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NBSTSA CERTIFIED SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT
PRACTICE EXAM B ACTULA QUESTIONS ANSWERS
2026-27 LATEST VERSION
• Which of the following surgical needles is MOST appropriate for use
in a liver resection?
A. cutting
B. taper
C. blunt
D. trocar - Answer C. Blunt
• To help in the calculation of the amount of blood loss, the surgical
technologist should
A. weigh the blood-soaked sponges.
B. measure the amount of collected fluid.
C. administer the blood replacement.
D. report the amount of irrigation used. - Answer D. report the amount
of irrigation used
• During dilation and curettage, after the Auvard weighted vaginal
speculum is placed, which of the following instruments is used to grasp
the cervix?
A. Hegar dilator
B. uterine sound
C. Sim's curette
D. single tooth tenaculum - Answer D. single tooth tenaculum
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• Which of the following is the MOST accurate method to check
steam autoclave effectiveness?
A. chemical indicator
B. biological indicator
C. external tape
D. temperature recording device - Answer B. biological indicator
• Following a surgical procedure, which of the following is the BEST
sequence of actions for a surgical technologist to take?
A. Remove sterile drapes, remove gown and gloves, and don a pair of
unsterile gloves to aid in the care of the patient.
B. Remove gown and gloves, don a pair of unsterile gloves to remove
drapes from the patient, and remove instruments and supplies from
the back table.
C. Remove gown and gloves, don a pair of sterile gloves to remove
drapes from the patient, then replace those gloves with a pair of
unsterile gloves to clean the back table.
D. Remove sterile drapes, remove gown and gloves, and don a pair of
sterile gloves to clean the back table. - Answer A. Remove sterile
drapes, remove gown and gloves, and don a pair of unsterile gloves to
aid in the care of the patient.
• Which of the following will place a staff member at risk for work-
related musculoskeletal disorders?
A. working in the same posture for prolonged periods
B. making small adjustments to a chair or backrest
C. using four team members to transfer a patient laterally
D. frequent position changes while standing at the sterile field - Answer
A. working in the same posture for prolonged periods
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• While setting up for a surgical procedure, a surgical technologist
discovers a puncture in the right surgical glove. If no one is available to
assist, the BEST solution for the surgical technologist is to
A. request the circulator to reglove the contaminated hand.
B. ask the circulator for a new set of gloves to perform a closed-gloved
technique.
C. ask the circulator for a new gown and gloves to regown and reglove.
D. request another set of gloves to place over the punctured glove. -
Answer C.ask the circulator for a new gown and gloves to regown and
reglove.
• During the application of arch bars, the surgeon will MOST likely use
which of the following between the teeth and around the bar?
A. 0-1 Dexon
B. 5-0 to 6-0 Vicryl
C. 24- or 26-gauge stainless steel wire
D. 35- or 40-gauge stainless steel wire - Answer C. 24- or 26-gauge
stainless steel wire
• Which of the following is necessary for ethylene oxide sterilization
to occur?
A. indirect contact
B. gravity displacement
C. humidity
D. steam - Answer C. humidity
• 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
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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 - Answer A. shoulder,
upper arm and extending down to the elbow, axilla, chest to the table
line, and to the left shoulder
• Which of the following is done FIRST when performing a
myringotomy?
A. inserting a drainage tube
B. incising the tympanic membrane
C. suctioning fluid from the middle ear
D. removing cerumen from the ear canal - Answer D. removing
cerumen from the ear canal
• During a laminectomy, disk material is removed with a
A. Cobb elevator.
B. Kerrison rongeur.
C. pituitary rongeur.
D. periosteal elevator. - Answer C. pituitary rongeur
• Which of the following is considered the MOST important skill for a
surgical technologist?
A. management of specimens
B. management of sponges
C. maintaining an orderly setup
D. ensuring adequate lighting - Answer A. Management of specimens
2. During the postoperative phase, the personnel primarily responsible
for transporting soiled instrumentation to decontamination is the
NBSTSA CERTIFIED SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT
PRACTICE EXAM B ACTULA QUESTIONS ANSWERS
2026-27 LATEST VERSION
• Which of the following surgical needles is MOST appropriate for use
in a liver resection?
A. cutting
B. taper
C. blunt
D. trocar - Answer C. Blunt
• To help in the calculation of the amount of blood loss, the surgical
technologist should
A. weigh the blood-soaked sponges.
B. measure the amount of collected fluid.
C. administer the blood replacement.
D. report the amount of irrigation used. - Answer D. report the amount
of irrigation used
• During dilation and curettage, after the Auvard weighted vaginal
speculum is placed, which of the following instruments is used to grasp
the cervix?
A. Hegar dilator
B. uterine sound
C. Sim's curette
D. single tooth tenaculum - Answer D. single tooth tenaculum
,2
• Which of the following is the MOST accurate method to check
steam autoclave effectiveness?
A. chemical indicator
B. biological indicator
C. external tape
D. temperature recording device - Answer B. biological indicator
• Following a surgical procedure, which of the following is the BEST
sequence of actions for a surgical technologist to take?
A. Remove sterile drapes, remove gown and gloves, and don a pair of
unsterile gloves to aid in the care of the patient.
B. Remove gown and gloves, don a pair of unsterile gloves to remove
drapes from the patient, and remove instruments and supplies from
the back table.
C. Remove gown and gloves, don a pair of sterile gloves to remove
drapes from the patient, then replace those gloves with a pair of
unsterile gloves to clean the back table.
D. Remove sterile drapes, remove gown and gloves, and don a pair of
sterile gloves to clean the back table. - Answer A. Remove sterile
drapes, remove gown and gloves, and don a pair of unsterile gloves to
aid in the care of the patient.
• Which of the following will place a staff member at risk for work-
related musculoskeletal disorders?
A. working in the same posture for prolonged periods
B. making small adjustments to a chair or backrest
C. using four team members to transfer a patient laterally
D. frequent position changes while standing at the sterile field - Answer
A. working in the same posture for prolonged periods
,3
• While setting up for a surgical procedure, a surgical technologist
discovers a puncture in the right surgical glove. If no one is available to
assist, the BEST solution for the surgical technologist is to
A. request the circulator to reglove the contaminated hand.
B. ask the circulator for a new set of gloves to perform a closed-gloved
technique.
C. ask the circulator for a new gown and gloves to regown and reglove.
D. request another set of gloves to place over the punctured glove. -
Answer C.ask the circulator for a new gown and gloves to regown and
reglove.
• During the application of arch bars, the surgeon will MOST likely use
which of the following between the teeth and around the bar?
A. 0-1 Dexon
B. 5-0 to 6-0 Vicryl
C. 24- or 26-gauge stainless steel wire
D. 35- or 40-gauge stainless steel wire - Answer C. 24- or 26-gauge
stainless steel wire
• Which of the following is necessary for ethylene oxide sterilization
to occur?
A. indirect contact
B. gravity displacement
C. humidity
D. steam - Answer C. humidity
• 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
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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 - Answer A. shoulder,
upper arm and extending down to the elbow, axilla, chest to the table
line, and to the left shoulder
• Which of the following is done FIRST when performing a
myringotomy?
A. inserting a drainage tube
B. incising the tympanic membrane
C. suctioning fluid from the middle ear
D. removing cerumen from the ear canal - Answer D. removing
cerumen from the ear canal
• During a laminectomy, disk material is removed with a
A. Cobb elevator.
B. Kerrison rongeur.
C. pituitary rongeur.
D. periosteal elevator. - Answer C. pituitary rongeur
• Which of the following is considered the MOST important skill for a
surgical technologist?
A. management of specimens
B. management of sponges
C. maintaining an orderly setup
D. ensuring adequate lighting - Answer A. Management of specimens
2. During the postoperative phase, the personnel primarily responsible
for transporting soiled instrumentation to decontamination is the
