Surgical Tech Practice Exam 2023 2024
300 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A /DETAIED SOLUTION
The anesthesia care provider (ACP) is performing an induction on a known asthmatic patient. The patient
experiences a laryngospasm during intubation. The patient's oxygen saturation is 65%. The scrubbed
surgical technologist should: - CORRECT ANSWER prepare for a tracheostomy.
Which of the following is the minimum number of counts for a Cesarean section case? - CORRECT
ANSWER 4
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? - CORRECT ANSWER The circulator removes the
contaminated glove and then the technologist re-gloves herself.
When reviewing the autoclave log, the surgical technologist should confirm that which of the following
have been documented before using the instrumentation? - CORRECT ANSWER Exposure temperature
What is the minimum percentage level of humidity in the OR suite? - CORRECT ANSWER 20 %
The surgical technologist is preparing for a myelography procedure. Which of the following items would
definitely be on the preference card for this case? - CORRECT ANSWER Contrast medium
When preparing for a right total nephrectomy, the operating room team should position the patient
using which of the following positioning options? - CORRECT ANSWER left lateral position
During an abdominal surgery, the anesthetist states that they believe an MH crisis is presenting itself in
the surgical patient. The surgical tech should - CORRECT ANSWER Prepare to close quickly and maintain
the sterile field
,The surgical technologist is preparing the incision site for placement of a dressing following a
mastectomy. The surgical technologist noticed that the patient has developed a hematoma at the
incision site. The surgeon has left the operating room. Which of the following actions should the surgical
technologist take? - CORRECT ANSWER Ask the surgeon to return.
The surgical technologist should use which of the following disinfectants when reprocessing an
endotracheal tube used during surgery? - CORRECT ANSWER Cidex OPA
A patient is having a cervical cone biopsy. The surgeon prefers to not use a Bovie. Which of the following
solutions should the surgical technologist have available in the room for control of bleeding? - CORRECT
ANSWER Monsels solution
Before use of the ESU generator the surgical technologist should check for the - CORRECT ANSWER
biomedical engineering sticker.
A gynecologic oncology surgeon decides to bring her patient into the OR emergently after seeing her in
the office. The patient's abdomen is greatly distended, warm and firm to the touch. Which of the
following should the surgical technologist have available? - CORRECT ANSWER Poole tip suction and Lap
sponges
At the end of each case the surgical technologist should - CORRECT ANSWER rinse blood from the
instruments with sterile water.
A cardiac arrest occurs during a thoracotomy procedure, and the surgeon calls a CODE BLUE. The
surgeon is attempting to resuscitate the patient using CPR. Which of the following is the responsibility of
the surgical technologist in this situation? - CORRECT ANSWER Prepare internal defibrillator paddles.
Which of the following is being tested when doing a Bowie-Dick test on an autoclave? - CORRECT
ANSWER Amount of air removed from the autoclave
The patient is undergoing cardiothoracic surgery, and placed in the Sims position. Which of the following
actions prevents the likelihood of an intraoperative positioning injury to the brachial plexus? - CORRECT
ANSWER Place rolled towel padding beneath abducted down-side arm.
, 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? - CORRECT ANSWER 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.
Which of the following instruments is used to extend the arteriotomy during a carotid endarterectomy? -
CORRECT ANSWER potts smith
During an open hernia procedure on adult male patient the surgeon requests assistance with retracting
the spermatic cord. Which of the following should the surgical technologist provide? - CORRECT ANSWER
moist Penrose
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? - CORRECT
ANSWER 2 inches above the knees
A surgical technologist is in the process of opening sterile supplies for an abdominal hysterectomy on a
300 lb. patient. After reviewing the preference card, which of the following items should the technologist
hold in order to watch costs? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) - CORRECT ANSWER Closing suture,
11 knife blade, Extra Raytec
Which of the following retractors will the surgical technologist need for an emergent bring back case on
a 450lb abdominal hysterectomy patient? - CORRECT ANSWER bookwalter
In preparation for a carotid endarterectomy the surgical technologist should anticipate using which of
the following sutures? - CORRECT ANSWER 7-0 Prolene
Following placement of dressings on the back of a patient after a Posterolateral Instrumented Lumbar
Fusion (PLIF), the circulator notices bleeding at the surgical site and notifies the surgeon. The surgical
technologist has broken sterility to help move the patient. Which of the following actions should the
surgical technologist take? - CORRECT ANSWER Prepare to scrub, re-gown, and re-glove.
A patient is having a hysteroscopy for myomectomy excision. The patient has been under anesthesia for
an hour and is starting to show signs of extreme swelling. Which of the following is most critical to
monitor in order to prevent these symptoms? - CORRECT ANSWER Fluid intake and output
300 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A /DETAIED SOLUTION
The anesthesia care provider (ACP) is performing an induction on a known asthmatic patient. The patient
experiences a laryngospasm during intubation. The patient's oxygen saturation is 65%. The scrubbed
surgical technologist should: - CORRECT ANSWER prepare for a tracheostomy.
Which of the following is the minimum number of counts for a Cesarean section case? - CORRECT
ANSWER 4
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? - CORRECT ANSWER The circulator removes the
contaminated glove and then the technologist re-gloves herself.
When reviewing the autoclave log, the surgical technologist should confirm that which of the following
have been documented before using the instrumentation? - CORRECT ANSWER Exposure temperature
What is the minimum percentage level of humidity in the OR suite? - CORRECT ANSWER 20 %
The surgical technologist is preparing for a myelography procedure. Which of the following items would
definitely be on the preference card for this case? - CORRECT ANSWER Contrast medium
When preparing for a right total nephrectomy, the operating room team should position the patient
using which of the following positioning options? - CORRECT ANSWER left lateral position
During an abdominal surgery, the anesthetist states that they believe an MH crisis is presenting itself in
the surgical patient. The surgical tech should - CORRECT ANSWER Prepare to close quickly and maintain
the sterile field
,The surgical technologist is preparing the incision site for placement of a dressing following a
mastectomy. The surgical technologist noticed that the patient has developed a hematoma at the
incision site. The surgeon has left the operating room. Which of the following actions should the surgical
technologist take? - CORRECT ANSWER Ask the surgeon to return.
The surgical technologist should use which of the following disinfectants when reprocessing an
endotracheal tube used during surgery? - CORRECT ANSWER Cidex OPA
A patient is having a cervical cone biopsy. The surgeon prefers to not use a Bovie. Which of the following
solutions should the surgical technologist have available in the room for control of bleeding? - CORRECT
ANSWER Monsels solution
Before use of the ESU generator the surgical technologist should check for the - CORRECT ANSWER
biomedical engineering sticker.
A gynecologic oncology surgeon decides to bring her patient into the OR emergently after seeing her in
the office. The patient's abdomen is greatly distended, warm and firm to the touch. Which of the
following should the surgical technologist have available? - CORRECT ANSWER Poole tip suction and Lap
sponges
At the end of each case the surgical technologist should - CORRECT ANSWER rinse blood from the
instruments with sterile water.
A cardiac arrest occurs during a thoracotomy procedure, and the surgeon calls a CODE BLUE. The
surgeon is attempting to resuscitate the patient using CPR. Which of the following is the responsibility of
the surgical technologist in this situation? - CORRECT ANSWER Prepare internal defibrillator paddles.
Which of the following is being tested when doing a Bowie-Dick test on an autoclave? - CORRECT
ANSWER Amount of air removed from the autoclave
The patient is undergoing cardiothoracic surgery, and placed in the Sims position. Which of the following
actions prevents the likelihood of an intraoperative positioning injury to the brachial plexus? - CORRECT
ANSWER Place rolled towel padding beneath abducted down-side arm.
, 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? - CORRECT ANSWER 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.
Which of the following instruments is used to extend the arteriotomy during a carotid endarterectomy? -
CORRECT ANSWER potts smith
During an open hernia procedure on adult male patient the surgeon requests assistance with retracting
the spermatic cord. Which of the following should the surgical technologist provide? - CORRECT ANSWER
moist Penrose
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? - CORRECT
ANSWER 2 inches above the knees
A surgical technologist is in the process of opening sterile supplies for an abdominal hysterectomy on a
300 lb. patient. After reviewing the preference card, which of the following items should the technologist
hold in order to watch costs? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) - CORRECT ANSWER Closing suture,
11 knife blade, Extra Raytec
Which of the following retractors will the surgical technologist need for an emergent bring back case on
a 450lb abdominal hysterectomy patient? - CORRECT ANSWER bookwalter
In preparation for a carotid endarterectomy the surgical technologist should anticipate using which of
the following sutures? - CORRECT ANSWER 7-0 Prolene
Following placement of dressings on the back of a patient after a Posterolateral Instrumented Lumbar
Fusion (PLIF), the circulator notices bleeding at the surgical site and notifies the surgeon. The surgical
technologist has broken sterility to help move the patient. Which of the following actions should the
surgical technologist take? - CORRECT ANSWER Prepare to scrub, re-gown, and re-glove.
A patient is having a hysteroscopy for myomectomy excision. The patient has been under anesthesia for
an hour and is starting to show signs of extreme swelling. Which of the following is most critical to
monitor in order to prevent these symptoms? - CORRECT ANSWER Fluid intake and output
