Page 1 of 127
NBSTSA CST PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026
(NBSTSA CST PRACTICE EXAM A & B) ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALL ANSWERED {325 Q & A}
ALREADY GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED PASS
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 - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > A. if an emergency procedure must be performed
Which of the following procedures for obtaining an informed
consent form is appropriate?
A. The patient is asked to sign the consent form after the
surgeon has explained the procedure.
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B. The surgical technologist in the circulator role is ultimately
responsible for obtaining the signed consent form.
C. The patient is asked to read the entire consent form after
signing it.
D. The consent form is witnessed by one member of the patient's
family. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A. The patient is asked to sign the
consent form after the surgeon has explained the procedure.
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 - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > 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.
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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. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > 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. - ✔✔✔
Correct Answer > 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 - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > B. 3 minutes
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If a routine surgical procedure was performed without consent,
the surgeon committed
A. assault.
B. battery.
C. malpractice.
D. liability. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > 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. -
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > 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
NBSTSA CST PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026
(NBSTSA CST PRACTICE EXAM A & B) ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALL ANSWERED {325 Q & A}
ALREADY GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED PASS
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 - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > A. if an emergency procedure must be performed
Which of the following procedures for obtaining an informed
consent form is appropriate?
A. The patient is asked to sign the consent form after the
surgeon has explained the procedure.
,Page 2 of 127
B. The surgical technologist in the circulator role is ultimately
responsible for obtaining the signed consent form.
C. The patient is asked to read the entire consent form after
signing it.
D. The consent form is witnessed by one member of the patient's
family. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A. The patient is asked to sign the
consent form after the surgeon has explained the procedure.
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 - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > 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.
,Page 3 of 127
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. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > 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. - ✔✔✔
Correct Answer > 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 - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > B. 3 minutes
, Page 4 of 127
If a routine surgical procedure was performed without consent,
the surgeon committed
A. assault.
B. battery.
C. malpractice.
D. liability. - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > 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. -
✔✔✔ Correct Answer > 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
