NBSTSA CST EXAM A 2027 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔Which of the following instruments should be included in the set-up for a
laminectomy?
A. Hohmann
B. Mayfield
C. Kerrison
D. Bennett - ✔✔C. Kerrison
✔✔A surgical technologist is preparing a fresh specimen for frozen section to be passed
off of the field. How should the specimen be prepared to be passed to the circulator?
A. wrap it in a moist sponge
B. remove any suture material that may be attached
C. wrap it in a Telfa pad
D. remove from back table using a hemostat - ✔✔C. wrap it in a Telfa pad
✔✔Which of the following suturing techniques features short lateral stitches that are
taken beneath the epithelial layer of skin?
A. purse-string
B. traction
C. mattress
D. subcuticular - ✔✔D. subcuticular
✔✔Which of the following surgical needles is MOST appropriately used in a liver
resection?
A. cutting
B. taper
C. blunt
D. trocar - ✔✔C. blunt
✔✔Which of the following is NOT an acceptable technique when placing a patient in the
lithotomy position?
, A. arms placed on arm boards
B. legs placed in stirrups one at a time
C. both legs placed in stirrups simultaneously
D. hips placed over the lower break of the table - ✔✔B. legs placed in stirrups one at a
time
✔✔What is the function of silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)?
A. antimicrobial
B. hemostasis
C. irrigation
D. anticoagulant - ✔✔A. antimicrobial
✔✔If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an abdominal procedure, a surgical
technologist should request additional
A. lap sponges.
B. RAY-TEC sponges.
C. Kitners.
D. cottonoids. - ✔✔A. lap sponges
✔✔A surgical technologist is explaining the steps of the ESU circuit to a student. The
surgical technologist should explain that the electric current is channeled back to the
generator through the
A. power source.
B. active electrode (ESU pencil).
C. patient.
D. dispersive (inactive) electrode. - ✔✔D. dispersive (inactive) electrode.
✔✔Sponges that have been added to the sterile field after a procedure has begun
should be counted by the
A. circulator and surgeon.
B. surgical technologist in the scrub role and surgical first assistant.
C. surgeon and surgical first assistant.
D. surgical technologist in the scrub role and the circulator. - ✔✔D. surgical
technologist in the scrub role and the circulator.
✔✔During a procedure, a surgical technologist touches an unsterile item with a sterile
glove. Which of the following should be done?
A. Change the glove at once.
B. Break scrub and rescrub.
C. Wait until closing to change the glove.
D. Ask the surgeon what to do. - ✔✔A. Change the glove at once
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔Which of the following instruments should be included in the set-up for a
laminectomy?
A. Hohmann
B. Mayfield
C. Kerrison
D. Bennett - ✔✔C. Kerrison
✔✔A surgical technologist is preparing a fresh specimen for frozen section to be passed
off of the field. How should the specimen be prepared to be passed to the circulator?
A. wrap it in a moist sponge
B. remove any suture material that may be attached
C. wrap it in a Telfa pad
D. remove from back table using a hemostat - ✔✔C. wrap it in a Telfa pad
✔✔Which of the following suturing techniques features short lateral stitches that are
taken beneath the epithelial layer of skin?
A. purse-string
B. traction
C. mattress
D. subcuticular - ✔✔D. subcuticular
✔✔Which of the following surgical needles is MOST appropriately used in a liver
resection?
A. cutting
B. taper
C. blunt
D. trocar - ✔✔C. blunt
✔✔Which of the following is NOT an acceptable technique when placing a patient in the
lithotomy position?
, A. arms placed on arm boards
B. legs placed in stirrups one at a time
C. both legs placed in stirrups simultaneously
D. hips placed over the lower break of the table - ✔✔B. legs placed in stirrups one at a
time
✔✔What is the function of silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)?
A. antimicrobial
B. hemostasis
C. irrigation
D. anticoagulant - ✔✔A. antimicrobial
✔✔If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an abdominal procedure, a surgical
technologist should request additional
A. lap sponges.
B. RAY-TEC sponges.
C. Kitners.
D. cottonoids. - ✔✔A. lap sponges
✔✔A surgical technologist is explaining the steps of the ESU circuit to a student. The
surgical technologist should explain that the electric current is channeled back to the
generator through the
A. power source.
B. active electrode (ESU pencil).
C. patient.
D. dispersive (inactive) electrode. - ✔✔D. dispersive (inactive) electrode.
✔✔Sponges that have been added to the sterile field after a procedure has begun
should be counted by the
A. circulator and surgeon.
B. surgical technologist in the scrub role and surgical first assistant.
C. surgeon and surgical first assistant.
D. surgical technologist in the scrub role and the circulator. - ✔✔D. surgical
technologist in the scrub role and the circulator.
✔✔During a procedure, a surgical technologist touches an unsterile item with a sterile
glove. Which of the following should be done?
A. Change the glove at once.
B. Break scrub and rescrub.
C. Wait until closing to change the glove.
D. Ask the surgeon what to do. - ✔✔A. Change the glove at once
