NBSTSA CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM FINAL PAPER
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
⩥ After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the Duraprep
applicator and proceeds to prep the patient for surgery. What is the best
action to take at this time? Answer: Regown and reglove the surgeon
⩥ What position is used for a pneumonectomy? Answer: Lateral
⩥ What is the kraske position? Answer: Anatomical position in which
the patient is prone, with hips flexed and elevated, head and feet down.
⩥ Which position is correct for a dilation and curettage?. Answer:
Lithotomy
⩥ When a hernia is strangulated, which instrument set is added to the
general abdominal set-up?. Answer: Gastrointestinal
⩥ What is a fenestrated drape?. Answer: A drape with an opening that
allows exposure of the operative site
,⩥ Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR
one. A surgical technologist was just informed that the case has been
moved to OR two and the next case in OR one is scheduled in two
hours. What is the best course of action?. Answer: New sterile supplies
and instruments should be obtained for OR two and the setup in OR one
should be disposed of
⩥ What is the first step in applying the pneumatic tourniquet necessary
in creating a bloodless field?. Answer: Padding the area where the
tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril
⩥ For a splenectomy procedure, which clamp should be used?. Answer:
Satinsky
⩥ Surgical loupes are used to:. Answer: Magnify the surgical field
⩥ Which position is the patient placed in for a right nephrectomy?.
Answer: Left lateral kidney
⩥ Once a surgical technologist dons a gown, the cuffs on the gown are
considered unsterile because they are:. Answer: Absorbant and collect
moisture
⩥ Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during
an appendectomy should be:. Answer: Placed in a separate bin
,⩥ Which instrument is used to cross-clamp the intestine during a bowel
resection?. Answer: Allen
⩥ The primary purpose of chest tubes is to:. Answer: Re-establish the
negative pressure
⩥ Traction sutures are used on common duct explorations to:. Answer:
Hold the duct open
⩥ The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of
the following types of suture?. Answer: Purse-string
⩥ Which catheter is most commonly used to perform an embolectomy?.
Answer: Fogarty
⩥ A resectoscope is used in what prostatic approach?. Answer:
Transurethral
⩥ Which retractor is preferred for a groin incision?. Answer: Weitlaner
⩥ What type of dressing is applied as a nonadherent dressing?. Answer:
Adaptic
, ⩥ During an excisional biopsy of sentinel nodes, the surgical
technologist should prepare specimens using which method?. Answer:
Placed in separate containers and identify
⩥ Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which procedure might be
performed on the patient in the operating room?. Answer:
Sigmoidectomy
⩥ When a break in antisecptic technique occurs, the surgical
technologist in the scrub role should first notify the:. Answer:
Contaminating team member
⩥ Sponges that have been added to the sterile field after a procedure has
begun should be counted by the:. Answer: Surgical technologist in the
scrub role and the circulator
⩥ What is a procedure for removing excess skin from the face and
neck?. Answer: Rhytidectomy
⩥ Which rongeur is used to expand the antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc
procedure?. Answer: Kerrison
⩥ Which procedure is used to visualize the cystic, hepatic, and common
ducts?. Answer: Cholangiography
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM FINAL PAPER
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
⩥ After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the Duraprep
applicator and proceeds to prep the patient for surgery. What is the best
action to take at this time? Answer: Regown and reglove the surgeon
⩥ What position is used for a pneumonectomy? Answer: Lateral
⩥ What is the kraske position? Answer: Anatomical position in which
the patient is prone, with hips flexed and elevated, head and feet down.
⩥ Which position is correct for a dilation and curettage?. Answer:
Lithotomy
⩥ When a hernia is strangulated, which instrument set is added to the
general abdominal set-up?. Answer: Gastrointestinal
⩥ What is a fenestrated drape?. Answer: A drape with an opening that
allows exposure of the operative site
,⩥ Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR
one. A surgical technologist was just informed that the case has been
moved to OR two and the next case in OR one is scheduled in two
hours. What is the best course of action?. Answer: New sterile supplies
and instruments should be obtained for OR two and the setup in OR one
should be disposed of
⩥ What is the first step in applying the pneumatic tourniquet necessary
in creating a bloodless field?. Answer: Padding the area where the
tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril
⩥ For a splenectomy procedure, which clamp should be used?. Answer:
Satinsky
⩥ Surgical loupes are used to:. Answer: Magnify the surgical field
⩥ Which position is the patient placed in for a right nephrectomy?.
Answer: Left lateral kidney
⩥ Once a surgical technologist dons a gown, the cuffs on the gown are
considered unsterile because they are:. Answer: Absorbant and collect
moisture
⩥ Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during
an appendectomy should be:. Answer: Placed in a separate bin
,⩥ Which instrument is used to cross-clamp the intestine during a bowel
resection?. Answer: Allen
⩥ The primary purpose of chest tubes is to:. Answer: Re-establish the
negative pressure
⩥ Traction sutures are used on common duct explorations to:. Answer:
Hold the duct open
⩥ The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of
the following types of suture?. Answer: Purse-string
⩥ Which catheter is most commonly used to perform an embolectomy?.
Answer: Fogarty
⩥ A resectoscope is used in what prostatic approach?. Answer:
Transurethral
⩥ Which retractor is preferred for a groin incision?. Answer: Weitlaner
⩥ What type of dressing is applied as a nonadherent dressing?. Answer:
Adaptic
, ⩥ During an excisional biopsy of sentinel nodes, the surgical
technologist should prepare specimens using which method?. Answer:
Placed in separate containers and identify
⩥ Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which procedure might be
performed on the patient in the operating room?. Answer:
Sigmoidectomy
⩥ When a break in antisecptic technique occurs, the surgical
technologist in the scrub role should first notify the:. Answer:
Contaminating team member
⩥ Sponges that have been added to the sterile field after a procedure has
begun should be counted by the:. Answer: Surgical technologist in the
scrub role and the circulator
⩥ What is a procedure for removing excess skin from the face and
neck?. Answer: Rhytidectomy
⩥ Which rongeur is used to expand the antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc
procedure?. Answer: Kerrison
⩥ Which procedure is used to visualize the cystic, hepatic, and common
ducts?. Answer: Cholangiography
