200 NBSTSA CST PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
2026/2027 || COMPREHENSIVE CERTIFIED
SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST EXAM PREPARATION
WITH UPDATED ASEPTIC TECHNIQUES, SURGICAL
PROCEDURES, AND OPERATING ROOM PROTOCOLS
REVIEW || REAL NBSTSA CST EXAM-STYLE
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED DETAILED ACCURATE
ANSWERS LATEST EDITION || ELITE A+ PREMIUM
QUALITY GUARANTEED
During dissection of the cystic duct in an open cholecystectomy, which
of the following instruments is necessary?
A. Ochsner forceps
B. Jennings retractor
C. Mixter clamp
D. O'Sullivan-O'Connor retractor - THE CORRECT ANSWER -
C. Mixter clamp
A patient entering the operating room for a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy looks jaundiced. Which of the following is the BEST
explanation for this?
A. pancreatitis
B. biliary obstruction
C. cholecystitis
D. gastroschisis - THE CORRECT ANSWER - B. biliary
obstruction
The primary purpose of a local anesthetic is to
A. lower skin temperature.
B. reduce fear and anxiety.
C. block peripheral nerve receptors.
D. decrease bleeding. - THE CORRECT ANSWER - C. block
peripheral nerve receptors.
Which of the following is the correct skin preparation for a female
patient undergoing a right mastectomy with possible axillary
dissection?
A. shoulder, upper arm and extending down to the elbow, axilla, chest
to the table line, and to the left shoulder
, B. base of the neck, shoulder, scapula, chest to midline, and
circumference of upper arm down to the elbow
C. entire arm, shoulder, axilla, including the hand
D. chin to umbilicus and laterally to the table line - THE CORRECT
ANSWER - A. shoulder, upper arm and extending down to the elbow,
axilla, chest to the table line, and to the left shoulder
When performing a parotidectomy, which of the following nerves is
identified and preserved with the use of a nerve stimulator?
A. facial nerve
B. recurrent laryngeal nerve
C. acoustic nerve
D. vagus nerve - THE CORRECT ANSWER - A. facial nerve
Which of the following medications is the anesthesia provider
responsible for recording the name, amount, and delivery method
during a surgical procedure?
A. thrombin
B. topically applied epinephrine
C. polymyxin B sulfate irrigation
D. propofol - THE CORRECT ANSWER - D. propofol
As a surgical technologist begins to prep a female patient for Foley
catheterization, a bulge in the vaginal wall is noticed. Which of the
following would cause this bulge?
A. cystocele
B. endometriosis
C. leiomyoma
D. ectopic pregnancy - THE CORRECT ANSWER - A. cystocele
A surgical technologist enters the OR after scrubbing and notices spots
of blood on the OR lights. Which of the following actions is the MOST
appropriate?
A. Ignore the spots because they are small.
B. Tell the circulator to obtain replacements and wait at the scrub sink.
C. Ask the circulator to clean the spot and then proceed.
, D. Break scrub to clean the lights and help open a new sterile field. -
THE CORRECT ANSWER - D. Break scrub to clean the lights
and help open a new sterile field.
Which of the following instruments should be included in a
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) setup?
A. lithotrite
B. urethrotome
C. resectoscope
D. Randall - THE CORRECT ANSWER - C. resectoscope
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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER - B.
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. - THE CORRECT ANSWER - B. 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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER - C.
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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER - B. 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 - THE
CORRECT ANSWER - A. 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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER
- A.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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER - A. 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
2026/2027 || COMPREHENSIVE CERTIFIED
SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST EXAM PREPARATION
WITH UPDATED ASEPTIC TECHNIQUES, SURGICAL
PROCEDURES, AND OPERATING ROOM PROTOCOLS
REVIEW || REAL NBSTSA CST EXAM-STYLE
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED DETAILED ACCURATE
ANSWERS LATEST EDITION || ELITE A+ PREMIUM
QUALITY GUARANTEED
During dissection of the cystic duct in an open cholecystectomy, which
of the following instruments is necessary?
A. Ochsner forceps
B. Jennings retractor
C. Mixter clamp
D. O'Sullivan-O'Connor retractor - THE CORRECT ANSWER -
C. Mixter clamp
A patient entering the operating room for a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy looks jaundiced. Which of the following is the BEST
explanation for this?
A. pancreatitis
B. biliary obstruction
C. cholecystitis
D. gastroschisis - THE CORRECT ANSWER - B. biliary
obstruction
The primary purpose of a local anesthetic is to
A. lower skin temperature.
B. reduce fear and anxiety.
C. block peripheral nerve receptors.
D. decrease bleeding. - THE CORRECT ANSWER - C. block
peripheral nerve receptors.
Which of the following is the correct skin preparation for a female
patient undergoing a right mastectomy with possible axillary
dissection?
A. shoulder, upper arm and extending down to the elbow, axilla, chest
to the table line, and to the left shoulder
, B. base of the neck, shoulder, scapula, chest to midline, and
circumference of upper arm down to the elbow
C. entire arm, shoulder, axilla, including the hand
D. chin to umbilicus and laterally to the table line - THE CORRECT
ANSWER - A. shoulder, upper arm and extending down to the elbow,
axilla, chest to the table line, and to the left shoulder
When performing a parotidectomy, which of the following nerves is
identified and preserved with the use of a nerve stimulator?
A. facial nerve
B. recurrent laryngeal nerve
C. acoustic nerve
D. vagus nerve - THE CORRECT ANSWER - A. facial nerve
Which of the following medications is the anesthesia provider
responsible for recording the name, amount, and delivery method
during a surgical procedure?
A. thrombin
B. topically applied epinephrine
C. polymyxin B sulfate irrigation
D. propofol - THE CORRECT ANSWER - D. propofol
As a surgical technologist begins to prep a female patient for Foley
catheterization, a bulge in the vaginal wall is noticed. Which of the
following would cause this bulge?
A. cystocele
B. endometriosis
C. leiomyoma
D. ectopic pregnancy - THE CORRECT ANSWER - A. cystocele
A surgical technologist enters the OR after scrubbing and notices spots
of blood on the OR lights. Which of the following actions is the MOST
appropriate?
A. Ignore the spots because they are small.
B. Tell the circulator to obtain replacements and wait at the scrub sink.
C. Ask the circulator to clean the spot and then proceed.
, D. Break scrub to clean the lights and help open a new sterile field. -
THE CORRECT ANSWER - D. Break scrub to clean the lights
and help open a new sterile field.
Which of the following instruments should be included in a
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) setup?
A. lithotrite
B. urethrotome
C. resectoscope
D. Randall - THE CORRECT ANSWER - C. resectoscope
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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER - B.
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. - THE CORRECT ANSWER - B. 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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER - C.
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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER - B. 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 - THE
CORRECT ANSWER - A. 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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER
- A.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 - THE CORRECT ANSWER - A. 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
