ABSA Surgical Assistant Certification
Practice Exam — 100 Questions Original
Practice Questions with Answers &
Rationales
1. Surgical asepsis
Which action by a surgical assistant would break sterile technique?
A. Keeping sterile hands above waist level
B. Turning away from the sterile field
C. Passing an item over the sterile field
D. Maintaining the sterile gown in front of the body
Answer: B
Rationale: A sterile team member should maintain awareness of the sterile field. Turning away
can cause loss of visual control and potentially contaminate the field.
2. Surgical hand antisepsis
The primary purpose of surgical hand antisepsis is to:
A. Remove all microorganisms permanently
B. Reduce transient and resident microorganisms
C. Sterilize the hands completely
D. Replace the need for sterile gloves
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis reduces microorganisms on the hands and limits microbial
contamination if glove integrity is compromised. It does not permanently sterilize the hands.
3. Sterile field
Which part of a sterile gown is generally considered sterile?
,A. Back
B. Axillary area
C. Front from chest to sterile field level
D. Neckline
Answer: C
Rationale: The front of the gown within the designated sterile area is considered sterile. The
back, neckline, and areas below the sterile field level are not considered sterile.
4. Surgical counts
When should surgical counts be performed?
A. Only at the end of surgery
B. Only before incision
C. At designated points before, during, and after surgery
D. Only when the surgeon requests them
Answer: C
Rationale: Counts are performed according to institutional policy, commonly before the
procedure, during relevant stages such as closure, and at final closure to reduce the risk of
retained surgical items.
5. Incorrect sponge count
The final sponge count is incorrect. What is the priority action?
A. Close the incision immediately
B. Document the discrepancy after surgery
C. Notify the surgical team and initiate the facility's count-discrepancy procedure
D. Assume the sponge is in the waste container
Answer: C
Rationale: A discrepancy must be addressed immediately. The team should search
systematically and follow institutional procedures, including notifying the surgeon and obtaining
imaging when indicated.
,6. Surgical positioning
Which position is commonly used for posterior spinal procedures?
A. Supine
B. Prone
C. Lithotomy
D. Trendelenburg
Answer: B
Rationale: Prone positioning provides access to the posterior spine. Careful padding and
positioning are essential to reduce pressure and nerve injuries.
7. Lithotomy complications
A major concern with prolonged lithotomy positioning is:
A. Cataracts
B. Peripheral nerve injury and compartment syndrome
C. Hearing loss
D. Facial burns
Answer: B
Rationale: Lithotomy can place pressure on nerves and compromise lower-extremity circulation.
Prolonged positioning increases the risk of nerve injury and compartment syndrome.
8. Trendelenburg position
Trendelenburg positioning involves:
A. Head higher than feet
B. Patient sitting upright
C. Head lower than feet
D. Patient lying laterally
Answer: C
Rationale: In Trendelenburg, the head is positioned below the feet. It is used for selected
procedures and can affect respiratory and cardiovascular physiology.
, 9. Surgical site preparation
The purpose of preoperative skin preparation is to:
A. Sterilize living tissue
B. Reduce microorganisms on the operative site
C. Remove all epithelial cells
D. Replace antibiotic prophylaxis
Answer: B
Rationale: Skin preparation reduces microbial burden on the surgical site. Antiseptics cannot
sterilize living tissue.
10. Alcohol-based prep
Why must alcohol-based surgical prep solutions be allowed to dry?
A. To increase staining
B. To decrease the risk of surgical fire
C. To prevent hypothermia
D. To improve patient positioning
Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol is flammable. Allowing it to completely dry before draping and use of
ignition sources reduces fire risk.
11. Electrosurgery
The primary purpose of electrosurgery is to:
A. Produce diagnostic images
B. Cut tissue and/or achieve hemostasis
C. Sterilize instruments
D. Measure blood pressure
Answer: B
Practice Exam — 100 Questions Original
Practice Questions with Answers &
Rationales
1. Surgical asepsis
Which action by a surgical assistant would break sterile technique?
A. Keeping sterile hands above waist level
B. Turning away from the sterile field
C. Passing an item over the sterile field
D. Maintaining the sterile gown in front of the body
Answer: B
Rationale: A sterile team member should maintain awareness of the sterile field. Turning away
can cause loss of visual control and potentially contaminate the field.
2. Surgical hand antisepsis
The primary purpose of surgical hand antisepsis is to:
A. Remove all microorganisms permanently
B. Reduce transient and resident microorganisms
C. Sterilize the hands completely
D. Replace the need for sterile gloves
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis reduces microorganisms on the hands and limits microbial
contamination if glove integrity is compromised. It does not permanently sterilize the hands.
3. Sterile field
Which part of a sterile gown is generally considered sterile?
,A. Back
B. Axillary area
C. Front from chest to sterile field level
D. Neckline
Answer: C
Rationale: The front of the gown within the designated sterile area is considered sterile. The
back, neckline, and areas below the sterile field level are not considered sterile.
4. Surgical counts
When should surgical counts be performed?
A. Only at the end of surgery
B. Only before incision
C. At designated points before, during, and after surgery
D. Only when the surgeon requests them
Answer: C
Rationale: Counts are performed according to institutional policy, commonly before the
procedure, during relevant stages such as closure, and at final closure to reduce the risk of
retained surgical items.
5. Incorrect sponge count
The final sponge count is incorrect. What is the priority action?
A. Close the incision immediately
B. Document the discrepancy after surgery
C. Notify the surgical team and initiate the facility's count-discrepancy procedure
D. Assume the sponge is in the waste container
Answer: C
Rationale: A discrepancy must be addressed immediately. The team should search
systematically and follow institutional procedures, including notifying the surgeon and obtaining
imaging when indicated.
,6. Surgical positioning
Which position is commonly used for posterior spinal procedures?
A. Supine
B. Prone
C. Lithotomy
D. Trendelenburg
Answer: B
Rationale: Prone positioning provides access to the posterior spine. Careful padding and
positioning are essential to reduce pressure and nerve injuries.
7. Lithotomy complications
A major concern with prolonged lithotomy positioning is:
A. Cataracts
B. Peripheral nerve injury and compartment syndrome
C. Hearing loss
D. Facial burns
Answer: B
Rationale: Lithotomy can place pressure on nerves and compromise lower-extremity circulation.
Prolonged positioning increases the risk of nerve injury and compartment syndrome.
8. Trendelenburg position
Trendelenburg positioning involves:
A. Head higher than feet
B. Patient sitting upright
C. Head lower than feet
D. Patient lying laterally
Answer: C
Rationale: In Trendelenburg, the head is positioned below the feet. It is used for selected
procedures and can affect respiratory and cardiovascular physiology.
, 9. Surgical site preparation
The purpose of preoperative skin preparation is to:
A. Sterilize living tissue
B. Reduce microorganisms on the operative site
C. Remove all epithelial cells
D. Replace antibiotic prophylaxis
Answer: B
Rationale: Skin preparation reduces microbial burden on the surgical site. Antiseptics cannot
sterilize living tissue.
10. Alcohol-based prep
Why must alcohol-based surgical prep solutions be allowed to dry?
A. To increase staining
B. To decrease the risk of surgical fire
C. To prevent hypothermia
D. To improve patient positioning
Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol is flammable. Allowing it to completely dry before draping and use of
ignition sources reduces fire risk.
11. Electrosurgery
The primary purpose of electrosurgery is to:
A. Produce diagnostic images
B. Cut tissue and/or achieve hemostasis
C. Sterilize instruments
D. Measure blood pressure
Answer: B
