SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT TEST QUESTIONS V2
1. The part of the inner ear that transforms sound into nerve impulses thattravel to the brain is
known as which of the following?: A. Cochlea
The cochlea is a spiral-shaped part of the inner ear that translates sound into nerve impulses that
travel to the brain. Attached to the cochlea are fluid-filled semicircular canals which sends the
information on balance and the head position to the brain.
2. A patient has just relocated and started a new job. The patient is mildlyhypertensive. What
is the probable cause?: A. Stress
Emotional stress can cause physical symptoms. A patient who has emotional stress is likely to
have elevated heart rate and blood pressure. This is why the psychosocial assessment is so
important
3. The method of patient placement in which patients are grouped by thepathogen that they
are colonized or infected by would be considered which of the following?: A. Cohorting
Cohorting would be considered the patient placement method of grouping patients who are
colonized or infected with the same pathogen. This is a particularly effective method in long-
term care settings.
4. Q.There are two main circulatory loops in the human body known as the pulmonary
circulation loop and which of the following?: A. Systemic circulationloop
The second circulatory loop is the systemic circulation loop which carries highlyoxygenated
blood from the left side of the heart to all of the tissues of the body (excluding the heart and
lungs). This removes wastes from the body tissues andreturns deoxygenated blood to the right
side of the heart.
5. For which of the following reasons might a bronchoscopy be used?: A.detecting tumors,
obtaining sputum culture, removing foreign bodies
A bronchoscopy involves visualization of the trachea and bronchi. It has many uses,including
the first three answer choices. It is also used for biopsying accessible lesions, removing
excessive secretions, and locating bleeding sites in the tracheo-bronchial tree.
6. When mounting suture on a French eye suture needle, which of the following would be
considered correct?: A. Press the suture down over the topof the spring causing it to snap into
the eye of the needle.
,The scrub technician should press the suture down over the top of the spring causingit to snap into
the eye of the needle. After the suturing is in the eye it shouldn't be pulled through the eye
because it can strip the suture and could break it.
7. The HCO3 values for respiratory alkalosis will be:: A. 22 - 26 mEq/L.
The HCO3 results for both respiratory alkalosis and acidosis will be within normalrange. The
normal range for this electrolyte is 22 - 26 mEq/L.
8. Potential adverse outcomes related to transferring patients includewhat?: A. Moaning and
discomfort
The patient who is being moved to and from the operative suite is at risk of adverseoutcomes in
the transferring process. The patient is at risk for injury, altered body temperature, ineffective
breathing patterns, altered tissue perfusion, and pain or discomfort.
9. A would be considered an abnormal flow of blood orbleeding
from the surgical wound?: A. Hemorrhage
When a hematoma occurs, it is a collection of blood in the body tissue. An abnormal flow of
blood or bleeding from the surgical wound could be considered a hemorrhage. Bleeding is
considered a major surgical complication.
10. All of the following might be considered correct for helping keep a sterileperson in the
operating room sterile?: A. When a sterile person passes an unsterile person, they should turn
their backs to the unsterile person and when a sterile person is passing a sterile area, they
should face the sterile area.
When a sterile person is passing an unsterile area or person, care should be taken. The
following would be observed:
When a sterile person passes an unsterile person, they should turn their backs to the unsterile
person.
When a sterile person is passing a sterile area, they should face the sterile area. When the
sterile person is draping the patient in the operating room, they should stand back
at a safe distance.
When two sterile personnel are passing each other, they should do a back-to-backat a 360
degree turn.
The sterile personnel should stay in the sterile field, not walking around or especiallygoing
, outside of the operating room.
11. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis could include which of the follow-ing?: A. Wheezing
and a Rash
The signs and symptoms could include:Wheezing
Rash
Abnormal lung sounds detected during auscultationDifficulty breathing
12. Often patients use over-the-counter medications to treat themselves.Which over-the-
counter medication might indicate a sensivity to strepto- mycin?: A. Antibiotic ointments
A patient may not identify drug sensitivity to over-the-counter medications. A patient who is
sensitive to antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin may also be sensitive to streptomycin or
other drugs antibiotics used in a procedure.
13. Also known as the "master gland," the gland exerts
controlover all of the other glands in the endocrine system?: A. Pituitary
The pituitary gland is the controller of all the glands in the endocrine system. It is made up of
the anterior and posterior lobe and is composed of an outgrowth of thebrain.
14. Three approaches are used to evaluate the quality of care for per- formance improvement.
When the professional examines the activities and behaviors of the health care provider such
as the nurse this is which type ofevaluation?: A. process evaluation
The three approaches to evaluating the quality of care include: structure evaluation,process
evaluation, and outcome evaluation. Process evaluation examines the activities and behaviors
of the health care provider such as the nurse.
15. If one kilogram is converted to grams, which of the following would beconsidered
correct?: A. 1000
The metric system is considered the International System for weights and measures. If one
kilogram is converted to grams, it would equal 1000 grams.
16. When is the flash sterilizer typically used?: A. Only when there is no otheralternative is
available
These sterilizers are typically located just outside the operating suite. They are typically used
1. The part of the inner ear that transforms sound into nerve impulses thattravel to the brain is
known as which of the following?: A. Cochlea
The cochlea is a spiral-shaped part of the inner ear that translates sound into nerve impulses that
travel to the brain. Attached to the cochlea are fluid-filled semicircular canals which sends the
information on balance and the head position to the brain.
2. A patient has just relocated and started a new job. The patient is mildlyhypertensive. What
is the probable cause?: A. Stress
Emotional stress can cause physical symptoms. A patient who has emotional stress is likely to
have elevated heart rate and blood pressure. This is why the psychosocial assessment is so
important
3. The method of patient placement in which patients are grouped by thepathogen that they
are colonized or infected by would be considered which of the following?: A. Cohorting
Cohorting would be considered the patient placement method of grouping patients who are
colonized or infected with the same pathogen. This is a particularly effective method in long-
term care settings.
4. Q.There are two main circulatory loops in the human body known as the pulmonary
circulation loop and which of the following?: A. Systemic circulationloop
The second circulatory loop is the systemic circulation loop which carries highlyoxygenated
blood from the left side of the heart to all of the tissues of the body (excluding the heart and
lungs). This removes wastes from the body tissues andreturns deoxygenated blood to the right
side of the heart.
5. For which of the following reasons might a bronchoscopy be used?: A.detecting tumors,
obtaining sputum culture, removing foreign bodies
A bronchoscopy involves visualization of the trachea and bronchi. It has many uses,including
the first three answer choices. It is also used for biopsying accessible lesions, removing
excessive secretions, and locating bleeding sites in the tracheo-bronchial tree.
6. When mounting suture on a French eye suture needle, which of the following would be
considered correct?: A. Press the suture down over the topof the spring causing it to snap into
the eye of the needle.
,The scrub technician should press the suture down over the top of the spring causingit to snap into
the eye of the needle. After the suturing is in the eye it shouldn't be pulled through the eye
because it can strip the suture and could break it.
7. The HCO3 values for respiratory alkalosis will be:: A. 22 - 26 mEq/L.
The HCO3 results for both respiratory alkalosis and acidosis will be within normalrange. The
normal range for this electrolyte is 22 - 26 mEq/L.
8. Potential adverse outcomes related to transferring patients includewhat?: A. Moaning and
discomfort
The patient who is being moved to and from the operative suite is at risk of adverseoutcomes in
the transferring process. The patient is at risk for injury, altered body temperature, ineffective
breathing patterns, altered tissue perfusion, and pain or discomfort.
9. A would be considered an abnormal flow of blood orbleeding
from the surgical wound?: A. Hemorrhage
When a hematoma occurs, it is a collection of blood in the body tissue. An abnormal flow of
blood or bleeding from the surgical wound could be considered a hemorrhage. Bleeding is
considered a major surgical complication.
10. All of the following might be considered correct for helping keep a sterileperson in the
operating room sterile?: A. When a sterile person passes an unsterile person, they should turn
their backs to the unsterile person and when a sterile person is passing a sterile area, they
should face the sterile area.
When a sterile person is passing an unsterile area or person, care should be taken. The
following would be observed:
When a sterile person passes an unsterile person, they should turn their backs to the unsterile
person.
When a sterile person is passing a sterile area, they should face the sterile area. When the
sterile person is draping the patient in the operating room, they should stand back
at a safe distance.
When two sterile personnel are passing each other, they should do a back-to-backat a 360
degree turn.
The sterile personnel should stay in the sterile field, not walking around or especiallygoing
, outside of the operating room.
11. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis could include which of the follow-ing?: A. Wheezing
and a Rash
The signs and symptoms could include:Wheezing
Rash
Abnormal lung sounds detected during auscultationDifficulty breathing
12. Often patients use over-the-counter medications to treat themselves.Which over-the-
counter medication might indicate a sensivity to strepto- mycin?: A. Antibiotic ointments
A patient may not identify drug sensitivity to over-the-counter medications. A patient who is
sensitive to antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin may also be sensitive to streptomycin or
other drugs antibiotics used in a procedure.
13. Also known as the "master gland," the gland exerts
controlover all of the other glands in the endocrine system?: A. Pituitary
The pituitary gland is the controller of all the glands in the endocrine system. It is made up of
the anterior and posterior lobe and is composed of an outgrowth of thebrain.
14. Three approaches are used to evaluate the quality of care for per- formance improvement.
When the professional examines the activities and behaviors of the health care provider such
as the nurse this is which type ofevaluation?: A. process evaluation
The three approaches to evaluating the quality of care include: structure evaluation,process
evaluation, and outcome evaluation. Process evaluation examines the activities and behaviors
of the health care provider such as the nurse.
15. If one kilogram is converted to grams, which of the following would beconsidered
correct?: A. 1000
The metric system is considered the International System for weights and measures. If one
kilogram is converted to grams, it would equal 1000 grams.
16. When is the flash sterilizer typically used?: A. Only when there is no otheralternative is
available
These sterilizers are typically located just outside the operating suite. They are typically used
