RNFA TRAINING STUDY SHEET 2026
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉Define the term retention suture.. Answer: Retention sutures are
placed at a distance from the primary suture line to provide a
secondary suture line, relieve undue strain, and help obliterate dead
space.
◉Define the term ligature.. Answer: A ligature is a strand of suture
material used to tie off (seal) blood vessels for the prevention of
minor bleeding, or to isolate a mass of tissue for excision (cut out).
◉Describe the "no touch" sharps technique.. Answer: Sharps are
placed in a predesignated basin, tray collection device, or safe
''neutral'' zone on the field, from which the surgeon can retrieve the
sharps. After use, the item is placed back in the neutral zone, and the
scrub person retrieves it.
◉Define the primary suture line.. Answer: A primary suture line is
composed of those sutures that obliterate dead space, prevent
serum from accumulating in the wound, and hold the wound edges
in approximation until healing takes place.
,◉Describe the purpose of surgical retractors.. Answer: Retractors
are used for holding back the wound edges, structures, or tissues to
provide exposure of the operative site.
◉Define tensile strength.. Answer: Tensile strength is the amount of
weight (breaking load) necessary to break a suture (breaking
strength); it varies according to the type of suture material.
◉What is the function of the barbs in barbed suture?. Answer: The
barbs help the tissue to stay approximated with equal wound
tension and eliminate the need to tie knots.
◉Describe the ideal suture.. Answer: An ideal suture causes minimal
inflammation and tissue reaction while providing maximal strength
during the lag phase of wound healing.
◉Describe the parts of a surgical needle.. Answer: The eye, the body,
and the point or tip comprise the parts of the surgical needle.
◉List examples of cutting instruments.. Answer: Cutting
instruments include scalpels, scissors, drills, saws, osteotomes,
rongeurs, adenotomes, dermatomes, and curettes.
,◉Define the term subcuticular suture.. Answer: Subcuticular sutures
are placed completely under the epidermal layer of the skin. This
technique is often used for cosmetic closure
◉Define the term interrupted suture.. Answer: An interrupted
suture is inserted into tissues or vessels in such a way that each
stitch is placed and tied individually.
◉Define the term suture.. Answer: Suture is a generic term for all
materials used to sew severed body tissues together and to hold
these tissues in their normal position until healing takes place; to
suture is to stitch together cut or torn edges of tissue.
◉Describe the purpose of surgical soft goods.. Answer: Surgical
sponges are used to affect hemostasis via direct pressure, absorb
intraoperative blood loss and drainage, aid in blunt dissection, pack
viscera from the field, and keep areas of the wound moist.
◉List examples of absorbable sutures.. Answer: Plain or chromic
surgical gut, collagen, and glycolic acid polymers are all examples of
absorbable suture.
◉List examples of accessory and ancillary instruments.. Answer:
Suction tips and tubing; irrigators-aspirators; electrosurgical
devices; and special-use devices, such as probes, dilators, mallets,
and screwdrivers.
, ◉Describe when surgical counts (e.g., sponge, sharp, instrument)
are performed.. Answer: Counts are performed initially, before the
patient enters the operating room (OR), before closure of a body
cavity or deep, large incision; after closure of a body cavity; and at
skin closure.
◉Define the term purse-string suture.. Answer: A purse-string is a
continuous circular suture placed to surround an opening in a
structure and cause it to close. This type of suture is often used
around the appendix or in an organ such as the cecum, gallbladder,
or urinary bladder before it is opened so that a drainage tube can be
inserted.
◉List examples of types of surgical clamps.. Answer: Clamps include
hemostats, occluding clamps, graspers and holders, forceps, pickups,
and needle holders.
◉Describe the techniques used to ligate in deep tissues.. Answer:
The following techniques can be used to ligate in deep tissue: (1) A
hemostat is placed on the end of the structure; the ligature is then
placed around the vessel. The knot is tied and tightened with the
surgeon's fingers or with the aid of forceps. (2) A slipknot is made,
and its loop is placed over the involved structure by means of a
forceps or clamp. (3) In deeper cavities, ties are often placed on
clamps with the long end extending from the tip. These are
sometimes called ties on a pass or bow ties. The extending long end
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉Define the term retention suture.. Answer: Retention sutures are
placed at a distance from the primary suture line to provide a
secondary suture line, relieve undue strain, and help obliterate dead
space.
◉Define the term ligature.. Answer: A ligature is a strand of suture
material used to tie off (seal) blood vessels for the prevention of
minor bleeding, or to isolate a mass of tissue for excision (cut out).
◉Describe the "no touch" sharps technique.. Answer: Sharps are
placed in a predesignated basin, tray collection device, or safe
''neutral'' zone on the field, from which the surgeon can retrieve the
sharps. After use, the item is placed back in the neutral zone, and the
scrub person retrieves it.
◉Define the primary suture line.. Answer: A primary suture line is
composed of those sutures that obliterate dead space, prevent
serum from accumulating in the wound, and hold the wound edges
in approximation until healing takes place.
,◉Describe the purpose of surgical retractors.. Answer: Retractors
are used for holding back the wound edges, structures, or tissues to
provide exposure of the operative site.
◉Define tensile strength.. Answer: Tensile strength is the amount of
weight (breaking load) necessary to break a suture (breaking
strength); it varies according to the type of suture material.
◉What is the function of the barbs in barbed suture?. Answer: The
barbs help the tissue to stay approximated with equal wound
tension and eliminate the need to tie knots.
◉Describe the ideal suture.. Answer: An ideal suture causes minimal
inflammation and tissue reaction while providing maximal strength
during the lag phase of wound healing.
◉Describe the parts of a surgical needle.. Answer: The eye, the body,
and the point or tip comprise the parts of the surgical needle.
◉List examples of cutting instruments.. Answer: Cutting
instruments include scalpels, scissors, drills, saws, osteotomes,
rongeurs, adenotomes, dermatomes, and curettes.
,◉Define the term subcuticular suture.. Answer: Subcuticular sutures
are placed completely under the epidermal layer of the skin. This
technique is often used for cosmetic closure
◉Define the term interrupted suture.. Answer: An interrupted
suture is inserted into tissues or vessels in such a way that each
stitch is placed and tied individually.
◉Define the term suture.. Answer: Suture is a generic term for all
materials used to sew severed body tissues together and to hold
these tissues in their normal position until healing takes place; to
suture is to stitch together cut or torn edges of tissue.
◉Describe the purpose of surgical soft goods.. Answer: Surgical
sponges are used to affect hemostasis via direct pressure, absorb
intraoperative blood loss and drainage, aid in blunt dissection, pack
viscera from the field, and keep areas of the wound moist.
◉List examples of absorbable sutures.. Answer: Plain or chromic
surgical gut, collagen, and glycolic acid polymers are all examples of
absorbable suture.
◉List examples of accessory and ancillary instruments.. Answer:
Suction tips and tubing; irrigators-aspirators; electrosurgical
devices; and special-use devices, such as probes, dilators, mallets,
and screwdrivers.
, ◉Describe when surgical counts (e.g., sponge, sharp, instrument)
are performed.. Answer: Counts are performed initially, before the
patient enters the operating room (OR), before closure of a body
cavity or deep, large incision; after closure of a body cavity; and at
skin closure.
◉Define the term purse-string suture.. Answer: A purse-string is a
continuous circular suture placed to surround an opening in a
structure and cause it to close. This type of suture is often used
around the appendix or in an organ such as the cecum, gallbladder,
or urinary bladder before it is opened so that a drainage tube can be
inserted.
◉List examples of types of surgical clamps.. Answer: Clamps include
hemostats, occluding clamps, graspers and holders, forceps, pickups,
and needle holders.
◉Describe the techniques used to ligate in deep tissues.. Answer:
The following techniques can be used to ligate in deep tissue: (1) A
hemostat is placed on the end of the structure; the ligature is then
placed around the vessel. The knot is tied and tightened with the
surgeon's fingers or with the aid of forceps. (2) A slipknot is made,
and its loop is placed over the involved structure by means of a
forceps or clamp. (3) In deeper cavities, ties are often placed on
clamps with the long end extending from the tip. These are
sometimes called ties on a pass or bow ties. The extending long end
