NBSTSA Certification Exam 2026/2027
Which of the following structures is located in the alveolar processes?
A. Teeth
B. Villi
C. Sinuses
D. Tonsils - ANSWER A. Teeth
•The teeth are located in the socket's of the alveolar processes of the mandible and
maxillae.
Which of the following is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?
A. Clean
B. Contaminated
C. Dirty & Infected
D. Clean-Contaminated - ANSWER D. Clean-Contaminated
•Clean-Contaminated procedures include those when the aero-digestive tract is
entered. The bronchoscope is inserted through the mouth and into the bronchial
tubes. The procedure is considered clean, not sterile.
The enzyme used to soften the zonules of the lens before cataract surgery is:
A. Atropine sulfate
B. Alpha-Chymotrypsin
C. Acetylcholine chloride
D. Pilocarpine hydrochloride - ANSWER B. Alpha-Chymotrypsin
•Alpha-Chymotrypsin is a solution used to soften the zonules holding the lens
before cataract surgery to ease extraction of the lens.
How should the structure be oriented when necessary to use an elevator to
transport a patient to the OR?
A. Place stretcher sideways in elevator
,B. Enter head first, exit feet first
C. Position in elevator is irrelevant
D. Enter feet first, exit head first - ANSWER B. Enter head first, exit feet first
•The patient should be placed in the elevator entering head first and exit feet first
when being transported to the OR on the stretcher.
Which of the following is a curved, transverse incision across the lower abdomen
frequently used in gynecological surgery?
A. Midline
B. Paramedian
C. McBurney's
D. Pfannenstiel - ANSWER D. Pfannenstiel
•Pfannenstiel's incision is a curved transverse incision across the lower abdomen
and used frequently in gynecologic surgery
When perforated metal trays are placed on the shelves of the steam sterilizing cart,
they should be positioned:
A. Flat
B. Upside down
C. Vertical
D. Angled - ANSWER A. Flat
•Metal trays that are perforated or have a mesh bottom should be placed on the
sterilizing cart flat.
Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of:
A. Calcium
B. Nitrogen
C. Potassium
D. Albumin - ANSWER C. Potassium
,•Potassium plays four important roles: influences the electrical excitability of cells;
the amount of potassium in cells affects cell volume; potassium balance is
important in maintaining the acid-base balance; the amount of potassium in cells
affects cell metabolism. Hyperkalemia, an abnormal level of potassium, can be life
threatening, causing cardiac irregularities.
Which of the following tissues are cut using curved mayo scissors?
A. Fascia
B. Periosteum
C. Dura mater
D. Arterial wall - ANSWER A. Fascia
•Curved mayo scissors are large scissors, with thick blades used to cut tough tissue,
such as fascia, tendons and muscle.
Which laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating them?
A. Argon
B. Excimer
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Neodymium: YAG - ANSWER A. Argon
•The argon laser beam can travel through clear fluids and tissues.
Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is a/an:
A. Tort
B. Malpractice
C. Personal liability
D. Informed consent - ANSWER D. Informed consent
•informed consent must be obtained from the patient before any invasive
procedure can be performed. It protects the patient because it verifies that he/she
understands the condition to be treated and the intervention to be performed.
, Which portion of the stomach surrounds the lower esophageal sphincter?
A. Cardia
B. Fundus
C. Pylorus
D. Antrum - ANSWER A. Cardia
•The cardia is the portion of the stomach that surrounds the superior opening of
the stomach.
Low-level disinfectants kill most microbes, but do not destroy:
A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Fungi
D. Spores - ANSWER D. Spores
•Low-level disinfectants kill most types of bacteria and some fungi and viruses, but
do not kill spores and M. Tuberculosis
Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed fingers
C. Fused tarsals
D. Torn ligaments - ANSWER B. Webbed fingers
•Webbing of the digits is syndactyly
The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened on the:
A. Stretcher
B. OR table
C. Backtable
D. Mayo stand - ANSWER C. Backtable
Which of the following structures is located in the alveolar processes?
A. Teeth
B. Villi
C. Sinuses
D. Tonsils - ANSWER A. Teeth
•The teeth are located in the socket's of the alveolar processes of the mandible and
maxillae.
Which of the following is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?
A. Clean
B. Contaminated
C. Dirty & Infected
D. Clean-Contaminated - ANSWER D. Clean-Contaminated
•Clean-Contaminated procedures include those when the aero-digestive tract is
entered. The bronchoscope is inserted through the mouth and into the bronchial
tubes. The procedure is considered clean, not sterile.
The enzyme used to soften the zonules of the lens before cataract surgery is:
A. Atropine sulfate
B. Alpha-Chymotrypsin
C. Acetylcholine chloride
D. Pilocarpine hydrochloride - ANSWER B. Alpha-Chymotrypsin
•Alpha-Chymotrypsin is a solution used to soften the zonules holding the lens
before cataract surgery to ease extraction of the lens.
How should the structure be oriented when necessary to use an elevator to
transport a patient to the OR?
A. Place stretcher sideways in elevator
,B. Enter head first, exit feet first
C. Position in elevator is irrelevant
D. Enter feet first, exit head first - ANSWER B. Enter head first, exit feet first
•The patient should be placed in the elevator entering head first and exit feet first
when being transported to the OR on the stretcher.
Which of the following is a curved, transverse incision across the lower abdomen
frequently used in gynecological surgery?
A. Midline
B. Paramedian
C. McBurney's
D. Pfannenstiel - ANSWER D. Pfannenstiel
•Pfannenstiel's incision is a curved transverse incision across the lower abdomen
and used frequently in gynecologic surgery
When perforated metal trays are placed on the shelves of the steam sterilizing cart,
they should be positioned:
A. Flat
B. Upside down
C. Vertical
D. Angled - ANSWER A. Flat
•Metal trays that are perforated or have a mesh bottom should be placed on the
sterilizing cart flat.
Hyperkalemia is a high concentration of:
A. Calcium
B. Nitrogen
C. Potassium
D. Albumin - ANSWER C. Potassium
,•Potassium plays four important roles: influences the electrical excitability of cells;
the amount of potassium in cells affects cell volume; potassium balance is
important in maintaining the acid-base balance; the amount of potassium in cells
affects cell metabolism. Hyperkalemia, an abnormal level of potassium, can be life
threatening, causing cardiac irregularities.
Which of the following tissues are cut using curved mayo scissors?
A. Fascia
B. Periosteum
C. Dura mater
D. Arterial wall - ANSWER A. Fascia
•Curved mayo scissors are large scissors, with thick blades used to cut tough tissue,
such as fascia, tendons and muscle.
Which laser beam can travel through clear tissues without heating them?
A. Argon
B. Excimer
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Neodymium: YAG - ANSWER A. Argon
•The argon laser beam can travel through clear fluids and tissues.
Permission for treatment given with full knowledge of the risks is a/an:
A. Tort
B. Malpractice
C. Personal liability
D. Informed consent - ANSWER D. Informed consent
•informed consent must be obtained from the patient before any invasive
procedure can be performed. It protects the patient because it verifies that he/she
understands the condition to be treated and the intervention to be performed.
, Which portion of the stomach surrounds the lower esophageal sphincter?
A. Cardia
B. Fundus
C. Pylorus
D. Antrum - ANSWER A. Cardia
•The cardia is the portion of the stomach that surrounds the superior opening of
the stomach.
Low-level disinfectants kill most microbes, but do not destroy:
A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Fungi
D. Spores - ANSWER D. Spores
•Low-level disinfectants kill most types of bacteria and some fungi and viruses, but
do not kill spores and M. Tuberculosis
Syndactyly refers to:
A. Cleft palate
B. Webbed fingers
C. Fused tarsals
D. Torn ligaments - ANSWER B. Webbed fingers
•Webbing of the digits is syndactyly
The surgical pack utilized to create the sterile field should be opened on the:
A. Stretcher
B. OR table
C. Backtable
D. Mayo stand - ANSWER C. Backtable
