NCCT CERTIFICATION EXAM
(PRACTICE TEST) QUESTIONS &
ACCURATE ANSWERS RATED 100%
CORRECT
When applying a cast, which of the following items are essential? Select the three (3)
correct answers.
Coban
Cotton padding
Water
Plaster
Saline - Correct Answer ✔✔ Cotton padding, Water, Plaster
While assisting the surgeon in draping a patient the surgical technologist is told that she
has contaminated her gloves. Which of the following actions should the technologist
take?
Remove the contaminated drape, place a new drape, and re-glove.
Step away from the field and re-glove.
Place a new drape over the contaminated drape, and re-glove.
Break from field, scrub and re-glove. - Correct Answer ✔✔ Step away from the field and
re-glove.
What are two identifying factors the surgical technologist should always communicate to
the circulator when handing off a specimen?
Identity and origin location of the specimen
Color and size of the specimen
Time removed from the body and identity of the specimen
Temperature and texture of the specimen - Correct Answer ✔✔ Identity and origin
location of the specimen
When opening a peel packed instrument, the surgical tech should (choose 2)
check to see if the chemical indicator has turned
check to see if the peel pack is completely sealed
ask another surgical tech to confirm the peel pack integrity
place the peel-packed instrument into the sterile basin set - Correct Answer ✔✔ check
to see if the chemical indicator has turned, check to see if the peel pack is completely
sealed
When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use
sterilization unit, which of the following parameters must be met for sterilization with
gravity displacement steam? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
,3-4 minute exposure time
270 degrees F
10 minute exposure time
132 degrees F
4 minute drying time - Correct Answer ✔✔ 3-4 minute exposure time, 270 degrees F
The surgical technologist should place the chest tube water seal drainage system below
the level of the thoracic cavity in which of the following locations?
On the bed, lying between the patient's legs
On the side rail, parallel to the patient's shoulders
At the foot of the bed, secured to the footboard
At the head of the bed, secured on the headboard - Correct Answer ✔✔ At the foot of
the bed, secured to the footboard
When transferring an anesthetized patient from the operating table to the gurney, where
should the anesthesia provider stand?
Patient's feet
Patient's head
Patient's left side
Patient's right side - Correct Answer ✔✔ Patient's head
When assembling instruments for sterilization, the tech should place instruments on the
stringer complying with which detail?
smaller instruments grouped together.
Babcock's in the locked position.
larger instruments grouped together.
clamps in the open position. - Correct Answer ✔✔ clamps in the open position.
A class II or a clean-contaminated surgical wound enters through where?
Respiratory, GI, genital, or urinary tract
Respiratory, genital, or urinary tract but not GI
GI and genital only
Respiratory only - Correct Answer ✔✔ Respiratory, GI, genital, or urinary tract
What two sutures could the surgical technologist have ready for a running baseball
stitch on an ulnar nerve decompression?
4-0 Prolene
4-0 Monocryl
4-0 Vicryl
4-0 Nylon - Correct Answer ✔✔ Correct response:
4-0 Prolene, 4-0 Nylon
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
ventilated to force positive airflow from unrestricted to restricted areas.
,maintained at 75 degrees F (23 C).
humidity controlled to prevent growth of bacteria.
maintained at 68 degrees F (20 C). - Correct Answer ✔✔ maintained at 75 degrees F
(23 C).
Which of the following instruments is used to extend the arteriotomy during a carotid
endarterectomy?
Potts-Smith
Jorgenson
Stevens tenotomy
Straight Mayo - Correct Answer ✔✔ Potts-Smith
Which of the following is considered to be part of the "terminal cleaning" process?
Wipe door handles and push plates.
Anesthesia machine knobs, dials and valves.
Patient monitors including cables.
Overhead procedure lights - Correct Answer ✔✔ Wipe door handles and push plates.
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?
60 - 68 degrees
63 - 78 degrees
68 - 73 degrees
71 - 78 degrees - Correct Answer ✔✔ 68 - 73 degrees
The surgeon has finished dissecting through all of the layers of the abdomen during an
abdominal hysterectomy. What retractor should the surgical technologist be prepared to
pass to the surgeon?
Richardson-Eastman
Alexander Farabeuf
Burford-Finochietto
O'Sullivan O'Connor - Correct Answer ✔✔ O'Sullivan O'Connor
During a laparoscopic procedure the surgeon decides to convert to open. Which of the
following additional supplies and equipment need to be opened?
Insufflation tubing
Endo-pouch
Lap sponges
Veress needle - Correct Answer ✔✔ Lap sponges
When draping the mayo stand, which feature of the mayo stand cover is provided to
protect the gloved hands?
Nonwoven fabric sheet
Wide cuff
Impervious plastic tray
Fenestrated sheet - Correct Answer ✔✔ Wide cuff
, In a sterilized package, a chemical indicator is used to
verify elimination of living flora on the package.
confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
show that no moisture entered the package.
ensure that the package is sterile. - Correct Answer ✔✔ confirm that the package was
exposed to sterilization.
The anesthesia provider would typically ask the surgical technologist how much fluid
has been used in order to
assess for anaphylaxis.
estimate blood loss.
evaluate for drug toxicity.
prevent malignant hyperthermia. - Correct Answer ✔✔ estimate blood loss.
After a surgical procedure, where should all unused surgical materials be returned to?
Decontamination area
Instrument Processing
Central Supply
Case cart - Correct Answer ✔✔ Central Supply
What suture is most appropriate to close the first layer of an open abdominal surgery?
4-0 plain gut
#5 nylon
0 polyglactin
3-0 polypropylene - Correct Answer ✔✔ 0 polyglactin
Rationale: important to think through the case to have a proper selection of suture
An OB/GYN surgeon has posted an emergent laparoscopic case and the surgical
technologist notices that his reusable metal trocar has not been processed from the day
before. Which of the following sterilization methods is the best choice for this scenario?
Ethylene oxide sterilization
Gas sterilization
Steris
Flash sterilization - Correct Answer ✔✔ Flash sterilization
Rationale: Ethylene oxide is a type of gas sterilization that takes several hours to
complete. Steris is used for endoscopic equipment. Flash sterilization is the best option
in this scenario since the trocar is required for immediate use.
Which of the following items should the surgical technologist have in the room for an
ORIF of an ankle case? Select the two (2) correct answers.
Reciprocating saw
Laminectomy tray
Extremity pack
Vascular tray
Small fragment tray - Correct Answer ✔✔ Extremity pack, Small fragment tray
(PRACTICE TEST) QUESTIONS &
ACCURATE ANSWERS RATED 100%
CORRECT
When applying a cast, which of the following items are essential? Select the three (3)
correct answers.
Coban
Cotton padding
Water
Plaster
Saline - Correct Answer ✔✔ Cotton padding, Water, Plaster
While assisting the surgeon in draping a patient the surgical technologist is told that she
has contaminated her gloves. Which of the following actions should the technologist
take?
Remove the contaminated drape, place a new drape, and re-glove.
Step away from the field and re-glove.
Place a new drape over the contaminated drape, and re-glove.
Break from field, scrub and re-glove. - Correct Answer ✔✔ Step away from the field and
re-glove.
What are two identifying factors the surgical technologist should always communicate to
the circulator when handing off a specimen?
Identity and origin location of the specimen
Color and size of the specimen
Time removed from the body and identity of the specimen
Temperature and texture of the specimen - Correct Answer ✔✔ Identity and origin
location of the specimen
When opening a peel packed instrument, the surgical tech should (choose 2)
check to see if the chemical indicator has turned
check to see if the peel pack is completely sealed
ask another surgical tech to confirm the peel pack integrity
place the peel-packed instrument into the sterile basin set - Correct Answer ✔✔ check
to see if the chemical indicator has turned, check to see if the peel pack is completely
sealed
When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use
sterilization unit, which of the following parameters must be met for sterilization with
gravity displacement steam? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
,3-4 minute exposure time
270 degrees F
10 minute exposure time
132 degrees F
4 minute drying time - Correct Answer ✔✔ 3-4 minute exposure time, 270 degrees F
The surgical technologist should place the chest tube water seal drainage system below
the level of the thoracic cavity in which of the following locations?
On the bed, lying between the patient's legs
On the side rail, parallel to the patient's shoulders
At the foot of the bed, secured to the footboard
At the head of the bed, secured on the headboard - Correct Answer ✔✔ At the foot of
the bed, secured to the footboard
When transferring an anesthetized patient from the operating table to the gurney, where
should the anesthesia provider stand?
Patient's feet
Patient's head
Patient's left side
Patient's right side - Correct Answer ✔✔ Patient's head
When assembling instruments for sterilization, the tech should place instruments on the
stringer complying with which detail?
smaller instruments grouped together.
Babcock's in the locked position.
larger instruments grouped together.
clamps in the open position. - Correct Answer ✔✔ clamps in the open position.
A class II or a clean-contaminated surgical wound enters through where?
Respiratory, GI, genital, or urinary tract
Respiratory, genital, or urinary tract but not GI
GI and genital only
Respiratory only - Correct Answer ✔✔ Respiratory, GI, genital, or urinary tract
What two sutures could the surgical technologist have ready for a running baseball
stitch on an ulnar nerve decompression?
4-0 Prolene
4-0 Monocryl
4-0 Vicryl
4-0 Nylon - Correct Answer ✔✔ Correct response:
4-0 Prolene, 4-0 Nylon
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
ventilated to force positive airflow from unrestricted to restricted areas.
,maintained at 75 degrees F (23 C).
humidity controlled to prevent growth of bacteria.
maintained at 68 degrees F (20 C). - Correct Answer ✔✔ maintained at 75 degrees F
(23 C).
Which of the following instruments is used to extend the arteriotomy during a carotid
endarterectomy?
Potts-Smith
Jorgenson
Stevens tenotomy
Straight Mayo - Correct Answer ✔✔ Potts-Smith
Which of the following is considered to be part of the "terminal cleaning" process?
Wipe door handles and push plates.
Anesthesia machine knobs, dials and valves.
Patient monitors including cables.
Overhead procedure lights - Correct Answer ✔✔ Wipe door handles and push plates.
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?
60 - 68 degrees
63 - 78 degrees
68 - 73 degrees
71 - 78 degrees - Correct Answer ✔✔ 68 - 73 degrees
The surgeon has finished dissecting through all of the layers of the abdomen during an
abdominal hysterectomy. What retractor should the surgical technologist be prepared to
pass to the surgeon?
Richardson-Eastman
Alexander Farabeuf
Burford-Finochietto
O'Sullivan O'Connor - Correct Answer ✔✔ O'Sullivan O'Connor
During a laparoscopic procedure the surgeon decides to convert to open. Which of the
following additional supplies and equipment need to be opened?
Insufflation tubing
Endo-pouch
Lap sponges
Veress needle - Correct Answer ✔✔ Lap sponges
When draping the mayo stand, which feature of the mayo stand cover is provided to
protect the gloved hands?
Nonwoven fabric sheet
Wide cuff
Impervious plastic tray
Fenestrated sheet - Correct Answer ✔✔ Wide cuff
, In a sterilized package, a chemical indicator is used to
verify elimination of living flora on the package.
confirm that the package was exposed to sterilization.
show that no moisture entered the package.
ensure that the package is sterile. - Correct Answer ✔✔ confirm that the package was
exposed to sterilization.
The anesthesia provider would typically ask the surgical technologist how much fluid
has been used in order to
assess for anaphylaxis.
estimate blood loss.
evaluate for drug toxicity.
prevent malignant hyperthermia. - Correct Answer ✔✔ estimate blood loss.
After a surgical procedure, where should all unused surgical materials be returned to?
Decontamination area
Instrument Processing
Central Supply
Case cart - Correct Answer ✔✔ Central Supply
What suture is most appropriate to close the first layer of an open abdominal surgery?
4-0 plain gut
#5 nylon
0 polyglactin
3-0 polypropylene - Correct Answer ✔✔ 0 polyglactin
Rationale: important to think through the case to have a proper selection of suture
An OB/GYN surgeon has posted an emergent laparoscopic case and the surgical
technologist notices that his reusable metal trocar has not been processed from the day
before. Which of the following sterilization methods is the best choice for this scenario?
Ethylene oxide sterilization
Gas sterilization
Steris
Flash sterilization - Correct Answer ✔✔ Flash sterilization
Rationale: Ethylene oxide is a type of gas sterilization that takes several hours to
complete. Steris is used for endoscopic equipment. Flash sterilization is the best option
in this scenario since the trocar is required for immediate use.
Which of the following items should the surgical technologist have in the room for an
ORIF of an ankle case? Select the two (2) correct answers.
Reciprocating saw
Laminectomy tray
Extremity pack
Vascular tray
Small fragment tray - Correct Answer ✔✔ Extremity pack, Small fragment tray
