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NCCT CST Practice Exam With Complete
Solutions Latest Update
The circulating nurse notices that the patient is actively bleeding from one of the operative sites and the surgeon has left the room. Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take? A. Break scrub and inform the surgeon. B. Remain in gown and gloves and apply pressure. C. Break scrub and monitor the sterile field. D. Open a new sterile field for the patient. - correct answers B. Remain in gown and gloves and apply pressure. Rationale: The surgical technologist should remain sterile until the patient is out of the operating room and in PACU. If the surgical technologist has not broken scrub she can apply pressure until the surgeon is called back into the room. Since the field remains sterile it is not necessary to open a new sterile field. The surgical technologist is helping the surgeon complete a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the surgeon has placed the dressing on the patient. Which of the following should the surgical technologist do next?
A. Remove the top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard. B. Remove Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, tear the drape off the patient and discard. C. Remove top glove, hold dressing in place, tear the drape off patient and discard. D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard. - correct answers D. Remove the Mayo stand, back table and top glove, hold the dressing in place, roll away the drape and discard. Rationale: The Mayo stand and back table need to remain sterile until the patient is out of the room. The top gloves need replaced to prohibit any debris from getting the dressing dirty. By holding the dressing on with the clean gloves the drape can be removed so any biohazardous materials are contained within the drapes and discarded. A tornado warning is in effect and power has been switched to the generator due to downed electrical lines. The hospital's disaster triage protocol has been activated. A surgical procedure is in progress. Which of the following is the best course of action to ensure patient safety? A. Immediately evacuate the patient to the preoperative holding area. B. Finish the procedure and evacuate the patient.
Rationale: The surgical technologist should check and inspect instruments. If bioburden is found, the whole tray should be discarded and handed off. (When in doubt throw it out.) The tray should not be left on the sterile field at all, or cleaned on the sterile field, because it would make the field contaminated. While preparing the room for a surgical procedure using the laser, which of the following policies ensure the laser is being used correctly? (Select the three (3) correct answers.) A. Have laparotomy sponges available. B. Post warning signs outside the room C. Place the foot control next to the circulator. D. Do not use alcohol based preps. E. Wear safety goggles. - correct answers B. Post warning signs outside the room. D. Do not use alcohol based preps. E. Wear safety goggles. Rationale: Posting warning signs will prevent surgery doors from opening and causing unnecessary harm to co- workers outside the room. Not using alcohol based preps will decrease the risk of surgical fires. Safety goggles approved for that specific laser will prevent injury to the eye. Laparotomy sponges should be wet if available. The
doctor should be in control of the foot control pedal to the laser. During a vaginal hysterectomy the surgical team noticed that the safety belt was left off the patient before the drape was applied and discovered after draping. How can the patient be secured to the OR bed without interrupting the sterile field or procedure? A. The surgical technologist can watch for movement of the patient and inform the circulator. B. The anesthesiologist can secure the head to prevent shifting. C. The circulator can reach under the sterile drape and apply the safety strap. D. The surgeon can request sterile coban to secure the patient. - correct answers C. The circulator can reach under the sterile drape and apply the safety strap. Rationale: The underside of the drape is not sterile, therefore, can be touched by the unsterile circulating nurse, while she secures the patient with the safety strap. The surgical team is at the surgical field and has just completed the time-out. The surgeon turns to the surgical technologist and asks for local. Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take next before passing the local?
firing the stapler will activate the staples, rendering the reload useless. There is no need to lubricate the jaws. Which member of the surgical team is in charge of the transfer of an immobile or unconscious patient from the OR table to the stretcher? A. surgeon B. circulator C. anesthesia provider D. surgical technologist - correct answers C. anesthesia provider Rationale: The anesthesia provider is in control of the patient transfer and coordinates the move. They have control of the head and the patient's airway. The surgeon most likely has already left the room and cannot help with the transfer. The circulator is on the other side of the bed waiting on the transfer device when anesthesia gives the permission. The surgical technologist is on the other side waiting to help transfer the patient. There should always be 4 people to transfer a patient. Anesthesia is at the head of the bed and one person is on each side with one at the end of the bed to help transfer the feet. The surgical technologist observed a patient fall during the transfer from the gurney to the operating bed. Which of the following items are required in the incident report? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A. patient's name B. personnel involved C. type of anesthesia used D. location of the incident E. patient's weight - correct answers A. patient's name B. personnel involved D. location of the incident Rationale: In completing an incident report for an occurrence such as this fall, all information regarding the patient and the circumstances around the occurrence should be included. In this case scenario, the patient had not had anesthesia yet so this did not play a factor, nor did the patient's weight. So the best choices for information that needed to be included in the incident report are the patient's name, the personnel involved, and the location of the incident The surgical technologist hears a patient entering the operating room state verbally that he doesn't want the surgery and fears he will not survive. The surgical technologist must inform the A. surgeon. B. anesthesiologist. C. circulating nurse. D. charge nurse. - correct answers C. Circulating nurse
During a laparoscopic procedure, the screen on the monitor becomes darker and visualization is impaired. The surgeon discovers that carbon dioxide is escaping. Which of the following should the surgical technologist check first? A. light cord B. camera C. insufflation tubing D. ESU - correct answers C. insufflation tubing Rationale: Insufflation tubing is connected to the CO tank or gas line, and also is connected to the scope. The insufflator is set to a certain pressure to maintain visibility in the abdomen during laparoscopic surgery. Connection of the insufflation tubing can be checked by the ST at scope. Connection of the insufflation tubing at the insufflator itself, must be checked by a non-sterile team member. Which of the following actions by the surgical technologist reduces the risk of bioburden accumulation on serrated hemostatic forceps postoperatively? A. Soak in sterile saline within 24 hours. B. Soak in enzymatic solution within 20 minutes. C. Allow to dry completely prior to placing in autoclave.
D. Sterilize with rings together. - correct answers B. Soak in enzymatic solution within 20 minutes. Rationale: Instruments are not soaked in saline because it will pit them. Instruments should not be sterilized with rings together, because they cannot be properly sterilized. The instruments dry in sterile processing prior to being placed in the autoclave. A patient is undergoing a right partial pneumonectomy. Which of the following drains should the surgical technologist prepare for placement at the end of the case? A. Jackson Pratt B. chest tube C. Penrose D. Hemovac - correct answers B. chest tube Rationale: Any time the chest cavity is entered and the normally present negative intrapleural pressure is compromised, a chest tube must be placed to reestablish the negative pressure. A penrose is a passive drain that is partially placed within the wound allowing fluid to move out of the tube onto a dressing. The Jackson Pratt drain is commonly used for general and abdominal procedures for moderate drainage. The Hemovac drainage is commonly used for orthopedics for moderate drainage.
Rationale: The chemical indicator s are used internally and externally to show that the package has been exposed to the sterilization process. They do not verify the sterility of the items in the packages. They only mean that the package has had the right temperature, humidity, and sterilant. It will not verify elimination of living flora on the package or that moisture is in the package. When a surgical technologist is being relieved at end of shift during a myomectomy, she is required to A. conduct a soft and sharps count. B. initiate a time out. C. conduct a complete count. D. collect the specimen before leaving. - correct answers D. conduct a complete count. Rationale: The surgical technologist should ensure that all countables are accounted for prior to being relieved. When returning from lunch in the cafeteria and re- entering the surgical suite, the minimum amount of time for a surgical hand scrub should be A. 10 minutes. B. 3 minutes. C. 5 minutes.
D. 6 minutes. - correct answers C. 5 minutes Rationale: The initial surgical scrub of the day is 5 minutes, but subsequent scrubs are required to be 3 minutes in duration - unless the surgical technologist leaves the surgical suite. Anytime the technologist leaves the suite the hand scrub is 5 minutes, as though it were the first scrub of the day. An OB/GYN surgeon has posted an emergent laparoscopic case and the surgical technologist notices that his reusable metal trocar has not been processed from the day before. Which of the following sterilization methods is the best choice for this scenario? A. ethylene oxide sterilization B. gas sterilization C. Steris D. flash sterilization - correct answers D. flash sterilization Rationale: Ethylene oxide is a type of gas sterilization that takes several hours to complete. Steris is used for endoscopic equipment. Flash sterilization is the best option in this scenario since the trocar is required for immediate use. When sterilizing an unwrapped, non-porous item with no lumen in an immediate use sterilization unit, which of the
Rationale: Exposure temperature is one of the items of documentation that should be on the monitoring log. This will allow the ST to see if the sterilizer has reached the required temperature to deem the item or tray sterile. The patient is scheduled to have a Meniscal repair done on his right knee. Which of the following best represents how the site should be marked in the preoperative holding area to verify correct surgical site? A. A "yes" written on the right knee, with a small line showing where the incision will be. B. An "X" marked on the right knee, with a small line showing where the incision will be. C. An "X" marked on the left knee, showing that this is not the correct surgical site. D. A "no" written on the left knee, showing that this is not the correct surgical site. - correct answers A. A "yes" written on the right knee, with a small line showing where the incision will be. Rationale: The operative site will be marked by the surgeon. Indelible marker should be used, so that prep solutions, drapes and tape do not inhibit the ability to read it clearly. The word "yes" or the surgeon's initials are commonly acceptable ways to mark the correct surgical site. "X" or "no" are not acceptable, as to it could lead to confusion or misunderstanding of whether site is correct or not.
Which of the following resources should the surgical technologist use if a question arises concerning the correct use of a cleaning solution? A. OSHA regulations B. CDC guidelines C. MSDS D. Bowie-Dick test sheet - correct answers C. MSDS Rationale: OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. CDC stands for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) contains information on all hazardous chemicals: precautions for handling the chemicals, the hazards associated with chemicals, and the firefighting techniques--along with first aid for exposure. The Bowie- Dick test is used to test and monitor high vacuum steam sterilizer. Prior to a case the surgical technologist determines the power saw is not functioning. Which of the following is the most likely cause? A. It is not plugged into the electrical outlet. B. The battery has not been adequately charged. C. It has not been attached to the foot pedal. D. The arthroscopy shaver is not connected. - correct answers B. The battery has not been adequately charged.
Which of the following instruments can be decontaminated in a washer-sterilizer? A. power drill B. laser coated instrument set C. Phaco instrument set D. colonoscope - correct answers B. laser coated instrument set Rationale: The laser coated instrument set can be put in the washer-sterilizer. The power drill should not be submersed in liquid. The Phaco instrument set and the colonoscope should be hand washed since they are delicate and can be damaged. The surgical technologist is preparing for a myelography procedure. Which of the following items would definitely be on the preference card for this case? A. periosteal elevator B. Prolene mesh C. Williams retractor D. contrast medium - correct answers D. contrast medium Rationale: A myelogram is a diagnostic imaging procedure used to visualize the spinal column and any diseases surrounding the spinal column. Contrast medium is essential in a myelogram in order to see detail in the
spinal column not visible by CT scan or MRI alone. A periosteal elevator is used in open orthopedic procedures to scrape periosteum off bone. Prolene mesh is commonly used to repair hernias. A Williams retractor is a self- retaining retractor used in lumbar discectomy procedures. When being relieved for lunch during surgery, which of the following tasks is performed by the outgoing surgical technologist? A. removing supplies and equipment from the Mayo stand B. counting sharps and sponges C. adding gown and gloves to the back table for return to surgery D. placing all softs and sharps onto the back table - correct answers B. counting sharps and sponges Rationale: The surgical technologist should ensure that all sharps and sponges are accounted for prior to being relieved for lunch or break. The surgical technologist prepared a breast lump to send as a frozen section to pathology. The surgical technologist should pass off the specimen placed A. in normal saline. B. on a raytec sponge.
