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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

NBSTSA CST Exam Questions

Page 6 of 25

101.

Which factor is MOST likely to increase a patient's risk of developing a surgical site infection?

  • Smoking

  • Age under 30 years

  • Preoperative antibacterial wash

  • Employed in agriculture

Correct answer: Smoking

Smoking is widely recognized to impair wound healing and increase the risk of surgical site infections due to its negative effects on blood circulation and immune function.

Age under 30 years typically indicates a healthier, more resilient demographic less prone to infections compared to older age groups. 

Preoperative antibacterial wash is actually intended to decrease the risk of surgical site infections by reducing the presence of harmful bacteria. 

Being employed in agriculture does not inherently increase the risk of surgical site infections unless specific, direct exposure to contaminants is involved and not properly managed.

102.

When assisting in the application of a cast, which of the following is crucial to assess AFTER the cast has been applied?

  • The range of motion of joints not immobilized by the cast

  • The patient’s preference for cast color

  • The range of motion of joints immobilized by the cast

  • Documentation of the time the cast was applied

Correct answer: The range of motion of joints not immobilized by the cast

Assessing the range of motion of joints not immobilized by the cast is crucial to ensure that the cast does not inadvertently restrict movement beyond the intended area, which could impact circulation and potentially lead to further complications.

While the patient's preference for cast color can be important for patient satisfaction, it does not impact the medical or functional outcome of the cast application and is therefore not crucial to assess after the cast has been applied. 

The range of motion of joints immobilized by the cast is not typically assessed immediately after cast application because these joints are expected to be restricted by the cast; the primary purpose of the cast is to immobilize these joints to allow for healing. 

Although documenting the time the cast was applied is important for medical records and tracking the duration of wear, it is not a crucial assessment related to the immediate physical condition of the patient or the functional outcome of the cast application.

103.

Which of the following items should be disposed of in a sharps container after surgery?

  • A broken scalpel

  • Used gauze pads soaked with blood

  • The wrapper from a sterile surgical instrument

  • Any empty irrigation syringe

Correct answer: A broken scalpel

A broken scalpel is considered a sharp object, potentially contaminated with pathogens, and should be disposed of in a sharps container to prevent injury and infection.

Used gauze pads soaked with blood should be disposed of in a biohazard bag, not a sharps container. 

The wrapper from a sterile surgical instrument is not a sharp object nor is it contaminated with biological material; it should be disposed of in the regular trash unless hospital policy dictates otherwise for recyclable materials. 

An empty irrigation syringe is not sharp unless a hypodermic needle is attached and should be disposed of according to the facility's policy on plastic waste.

104.

Which of the following best exemplifies the use of universal precautions during surgery?

  • Wearing waterproof gowns when there is a risk of fluid exposure

  • Using a laser safety mask when operating a laser

  • Implementing sharp safety mechanisms for all surgical instruments

  • Ensuring all patients are tested for blood-borne pathogens pre-operatively

Correct answer: Wearing waterproof gowns when there is a risk of fluid exposure

Waterproof gowns protect against exposure to blood and bodily fluids, aligning with the principle of universal precautions.

While important for safety, laser masks are specific to laser use and not a universal precaution against blood and fluid exposure. 

Sharp safety is critical, but it's a specific safety strategy rather than an example of following universal precautions broadly. 

Pre-operative testing is part of infection control but does not reflect the proactive protective measures used in universal precautions.

105.

Which of the following information is MOST crucial to include on the label of a specimen container for a suspected cancerous tumor?

  • The site from which the specimen was taken

  • The patient’s preferred name

  • The type of fixative used

  • The exact time the specimen was collected

Correct answer: The site from which the specimen was taken

The site from which the specimen was taken is most crucial for pathological analysis and diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions.

While the patient's name is important, the preferred name may not match medical records, which could lead to identification issues. 

Information about the fixative may be important for processing but is not as crucial as the anatomical origin of the specimen. 

The exact time of collection is very important but is less critical than knowing the anatomical site for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

106.

Following a total knee arthroplasty, the surgical team used a mixture of medications for intra-articular injection. Which component of the medication report is MOST crucial for the postoperative care team?

  • The individual volumes of each medication administered

  • The sequence in which the medications were administered

  • The total volume of the medication mixture administered

  • The rate at which the medication mixture was administered

Correct answer: The individual volumes of each medication administered

Knowing the individual volumes of each medication administered is crucial for understanding potential interactions, effects on patient recovery, and managing any side effects. This information should be coupled with the concentration of each medication to accurately record how much medication the patient received.

The sequence of administration is typically less important than knowing the specific amounts of each medication. 

The total volume provides an overview but does not offer detailed information regarding the amounts of each specific drug. 

The rate of administration might affect the immediate postoperative period but is less important than the specific volumes of medications administered for long-term care planning.

107.

During a surgical procedure, you notice a small fire starting on the surgical drape caused by a malfunctioning electrosurgical unit. What is the FIRST action you should take?

  • Remove the drape from the patient

  • Attempt to extinguish the fire with whatever fluids are immediately available

  • Announce the fire loudly to alert the surgical team

  • Evacuate the operating room immediately

Correct answer: Remove the drape from the patient

Removing the drape immediately reduces the risk to the patient by eliminating the source of the fire, addressing both patient safety and fire containment.

Attempting to extinguish the fire with available fluids can be dangerous and may exacerbate the situation, especially if inappropriate chemicals or fluids are used. 

While alerting the team is important, the immediate removal of the fire source takes precedence for patient safety. 

Evacuating the operating room before attempting to control the fire source on the patient may delay necessary immediate action to ensure safety.

108.

A surgical technologist is asked to assist in suctioning during a neurosurgical procedure. What is the PRIMARY concern when suctioning near the brain tissue?

  • Minimizing the suction pressure

  • Duration of suctioning

  • Avoiding the introduction of air bubbles

  • The temperature of the suctioned fluid

Correct answer: Minimizing the suction pressure

Minimizing the suction pressure is crucial to prevent damage to the delicate brain tissue and surrounding structures.

While efficiency is important, the duration of suctioning is less critical than ensuring delicate handling of brain tissue. Air bubbles are a concern in vascular procedures but less so in direct brain tissue suctioning. The temperature of the suctioned fluid should be controlled but is not as critical as the suction pressure in preventing tissue damage.

109.

Prior to the start of an orthopedic surgery, which of the following steps is crucial in preparing the operating room environment?

  • Ensuring the availability and functionality of the pneumatic tourniquet

  • Setting up for an arterial line

  • Dimming the room lights to reduce glare

  • Increasing the room temperature to 80°F (27°C)

Correct answer: Ensuring the availability and functionality of the pneumatic tourniquet

The pneumatic tourniquet is essential for controlling bleeding in orthopedic surgeries, making its availability and functionality crucial.

An arterial line is not always used during orthopedic surgery and is not considered a crucial step of preparing for orthopedic surgery. 

While reducing glare is important, it is not as critical as ensuring the tourniquet's functionality for orthopedic procedures. 

Setting a specific high temperature is not as important as ensuring essential equipment like a tourniquet is ready for orthopedic surgeries.

110.

A surgical technologist is preparing sterile supplies for an appendectomy. Which of the following items should be prioritized for immediate availability on the sterile field?

  • Hemostatic clamps

  • Suture removal kit

  • Extra-large wound dressings

  • Post-operative abdominal binder

Correct answer: Hemostatic clamps

Hemostatic clamps are essential for controlling bleeding during an appendectomy and should be readily available on the sterile field.

Suture removal kits are used well after the operation is complete, not during the initial stages of an appendectomy. 

While wound dressings are important, they are not needed immediately during the surgery as hemostatic clamps are. 

An abdominal binder is used post-operatively for support, not during the surgery.

111.

For a lengthy abdominal surgery, which additional equipment is MOST important to ensure the patient's normothermia?

  • Forced-air warming blankets

  • Bovie pad

  • Positioning device

  • Sequential compression device

Correct answer: Forced-air warming blankets

Thermoregulatory devices, such as forced-air warming blankets, are specifically designed to maintain or adjust the patient's body temperature during surgery, making them essential for lengthy procedures where the risk of hypothermia is increased.

A Bovie pad is essential for safe use of electrocautery; however, it does not contribute to maintaining the patient's body temperature. 

While proper positioning is critical for patient safety and comfort during surgery, it does not directly ensure normothermia. 

Sequential compression devices prevent DVT but are not designed to maintain or monitor body temperature.

112.

How should a surgical technologist respond if the surgeon requests a quick change in surgical technique that requires different instruments?

  • Verbally acknowledge the request and promptly arrange for the required instruments

  • Continue using the current instruments until a there is a good time for the equipment change

  • Inform the surgeon that this is not practical, as it will require a brand new setup

  • Ask the surgeon to clarify the change before proceeding

Correct answer: Verbally acknowledge the request and promptly arrange for the required instruments

Promptly acknowledging the surgeon's request and arranging for the required instruments ensures the surgical procedure can continue smoothly and efficiently without significant delays. This approach reflects the surgical technologist's role in being adaptable and responsive to the needs of the surgical team, maintaining the flow of the operation, and ensuring patient safety.

Continuing to use the current instruments until there is a perceived good time for the equipment change may lead to delays in the procedure and potentially compromise patient safety. 

Informing the surgeon that the request is not practical may disrupt the workflow and could potentially compromise the surgical outcome. Surgical technologists are expected to facilitate the smooth execution of the procedure by accommodating the surgeon's requests for instrument changes as long as they are reasonable and within the scope of maintaining patient safety. 

Asking the surgeon to clarify the change instead of promptly arranging for the required instruments may cause unnecessary delay. It is important to balance the need for clarification with the urgency and clarity of the request.

113.

Which step is MOST important when preparing a wound site for a dressing following a mastectomy?

  • Ensuring the skin around the wound is dry and free of debris

  • Applying an antibiotic ointment to the entire chest area

  • Placing a pressure dressing to prevent any movement of the chest

  • Covering the wound with a large absorbent pad to collect drainage

Correct answer: Ensuring the skin around the wound is dry and free of debris

Clean, dry skin is essential for dressing adhesion and reduces the risk of infection, making it crucial for wound preparation.

Applying an antibiotic ointment broadly is not a standard practice and could interfere with wound healing or cause adverse reactions. 

A pressure dressing is not typically required post-mastectomy unless specific complications necessitate its use. 

While absorbent pads could be used to collect drainage in some situations, ensuring the wound site is prepared correctly is more critical to the initial dressing application.

114.

Which solution is recommended for the INITIAL cleaning of surgical instruments to prevent blood from drying on the surfaces?

  • Enzymatic cleaner

  • Alcohol-based solution

  • Bleach solution

  • Sterile water

Correct answer: Enzymatic cleaner

Enzymatic cleaners are formulated to break down proteins such as blood, preventing them from drying on the surfaces of surgical instruments. This makes subsequent cleaning steps more effective.

Alcohol-based solutions can cause blood and other biological materials to coagulate, making them harder to remove. 

Bleach solutions are too harsh for the initial cleaning of surgical instruments and can cause damage or corrosion. 

Sterile water alone does not have the properties necessary to prevent blood from drying on the instruments; it lacks the enzymatic action needed to break down biological material.

115.

For removing small gallstones during a cholecystectomy, which instrument would be most appropriate?

  • Gallbladder scoop

  • Babcock clamp

  • Kerrison rongeur

  • Suction irrigator

Correct answer: Gallbladder scoop

The gallbladder scoop is specifically designed for the removal of small gallstones during a cholecystectomy, offering precision and safety in capturing and extracting the stones.

The Babcock clamp is used primarily for grasping or holding delicate tissues, such as intestines or blood vessels, and is not specifically designed for stone removal. 

The Kerrison rongeur is a type of forceps used for removing bone, typically in spinal and neurosurgery, and is not suitable for removing gallstones due to its design and purpose. 

The suction irrigator is used for irrigating and aspirating fluids from the surgical site, and while it can help in clearing the area, it does not specifically facilitate the removal of gallstones like the gallbladder scoop does.

116.

During a vascular surgery, the surgeon encounters a bleeding arteriole. Which method of hemostasis minimizes damage to surrounding tissues?

  • Bipolar electrocautery

  • Monopolar electrocautery

  • Application of a hemostatic agent

  • Use of a tourniquet

Correct answer: Bipolar electrocautery

Bipolar electrocautery allows for precise application of thermal energy, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.

Monopolar electrocautery may be less precise and could cause more collateral damage to surrounding tissues. While hemostatic agents are useful, they may not provide the immediate control needed for arteriole bleeding like bipolar electrocautery would. A tourniquet is not appropriate for controlling bleeding in a specific, localized arteriole.

117.

A surgeon’s preference card for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction specifies the use of a tourniquet. What is the PRIMARY reason for confirming the tourniquet's presence and functionality before the surgery begins?

  • To control bleeding and provide a bloodless surgical field

  • To reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

  • To facilitate venous blood sampling during surgery

  • To measure the patient’s blood pressure throughout the procedure

Correct answer: To control bleeding and provide a bloodless surgical field

The primary use of a tourniquet in surgeries such as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is to control bleeding and maintain a bloodless field, which facilitates better visualization and precision for the surgeon. 

While tourniquets can influence venous return, their purpose in this context is not to reduce the risk of DVT but to control bleeding. 

Tourniquets may be used to facilitate intravenous access in some clinical situations, however, this is not its primary purpose during an ACL reconstruction. 

Tourniquets are not used for monitoring blood pressure during surgery. Their primary purpose is bleeding control in the surgical area.

118.

For an upcoming emergency craniotomy, what is the MOST critical action regarding surgical equipment preparation?

  • Verifying that the procedure set is complete and sterilized

  • Checking that the patient warming system is set to the highest temperature

  • Ensuring an ample supply of Dandy clamps

  • Confirming the availability of surgical gowns

Correct answer: Verifying that the procedure set is complete and sterilized

For an emergency craniotomy, having a complete and sterilized craniotomy set is crucial to perform the procedure safely and effectively. This directly impacts the surgery's success.

While maintaining patient temperature is important, setting the patient warming system to the highest temperature is not specific or critical to a craniotomy. 

Dandy clamps will be used during a craniotomy; however, verifying that the procedure set is complete and sterilized is more important than verifying the availability of one specific piece type of equipment. 

The availability of surgical gowns, while necessary, is not as critical as ensuring the craniotomy set's readiness for an emergency procedure.

119.

For a patient undergoing a laminectomy, what is the PRIMARY anatomical focus of the procedure?

  • Vertebrae

  • Intervertebral discs

  • Spinal cord

  • Spinal nerves

Correct answer: Vertebrae

A laminectomy involves the removal of part of a vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This procedure directly targets the vertebrae.

Intervertebral discs may be involved in the procedure but are not the primary focus of a laminectomy. The spinal cord benefits from the procedure by having pressure relieved, but it is not the anatomical structure primarily operated on. Spinal nerves are affected beneficially by the procedure, but the primary anatomical focus is the vertebrae.

120.

When packaging sharp surgical instruments for sterilization, what is the recommended practice to prevent puncture of the sterilization wrap?

  • Wrap sharp instruments in a protective material

  • Place sharp instruments at the bottom of the container

  • Secure sharp instruments with rubber bands

  • Coat sharp edges with a protective gel

Correct answer: Wrap sharp instruments in a protective material

Wrapping sharp instruments in a protective material prevents puncture of the sterilization wrap, maintaining sterility and preventing injury.

Placing sharp instruments at the bottom of the container does not necessarily prevent puncture of the sterilization wrap and could still pose a risk. 

Securing sharp instruments with rubber bands does not adequately protect the sterilization wrap from punctures. 

Coating sharp edges with a protective gel may protect against corrosion but does not prevent puncture of the sterilization wrap.

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