SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT TEST QUESTIONS V4
1. What is a Needle Holder?: A. The typical needle holder is a type of surgicalinstrument
that has ring handles and locking ratchets. A needle holder is used to grasp and hold curved
surgical needles.
2. A nurse is teaching a patient how to monitor his blood pressure. Whatis the BEST method
to help alleviate a patient's anxiety?: A. Focus on the skill,not the disease
The patient who is new to taking blood pressure readings may anxious about the new task he
is learning. The nurse should have already discussed disease risks andits link to other disease.
She should focus on the skill and help to patient understandhow easy it is to take measurements
3. If permanent retention is necessary when suturing, which of the follow-ing sutures would
be indicated?: A. Nylon
Polyester and silk would not provide the permanent retention.Nylon suture would provide
permanent retention if necessary.
4. Which of the following is a buffer for carbon dioxide?: A.Hemoglobin
Buffering is a mechanism that corrects acid-base imbalances by removing or releasing hydrogen.
Hemoglobin is a buffer for carbon dioxide. Phosphates and plasma proteins are intracellular
buffers. Bicarbonate is a buffer fro blood and interstitial fluid.
5. You have a patient who has had his leg amputated from the knee down.You would include
all of the following in this patient's education about care of his residual limb EXCEPT:: A.
Always apply a lotion or oil on the residual limbafter washing.
This is not likely to be a part of the patient's education about how to care for the residual limb.
The patient should be advised not to use any substance such as lotion,oil, alcohol or powders on
the residual limb unless they are prescribed by the healthcare provider.
6. A patient feels that an intervention is too expensive. What may happenif it remains in the
care plan?: A. Refuse to comply
The care plan needs to be approved by the patient. A patient who is not offered aless expensive
option may refuse to comply with the plan. It is important that the care plan be both scientific
and cost effective
7. Which of the following would you consider a priority that requiresimmediate attention in
the plan?: A. Preparing for a test.
,Actions that require immediate attention are given attention first if the patient does not have a
life-threatening condition. Preparing a patient for a test requiresimmediate action.
8. Paternalism is the term used when health care providers make the decisions for the
patient based on the rationale that it is in the patient's bestinterest. This is contrary to which of
the following nursing ethical principles?-
: A. autonomy
Paternalism denies the patient the autonomy to make his or her own decisions. Autonomy is
the principle that a competent adult patient has the right to make hisor her own health care
decisions.
9. Which individual would the perioperative nurse or team coordinate withto calibrate
instrumentation used in the perioperative suite?: A. Biomedical equipment technician
Operating rooms today include highly specialized computers and instrumentation.The
biomedical equipment technician is the person who is knowledgeable about maintaining the
equipment used by the perioperative team. The biomedical equip-
ment technician tests, installs, calibrates, inspects, services, and repairs suchequipment.
10. The vision system of the da Vinci robotic system would include which of the following?:
A. Video processing unit, stereo viewer and camera control unit.
The vision system consists of:
Video processing unitStereo viewer Endoscope
Camera/camera cable assemblyCamera control unit
Touch screenIlluminator
11. Laryngospasms are considered an emergency in the surgery patient. Which of the
following medications might be used to Treat larynogospams inthe intubated patient during
surgery?: A. Succinylcholine
The obese patient has the highest risk for experiencing larynogospams. If the case is severe, the
patient can be treated with succinylcholine which paralyzes the muscles
12. Linda has just finished discussing the plan of care with her patient and have established
goals and appointments. Where should the plan be documented next?: A. In the patient's health
record
When a nurse establishes a plan of care and have approved it with the patient, thisplan should
, then be added to the patient's health record in order to document to ordered course of action
and serve as a record of treatment for further notice to other healthcare professionals.
13. In terms of DNR orders, which of the following statements is least accurate?: A. The
decision to forego CPR affects all other health-care decisions.
This is the least accurate statement. Other medical or nursing interventions are not influenced
directly by a DNR order. The decision to forego CPR is not a decision to forego any other
interventions to sustain life.
14. Of the following statements, which would not be considered correctregarding the
surgeon's
preference card?: A. The surgeon's preference cards are only kept in the computer.
The surgeon's preference cards can be kept in the computer or on note cards.These cards are
pulled each day for each procedure being done. The surgical
technologists
consult with these preference cards and the procedure book.
15. Lengthy hospital stays contribute to which outcome?: A. Nosocomialinfection
Lengthy hospital stays increase the chance of a patient developing an infection. The amount of
tissue trauma or a loss of skin can also contribute to nosocomialinfections.
16. Which medication is most likely to have the side effects tremors, dizzi- ness, blurred
vision, and dry mouth.: A. Antiarrythmics
Medication to treat arrhythmia has several side effects. While dizziness is a commonside effect,
the other answers are included in potential side effects of antiarrythmics
17. Otorhinolaryngology is the study and treatment of diseases of which of the following
regions?: A. Ear, nose, and throat
Otorhinolaryngology is the study and treatment of diseases of the ears, nose, andthroat
regions. The term is derived from the latin term oto meaning ear, rhino meaning nose, laryng
meaning throat, and ology meaning study of.
18. Which of the following would be considered correct for the process inwhich the debris is
removed from instruments?: A. Cavitation
1. What is a Needle Holder?: A. The typical needle holder is a type of surgicalinstrument
that has ring handles and locking ratchets. A needle holder is used to grasp and hold curved
surgical needles.
2. A nurse is teaching a patient how to monitor his blood pressure. Whatis the BEST method
to help alleviate a patient's anxiety?: A. Focus on the skill,not the disease
The patient who is new to taking blood pressure readings may anxious about the new task he
is learning. The nurse should have already discussed disease risks andits link to other disease.
She should focus on the skill and help to patient understandhow easy it is to take measurements
3. If permanent retention is necessary when suturing, which of the follow-ing sutures would
be indicated?: A. Nylon
Polyester and silk would not provide the permanent retention.Nylon suture would provide
permanent retention if necessary.
4. Which of the following is a buffer for carbon dioxide?: A.Hemoglobin
Buffering is a mechanism that corrects acid-base imbalances by removing or releasing hydrogen.
Hemoglobin is a buffer for carbon dioxide. Phosphates and plasma proteins are intracellular
buffers. Bicarbonate is a buffer fro blood and interstitial fluid.
5. You have a patient who has had his leg amputated from the knee down.You would include
all of the following in this patient's education about care of his residual limb EXCEPT:: A.
Always apply a lotion or oil on the residual limbafter washing.
This is not likely to be a part of the patient's education about how to care for the residual limb.
The patient should be advised not to use any substance such as lotion,oil, alcohol or powders on
the residual limb unless they are prescribed by the healthcare provider.
6. A patient feels that an intervention is too expensive. What may happenif it remains in the
care plan?: A. Refuse to comply
The care plan needs to be approved by the patient. A patient who is not offered aless expensive
option may refuse to comply with the plan. It is important that the care plan be both scientific
and cost effective
7. Which of the following would you consider a priority that requiresimmediate attention in
the plan?: A. Preparing for a test.
,Actions that require immediate attention are given attention first if the patient does not have a
life-threatening condition. Preparing a patient for a test requiresimmediate action.
8. Paternalism is the term used when health care providers make the decisions for the
patient based on the rationale that it is in the patient's bestinterest. This is contrary to which of
the following nursing ethical principles?-
: A. autonomy
Paternalism denies the patient the autonomy to make his or her own decisions. Autonomy is
the principle that a competent adult patient has the right to make hisor her own health care
decisions.
9. Which individual would the perioperative nurse or team coordinate withto calibrate
instrumentation used in the perioperative suite?: A. Biomedical equipment technician
Operating rooms today include highly specialized computers and instrumentation.The
biomedical equipment technician is the person who is knowledgeable about maintaining the
equipment used by the perioperative team. The biomedical equip-
ment technician tests, installs, calibrates, inspects, services, and repairs suchequipment.
10. The vision system of the da Vinci robotic system would include which of the following?:
A. Video processing unit, stereo viewer and camera control unit.
The vision system consists of:
Video processing unitStereo viewer Endoscope
Camera/camera cable assemblyCamera control unit
Touch screenIlluminator
11. Laryngospasms are considered an emergency in the surgery patient. Which of the
following medications might be used to Treat larynogospams inthe intubated patient during
surgery?: A. Succinylcholine
The obese patient has the highest risk for experiencing larynogospams. If the case is severe, the
patient can be treated with succinylcholine which paralyzes the muscles
12. Linda has just finished discussing the plan of care with her patient and have established
goals and appointments. Where should the plan be documented next?: A. In the patient's health
record
When a nurse establishes a plan of care and have approved it with the patient, thisplan should
, then be added to the patient's health record in order to document to ordered course of action
and serve as a record of treatment for further notice to other healthcare professionals.
13. In terms of DNR orders, which of the following statements is least accurate?: A. The
decision to forego CPR affects all other health-care decisions.
This is the least accurate statement. Other medical or nursing interventions are not influenced
directly by a DNR order. The decision to forego CPR is not a decision to forego any other
interventions to sustain life.
14. Of the following statements, which would not be considered correctregarding the
surgeon's
preference card?: A. The surgeon's preference cards are only kept in the computer.
The surgeon's preference cards can be kept in the computer or on note cards.These cards are
pulled each day for each procedure being done. The surgical
technologists
consult with these preference cards and the procedure book.
15. Lengthy hospital stays contribute to which outcome?: A. Nosocomialinfection
Lengthy hospital stays increase the chance of a patient developing an infection. The amount of
tissue trauma or a loss of skin can also contribute to nosocomialinfections.
16. Which medication is most likely to have the side effects tremors, dizzi- ness, blurred
vision, and dry mouth.: A. Antiarrythmics
Medication to treat arrhythmia has several side effects. While dizziness is a commonside effect,
the other answers are included in potential side effects of antiarrythmics
17. Otorhinolaryngology is the study and treatment of diseases of which of the following
regions?: A. Ear, nose, and throat
Otorhinolaryngology is the study and treatment of diseases of the ears, nose, andthroat
regions. The term is derived from the latin term oto meaning ear, rhino meaning nose, laryng
meaning throat, and ology meaning study of.
18. Which of the following would be considered correct for the process inwhich the debris is
removed from instruments?: A. Cavitation
