NCCT PRACTICE EXAM PREMINARY
QUESTIONS LATEST 2024 REAL EXAM 160
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|DETAILED ANSWERS|ALREADY
GRADED A+
What are two identifying factors the surgical technologist should always communicate to the circulator
when handing off a specimen?
A. Identity and origin location of the specimen
B. Temperature and texture of the specimen
C. Color and size of the specimen
D. Time removed from the body and identity of the specimen
A. Identity and origin location of the specimen
Rationale: The surgical technologist must confirm the identity of the specimen, the location of the
specimen, and where it has been removed from while passing it off to the circulating nurse for
documentation purposes. This information will be recorded into the patient’s operative record and is a
legal document.
A pressure dressing is most likely applied over a
A. skin graft.
B. cataract surgery.
C. TURP.
D. fractured femur EX Fix.
A. skin graft.
Rationale: The skin graft requires a pressure dressing—a three-layer dressing for the absorption of
excessive drainage used to promote wound healing. The other surgeries do not require a pressure
dressing.
Postoperatively a hernia repair patient complains of ulnar pain, numbness and tingling bilaterally. The
most likely cause of the patient’s discomfort is that the surgical technologist forgot to
A. place the axillary roll.
B. adduct the arm.
C. abduct the arm.
,D. place arm pads.
D. place arm pads.
Rationale: Adduction/abduction are motions performed during surgery. Axillary rolls are used during the
lateral position. Arm pads are used throughout surgery to prevent damage to the ulnar nerve. The arms
are placed on arm boards with the palm facing upwards.
When applying a cast, which of the following items are essential? Select the three (3) correct answers.
A. Water
B. Cotton padding
C. Plaster
D. Coban
E. Saline
A. Water
B. Cotton padding
C. Plaster
Rationale: A cotton padding needs to be applied to the extremity before the cast can be applied. The
plaster is then put in lukewarm water so it can be applied to the extremity. Coban is used to support a
dressing. Saline would not be used to submerge the plaster roll.
Which retractor is self-retaining?
A. Army/Navy
B. Senn
C. Deaver
D. Weitlander
D. Weitlander
Rationale: A Weitlander is a sharp or dull self-retaining retractor.
Which of the following criteria should be taken into consideration when putting on surgical gowns and
gloves? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. Cuff placement in gloves
B. Size of the surgeon's gown
C. Proximity to unsterile items
D. Orientation of surgical gown
,A. Cuff placement in gloves
C. Proximity to unsterile items
D. Orientation of surgical gown
Rationale: Much attention must be given to putting surgical gowns and gloves on in a specific order and
manner to maintain sterility for the sterile team members.
Which is an appropriate retractor for an abdominal hysterectomy?
A. o'sullivan-o'conner retractor
B. senn retractor
C. green retractor
D. spring retractor
A. o'sullivan-o'conner retractor
Rationale: An o'sullivan-o'conner retractor is adjustable and can retract multiple layers of tissue for ease
of manipulation during abdominal surgery.
When donning another sterile surgical team member, which item should be put on FIRST?
A. Undergloves
B. Eye protection
C. Gown
D. Overgloves
C. Gown
Rationale: The gown must be donned prior to putting on sterile gloves.
The surgical technologist has just finished an incision and drainage (I&D) of a patient with MRSA. The
surgical technologist should,
A. change their scrubs, and return to the room to setup for the next case
B. change their scrubs, terminally clean the room, perform another hand/arm scrub, then set up for the
next case
C. change their scrubs, perform another hand/arm scrub, then set up for the next case
D. terminally clean the room, change their scrubs, perform another hand/arm scrub, then set up for the
next case.
D. terminally clean the room, change their scrubs, perform another hand/arm scrub, then set up for the
next case.
, Rationale: Changing your scrubs and performing your surgical scrub after an infected case can prevent
future infection to another patient. Scrubs should be changed after a terminal cleaning of the room was
performed to ensure that any lingering spores do not latch onto your scrubs.
Which of the following are duties the surgeon may delegate to the surgical technologist? Select the
three (3) correct answers.
A. Retract tissue
B. Remove clamps
C. Dissect tissue
D. Tie off suture
E. Cut suture
A. Retract tissue
B. Remove clamps
E. Cut suture
Rationale: Cutting suture, removing clamps, and retracting tissue can be done under the doctor’s
supervision. They are within the scope of practice a surgical technologist. However, surgical
technologists cannot alter tissue, because they have not had the proper training and education.
Which of the following is critical during laser surgery?
A. Backup sterile supplies
B. Completely dark room
C. Fire safety
D. Safety lead
C. Fire safety
Rationale: Lasers create unique fire risks in the operating room. Additional safety considerations should
be adhered to.
Which of the following steps are taken after the surgery has finished and the surgical technologist is
breaking scrub?
A. Ask the circulator to assist in removing the gown and gloves.
B. Wipe blood off of gloves and remove them, then remove the gown.
C. Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
D. Using a gloved hand, untie the neck of the gown and pull away from the body, keeping all blood on
the gown.
C. Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
QUESTIONS LATEST 2024 REAL EXAM 160
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|DETAILED ANSWERS|ALREADY
GRADED A+
What are two identifying factors the surgical technologist should always communicate to the circulator
when handing off a specimen?
A. Identity and origin location of the specimen
B. Temperature and texture of the specimen
C. Color and size of the specimen
D. Time removed from the body and identity of the specimen
A. Identity and origin location of the specimen
Rationale: The surgical technologist must confirm the identity of the specimen, the location of the
specimen, and where it has been removed from while passing it off to the circulating nurse for
documentation purposes. This information will be recorded into the patient’s operative record and is a
legal document.
A pressure dressing is most likely applied over a
A. skin graft.
B. cataract surgery.
C. TURP.
D. fractured femur EX Fix.
A. skin graft.
Rationale: The skin graft requires a pressure dressing—a three-layer dressing for the absorption of
excessive drainage used to promote wound healing. The other surgeries do not require a pressure
dressing.
Postoperatively a hernia repair patient complains of ulnar pain, numbness and tingling bilaterally. The
most likely cause of the patient’s discomfort is that the surgical technologist forgot to
A. place the axillary roll.
B. adduct the arm.
C. abduct the arm.
,D. place arm pads.
D. place arm pads.
Rationale: Adduction/abduction are motions performed during surgery. Axillary rolls are used during the
lateral position. Arm pads are used throughout surgery to prevent damage to the ulnar nerve. The arms
are placed on arm boards with the palm facing upwards.
When applying a cast, which of the following items are essential? Select the three (3) correct answers.
A. Water
B. Cotton padding
C. Plaster
D. Coban
E. Saline
A. Water
B. Cotton padding
C. Plaster
Rationale: A cotton padding needs to be applied to the extremity before the cast can be applied. The
plaster is then put in lukewarm water so it can be applied to the extremity. Coban is used to support a
dressing. Saline would not be used to submerge the plaster roll.
Which retractor is self-retaining?
A. Army/Navy
B. Senn
C. Deaver
D. Weitlander
D. Weitlander
Rationale: A Weitlander is a sharp or dull self-retaining retractor.
Which of the following criteria should be taken into consideration when putting on surgical gowns and
gloves? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. Cuff placement in gloves
B. Size of the surgeon's gown
C. Proximity to unsterile items
D. Orientation of surgical gown
,A. Cuff placement in gloves
C. Proximity to unsterile items
D. Orientation of surgical gown
Rationale: Much attention must be given to putting surgical gowns and gloves on in a specific order and
manner to maintain sterility for the sterile team members.
Which is an appropriate retractor for an abdominal hysterectomy?
A. o'sullivan-o'conner retractor
B. senn retractor
C. green retractor
D. spring retractor
A. o'sullivan-o'conner retractor
Rationale: An o'sullivan-o'conner retractor is adjustable and can retract multiple layers of tissue for ease
of manipulation during abdominal surgery.
When donning another sterile surgical team member, which item should be put on FIRST?
A. Undergloves
B. Eye protection
C. Gown
D. Overgloves
C. Gown
Rationale: The gown must be donned prior to putting on sterile gloves.
The surgical technologist has just finished an incision and drainage (I&D) of a patient with MRSA. The
surgical technologist should,
A. change their scrubs, and return to the room to setup for the next case
B. change their scrubs, terminally clean the room, perform another hand/arm scrub, then set up for the
next case
C. change their scrubs, perform another hand/arm scrub, then set up for the next case
D. terminally clean the room, change their scrubs, perform another hand/arm scrub, then set up for the
next case.
D. terminally clean the room, change their scrubs, perform another hand/arm scrub, then set up for the
next case.
, Rationale: Changing your scrubs and performing your surgical scrub after an infected case can prevent
future infection to another patient. Scrubs should be changed after a terminal cleaning of the room was
performed to ensure that any lingering spores do not latch onto your scrubs.
Which of the following are duties the surgeon may delegate to the surgical technologist? Select the
three (3) correct answers.
A. Retract tissue
B. Remove clamps
C. Dissect tissue
D. Tie off suture
E. Cut suture
A. Retract tissue
B. Remove clamps
E. Cut suture
Rationale: Cutting suture, removing clamps, and retracting tissue can be done under the doctor’s
supervision. They are within the scope of practice a surgical technologist. However, surgical
technologists cannot alter tissue, because they have not had the proper training and education.
Which of the following is critical during laser surgery?
A. Backup sterile supplies
B. Completely dark room
C. Fire safety
D. Safety lead
C. Fire safety
Rationale: Lasers create unique fire risks in the operating room. Additional safety considerations should
be adhered to.
Which of the following steps are taken after the surgery has finished and the surgical technologist is
breaking scrub?
A. Ask the circulator to assist in removing the gown and gloves.
B. Wipe blood off of gloves and remove them, then remove the gown.
C. Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
D. Using a gloved hand, untie the neck of the gown and pull away from the body, keeping all blood on
the gown.
C. Wipe the gloves off, grasp the gown at the shoulders, and roll the gown forward into a ball.
