NBSTSA CST Practice Exam A- Latest Update 2026-
2027| Graded A+
1. 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
Correct Answer: B (foramen magnum)
2. 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.
Correct Answer: B (New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for
OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be disposed of.)
3. Which of the following is the body’s local tissue reaction to injury?
A. fever
B. infection
C. inflammation
D. immune reaction
Correct Answer: C (inflammation)
,4. 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
Correct Answer: B (Randall forceps)
5. 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
Correct Answer: A (avoiding the knot)
6. Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during a
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
Correct Answer: A (cystic artery and cystic duct)
7. 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
Correct Answer: A (pressure dressing)
8. When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments
is used to grasp the cervix?
A. Sims
,B. Auward
C. Schroeder
D. Bozeman
Correct Answer: C (Schroeder)
9. 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
Correct Answer: D (acceptance)
10. 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.
Correct Answer: A (pass back- to- back)
11. Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate blood?
A. Doppler ultrasound
B. defibrillator
C. extracorporeal bypass
D. autotransfuser
Correct Answer: C (extracorporeal bypass)
12. 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.
Correct Answer: A (physiologic condition of the patient)
13. 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.
Correct Answer: D (stacked inside the other and separated by a towel)
14. 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
Correct Answer: D (bean bag)
15. 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.
Correct Answer: C (Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first)
16. 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.
Correct Answer: A (placed in a separate basin)
2027| Graded A+
1. 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
Correct Answer: B (foramen magnum)
2. 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.
Correct Answer: B (New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for
OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be disposed of.)
3. Which of the following is the body’s local tissue reaction to injury?
A. fever
B. infection
C. inflammation
D. immune reaction
Correct Answer: C (inflammation)
,4. 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
Correct Answer: B (Randall forceps)
5. 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
Correct Answer: A (avoiding the knot)
6. Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during a
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
Correct Answer: A (cystic artery and cystic duct)
7. 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
Correct Answer: A (pressure dressing)
8. When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments
is used to grasp the cervix?
A. Sims
,B. Auward
C. Schroeder
D. Bozeman
Correct Answer: C (Schroeder)
9. 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
Correct Answer: D (acceptance)
10. 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.
Correct Answer: A (pass back- to- back)
11. Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate blood?
A. Doppler ultrasound
B. defibrillator
C. extracorporeal bypass
D. autotransfuser
Correct Answer: C (extracorporeal bypass)
12. 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.
Correct Answer: A (physiologic condition of the patient)
13. 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.
Correct Answer: D (stacked inside the other and separated by a towel)
14. 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
Correct Answer: D (bean bag)
15. 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.
Correct Answer: C (Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first)
16. 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.
Correct Answer: A (placed in a separate basin)
