NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A, Questions with accurate answers, rated A+

NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A, Questions with accurate answers, rated 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. foram ...

NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A, Questions with accurate answers, rated 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 - ✔✔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. 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. - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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 - ✔✔B. Randall forceps 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 - ✔✔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 - ✔✔A.cystic artery and cystic duct Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile dressing to a skin graft site? A. pressure dressing B. ABD pad C. 4x4s D. Steri-Strips - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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 D. acceptance - ✔✔D. acceptance Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a craniotomy? A. bayonet forceps B. Russian forceps C. Kelly clamp D. angled DeBakey clamp - ✔✔A. bayonet forceps When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in the sterile field, they should A. pass back-to-back. B. both face the wall. C. pass side-to-side. D. both face the sterile field. - ✔✔A. pass back-to-back. Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate blood? A. Doppler ultrasound B. defibrillator C. extracorporeal bypass D. autotransfuser - ✔✔C. extracorporeal bypass The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate anesthetic agent is the A. physiologic condition of the patient. B. length of the procedure. C. type of the procedure. D. anxiety level of the patient. - ✔✔A. physiologic condition of the patient. If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they should be packaged with one basin A.stacked inside the other and separated by impervious material. B.on its side and the other upside down. C.stacked inside the other and wrapped in a towel. D.stacked inside the other and separated by a towel. - ✔✔D.stacked inside the other and separated by a towel. Which of the following items may be used in positioning a patient for a total hip arthroplasty? A. fracture table B. Wilson frame C. Andrews frame D. bean bag - ✔✔D. bean bag A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How should the surgical technologist respond? A.Acknowledge the neighbor. B.Reassure the neighbor that everything will be fine. C.Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first. D.Ignore the neighbor, even if greeted. - ✔✔C. Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an appendectomy should be A.placed in a separate basin. B.wiped with a saline sponge. C.returned to the Mayo stand. D. wiped with an alcohol sponge. - ✔✔A.placed in a separate basin. Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of a strangulated hernia? A. shock B. necrosis C. infection D. hemorrhage - ✔✔B. necrosis Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for draping the patient? A.Hold the drapes high until directly over the patient. B.Protect the gloved hands by cuffing the drapes. C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement. D.Place the drapes on a dry area. - ✔✔C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement. Which of the following structures is separated first when a paramedian incision is performed? A. peritoneum B. transverse abdominis C. external oblique D. rectus abdominis - ✔✔D. rectus abdominis Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to stabilize a cervical fracture? A. Kirschner wire B. Hoffman device C. Steinmann pins D. Mayfield clamp - ✔✔D. Mayfield clamp During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is controlled by A. Gelfoam. B. irrigation. C. cauterization. D. suture ligature. - ✔✔C. cauterization. To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical procedure, which of the following should be removed LAST by the surgical technologist in the scrub role? A. patient's drapes B. surgical gloves C. surgical gown D. Mayo stand drape - ✔✔B. surgical gloves In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon must enter which of the following? A. synovial membrane B. Gerota's fascia C. Hesselbach's triangle D. suprapleural membrane - ✔✔B. Gerota's fascia Which of the following is the MOST common straight catheter used prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery in the OR? A. Foley B. Pezzer C. Malecot D. Robinson - ✔✔D. Robinson A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of surgery? A. hysterectomy B. prostatectomy C. bladder suspension D. anterior colporrhaphy - ✔✔C. bladder suspension Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which of the following procedures might be performed on the patient in the operating room? A. cystoscopy B. culdoscopy C. sigmoidoscopy D. laparoscopy - ✔✔C. sigmoidoscopy Which of the following is a fenestrated drape? A. a drape with an opening that allows exposure of the operative site B. a split drape that has two tails C. a drape used to cover the operating table, instrument table, and body regions D. an incise drape that is self-adhering - ✔✔A. a drape with an opening that allows exposure of the operative site An appendectomy incision closed using suture is considered to be which of the following types of wound closure? A. primary intention B. secondary intention C. tertiary intention D. third intention - ✔✔A. primary intention Which of the following patients is MOST likely to acquire a nosocomial infection? A. a healthy female patient who is 45 years of age B. a female patient in labor and delivery C. a healthy male patient who is 45 years of age D. a male patient who has diabetes - ✔✔D. a male patient who has diabetes 31 The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of the following types of suture? A. mattress B. traction C. interrupted D. purse-string - ✔✔D. purse-string Aerobic organisms are BEST characterized as A. pathogenic. B. nonpathogenic. C. oxygen-requiring. D. non-oxygen-requiring. - ✔✔C. oxygen-requiring. The PRIMARY purpose of chest tubes is to A. irrigate the pleural space. B. eliminate chest leaks. C. prevent pulmonary emboli. D. re-establish negative pressure. - ✔✔D. re-establish negative pressure. Which of the following is a surgical instrument designed for retracting? A. Potts B. Penfield C. Lowman D. Gelpi - ✔✔D. Gelpi Which of the following surgical procedures may be used to remove a carcinoma from the head of the pancreas? A. Heller B. Whipple C. Bankart D. Billroth I - ✔✔B. Whipple A sterile item used with an electrosurgical unit is the A. generator. B. patient return electrode. C. active electrode. D. foot pedal. - ✔✔C. active electrode What is the desired effect of atropine sulfate when used as a preoperative medication? A. drowsiness B. pain relief C. decreased anxiety D. drying of secretions - ✔✔D. drying of secretions A postoperative total arthroplasty patient presents to the emergency department with severe throbbing pain, fever, and malaise. Which of the following is the likely diagnosis? A. osteoarthritis B. osteoporosis C. osteomyelitis D. osteomalacia - ✔✔C. osteomyelitis Which of the following is used to stabilize a fractured finger? A. Rush rods B. Hagie pins C. Knowles pins D. Kirschner wires - ✔✔D. Kirschner wires Which of the following is the primary purpose for changing into operating room attire? A. to standardize uniforms B. to prevent the of spread of microorganisms C. to identify operating room personnel D. to avoid damage to personal attire - ✔✔B. to prevent the of spread of microorganisms A surgical technologist is assigned to a room where the patient happens to be his neighbor. To protect patient confidentiality, the technologist should indicate that he knows the patient and A. continue with the procedure. B. request to be removed from the room. C. discuss patient personal medical information. D. inform the surgeon. - ✔✔B. request to be removed from the room. Mannitol (Osmitrol) is used in neurosurgical procedures to A. prevent bleeding. B. decrease intracranial pressure. C. anesthetize the operative site. D. fight possible postoperative infection. - ✔✔B. decrease intracranial pressure. Which of the following lies between the lung and the chest wall? A. mediastinum B. peritoneum C. pleura D. pericardium - ✔✔C. pleura Which of the following is applied as a nonadherent dressing? A. adaptic B. collodion C. steri-strip D. elastoplast - ✔✔A. adaptic A Balfour is used in which of the following procedures? A. tracheostomy B. sigmoid resection C. pulmonary decortication D. stapedectomy - ✔✔B. sigmoid resection If the VII cranial nerve is severed, which of the following is the result? A. loss of hearing B. loss of vision C. facial paralysis D. impairment of eye muscles - ✔✔C. facial paralysis When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers? A.cuticular and subcuticular B.subicular and subcutaneous C.subcuticular and subcutaneous D.subcutaneous and fascia - ✔✔A.cuticular and subcuticular During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically discovered? A. esophagectomy B. appendectomy C. prostatectomy D. varicocelectomy - ✔✔B. appendectomy Which of the following layers are transected when a subcostal flank incision is used for a nephrectomy? A. pre-peritoneal fat B. linea alba C. oblique muscles D. rectus abdominis muscle - ✔✔C. oblique muscles A perforator is used for which of the following procedures? A. cordotomy B. craniotomy C. laminectomy D. spinal fusion - ✔✔B. craniotomy In preparation for a cranial aneurysm, which of the following pieces of equipment would MOST likely be used? A. microscope B. cryoprobe C. Jordan Day drill D. Crutchfield tongs - ✔✔A. microscope During strabismus surgery, which of the following is the first tissue layer that must be incised? A. iris B. cornea C. sclera D. conjunctiva - ✔✔D. conjunctiva When can instrument counts be omitted? A. if an emergency procedure must be performed B. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy C. if instruments are needed in another operating room D. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - ✔✔A. if an emergency procedure must be performed In which of the following positions is a patient placed for a right nephrectomy? A. left lateral B. right lateral C. left lateral kidney D. right lateral kidney - ✔✔C. left lateral kidney Which of the following examples illustrates UNSAFE technique for disposing of contaminated sharps? A. Used suture needles and scalpel blades are removed from the needle counter and individually placed in the biohazard sharps container. B. Used suture needles and scalpel blades remain in the needle counter and the closed needle counter is placed in the biohazard sharps container. C. The biohazard sharps container is located as close as possible to the area in which the items were used. D. Disposable surgical blades are removed from knife handles with a needle holder or other instrument. - ✔✔A. Used suture needles and scalpel blades are removed from the needle counter and individually placed in the biohazard sharps container. Why is the right kidney typically several centimeters lower than the left kidney? A. The liver rests superior and anterior to the right kidney. B. The liver rests superior and posterior to the right kidney. C. The liver rests inferior and anterior to the right kidney. D. The liver rests inferior and posterior to the right kidney. - ✔✔A. The liver rests superior and anterior to the right kidney. Which of the following should be the MINIMUM exposure time in a flash sterilizer for unwrapped instruments? A. 1 minute B. 3 minutes C. 5 minutes D. 7 minutes - ✔✔B. 3 minutes If a routine surgical procedure was performed without consent, the surgeon committed A. assault. B. battery. C. malpractice. D. liability. - ✔✔B. battery. If an adult patient refuses a blood transfusion, the surgical staff should A. not administer blood to the patient. B. administer blood only in an emergency. C. administer blood only after sedation. D. not perform any procedure that may require a transfusion. - ✔✔A. not administer blood to the patient. During the intraoperative phase, which of the following activities can be completed by both sterile and non-sterile members of the surgical team? A.caring for the specimen B.maintaining the patient's operative record C.clearing residual blood from the surgical field D.maintaining the sterile field and neutral zone - ✔✔A.caring for the specimen A lumbar meningocele involves removal of A. cerebrospinal fluid. B. lumbar disc. C. meninges. D. a fluid-filled sac. - ✔✔D. a fluid-filled sac. Wrinkle-free padding is applied to an extremity before application of a tourniquet to avoid A. skin injuries. B. improper inflation. C. excessive blood loss. D. skeletal injuries. - ✔✔A. skin injuries A specimen obtained for frozen section is generally removed from the sterile field intraoperatively because it A. needs to be labeled by the circulator. B. is sent to pathology immediately. C. will contaminate the sterile field. D. needs to be placed in formalin solution. - ✔✔B. is sent to pathology immediately. Which of the following procedures is used to visualize the cystic, hepatic, and common ducts? A. barium enema B. cholangiography C. intravenous pyelography D. upper gastrointestinal series - ✔✔B. cholangiography A scleral buckle procedure repairs A. astigmatism. B. detached retinas. C. corneal scarring. D. eye muscle contractures. - ✔✔B. detached retinas. Which of the following retractors should the surgical technologist have available to provide exposure to the patellar tendon while harvesting the graft for an ACL repair? A. Senn B. Richardson C. Hayes D. Fukuda - ✔✔A. Senn The surgical technologist in the scrub role should remain sterile following which of the following surgical procedures? A.laparoscopic cholecystectomy B.carotid endarterectomy C.total hip arthroplasty D.tympanoplasty - ✔✔B.carotid endarterectomy During dissection of the cystic duct in an open cholecystectomy, which of the following instruments is necessary? A. Ochsner forceps B. Jennings retractor C. Mixter clamp D. O'Sullivan-O'Connor retractor - ✔✔C. Mixter clamp A patient entering the operating room for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy looks jaundiced. Which of the following is the BEST explanation for this? A. pancreatitis B. biliary obstruction C. cholecystitis D. gastroschisis - ✔✔B. biliary obstruction The primary purpose of a local anesthetic is to A. lower skin temperature. B. reduce fear and anxiety. C. block peripheral nerve receptors. D. decrease bleeding. - ✔✔C. block peripheral nerve receptors. Which of the following is the correct skin preparation for a female patient undergoing a right mastectomy with possible axillary dissection? A. shoulder, upper arm and extending down to the elbow, axilla, chest to the table line, and to the left shoulder B. base of the neck, shoulder, scapula, chest to midline, and circumference of upper arm down to the elbow C. entire arm, shoulder, axilla, including the hand D. chin to umbilicus and laterally to the table line - ✔✔A. shoulder, upper arm and extending down to the elbow, axilla, chest to the table line, and to the left shoulder When performing a parotidectomy, which of the following nerves is identified and preserved with the use of a nerve stimulator? A. facial nerve B. recurrent laryngeal nerve C. acoustic nerve D. vagus nerve - ✔✔A. facial nerve Which of the following medications is the anesthesia provider responsible for recording the name, amount, and delivery method during a surgical procedure? A. thrombin B. topically applied epinephrine C. polymyxin B sulfate irrigation D. propofol - ✔✔D. propofol As a surgical technologist begins to prep a female patient for Foley catheterization, a bulge in the vaginal wall is noticed. Which of the following would cause this bulge? A. cystocele B. endometriosis C. leiomyoma D. ectopic pregnancy - ✔✔A. cystocele A surgical technologist enters the OR after scrubbing and notices spots of blood on the OR lights. Which of the following actions is the MOST appropriate? A. Ignore the spots because they are small. B. Tell the circulator to obtain replacements and wait at the scrub sink. C. Ask the circulator to clean the spot and then proceed. D. Break scrub to clean the lights and help open a new sterile field. - ✔✔D. Break scrub to clean the lights and help open a new sterile field. Which of the following instruments should be inc