NBSTSA Practice Exam B 2022/2023 150 Questions And Answers
1. Which of the following is considered the MOST important skill for a surgical
... [Show More] technologist?
A. management of specimens
B. management of sponges
C. maintaining an orderly setup
D. ensuring adequate lighting - Answer A. Management of specimens
2. During the postoperative phase, the personnel primarily responsible for transporting soiled instrumentation to decontamination is the
A. housekeeping staff.
B. anesthesia technician.
C. surgical technologist.
D. central processing technician. - Answer C. Surgical technologist
3. The surgical incision that allows for the BEST visualization for a Billroth I procedure is
A. McBurney's.
B. Pfannenstiel.
C. midline.
D. subcostal. - Answer C. Midline
4. CSF is formed in the lateral ventricles of a patient and may not properly flow into the third ventricle through the foramen of
A. Magendie into the fourth ventricle.
B. Monro into the fourth ventricle.
C. Sylvius into the fourth ventricle.
D. Luschka into the fourth ventricle. - Answer C. Sylvius into the fourth ventricle
5. During an excisional biopsy of sentinel nodes, the surgical technologist should prepare specimens using which of the following methods?
A. Place on a Raytec to be handed off to the circulator.
B. Separate on Telfa and pass to the circulator.
C. Place in separate containers and identify.
D. Place in specimen container held by the circulator using a hemostat. - Answer C. Place in separate containers and identify
6. A surgical technologist received the following medications onto the sterile field: 0.9% sodium chloride, bacitracin 1 gm, and 0.25% Marcaine with epinephrine. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate way to label these medications?
A. saline + bacitracin and .25 Marcaine + epinephrine
B. NACL + 1 gm baci and 0.25 marc w/epi
C. saline + baci and 0.25% marc with epi
D. 0.9% saline + 1 gm bacitracin and 0.25% Marcaine with epinephrine - Answer D. 0.9% saline + 1 gm bacitracin and 0.25% Marcaine with epinephrine
7. A thyroidectomy that was done earlier in the day is being brought back for excessive bleeding from the incision. Which of the following items are needed for this case?
A. Monocryl suture and harmonic scalpel
B. laps, silk ties, and hemoclips
C. Vicryl ties, pledgets, and Alexis
D. nylon suture, Raytec, and Geralds - Answer B. laps, silk ties, and hemoclips
8. If there is any question related to handling a specific type of specimen, which of the following departments should be consulted?
A. histology
B. laboratory
C. pathology
D. radiology - Answer C. Pathology
9. The required number of air exchanges per hour in an OR is
A. 5 to 10.
B. 15 to 25.
C. 30 to 35.
D. 40 to 50. - Answer B. 15 to 25
10. A special-made instrument without a backup falls to the floor during a procedure. Which of the following is the BEST reason to hesitate performing immediate-use sterilization?
A. The sterilizer is used for implantable devices, but not instruments.
B. The manufacturer's standards for sterilizing the instrument are unknown.
C. The staff feels uncomfortable transporting the unwrapped instrument to the OR after sterilization.
D. There are no wrappers or pouches available for sterilizing the instrument. - Answer B. The manufacturer's standards for sterilizing the instrument are unknown.
11. When transferring a thoracotomy patient to recovery, the chest drainage system should be
A. disconnected.
B. placed at the patient's side.
C. positioned above the patient's head.
D. maintained below the patient's chest level. - Answer D. Maintained below the patient's chest level
12.Which of the following procedures requires an incision in the suprasternal notch?
A. mediastinoscopy
B. bronchoscopy
C. parotidectomy
D. pericardectomy - Answer A. Mediastionscopy
13. When preparing surgical specimens, in addition to the surgical technologist, who else is responsible for accurately labeling the specimen?
A. surgeon and anesthesiologist
B. circulating nurse and first assistant
C. anesthesiologist and first assistant
D. surgeon and circulating nurse - Answer D. Surgeon and circulating nurse
14. A T-tube drain may be used following
A. a splenectomy.
B. a choledochotomy.
C. an appendectomy.
D. a herniorrhaphy. - Answer B. a choledochotomy
15. When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the surgical technologist places the staples through which two layers?
A. cuticular and subcuticular
B. subicular and subcutaneous
C. subcuticular and subcutaneous
D. subcutaneous and fascia - Answer A. cuticular and subcuticular
16. A type of regional anesthesia in which a tourniquet is applied and local anesthetic is administered intravenously is called a
A. Bier block.
B. peripheral nerve block.
C. MAC.
D. caudal anesthesia. - Answer A. Bier block
17. During a craniotomy, which of the following types of bone is entered?
A. flat
B. round
C. long
D. short - Answer A. Flat
18. A physician prescribed 50 milligrams of Demerol. The Demerol is supplied in 100 mg/mL. How many mL of Demerol should be given?
A. 0.5 mL
B. 1.0 mL
C. 1.5 mL
D. 2.0 mL - Answer A. 0.5 mL
19. Which of the following is MOST likely to be used during a posterior cervical decompression?
A. Kirschner wire
B. Hoffman device
C. Steinmann pins
D. Mayfield clamp - Answer D. Mayfield clamp
20. Which of the following is the MOST acceptable technique when placing a patient in the lithotomy position?
A. arms placed on arm boards placed at 110 degrees
B. legs placed in stirrups one at a time
C. both legs placed in stirrups simultaneously
D. hips placed above the lower break of the table - Answer C. both legs placed in stirrups simultaneously
21. Which of the following supplies should the surgical technologist have available for placement of a long arm cast?
A. Xeroform
B. Webril
C. Telfa
D. Kerlix - Answer B. Webril
22. How much 0.25% bupivacaine should be mixed with 1 mL of 1.0% lidocaine to make the solution equal strengths of both medications?
A. 2.0 mL
B. 4.0 mL
C. 5.0 mL
D. 10.0 mL - Answer B. 4.0 mL
23. The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of the following types of sutures?
A. Mattress
B. traction
C. interrupted
D. purse-string - Answer D. purse-string
24. A surgeon asks for warm irrigation after a right hemicolectomy. Which of the following BEST describes the reason for irrigating at this point in the procedure?
A. to clean out the area of any loose tissue
B. to maintain the core body temperature
C. to eliminate any infection-causing microbes
D. to aid visual inspection for leakage - Answer D. to aid visual inspection for leakage
25. Which of the following devices should the surgical technologist have delivered to the sterile field for a low anterior resection?
A. GIA linear stapler
B. ligating dividing stapler
C. intraluminal stapler
D. TA-60 stapler - Answer C. intraluminal stapler
26. Which of the following is reshaped during a total hip arthroplasty?
A. fibula
B. acetabulum
C. iliac crest
D. tibia - Answer B. acetabulum
27. An organization that regulates the production of biological sterilization test packs in-house is
A. CDC.
B. ANSI.
C. AAMI.
D. SDS. - Answer C. AAMI
28. Rod-shaped bacteria are called
A. bacilli.
B. cocci.
C. vibrio.
D. spirals. - Answer A. bacilli
29. A type of passive transport when salt crystals dissolve in water is known as
A. phagocytosis.
B. endocytosis.
C. osmosis.
D. diffusion. - Answer D. diffusion
30. Utilization of lasers in the operating room requires the use of
A. a HEPA filter mask.
B. a lead apron.
C. double gloves.
D. eye protection. - Answer D. eye protection
31. During application of a Volar splint, the surgical technologist notices that the splint was not completely dried and has caused a pressure point on the patient. Which of the following should be the surgical technologist's NEXT step?
A. Allow the splint to remain as-is and allow more time to dry.
B. Notify the nurse and let the nurse handle it.
C. Bring it to the surgeon's attention and assist in putting on a new splint.
D. Apply a new splint and notify the surgeon when finished. - Answer C. Bring it to the surgeon's attention and assist in putting on a new splint.
32. Sponges that have been added to the sterile field after a procedure has begun should be counted by the
A. circulator and surgeon.
B. surgical technologist and surgical first assistant.
C. surgeon and surgical first assistant.
D. surgical technologist and the circulator. - Answer D. surgical technologist and the circulator
33. Which of the following spore-forming microorganisms are used as biological monitors for checking steam sterilization effectiveness for a load of instruments in a rigid container?
A. Bacillus stearothermophilus
B. Bacillus atrophaeus
C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
D. Streptococcus pyogenes - Answer A. Bacillus stearothermophilus
34. After surgery, the scrub tech takes the instruments used in surgery to the decontamination area. How soon should these instruments be washed?
A. within 20 minutes
B. within 10 minutes
C. as soon as they arrive to the decontamination area
D. any time the technologist is available - Answer A. within 20 minutes
35.Which of the following types of laser is typically used for stone fragmentation in the ureter?
A. argon
B. krypton
C. carbon dioxide
D. holmium: YAG - Answer D. holmium: YAG
36. If a patient is undergoing a mastectomy immediately followed by reconstruction, how many surgical setups should be obtained?
A. One; the reconstruction will immediately follow the mastectomy, so the same instruments can be used without additional interventions.
B. One; the reconstruction will immediately follow the mastectomy, so the same instruments can be used after they are cleaned with sterile water.
C. Two; the reconstruction will immediately follow the mastectomy, but a second set of instruments should be used to prevent seeding.
D. Two; the reconstruction will immediately follow the mastectomy, but it will be done in a different OR so two sets are needed. - Answer C. Two; the reconstruction will immediately follow the mastectomy, but a second set of instruments should be used to prevent seeding.
37. Which of the following instruments is used to thread a vascular graft from one incision to another?
A. hemostat
B. tunneler
C. DeBakey vascular forceps
D. Randall Stone forceps - Answer B. tunneler
38. A patient has developed a hematoma at the incision site after the surgeon has left the room. The surgical technologist should
A. place a pressure dressing on the site.
B. cover the site with Dermabond.
C. use a Steri-Strip for the incision site.
D. request the surgeon to return. - Answer D. request the surgeon to return
39. The surgical technologist hands the surgeon the dressing at the end of a procedure. Which of the following is the BEST method to follow in regard to removing the drape?
A. The circulator applies the tape before the removal of the drape.
B. The circulator assists the surgeon with cleaning the patient before removing the drape.
C. A sterile team member holds the dressing in place while the drape is removed.
D. A sterile team member applies the tape after the drape has been removed. - Answer C. A sterile team member holds the dressing in place while the drape is removed.
40. Following an abdominal surgery, the surgeon has just closed the peritoneum. Which of the following layers will be sutured NEXT?
A. fascia
B. muscle
C. subcutaneous
D. subcuticular - Answer A. Fascia
41. Which of the following arteries is commonly used for taking a blood pressure reading?
A. radial
B. femoral
C. brachial
D. popliteal - Answer C. brachial
42. Which of the following is applied as a nonadherent dressing?
A. Adaptic
B. Dermabond
C. Steri-Strip
D. Elastoplast - Answer A. adaptic [Show Less]