CST Exam
Set Questions With Revised Correct
Detailed Answers
1. The tissue that covers bones and provides movement to the skeletal system is
A. nerve.
B. cartilage.
C. muscle.
D. ligament. - ANSWER C. Muscles are tissue that cover bone and provide
movement to the skeletal system.
2. Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the
presence of infection?
A. stainless steel
B. polyglactin-910
C. plain gut
D. silk - ANSWER A. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected
areas because it is non-absorbable with indefinite tensile strength
3. A 15-year-old girl with anemia will be undergoing an exploratory procedure
and a blood transfusion will be necessary. The parents are Jehovah's Witnesses
and will not consent to a blood transfusion, but the patient states that she wants
the transfusion. The operating room staff reports this to the nurse manager.
Which of the following is the BEST course of action now?
A. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's clergy to provide
an intervention.
,B. The operating room staff should inform the patient that her parents must give
consent before she can receive the transfusion.
C. The operating room staff should inform the patient that since she is a minor,
she cannot make health care decisions for herself.
D. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to
request that legal counsel becomes involved. - ANSWER D. Since the patient
is 15 and may understand the consequences of her actions, the physician or nurse
manager should contact the hospital's administration to request that legal
counsel becomes involved. They will be able to advise the operating room staff as
to the best course of action considering all of the legal and ethical implications.
4. A surgical technologist counts only 9 sponges in a pack on the initial count.
After recounting the sponges, it is confirmed that there are only 9 sponges in the
pack. Which of the following is the appropriate course of action?
A. Change the count sheet to match the initial count and use the sponges from
the current package.
B. Leave the current package on the surgical field; document the problem; open a
new package; recount.
C. Remove the current package from the surgical field, but not the operating
room; document the problem; open a new package; recount.
D. Remove the current package from the operating room; document the problem;
open a new package; and recount. - ANSWER C. If a package of sponges
contains an incorrect number, it should immediately be handed off the sterile
field and documented. It should be bagged, labeled as incorrect, and placed in a
remote location in the OR. A new package of sponges should be opened and
counted.
5. When utilizing a laparoscopic set-up, potential hazards associated with the
equipment include
A. non-ionizing radiation.
, B. nitrogen embolus.
C. pneumoperitoneum.
D. fiberoptic beam fire. - ANSWER D. The intense fiberoptic beam can ignite
the patient's drapes and cause fires. Therefore, cameras should be turned off
when not in use and should be appropriately placed during procedures.
6. A patient with multiple trauma injuries requires surgical intervention. The
patient has a history of DVT and is currently taking anticoagulants. Which of the
following should be done to ensure a clot does not develop?
A. Administer a subcutaneous anticoagulant preoperatively.
B. Continue current anticoagulation therapy.
C. Place a sequential compression device on lower extremities.
D. Draw a PT-PTT and send the patient to surgery. - ANSWER C. Sequential
compression devices are clinically proven to help in the prevention of developing
clots.
7. Which of the following catheters is MOST commonly used to perform an
embolectomy?
A. Robinson
B. Fogarty
C. Malecot
D. Angiocath - ANSWER B. A Fogarty catheter is inserted past the clot, then
inflated to remove the clot.
8. A surgeon is performing a procedure to repair damage from a gunshot wound
to the chest. Which of the following types of drains should the surgical
technologist have available at the end of the procedure?
Set Questions With Revised Correct
Detailed Answers
1. The tissue that covers bones and provides movement to the skeletal system is
A. nerve.
B. cartilage.
C. muscle.
D. ligament. - ANSWER C. Muscles are tissue that cover bone and provide
movement to the skeletal system.
2. Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the
presence of infection?
A. stainless steel
B. polyglactin-910
C. plain gut
D. silk - ANSWER A. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected
areas because it is non-absorbable with indefinite tensile strength
3. A 15-year-old girl with anemia will be undergoing an exploratory procedure
and a blood transfusion will be necessary. The parents are Jehovah's Witnesses
and will not consent to a blood transfusion, but the patient states that she wants
the transfusion. The operating room staff reports this to the nurse manager.
Which of the following is the BEST course of action now?
A. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's clergy to provide
an intervention.
,B. The operating room staff should inform the patient that her parents must give
consent before she can receive the transfusion.
C. The operating room staff should inform the patient that since she is a minor,
she cannot make health care decisions for herself.
D. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to
request that legal counsel becomes involved. - ANSWER D. Since the patient
is 15 and may understand the consequences of her actions, the physician or nurse
manager should contact the hospital's administration to request that legal
counsel becomes involved. They will be able to advise the operating room staff as
to the best course of action considering all of the legal and ethical implications.
4. A surgical technologist counts only 9 sponges in a pack on the initial count.
After recounting the sponges, it is confirmed that there are only 9 sponges in the
pack. Which of the following is the appropriate course of action?
A. Change the count sheet to match the initial count and use the sponges from
the current package.
B. Leave the current package on the surgical field; document the problem; open a
new package; recount.
C. Remove the current package from the surgical field, but not the operating
room; document the problem; open a new package; recount.
D. Remove the current package from the operating room; document the problem;
open a new package; and recount. - ANSWER C. If a package of sponges
contains an incorrect number, it should immediately be handed off the sterile
field and documented. It should be bagged, labeled as incorrect, and placed in a
remote location in the OR. A new package of sponges should be opened and
counted.
5. When utilizing a laparoscopic set-up, potential hazards associated with the
equipment include
A. non-ionizing radiation.
, B. nitrogen embolus.
C. pneumoperitoneum.
D. fiberoptic beam fire. - ANSWER D. The intense fiberoptic beam can ignite
the patient's drapes and cause fires. Therefore, cameras should be turned off
when not in use and should be appropriately placed during procedures.
6. A patient with multiple trauma injuries requires surgical intervention. The
patient has a history of DVT and is currently taking anticoagulants. Which of the
following should be done to ensure a clot does not develop?
A. Administer a subcutaneous anticoagulant preoperatively.
B. Continue current anticoagulation therapy.
C. Place a sequential compression device on lower extremities.
D. Draw a PT-PTT and send the patient to surgery. - ANSWER C. Sequential
compression devices are clinically proven to help in the prevention of developing
clots.
7. Which of the following catheters is MOST commonly used to perform an
embolectomy?
A. Robinson
B. Fogarty
C. Malecot
D. Angiocath - ANSWER B. A Fogarty catheter is inserted past the clot, then
inflated to remove the clot.
8. A surgeon is performing a procedure to repair damage from a gunshot wound
to the chest. Which of the following types of drains should the surgical
technologist have available at the end of the procedure?
