NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A Questions
and Answers Graded A+
Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone through which the
spinal cord passes?
A. foramen ovale
B. foramen magnum
C. foramen rotundum
D. foramen of Bochdalek - Correct answer-B. foramen magnum
Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR 1. A surgical
technologist was just informed that the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next
case in OR 1 is scheduled in two hours. Which of the following is the BEST course
of action?
A. Cover the sterile field with a sterile drape and move it from OR 1 to OR 2.
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,B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and the setup
in OR 1 should be disposed of.
C. OR 1 should be left so that these supplies and instruments can be used by the
next case.
D. The surgical technologist should argue that the procedure be held in OR 1 as
planned. - Correct answer-B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be
obtained for OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be disposed of.
Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to injury?
A. fever
B. infection
C. inflammation
D. immune reaction - Correct answer-C. inflammation
Which of the following instruments is used for a common bile duct exploration?
A. Fogarty clamp
B. Randall forceps
C. Pennington clamp
D. Forester ring forceps - Correct answer-B. Randall forceps
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,Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture?
A. avoiding the knot
B. using sharp scissors
C.opening the scissors wide when cutting
D. tagging the end of suture to be cut with a hemostat - Correct answer-A.
avoiding the knot
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during the
cholecystectomy?
A.cystic artery and cystic duct
B.hepatic artery and hepatic duct
C. cystic artery and common bile duct
D. hepatic artery and pancreatic duct - Correct answer-A.cystic artery and cystic
duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile dressing to a skin
graft site?
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, A. pressure dressing
B. ABD pad
C. 4x4s
D. Steri-Strips - Correct answer-A. pressure dressing
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is
used to grasp the cervix?
A. Sims
B. Auvard
C. Schroeder
D. Bozeman - Correct answer-C. Schroeder
On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient tells the nurse, "No
matter what happens, it will be okay." Which of the Five Stages of Grief is the
patient MOST likely in?
A. denial
B. bargaining
C. depression
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and Answers Graded A+
Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone through which the
spinal cord passes?
A. foramen ovale
B. foramen magnum
C. foramen rotundum
D. foramen of Bochdalek - Correct answer-B. foramen magnum
Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR 1. A surgical
technologist was just informed that the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next
case in OR 1 is scheduled in two hours. Which of the following is the BEST course
of action?
A. Cover the sterile field with a sterile drape and move it from OR 1 to OR 2.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and the setup
in OR 1 should be disposed of.
C. OR 1 should be left so that these supplies and instruments can be used by the
next case.
D. The surgical technologist should argue that the procedure be held in OR 1 as
planned. - Correct answer-B. New sterile supplies and instruments should be
obtained for OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be disposed of.
Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to injury?
A. fever
B. infection
C. inflammation
D. immune reaction - Correct answer-C. inflammation
Which of the following instruments is used for a common bile duct exploration?
A. Fogarty clamp
B. Randall forceps
C. Pennington clamp
D. Forester ring forceps - Correct answer-B. Randall forceps
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture?
A. avoiding the knot
B. using sharp scissors
C.opening the scissors wide when cutting
D. tagging the end of suture to be cut with a hemostat - Correct answer-A.
avoiding the knot
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during the
cholecystectomy?
A.cystic artery and cystic duct
B.hepatic artery and hepatic duct
C. cystic artery and common bile duct
D. hepatic artery and pancreatic duct - Correct answer-A.cystic artery and cystic
duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile dressing to a skin
graft site?
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, A. pressure dressing
B. ABD pad
C. 4x4s
D. Steri-Strips - Correct answer-A. pressure dressing
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is
used to grasp the cervix?
A. Sims
B. Auvard
C. Schroeder
D. Bozeman - Correct answer-C. Schroeder
On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient tells the nurse, "No
matter what happens, it will be okay." Which of the Five Stages of Grief is the
patient MOST likely in?
A. denial
B. bargaining
C. depression
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
