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NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM REVIEW Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
An 85-year-old patient is currently in the operating room under general anesthesia for a right hip
arthroplasty. Which of the following will best help to prevent perioperative positioning injuries?
Ensure all bony prominences are sufficiently padded.
Make sure that the implant is appropriately sized for the patient.
Be attentive to intraoperative signs of discomfort or distress.
Use a body warming blanket during the pre-operative phase. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Ensure all bony
prominences are sufficiently padded.
Rationale: Elderly patients are likely to have pressure ulcers develop if bony prominences are not
cushioned and protected from the hard surface of the operating room table. Their skin is delicate
and fragile due to their age, and other conditions such as diabetes, or poor circulation.
The surgical technologist is opening for a procedure and notices the wrapped item she just opened
has a hole in the outer layer. Which of the following is the proper course of action?
Open the inner layer onto the sterile field.
Discard the item and retrieve a new one.
Check the indicator to ensure the item has been sterilized.
Place the package on a prep stand and open away from the sterile field. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Discard the
item and retrieve a new one.
Rationale: If the integrity of the package has been compromised, it should not be taken on the
sterile field. When in doubt throw it out and get a new one. If the package has a hole it should
never be used. If it was taken onto the sterile field it would contaminate the whole field.
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Before medications or solutions are poured onto the sterile field, the surgical technologist should
verify which of the following? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
Patient
Date
Medication
Dosage
Procedure Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Date, Medication, Dosage
Rationale: Correct patient and procedure are the responsibility of the circulator prior to obtaining
medication. Expiration date, name of medication and dosage must be communicated during
transfer of medication by the circulator and surgical technician to reduce medication errors.
The surgical technologist has just completed scrubbing for a right knee arthroscopy. As the surgeon
takes down the tourniquet, and the surgical technologist begins to breakdown the back table, a
plume of smoke is seen coming from the sterile field. Which of the following is the most likely
source of this smoke?
The light source was left on and the drape is igniting.
The iodine is still damp and is igniting from use of the cautery pencil.
Lactated ringers was used for irrigation instead of glycine.
A faulty grounding pad is in place. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The light source was left on and the drape is
igniting.
Rationale: The light source with the fiber-optic beam, along with a paper drape, would be where
the smoke plume was coming from because of the heat. Iodine and lactated ringers are not a
flammable liquids and would not be the source of the heat. A faulty ground pad would not be the
source of the heat since it's not working properly.
Before medications or solutions are poured onto the sterile field, the surgical technologist should
verify which of the following? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
Patient
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Date
Medication
Dosage
Procedure Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Date, Medication, Dosage
Rationale: Correct patient and procedure are the responsibility of the circulator prior to obtaining
medication. Expiration date, name of medication and dosage must be communicated during
transfer of medication by the circulator and surgical technician to reduce medication errors.
The surgical technologist has just completed scrubbing for a right knee arthroscopy. As the surgeon
takes down the tourniquet, and the surgical technologist begins to breakdown the back table, a
plume of smoke is seen coming from the sterile field. Which of the following is the most likely
source of this smoke?
The light source was left on and the drape is igniting.
The iodine is still damp and is igniting from use of the cautery pencil.
Lactated ringers was used for irrigation instead of glycine.
A faulty grounding pad is in place. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The light source was left on and the drape is
igniting.
Rationale: The light source with the fiber-optic beam, along with a paper drape, would be where
the smoke plume was coming from because of the heat. Iodine and lactated ringers are not a
flammable liquids and would not be the source of the heat. A faulty ground pad would not be the
source of the heat since it's not working properly.
When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use sterilization
unit, which of the following parameters must be met for sterilization with gravity displacement
steam? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
3-4 minute exposure time
270o F
10 minute exposure time
132o F
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4 minute drying time Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ 3-4 minute exposure time, 270F
The anesthesia care provider (ACP) is performing an induction on a known asthmatic patient. The
patient experiences a laryngospasm during intubation. The patient's oxygen saturation is 65%. The
scrubbed surgical technologist should
prepare for a tracheostomy.
prepare the machine for positive pressure ventilation of the airway.
prepare for a laryngoscopy.
hold cricoid pressure. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ prepare for a tracheostomy.
Rationale: The asthmatic patient had difficulty breathing when intubated and the oxygen saturation
dropped. To support airway management, it would be necessary to set up for a tracheostomy. The
surgical technologist would not prepare the machine or hold cricoid pressure due to it is not in their
scope of practice. A laryngoscopy would not aid in air way management.
Where should the ST place the back table when setting up a case?
On the side of the OR table where the surgeon will stand.
As far from the OR doors as possible.
Angled to the foot of the OR table for tower placement.
Placed where the floor plan for that suite has designated it. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ As far from the OR doors
as possible.
Rationale: When the OR doors open and close, air movement is at its highest. Therefore, it is
advantageous to establish the sterile field as far as possible from the doors and from human traffic
into and out of the room.
The surgical technologist is preparing for a case that requires an extreme reverse Trendelenburg.
Special padding is ordered to prevent the patient from slipping. What is the other purpose of this
padding?
Assist in thermoregulation.
Prevent shearing.
Provide moisture wicking.
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM REVIEW Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
An 85-year-old patient is currently in the operating room under general anesthesia for a right hip
arthroplasty. Which of the following will best help to prevent perioperative positioning injuries?
Ensure all bony prominences are sufficiently padded.
Make sure that the implant is appropriately sized for the patient.
Be attentive to intraoperative signs of discomfort or distress.
Use a body warming blanket during the pre-operative phase. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Ensure all bony
prominences are sufficiently padded.
Rationale: Elderly patients are likely to have pressure ulcers develop if bony prominences are not
cushioned and protected from the hard surface of the operating room table. Their skin is delicate
and fragile due to their age, and other conditions such as diabetes, or poor circulation.
The surgical technologist is opening for a procedure and notices the wrapped item she just opened
has a hole in the outer layer. Which of the following is the proper course of action?
Open the inner layer onto the sterile field.
Discard the item and retrieve a new one.
Check the indicator to ensure the item has been sterilized.
Place the package on a prep stand and open away from the sterile field. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Discard the
item and retrieve a new one.
Rationale: If the integrity of the package has been compromised, it should not be taken on the
sterile field. When in doubt throw it out and get a new one. If the package has a hole it should
never be used. If it was taken onto the sterile field it would contaminate the whole field.
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
,Click here for more: Scholars nexus
Before medications or solutions are poured onto the sterile field, the surgical technologist should
verify which of the following? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
Patient
Date
Medication
Dosage
Procedure Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Date, Medication, Dosage
Rationale: Correct patient and procedure are the responsibility of the circulator prior to obtaining
medication. Expiration date, name of medication and dosage must be communicated during
transfer of medication by the circulator and surgical technician to reduce medication errors.
The surgical technologist has just completed scrubbing for a right knee arthroscopy. As the surgeon
takes down the tourniquet, and the surgical technologist begins to breakdown the back table, a
plume of smoke is seen coming from the sterile field. Which of the following is the most likely
source of this smoke?
The light source was left on and the drape is igniting.
The iodine is still damp and is igniting from use of the cautery pencil.
Lactated ringers was used for irrigation instead of glycine.
A faulty grounding pad is in place. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The light source was left on and the drape is
igniting.
Rationale: The light source with the fiber-optic beam, along with a paper drape, would be where
the smoke plume was coming from because of the heat. Iodine and lactated ringers are not a
flammable liquids and would not be the source of the heat. A faulty ground pad would not be the
source of the heat since it's not working properly.
Before medications or solutions are poured onto the sterile field, the surgical technologist should
verify which of the following? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
Patient
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,Click here for more: Scholars nexus
Date
Medication
Dosage
Procedure Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Date, Medication, Dosage
Rationale: Correct patient and procedure are the responsibility of the circulator prior to obtaining
medication. Expiration date, name of medication and dosage must be communicated during
transfer of medication by the circulator and surgical technician to reduce medication errors.
The surgical technologist has just completed scrubbing for a right knee arthroscopy. As the surgeon
takes down the tourniquet, and the surgical technologist begins to breakdown the back table, a
plume of smoke is seen coming from the sterile field. Which of the following is the most likely
source of this smoke?
The light source was left on and the drape is igniting.
The iodine is still damp and is igniting from use of the cautery pencil.
Lactated ringers was used for irrigation instead of glycine.
A faulty grounding pad is in place. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The light source was left on and the drape is
igniting.
Rationale: The light source with the fiber-optic beam, along with a paper drape, would be where
the smoke plume was coming from because of the heat. Iodine and lactated ringers are not a
flammable liquids and would not be the source of the heat. A faulty ground pad would not be the
source of the heat since it's not working properly.
When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use sterilization
unit, which of the following parameters must be met for sterilization with gravity displacement
steam? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
3-4 minute exposure time
270o F
10 minute exposure time
132o F
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
, Click here for more: Scholars nexus
4 minute drying time Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ 3-4 minute exposure time, 270F
The anesthesia care provider (ACP) is performing an induction on a known asthmatic patient. The
patient experiences a laryngospasm during intubation. The patient's oxygen saturation is 65%. The
scrubbed surgical technologist should
prepare for a tracheostomy.
prepare the machine for positive pressure ventilation of the airway.
prepare for a laryngoscopy.
hold cricoid pressure. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ prepare for a tracheostomy.
Rationale: The asthmatic patient had difficulty breathing when intubated and the oxygen saturation
dropped. To support airway management, it would be necessary to set up for a tracheostomy. The
surgical technologist would not prepare the machine or hold cricoid pressure due to it is not in their
scope of practice. A laryngoscopy would not aid in air way management.
Where should the ST place the back table when setting up a case?
On the side of the OR table where the surgeon will stand.
As far from the OR doors as possible.
Angled to the foot of the OR table for tower placement.
Placed where the floor plan for that suite has designated it. Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ As far from the OR doors
as possible.
Rationale: When the OR doors open and close, air movement is at its highest. Therefore, it is
advantageous to establish the sterile field as far as possible from the doors and from human traffic
into and out of the room.
The surgical technologist is preparing for a case that requires an extreme reverse Trendelenburg.
Special padding is ordered to prevent the patient from slipping. What is the other purpose of this
padding?
Assist in thermoregulation.
Prevent shearing.
Provide moisture wicking.
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
