VERSION 1 NBSTSA CST 2 2026 PRACTICE
TEST WITH SOLUTIONS
◉ A Balfour is used in which of the following procedures?
A. tracheostomy
B. sigmoid resection
C. pulmonary decortication
D. stapedectomy. Answer: B. sigmoid resection
◉ If the VII cranial nerve is severed, which of the following is the
result?
A. loss of hearing
B. loss of vision
C. facial paralysis
D. impairment of eye muscles. Answer: C. facial paralysis
◉ When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating
the skin stapler, the surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing
the staples through which two layers?
A.cuticular and subcuticular
B.subicular and subcutaneous
,C.subcuticular and subcutaneous
D.subcutaneous and fascia. Answer: A.cuticular and subcuticular
◉ During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum
typically discovered?
A. esophagectomy
B. appendectomy
C. prostatectomy
D. varicocelectomy. Answer: B. appendectomy
◉ Which of the following layers are transected when a subcostal
flank incision is used for a nephrectomy?
A. pre-peritoneal fat
B. linea alba
C. oblique muscles
D. rectus abdominis muscle. Answer: C. oblique muscles
◉ A perforator is used for which of the following procedures?
A. cordotomy
B. craniotomy
C. laminectomy
,D. spinal fusion. Answer: B. craniotomy
◉ In preparation for a cranial aneurysm, which of the following
pieces of equipment would MOST likely be used?
A. microscope
B. cryoprobe
C. Jordan Day drill
D. Crutchfield tongs. Answer: A. microscope
◉ During strabismus surgery, which of the following is the first
tissue layer that must be incised?
A. iris
B. cornea
C. sclera
D. conjunctiva. Answer: D. conjunctiva
◉ 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. Answer: A. if an
emergency procedure must be performed
◉ 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. 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.
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.. Answer: A. Used suture needles
TEST WITH SOLUTIONS
◉ A Balfour is used in which of the following procedures?
A. tracheostomy
B. sigmoid resection
C. pulmonary decortication
D. stapedectomy. Answer: B. sigmoid resection
◉ If the VII cranial nerve is severed, which of the following is the
result?
A. loss of hearing
B. loss of vision
C. facial paralysis
D. impairment of eye muscles. Answer: C. facial paralysis
◉ When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating
the skin stapler, the surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing
the staples through which two layers?
A.cuticular and subcuticular
B.subicular and subcutaneous
,C.subcuticular and subcutaneous
D.subcutaneous and fascia. Answer: A.cuticular and subcuticular
◉ During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum
typically discovered?
A. esophagectomy
B. appendectomy
C. prostatectomy
D. varicocelectomy. Answer: B. appendectomy
◉ Which of the following layers are transected when a subcostal
flank incision is used for a nephrectomy?
A. pre-peritoneal fat
B. linea alba
C. oblique muscles
D. rectus abdominis muscle. Answer: C. oblique muscles
◉ A perforator is used for which of the following procedures?
A. cordotomy
B. craniotomy
C. laminectomy
,D. spinal fusion. Answer: B. craniotomy
◉ In preparation for a cranial aneurysm, which of the following
pieces of equipment would MOST likely be used?
A. microscope
B. cryoprobe
C. Jordan Day drill
D. Crutchfield tongs. Answer: A. microscope
◉ During strabismus surgery, which of the following is the first
tissue layer that must be incised?
A. iris
B. cornea
C. sclera
D. conjunctiva. Answer: D. conjunctiva
◉ 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. Answer: A. if an
emergency procedure must be performed
◉ 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. 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.
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.. Answer: A. Used suture needles
