NBSTSA CST PRACTICE EXAM A QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
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 - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-C. extracorporeal bypass
SOLUTIONS
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 - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-C. extracorporeal bypass
