NCCT SURGICAL TECH EXAM REVIEW ACTUAL
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
The surgical technologist is preparing for an exploratory laparotomy on a bariatric
patient. Which of the following self-retaining retractors will provide the best
exposure for this case?
A. O'Connor-O'Sullivan
B. Balfour
C. Bookwalter
D. Wexler - ANSWER -C. Bookwalter
While performing a lumbar laminectomy, the surgeon observes that he needs to
perform a discectomy on the patient. Which of the following instruments should
the surgical technologist have ready?
A. Kerrison ronguer
B. Friedman ronguer
C. Leksell ronguer
D. pituitary ronguer - ANSWER -D. pituitary ronguer
When a curved instrument is passed to the surgeon, the curve should be toward the
A. surgical technologist.
B. surgeon.
C. direction of intended use.
D. right. - ANSWER -C. direction of intended use.
Which of the following instruments should the surgical technologist have ready
when the surgeon is performing the anastomosis portion of a small bowel
resection?
A. hemoclip appliers
B. open intraluminal stapler
C. closed intraluminal stapler
D. linear stapler - ANSWER -D. linear stapler
, Which of the following clamps is used for a total abdominal hysterectomy to
facilitate removal of the uterus with minimal blood loss?
A. rubber shod clamps
B. Pennington clamps
C. Heaney clamps
D. Allis clamps - ANSWER -C. Heaney clamps
Place the options below in the correct sequence of instruments for placing screws
into a surgical plate when assisting the surgeon in an orthopedic procedure. (Click
and drag the options in the left column to their correct position in the right
column.)
depth gauge
screwdriver
tap
drill - ANSWER -drill, depth gauge, tap, screwdriver
When cutting suture for the surgeon, which of the following scissors is used to cut
vicryl suture?
A. tenotomy
B. Metzenbaum
C. straight Iris
D. straight Mayo - ANSWER -D. straight Mayo
The surgeon begins to suture and asks the surgical technologist to assist with a
continuous suture. The surgical technologist should
A. pass the suture.
B. follow the suture.
C. cut the suture.
D. tie the suture. - ANSWER -B. follow the suture.
Which of the following are actions within the surgical technologist's scope of
practice? (Select the three (3) correct ANSWERs.)
A. Apply cautery to a small bleeding vessel during abdominal aortic aneurysm
repair.
,B. Connect and secure drains postoperatively.
C. Suction within the pleural cavity during thoracic procedures.
D. Suturing skin as directed by the surgeon postoperatively.
E. Hold retractors during a total knee arthroplasty. - ANSWER -B. Connect and
secure drains postoperatively.
C. Suction within the pleural cavity during thoracic procedures.
E. Hold retractors during a total knee arthroplasty.
During a splenectomy the surgical technologist may be required to
A. suction blood.
B. tie sutures.
C. Bovie tissue.
D. place surgical clips. - ANSWER -A. suction blood.
Which of the following cases will require the surgical technologist to sponge,
suction, and irrigate?
A. cystoscopy
B. hysteroscopy
C. transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
D. total abdominal hysterectomy - ANSWER -D. total abdominal hysterectomy
Which of the following sponges is used to blot for bleeding during a
thyroidectomy?
A. Tonsil
B. Kitner
C. Raytec
D. Cottonoid - ANSWER -C. Raytec
Moisture penetrating a drape, gown, or package is considered
A. saturated.
B. soaked.
C. bioburden.
D. strikethrough. - ANSWER -D. strikethrough.
, Which of the following is the most effective way to limit transmission of droplet
nuclei during a surgical procedure?
A. Avoid splashing of solutions.
B. Limit personnel entering the room.
C. Avoid excessive conversations.
D. Limit movements away from the field. - ANSWER -C. Avoid excessive
conversations.
Place the options below in the correct order for opening a sterile back table pack.
(Click and drag the options in the left column to their correct position in the right
column.)
Check the integrity of the inner packaging.
Check the expiration date.
Break and remove the seal.
Check the integrity of the outer packaging.
Remove outer packaging material. - ANSWER -Check the integrity of the outer
packaging., Check the expiration date., Remove outer packaging material., Check
the integrity of the inner packaging., Break and remove the seal.
For which of the following surgical procedures are gelfoam and thrombin most
commonly used?
A. abdominal hysterectomy
B. cataract extraction
C. craniotomy for hematoma
D. radical mastectomy - ANSWER -C. craniotomy for hematoma
In a carotidendarterectomy, which of the following hemostatic agents should be
used?
A. interceed
B. Gelfoam
C. Oxycel
D. Seprafilm - ANSWER -B. Gelfoam
During a total knee procedure, the surgeon notices that there is a lot of bleeding.
The surgical technologist should be prepared to hand the surgeon a towel to cover
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
The surgical technologist is preparing for an exploratory laparotomy on a bariatric
patient. Which of the following self-retaining retractors will provide the best
exposure for this case?
A. O'Connor-O'Sullivan
B. Balfour
C. Bookwalter
D. Wexler - ANSWER -C. Bookwalter
While performing a lumbar laminectomy, the surgeon observes that he needs to
perform a discectomy on the patient. Which of the following instruments should
the surgical technologist have ready?
A. Kerrison ronguer
B. Friedman ronguer
C. Leksell ronguer
D. pituitary ronguer - ANSWER -D. pituitary ronguer
When a curved instrument is passed to the surgeon, the curve should be toward the
A. surgical technologist.
B. surgeon.
C. direction of intended use.
D. right. - ANSWER -C. direction of intended use.
Which of the following instruments should the surgical technologist have ready
when the surgeon is performing the anastomosis portion of a small bowel
resection?
A. hemoclip appliers
B. open intraluminal stapler
C. closed intraluminal stapler
D. linear stapler - ANSWER -D. linear stapler
, Which of the following clamps is used for a total abdominal hysterectomy to
facilitate removal of the uterus with minimal blood loss?
A. rubber shod clamps
B. Pennington clamps
C. Heaney clamps
D. Allis clamps - ANSWER -C. Heaney clamps
Place the options below in the correct sequence of instruments for placing screws
into a surgical plate when assisting the surgeon in an orthopedic procedure. (Click
and drag the options in the left column to their correct position in the right
column.)
depth gauge
screwdriver
tap
drill - ANSWER -drill, depth gauge, tap, screwdriver
When cutting suture for the surgeon, which of the following scissors is used to cut
vicryl suture?
A. tenotomy
B. Metzenbaum
C. straight Iris
D. straight Mayo - ANSWER -D. straight Mayo
The surgeon begins to suture and asks the surgical technologist to assist with a
continuous suture. The surgical technologist should
A. pass the suture.
B. follow the suture.
C. cut the suture.
D. tie the suture. - ANSWER -B. follow the suture.
Which of the following are actions within the surgical technologist's scope of
practice? (Select the three (3) correct ANSWERs.)
A. Apply cautery to a small bleeding vessel during abdominal aortic aneurysm
repair.
,B. Connect and secure drains postoperatively.
C. Suction within the pleural cavity during thoracic procedures.
D. Suturing skin as directed by the surgeon postoperatively.
E. Hold retractors during a total knee arthroplasty. - ANSWER -B. Connect and
secure drains postoperatively.
C. Suction within the pleural cavity during thoracic procedures.
E. Hold retractors during a total knee arthroplasty.
During a splenectomy the surgical technologist may be required to
A. suction blood.
B. tie sutures.
C. Bovie tissue.
D. place surgical clips. - ANSWER -A. suction blood.
Which of the following cases will require the surgical technologist to sponge,
suction, and irrigate?
A. cystoscopy
B. hysteroscopy
C. transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
D. total abdominal hysterectomy - ANSWER -D. total abdominal hysterectomy
Which of the following sponges is used to blot for bleeding during a
thyroidectomy?
A. Tonsil
B. Kitner
C. Raytec
D. Cottonoid - ANSWER -C. Raytec
Moisture penetrating a drape, gown, or package is considered
A. saturated.
B. soaked.
C. bioburden.
D. strikethrough. - ANSWER -D. strikethrough.
, Which of the following is the most effective way to limit transmission of droplet
nuclei during a surgical procedure?
A. Avoid splashing of solutions.
B. Limit personnel entering the room.
C. Avoid excessive conversations.
D. Limit movements away from the field. - ANSWER -C. Avoid excessive
conversations.
Place the options below in the correct order for opening a sterile back table pack.
(Click and drag the options in the left column to their correct position in the right
column.)
Check the integrity of the inner packaging.
Check the expiration date.
Break and remove the seal.
Check the integrity of the outer packaging.
Remove outer packaging material. - ANSWER -Check the integrity of the outer
packaging., Check the expiration date., Remove outer packaging material., Check
the integrity of the inner packaging., Break and remove the seal.
For which of the following surgical procedures are gelfoam and thrombin most
commonly used?
A. abdominal hysterectomy
B. cataract extraction
C. craniotomy for hematoma
D. radical mastectomy - ANSWER -C. craniotomy for hematoma
In a carotidendarterectomy, which of the following hemostatic agents should be
used?
A. interceed
B. Gelfoam
C. Oxycel
D. Seprafilm - ANSWER -B. Gelfoam
During a total knee procedure, the surgeon notices that there is a lot of bleeding.
The surgical technologist should be prepared to hand the surgeon a towel to cover
