporeal bypass
D. autotransfuser - correct answerC. extracorporeal bypass
The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate anesthetic agent is the
A. physiologic condition of the patient.
B. length of the procedure.
C. type of the procedure.
D. anxiety level of the patient. - correct answerA. physiologic condition of the patient.
If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they should be packaged with one
basin
A.stacked inside the other and separated by impervious material.
B.on its side and the other upside down.
C.stacked inside the other and wrapped in a towel.
D.stacked inside the other and separated by a towel. - correct answerD.stacked inside
the other and separated by a towel.
Which of the following items may be used in positioning a patient for a total hip
arthroplasty?
A. fracture table
B. Wilson frame
C. Andrews frame
D. bean bag - correct answerD. bean bag
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How should the surgical
technologist respond?
A.Acknowledge the neighbor.
B.Reassure the neighbor that everything will be fine.
C.Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first.
D.Ignore the neighbor, even if greeted. - correct answerC. Do not acknowledge the
neighbor unless greeted first
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an appendectomy
should be
A.placed in a separate basin.
B.wiped with a saline sponge.
C.returned to the Mayo stand.
D. wiped with an alcohol sponge. - correct answerA.placed in a separate basin.
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of a strangulated hernia?
A. shock
B. necrosis
C. infection
Answers | Latest Update 2026 | Exam Prep
PDF | Graded A+
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 - correct answerB. 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.
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. - correct answerB. 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 - correct answerC. 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 - correct answerB. Randall forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture?
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 - correct answerA. 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 - correct answerA.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 - correct answerA. pressure dressing
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 - correct answerC. 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 - correct answerD. acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a
craniotomy?
A. bayonet forceps
B. Russian forceps
C. Kelly clamp
D. angled DeBakey clamp - correct answerA. bayonet forceps
When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in the sterile field, they should
A. pass back-to-back.
B. both face the wall.
C. pass side-to-side.
D. both face the sterile field. - correct answerA. pass back-to-back.
Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate blood?
, A. Doppler ultrasound
B. defibrillator
C. extracorporeal bypass
D. autotransfuser - correct answerC. extracorporeal bypass
The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate anesthetic agent is the
A. physiologic condition of the patient.
B. length of the procedure.
C. type of the procedure.
D. anxiety level of the patient. - correct answerA. physiologic condition of the patient.
If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they should be packaged with one
basin
A.stacked inside the other and separated by impervious material.
B.on its side and the other upside down.
C.stacked inside the other and wrapped in a towel.
D.stacked inside the other and separated by a towel. - correct answerD.stacked inside
the other and separated by a towel.
Which of the following items may be used in positioning a patient for a total hip
arthroplasty?
A. fracture table
B. Wilson frame
C. Andrews frame
D. bean bag - correct answerD. bean bag
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How should the surgical
technologist respond?
A.Acknowledge the neighbor.
B.Reassure the neighbor that everything will be fine.
C.Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first.
D.Ignore the neighbor, even if greeted. - correct answerC. Do not acknowledge the
neighbor unless greeted first
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an appendectomy
should be
A.placed in a separate basin.
B.wiped with a saline sponge.
C.returned to the Mayo stand.
D. wiped with an alcohol sponge. - correct answerA.placed in a separate basin.
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of a strangulated hernia?
A. shock
B. necrosis
C. infection
