NCCT SURGICAL TECH PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
The surgical technologist observed a patient fall during the transfer from the gurney to
the operating bed. Which of the following items are required in the incident report?
(Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. patient's name
B. personnel involved
C. type of anesthesia used
D. location of the incident
E. patient's weight - Answer -patient's name, personnel involved, location of the
incident
A patient's dentures are removed in the operating room. Which of the following is the
proper procedure for the care of the dentures?
A. The recovery room nurse maintains possession of the labeled denture cup until post
surgery.
B. The circulator places the dentures in a labeled denture cup and keeps them with the
patient's chart.
C. The anesthesia provider holds the labeled denture cup until the patient is awake.
D. The charge nurse holds the labeled denture cup in a secure area until post surgery. -
Answer -The circulator places the dentures in a labeled denture cup and keeps them
with the patient's chart.
The surgeon begins to close the uterus during a myomectomy. Which of the following
actions should the surgical technologist take before continuing with the closure of the
wound?
A. Initiate the closing count.
B. Initiate the cavity count.
C. Obtain sterile wound dressing material.
D. Weigh the myoma. - Answer -Initiate the cavity count.
The surgical technologist prepared a breast lump to send as a frozen section to
pathology. The surgical technologist should pass off the specimen placed
A. in normal saline.
B. on a raytec sponge.
C. on a telfa pad.
D. in formalin. - Answer -on a telfa pad.
Which of the following steps are taken after the surgery has finished and the surgical
technologist is breaking scrub?
A. Wipe blood off of gloves and remove them, then remove the gown.
, B. Using a gloved hand, untie the neck of the gown and pull away from the body,
keeping all blood on the gown.
C. Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into
a ball.
D. Ask the circulator to assist in removing the gown and gloves. - Answer -Wipe the
gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
The patient coming into surgery is from northern India. After induction the anesthesia
provider asks for hair clippers to trim the patients beard to tape the endotracheal tube in
place. Which of the following is the appropriate action?
A. Retrieve the clippers as this is medically necessary regardless of religion. B. Inform
the anesthesia provider of the patient's religion.
C. Consult with the surgeon as this was not on the consent.
D. Provide a razor as a better option than the hair clipper. - Answer -Inform the
anesthesia provider of the patient's religion.
The surgical technologist is helping the surgeon complete a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy and the surgeon has placed the dressing on the patient. Which of the
following should the surgical technologist do next?
A. Remove the top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard.
B. Remove Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, tear the
drape off the patient and discard.
C. Remove top glove, hold dressing in place, tear the drape off patient and discard.
D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll
away the drape and discard. - Answer -Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top
glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard.
During a small bowel resection the surgeon intends to use a disposable internal stapling
device. When should the device be assembled by the surgical technologist?
A. before the case starts
B. after the surgeon choses the device
C. after the case is set up
D. once the patient is draped - Answer -after the surgeon choses the device
When breaking down the setup, which of the following steps should be completed first?
A. The instruments are put back into the instrument tray and placed in/on the case cart.
B. All sharps are contained and disposed of in the sharps container. C. Spray down the
non-disposable instruments with cleaner.
D. All disposable drapes are discarded into the trash receptacle - Answer -All sharps
are contained and disposed of in the sharps container.
A 21-year-old patient is rushed to the OR with a self-inflicted stab wound to the groin.
The wound is an inch in length and the patient has flat lined with a steady flow of blood
pumping from the small wound. Which of the following items should the surgical
technologist have ready for the surgeon? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. Yankauer suction
, B. lap sponges
C. Raytec sponges
D. Frazier suction
E. knife blade - Answer -lap sponges, knife blade, Yankauer suction
A tornado warning is in effect and power has been switched to the generator due to
downed electrical lines. The hospital's disaster triage protocol has been activated. A
surgical procedure is in progress. Which of the following is the best course of action to
ensure patient safety?
A. Immediately evacuate the patient to the preoperative holding area.
B. Finish the procedure and evacuate the patient.
C. Place wet towels under door and finish the procedure.
D. Cover the back table until the storm passes. - Answer -Finish the procedure and
evacuate the patient.
During an otorhinolaryngologic procedure, which of the following precautions should the
surgical technologist take if the anesthesia provider is using an uncuffed endotracheal
tube?
A. Fill the endotracheal tube with sterile water and saline to reduce leakage of oxygen.
B. Fill the endotracheal tube with sterile saline and methylene blue to check for leakage
of oxygen.
C. Moisten the head drape around the field prior to start of procedure to minimize
leakage and reduce heat buildup.
D. Moisten sponges and place around the field prior to start of procedure to minimize
leakage and reduce heat buildup. - Answer -Moisten sponges and place around the
field prior to start of procedure to minimize leakage and reduce heat buildup.
In preparation for a carotid endarterectomy the surgical technologist should anticipate
using which of the following sutures?
A. 7-0 prolene
B. 7-0 chromic
C. 7-0 ethibond
D. 7-0 silk - Answer -7-0 prolene
When reviewing the autoclave log, the surgical technologist should confirm that which of
the following items have been documented before using the instrumentation?
A. expiration date
B. Sterrad indicator
C. exposure temperature D. gas volume - Answer -exposure temperature
When transferring a patient to the operation room table, the surgical technologist should
A. power off any medical equipment during the transfer.
B. ensure that the O.R table remains unlocked in order to position the table to the
surgeon's preference.
C. allow 5-6 fingerbreadths between the safety strap and the - Answer -transfer medical
equipment first and then move the patient.
& ANSWERS
The surgical technologist observed a patient fall during the transfer from the gurney to
the operating bed. Which of the following items are required in the incident report?
(Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. patient's name
B. personnel involved
C. type of anesthesia used
D. location of the incident
E. patient's weight - Answer -patient's name, personnel involved, location of the
incident
A patient's dentures are removed in the operating room. Which of the following is the
proper procedure for the care of the dentures?
A. The recovery room nurse maintains possession of the labeled denture cup until post
surgery.
B. The circulator places the dentures in a labeled denture cup and keeps them with the
patient's chart.
C. The anesthesia provider holds the labeled denture cup until the patient is awake.
D. The charge nurse holds the labeled denture cup in a secure area until post surgery. -
Answer -The circulator places the dentures in a labeled denture cup and keeps them
with the patient's chart.
The surgeon begins to close the uterus during a myomectomy. Which of the following
actions should the surgical technologist take before continuing with the closure of the
wound?
A. Initiate the closing count.
B. Initiate the cavity count.
C. Obtain sterile wound dressing material.
D. Weigh the myoma. - Answer -Initiate the cavity count.
The surgical technologist prepared a breast lump to send as a frozen section to
pathology. The surgical technologist should pass off the specimen placed
A. in normal saline.
B. on a raytec sponge.
C. on a telfa pad.
D. in formalin. - Answer -on a telfa pad.
Which of the following steps are taken after the surgery has finished and the surgical
technologist is breaking scrub?
A. Wipe blood off of gloves and remove them, then remove the gown.
, B. Using a gloved hand, untie the neck of the gown and pull away from the body,
keeping all blood on the gown.
C. Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into
a ball.
D. Ask the circulator to assist in removing the gown and gloves. - Answer -Wipe the
gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
The patient coming into surgery is from northern India. After induction the anesthesia
provider asks for hair clippers to trim the patients beard to tape the endotracheal tube in
place. Which of the following is the appropriate action?
A. Retrieve the clippers as this is medically necessary regardless of religion. B. Inform
the anesthesia provider of the patient's religion.
C. Consult with the surgeon as this was not on the consent.
D. Provide a razor as a better option than the hair clipper. - Answer -Inform the
anesthesia provider of the patient's religion.
The surgical technologist is helping the surgeon complete a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy and the surgeon has placed the dressing on the patient. Which of the
following should the surgical technologist do next?
A. Remove the top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard.
B. Remove Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, tear the
drape off the patient and discard.
C. Remove top glove, hold dressing in place, tear the drape off patient and discard.
D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll
away the drape and discard. - Answer -Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top
glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard.
During a small bowel resection the surgeon intends to use a disposable internal stapling
device. When should the device be assembled by the surgical technologist?
A. before the case starts
B. after the surgeon choses the device
C. after the case is set up
D. once the patient is draped - Answer -after the surgeon choses the device
When breaking down the setup, which of the following steps should be completed first?
A. The instruments are put back into the instrument tray and placed in/on the case cart.
B. All sharps are contained and disposed of in the sharps container. C. Spray down the
non-disposable instruments with cleaner.
D. All disposable drapes are discarded into the trash receptacle - Answer -All sharps
are contained and disposed of in the sharps container.
A 21-year-old patient is rushed to the OR with a self-inflicted stab wound to the groin.
The wound is an inch in length and the patient has flat lined with a steady flow of blood
pumping from the small wound. Which of the following items should the surgical
technologist have ready for the surgeon? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. Yankauer suction
, B. lap sponges
C. Raytec sponges
D. Frazier suction
E. knife blade - Answer -lap sponges, knife blade, Yankauer suction
A tornado warning is in effect and power has been switched to the generator due to
downed electrical lines. The hospital's disaster triage protocol has been activated. A
surgical procedure is in progress. Which of the following is the best course of action to
ensure patient safety?
A. Immediately evacuate the patient to the preoperative holding area.
B. Finish the procedure and evacuate the patient.
C. Place wet towels under door and finish the procedure.
D. Cover the back table until the storm passes. - Answer -Finish the procedure and
evacuate the patient.
During an otorhinolaryngologic procedure, which of the following precautions should the
surgical technologist take if the anesthesia provider is using an uncuffed endotracheal
tube?
A. Fill the endotracheal tube with sterile water and saline to reduce leakage of oxygen.
B. Fill the endotracheal tube with sterile saline and methylene blue to check for leakage
of oxygen.
C. Moisten the head drape around the field prior to start of procedure to minimize
leakage and reduce heat buildup.
D. Moisten sponges and place around the field prior to start of procedure to minimize
leakage and reduce heat buildup. - Answer -Moisten sponges and place around the
field prior to start of procedure to minimize leakage and reduce heat buildup.
In preparation for a carotid endarterectomy the surgical technologist should anticipate
using which of the following sutures?
A. 7-0 prolene
B. 7-0 chromic
C. 7-0 ethibond
D. 7-0 silk - Answer -7-0 prolene
When reviewing the autoclave log, the surgical technologist should confirm that which of
the following items have been documented before using the instrumentation?
A. expiration date
B. Sterrad indicator
C. exposure temperature D. gas volume - Answer -exposure temperature
When transferring a patient to the operation room table, the surgical technologist should
A. power off any medical equipment during the transfer.
B. ensure that the O.R table remains unlocked in order to position the table to the
surgeon's preference.
C. allow 5-6 fingerbreadths between the safety strap and the - Answer -transfer medical
equipment first and then move the patient.
