NCCT SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST (TS-C) CERTIFICATION EXAM 2025 –
PROFESSOR VERIFIED PRACTICE EXAM (150 QUESTIONS)
HIGH-YIELD STUDY GUIDE SUMMARY TABLE
Category Key Facts to Memorize
Kelly (curved hemostat), Mosquito (small curved), Crile (straight),
Kocher (with teeth, transverse serrations), Allis (toothed tissue
Most Tested
grasp), Babcock (atraumatic), DeBakey (vascular), Brown-Adson
Instruments
(thumb forceps), Mayo scissors (heavy curved/straight),
Metzenbaum (delicate curved)
Absorbable: Vicryl, PDS, Monocryl, plain gut, chromic gut.
Non-absorbable: nylon, Prolene, silk, stainless steel. Needles: taper
Suture Basics
(soft tissue), cutting (skin), reverse cutting (most skin), blunt
(liver/kidney)
, Supine (abdomen, chest, head/neck), Prone (spine, rectal),
Positioning Lithotomy (GYN, perineal, urology), Lateral (kidney, hip),
Trendelenburg (pelvis, lower abdomen)
Malignant Hyperthermia: dantrolene, 100% O2, cooling, stop
Emergency Protocols triggering agents (succinylcholine, volatile anesthetics). Fire: RACE
(Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Extinguish, Airway, CO2)
Sponges, sharps, instruments counted at: before procedure, before
Count Procedures
closure of cavity, before wound closure, after skin closure
Monopolar: dispersive pad required, current travels through
Electrosurgery patient. Bipolar: no pad, current between tips, for
delicate/fluid-rich environments
DOMAIN 1: PREOPERATIVE PREPARATION
,According to AORN guidelines, what is the primary purpose of the surgical
time-out?
A) To assign tasks to the surgical team
B) To verify the correct patient, procedure, and site prior to incision
C) To ensure the sterile field is properly draped
D) To confirm the patient's insurance information
Answer: B
1. Rationale: The surgical time-out (part of the Universal Protocol) is
conducted immediately before incision to actively involve the entire surgical
team in a final verification of the correct patient, procedure, and surgical
site, as well as reviewing critical steps and anticipated events. Options A, C,
and D occur at different stages of the perioperative process.
Which of the following statements regarding informed consent is correct?
A) The surgical technologist is responsible for obtaining the patient's signature.
B) Informed consent is primarily to protect the hospital from lawsuits.
C) The patient must be informed of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the
procedure.
D) Consent is valid even if the patient is under the influence of heavy sedation
at the time of signing.
Answer: C
2. Rationale: Informed consent is an ethical and legal doctrine requiring that
patients receive understandable information about the procedure, including
risks, benefits, and alternatives, to make an autonomous decision. The
surgeon is responsible for obtaining consent (Option A is wrong). While it
does provide legal protection, its primary purpose is patient autonomy
(Option B is wrong). A patient must be of sound mind to consent (Option D
is wrong).
What is the recommended temperature range for the operating room according
to current AST/AORN standards?
A) 60°F to 65°F (15°C to 18°C)
B) 68°F to 75°F (20°C to 24°C)
C) 75°F to 80°F (24°C to 27°C)
D) 80°F to 85°F (27°C to 29°C)
Answer: B
, 3. Rationale: The recommended OR temperature is 68°F to 75°F (20°C to 24°C).
This range balances the need to prevent hypothermia in the anesthetized
patient with the need for surgeon comfort and infection control.
Temperatures outside this range can impair team performance or
negatively affect the patient.
During the surgical scrub, which of the following is an AST standard regarding
fingernails?
A) Nails should be long enough to facilitate hand washing.
B) Nail polish is permitted if it is clear.
C) Fingernails should be kept short, clean, and healthy, without nail polish or
artificial nails.
D) Acrylic nails are allowed if covered by sterile gloves.
Answer: C
4. Rationale: AST and AORN guidelines strictly state that fingernails must be
kept short (not extending past the fingertips), clean, and healthy. Artificial
nails, nail polish, and gel nails harbor microorganisms and are prohibited in
the semi-restricted and restricted areas, regardless of glove use.
When performing a closed gloving technique, the hands must remain:
A) Above the tabletop and inside the sleeves of the gown
B) Below the tabletop and at the sides
C) On the sterile field
D) Extended outward from the waist
Answer: A
5. Rationale: In the closed gloving method, the hands remain inside the gown
sleeves and are held above waist level and below the axilla, never dropping
below the tabletop or extending out of the sleeves until the gloves are fully
donned to prevent contamination.
Which of the following is the correct order for draping an extremity after it has
been prepped?
A) Distal to proximal
B) Proximal to distal
C) Lateral to medial
D) Medial to lateral
Answer: B
PROFESSOR VERIFIED PRACTICE EXAM (150 QUESTIONS)
HIGH-YIELD STUDY GUIDE SUMMARY TABLE
Category Key Facts to Memorize
Kelly (curved hemostat), Mosquito (small curved), Crile (straight),
Kocher (with teeth, transverse serrations), Allis (toothed tissue
Most Tested
grasp), Babcock (atraumatic), DeBakey (vascular), Brown-Adson
Instruments
(thumb forceps), Mayo scissors (heavy curved/straight),
Metzenbaum (delicate curved)
Absorbable: Vicryl, PDS, Monocryl, plain gut, chromic gut.
Non-absorbable: nylon, Prolene, silk, stainless steel. Needles: taper
Suture Basics
(soft tissue), cutting (skin), reverse cutting (most skin), blunt
(liver/kidney)
, Supine (abdomen, chest, head/neck), Prone (spine, rectal),
Positioning Lithotomy (GYN, perineal, urology), Lateral (kidney, hip),
Trendelenburg (pelvis, lower abdomen)
Malignant Hyperthermia: dantrolene, 100% O2, cooling, stop
Emergency Protocols triggering agents (succinylcholine, volatile anesthetics). Fire: RACE
(Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Extinguish, Airway, CO2)
Sponges, sharps, instruments counted at: before procedure, before
Count Procedures
closure of cavity, before wound closure, after skin closure
Monopolar: dispersive pad required, current travels through
Electrosurgery patient. Bipolar: no pad, current between tips, for
delicate/fluid-rich environments
DOMAIN 1: PREOPERATIVE PREPARATION
,According to AORN guidelines, what is the primary purpose of the surgical
time-out?
A) To assign tasks to the surgical team
B) To verify the correct patient, procedure, and site prior to incision
C) To ensure the sterile field is properly draped
D) To confirm the patient's insurance information
Answer: B
1. Rationale: The surgical time-out (part of the Universal Protocol) is
conducted immediately before incision to actively involve the entire surgical
team in a final verification of the correct patient, procedure, and surgical
site, as well as reviewing critical steps and anticipated events. Options A, C,
and D occur at different stages of the perioperative process.
Which of the following statements regarding informed consent is correct?
A) The surgical technologist is responsible for obtaining the patient's signature.
B) Informed consent is primarily to protect the hospital from lawsuits.
C) The patient must be informed of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the
procedure.
D) Consent is valid even if the patient is under the influence of heavy sedation
at the time of signing.
Answer: C
2. Rationale: Informed consent is an ethical and legal doctrine requiring that
patients receive understandable information about the procedure, including
risks, benefits, and alternatives, to make an autonomous decision. The
surgeon is responsible for obtaining consent (Option A is wrong). While it
does provide legal protection, its primary purpose is patient autonomy
(Option B is wrong). A patient must be of sound mind to consent (Option D
is wrong).
What is the recommended temperature range for the operating room according
to current AST/AORN standards?
A) 60°F to 65°F (15°C to 18°C)
B) 68°F to 75°F (20°C to 24°C)
C) 75°F to 80°F (24°C to 27°C)
D) 80°F to 85°F (27°C to 29°C)
Answer: B
, 3. Rationale: The recommended OR temperature is 68°F to 75°F (20°C to 24°C).
This range balances the need to prevent hypothermia in the anesthetized
patient with the need for surgeon comfort and infection control.
Temperatures outside this range can impair team performance or
negatively affect the patient.
During the surgical scrub, which of the following is an AST standard regarding
fingernails?
A) Nails should be long enough to facilitate hand washing.
B) Nail polish is permitted if it is clear.
C) Fingernails should be kept short, clean, and healthy, without nail polish or
artificial nails.
D) Acrylic nails are allowed if covered by sterile gloves.
Answer: C
4. Rationale: AST and AORN guidelines strictly state that fingernails must be
kept short (not extending past the fingertips), clean, and healthy. Artificial
nails, nail polish, and gel nails harbor microorganisms and are prohibited in
the semi-restricted and restricted areas, regardless of glove use.
When performing a closed gloving technique, the hands must remain:
A) Above the tabletop and inside the sleeves of the gown
B) Below the tabletop and at the sides
C) On the sterile field
D) Extended outward from the waist
Answer: A
5. Rationale: In the closed gloving method, the hands remain inside the gown
sleeves and are held above waist level and below the axilla, never dropping
below the tabletop or extending out of the sleeves until the gloves are fully
donned to prevent contamination.
Which of the following is the correct order for draping an extremity after it has
been prepped?
A) Distal to proximal
B) Proximal to distal
C) Lateral to medial
D) Medial to lateral
Answer: B
