NCCT SCRUB TECH PRACTICE EXAM 2026 –
SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY (TS-C) –COMPLETE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED DETAILED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
A surgical case ends, and the surgeon removes the drapes to finish dressings. What
is the first action that the surgical technologist must take as the surgery ends and
drapes are removed?
A. Dispose of all trash into proper containers.
B. Apply pre-cleaning agent to instruments. C. Maintain back table and Mayo
sterility.
D. Take dirty instruments to the decontamination room. - ANSWER-Maintain
back table and Mayo sterility.
Rationale: The best practice is to keep the back table, mayo stand, and basin set
sterile until the patient is out of the OR, being transported to the PACU. Several
complications can occur, including respiratory distress, and the ST should be
prepared to treat the emergency in the OR.
The surgical technologist is helping the surgeon complete a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy and the surgeon has placed the dressing on the patient. Which of
the following should the surgical technologist do next?
A. Remove the top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and
discard.
B. Remove Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, tear
the drape off the patient and discard.
C. Remove top glove, hold dressing in place, tear the drape off patient and discard.
D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place,
roll away the drape and discard. - ANSWER-Remove the Mayo stand, back
table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and
discard.
Rationale: The Mayo stand and back table need to remain sterile until the patient is
out of the room. The top gloves need replaced to prohibit any debris from getting
,the dressing dirty. By holding the dressing on with the clean gloves the drape can
be removed so any biohazardous materials are contained within the drapes and
discarded.
Before use of the ESU generator the surgical technologist should check for the
A. dispersive electrode.
B. biomedical engineering sticker.
C. manufacturer's name.
D. active electrode. - ANSWER-biomedical engineering sticker.
Rationale: These stickers are placed on the equipment, and updated with annual
inspection information. If a piece of equipment does not have a sticker, or an in-
range date, it should not be used.
Electrosurgical pen, sponge, suction device - ANSWER-Which of the following
instruments should be passed to the surgeon to achieve hemostasis at the beginning
of an operative procedure? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
Begin at shoulder to finger tips, including flank and chest, prepping the axilla last,
using as many sponges as needed, keeping the arm away from the bed. -
ANSWER-The patient will need surgical skin prep for a right arm disarticulation
at the shoulder. Which of the following is the correct method for completing this
prep?
Place the instruments in a basin of sterile water. - ANSWER-During a total hip
replacement, how can a surgical technologist prevent blood from drying on
instruments?
Duraprep - ANSWER-Which of the following prep solutions is contraindicated for
use with a laser?
Remove the sterilized instrument tray from the sterile field. - ANSWER-Upon
opening a sterilized instrument tray, the surgical technologist finds bioburden
inside the lumen of a metal suction. Which of the following actions should the
surgical technologist take?
,Nylon - ANSWER-The surgeon requests a non-absorbable suture for skin closure.
Which of the following sutures is non-absorbable?
Squeeze the bulb to apply manual suction. - ANSWER-Which of the following
should the surgical technologist do immediately before connecting the Jackson-
Pratt drain to the drainage tubing?
The battery has not been adequately charged. - ANSWER-Prior to a case the
surgical technologist determines the power saw is not functioning. Which of the
following is the most likely cause?
2 inches above the knees - ANSWER-The surgical technologist places the patient
in Fowler position with head secured by craniotomy headrest. Which of the
following locations indicates correct application of the safety strap?
Four - ANSWER-Which of the following is the minimum number of counts for a
Cesarean section case?
Rinse blood from the instruments with sterile water. - ANSWER-at the end of
each case the surgical technologist should
All sharps are contained and disposed of in the sharp’s container. - ANSWER-
When breaking down the setup, which of the following steps should be completed
first?
Bookwalter - ANSWER-Which of the following retractors will the surgical
technologist need for an emergent bring back case on a 450 lb abdominal
hysterectomy patient?
Inform the circulator that the drain is full and there is the potential for active
bleeding in the surgical site. - ANSWER-The surgical team has just completed a
radical mastectomy and the surgeon has left the room. While cleaning up the back
table the surgical technologist notices the Jackson Pratt placed during this surgery
is full with bright red fluid. Which of the following should the surgical
technologist do next?
, Close the jaws. - ANSWER-The surgeon is doing a laparoscopic procedure using
an endo GIA stapler. He passes the stapler to the surgical technologist and asks
him to reload. Which of the following should the technologist do to the stapler
before passing back to the surgeon?
Steri strips. - answer-following an eyelid laceration repair, the surgeon begins to
close the skin. Anticipating the surgeon's needs the surgical technologist should
hand the surgeon
Is maintained at 75 degrees F (23 C). - ANSWER-The surgical team prepares the
room for a trauma case. The nurse is notified by the ER that the patient is a 3-year-
old female with a gunshot wound. In preparing the room for the patient's arrival,
the surgical technologist should ensure that the room is
The circulator removes the contaminated glove and then the technologist re-gloves
herself. - ANSWER-During surgery, the surgical technologist reaches for a supply
item being handed by the circulator. The surgical technologist's left glove touches
the outside of the package. Which of the following steps must be taken to correct
the break in sterile technique?
Steris - answer-when disinfecting a flexible endoscope used on a patient with TB,
which of the following sterilization methods should be employed?
Place all sharps in the needle counter and dispose of them in the sharps container. -
ANSWER-The surgical technologist has started breaking down the back table and
is disposing of all sharps. Which of the following is correct practice for disposing
sharps?
68 - 73 degrees - ANSWER-Which of the following is the standard recommended
temperature range in an operating room for surgery on an adult patient being
operated on for a hernia repair?
Circulating nurse. - answer-the surgical technologist hears a patient entering the
operating room state verbally that he doesn't want the surgery and fears he will not
survive. The surgical technologist must inform the
SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY (TS-C) –COMPLETE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED DETAILED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
A surgical case ends, and the surgeon removes the drapes to finish dressings. What
is the first action that the surgical technologist must take as the surgery ends and
drapes are removed?
A. Dispose of all trash into proper containers.
B. Apply pre-cleaning agent to instruments. C. Maintain back table and Mayo
sterility.
D. Take dirty instruments to the decontamination room. - ANSWER-Maintain
back table and Mayo sterility.
Rationale: The best practice is to keep the back table, mayo stand, and basin set
sterile until the patient is out of the OR, being transported to the PACU. Several
complications can occur, including respiratory distress, and the ST should be
prepared to treat the emergency in the OR.
The surgical technologist is helping the surgeon complete a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy and the surgeon has placed the dressing on the patient. Which of
the following should the surgical technologist do next?
A. Remove the top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and
discard.
B. Remove Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, tear
the drape off the patient and discard.
C. Remove top glove, hold dressing in place, tear the drape off patient and discard.
D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place,
roll away the drape and discard. - ANSWER-Remove the Mayo stand, back
table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and
discard.
Rationale: The Mayo stand and back table need to remain sterile until the patient is
out of the room. The top gloves need replaced to prohibit any debris from getting
,the dressing dirty. By holding the dressing on with the clean gloves the drape can
be removed so any biohazardous materials are contained within the drapes and
discarded.
Before use of the ESU generator the surgical technologist should check for the
A. dispersive electrode.
B. biomedical engineering sticker.
C. manufacturer's name.
D. active electrode. - ANSWER-biomedical engineering sticker.
Rationale: These stickers are placed on the equipment, and updated with annual
inspection information. If a piece of equipment does not have a sticker, or an in-
range date, it should not be used.
Electrosurgical pen, sponge, suction device - ANSWER-Which of the following
instruments should be passed to the surgeon to achieve hemostasis at the beginning
of an operative procedure? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
Begin at shoulder to finger tips, including flank and chest, prepping the axilla last,
using as many sponges as needed, keeping the arm away from the bed. -
ANSWER-The patient will need surgical skin prep for a right arm disarticulation
at the shoulder. Which of the following is the correct method for completing this
prep?
Place the instruments in a basin of sterile water. - ANSWER-During a total hip
replacement, how can a surgical technologist prevent blood from drying on
instruments?
Duraprep - ANSWER-Which of the following prep solutions is contraindicated for
use with a laser?
Remove the sterilized instrument tray from the sterile field. - ANSWER-Upon
opening a sterilized instrument tray, the surgical technologist finds bioburden
inside the lumen of a metal suction. Which of the following actions should the
surgical technologist take?
,Nylon - ANSWER-The surgeon requests a non-absorbable suture for skin closure.
Which of the following sutures is non-absorbable?
Squeeze the bulb to apply manual suction. - ANSWER-Which of the following
should the surgical technologist do immediately before connecting the Jackson-
Pratt drain to the drainage tubing?
The battery has not been adequately charged. - ANSWER-Prior to a case the
surgical technologist determines the power saw is not functioning. Which of the
following is the most likely cause?
2 inches above the knees - ANSWER-The surgical technologist places the patient
in Fowler position with head secured by craniotomy headrest. Which of the
following locations indicates correct application of the safety strap?
Four - ANSWER-Which of the following is the minimum number of counts for a
Cesarean section case?
Rinse blood from the instruments with sterile water. - ANSWER-at the end of
each case the surgical technologist should
All sharps are contained and disposed of in the sharp’s container. - ANSWER-
When breaking down the setup, which of the following steps should be completed
first?
Bookwalter - ANSWER-Which of the following retractors will the surgical
technologist need for an emergent bring back case on a 450 lb abdominal
hysterectomy patient?
Inform the circulator that the drain is full and there is the potential for active
bleeding in the surgical site. - ANSWER-The surgical team has just completed a
radical mastectomy and the surgeon has left the room. While cleaning up the back
table the surgical technologist notices the Jackson Pratt placed during this surgery
is full with bright red fluid. Which of the following should the surgical
technologist do next?
, Close the jaws. - ANSWER-The surgeon is doing a laparoscopic procedure using
an endo GIA stapler. He passes the stapler to the surgical technologist and asks
him to reload. Which of the following should the technologist do to the stapler
before passing back to the surgeon?
Steri strips. - answer-following an eyelid laceration repair, the surgeon begins to
close the skin. Anticipating the surgeon's needs the surgical technologist should
hand the surgeon
Is maintained at 75 degrees F (23 C). - ANSWER-The surgical team prepares the
room for a trauma case. The nurse is notified by the ER that the patient is a 3-year-
old female with a gunshot wound. In preparing the room for the patient's arrival,
the surgical technologist should ensure that the room is
The circulator removes the contaminated glove and then the technologist re-gloves
herself. - ANSWER-During surgery, the surgical technologist reaches for a supply
item being handed by the circulator. The surgical technologist's left glove touches
the outside of the package. Which of the following steps must be taken to correct
the break in sterile technique?
Steris - answer-when disinfecting a flexible endoscope used on a patient with TB,
which of the following sterilization methods should be employed?
Place all sharps in the needle counter and dispose of them in the sharps container. -
ANSWER-The surgical technologist has started breaking down the back table and
is disposing of all sharps. Which of the following is correct practice for disposing
sharps?
68 - 73 degrees - ANSWER-Which of the following is the standard recommended
temperature range in an operating room for surgery on an adult patient being
operated on for a hernia repair?
Circulating nurse. - answer-the surgical technologist hears a patient entering the
operating room state verbally that he doesn't want the surgery and fears he will not
survive. The surgical technologist must inform the
