Surgical Technology and Patient Care Fundamentals Practice Test

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• Which organization is an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs in the United States?
• What does the OR fire safety acronym RACE stand for?
• What is the correct sequence for performing a sterile scrub, donning a sterile gown, and applying sterile gloves?
• Name three common methods of sterilization used in instrument processing and provide an example for each.
• Which skin preparation instruction is correct?
• Which PPE items are required for a sterile procedure and what are their primary purposes?
• To minimize nerve or tissue damage when using a tourniquet, which practice is essential?
• Which statement best defines hospital policy?
• A pandemic is defined as ...
• What are key strategies to prevent postoperative surgical-site infections?
• What positioning practice helps prevent peroneal nerve injury during lithotomy or lateral surgeries?
• Anxiety in toddlers is commonly observed when they are separated from their primary caregiver.
• What is the difference between standard precautions and transmission-based precautions?
• In the event of a discrepancy in instrument counts, which action is inappropriate?
• Traffic patterns in the surgical suite primarily help separate which areas?
• What must accompany the patient's signature on an informed consent form?
• What measures are used to prevent hypothermia in the perioperative patient?
• Which action should be taken to support patient safety after a surgical safety event?
• Which of the following is NOT a strategy to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)?
• What is the purpose of the back table in the sterile field?
• What does PASS stand for in extinguisher use?
• Which statement correctly describes the role of the circulating nurse during the timeout?
• Outline the four phases of wound healing and a key event in each.
• What special considerations are there for pediatric patients undergoing surgery?
• What is the leading cause of death in hospitalized people over 65?
• A recount of counts should be performed if which condition arises?
• Which statement is NOT a component of an exposure control plan?
• How should the skin be prepped before an incision, and why should hair removal be approached carefully?
• Which statement best describes a contaminated wound?
• What is the correct method to dispose of sharps after use?
• How should a sterile gown be maintained to prevent breach of sterility?
• Technological disasters are best described as ...
• How should an intraoperative anaphylactic reaction be managed?
• Which pairing correctly matches instrument category with typical examples?
• What support does AST provide?
• Why should students become active members of AST?
• What are the ethical and legal responsibilities of surgical technologists regarding patient care and documentation?
• Grief rituals are described as ...
• Name five basic instrument categories and one example each.
• Which action best illustrates correct use of the back table related to the sterile field?
• What is the purpose of biological indicators in sterilization, and how do they differ from chemical indicators?
• Which of the following is NOT a recommended element to include on a surgical specimen label?
• Which elements are included in a basic exposure control plan for bloodborne pathogens?
• What is the role of quality improvement processes when a sentinel event occurs?
• Describe safe patient transfer from the stretcher to the OR bed.
• What does NPO status indicate in preoperative assessment?
• Kick bucket is used for what purpose in surgical settings?
• Who performs surgery?
• What are surgical counts?
• How do chemical indicators differ from biological indicators in sterilization monitoring?
• Which statement best describes the wound closure approach that minimizes tissue damage?
• Where are surgical technologists trained?
• Which sterilization method is specifically used for low-temperature sterilization to protect heat-sensitive instruments?
• Which parameters are essential to monitor in the perioperative setting?
• How is transfusion safety ensured in the perioperative setting?
• What is a sentinel event?
• Describe the indications and care for surgical drains postoperatively.
• Which operating room accessory is a piece of equipment covered with a sterile drape, placed over the patient for quick access to instruments during surgery?
• The universal protocol requires the surgical team to:
• What is the decontamination area?
• A sentinel event is best described as:
• Which statement best describes a key practice to prevent postoperative wound infection?
• Maintenance of normothermia after surgery helps with which outcomes?
• How should SPEs be documented and reported?
• Which concept is aimed at reducing the impact of a hazard before it occurs, often in disaster planning?
• How does good communication affect patient safety?
• How are surgical instrument counts typically conducted, and by whom?
• Two common hand antisepsis options used before performing a sterile scrub?
• Which antibiotic is commonly used as prophylaxis for clean surgical procedures?
• Which practice helps ensure specimen labeling and transport is done correctly?
• Which item is documented as part of standard intraoperative documentation?
• Palliative care focuses on what main goal?
• Organ recovery protocols are best described as ...
• Which statement best describes the rationale for securing limbs during surgery?
• Outline the typical steps of surgical hand antisepsis.
• Which statement about patient transfer devices is most accurate?
• Which statement about a DNR order is correct?
• Which category best describes a wound that is opened to a tract under controlled conditions and shows no infection?
• What is the primary purpose of triage during an emergency?
• Pediatric patient groups are defined by what characteristic?
• Which term is used to determine the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition in emergencies?
• Which patient positioning measures help prevent pressure injuries during surgery?
• When should single-use items versus reusable instrument sets be disposed or reprocessed?
• What is hospital policy?
• Postoperatively, what should be monitored from surgical drains to assess healing and determine removal timing?
• Who leads the surgical timeout, and what is checked during it?
• What is required of surgical technologists in 24-hour care facilities?
• What is communication?
• Which is a result of good communication in patient care?
• In hospital operations, the decontamination area is best described as which of the following?
• Which professionals are commonly part of the surgical team?
• Name the labeling and chain-of-custody rules for specimens in the OR?
• Which statement best describes a sterile field?
• Which hair removal method minimizes microtrauma when needed?
• If a biological indicator shows growth after a sterilization cycle, what does this indicate?
• Organ recovery protocols are ...
• What are the classic signs of malignant hyperthermia and the immediate treatment protocol?
• How should dressings be applied and when are they typically removed?
• What is hemostasis and name two methods used intraoperatively to achieve it.
• Which term describes a structured sequence of growth phases that influence behavior and learning in children?
• Which scenario would be considered a sentinel event?
• What are the three types of surgical counts and when do you perform a recount?
• Which term describes urgent intervention due to imminent danger to health or life?
• Which instrument is commonly used as a clamping/occluding device?
• What is a sentinel event?
• Grief rituals provide what?
• Which phase of wound healing is characterized by collagen realignment and scar maturation?
• What is body language?
• In disaster management, which process aims to reduce the severity or harmful effects of an event?
• What is feedback?
• Which PPE is required for a patient with suspected airborne infection in the OR?
• What risks exist if informed consent is not obtained properly?
• Which actions promote fire safety in the OR?
• What elements must be included in informed consent for a surgical procedure?
• Which type of sterilization indicator confirms actual microbial kill in a load?
• The Joint Commission is best described as which type of organization?
• Transportation accidents primarily involve which of the following?
• What are typical postoperative discharge criteria from the PACU?
• Which practice best mitigates exposure to anesthetic vapors during surgery?
• Which statement accurately describes strategies to minimize exposure to surgical smoke during electrosurgery?
• Which U.S. government agency aims to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare for all Americans?
• What is a Jackson-Pratt drain and when is it typically placed?
• Explain the Bowie-Dick test and its role in steam sterilization validation.
• Which statement best defines teamwork in patient care?
• Which measure helps maintain normothermia during surgery?
• Which statement best describes end-of-life care decisions?
• What is end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), and why is it monitored during general anesthesia?
• What is the proper doffing sequence for PPE in the surgical setting?
• Which organization oversees certification for surgical technologists?
• What are general principles of radiation safety when intraoperative imaging is used?
• What is the purpose of a 'no-lift' policy and what equipment supports it?
• Which term is applied to reduce potential harm before an event occurs?
• Which U.S. agency is responsible for ensuring safe and healthy working conditions by setting and enforcing standards?
• DNR stands for Do Not Resuscitate and means CPR should not be performed.
• Which labeling and handling practices are correct for specimens sent to pathology?
• What is a neutral-zone pass and why is it used for sharps?
• Active involvement in professional associations helps by:
• Which practice best helps prevent nerve injuries due to positioning in long procedures?
• Which term describes an immediate risk requiring urgent intervention?
• End-of-life care decisions are often made by who?
• Which statement best describes the circulating nurse's responsibilities?
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs describes what?
• Which protective gear is recommended to reduce radiation exposure in the OR?
• What is the proper labeling and transporting process for surgical specimens to pathology?
• What are the risks associated with surgical smoke and how can it be mitigated?
• Which of the following is NOT a basic radiation safety principle in the OR?
• What is the recommended process for transferring a patient from a stretcher to the OR bed?
• Developmental stages influence which aspects of children?
• Which components constitute a comprehensive OR fire safety plan?
• Describe proper handling and labeling of surgical specimens to ensure accurate pathology results.
• Medical records are defined as the means for making a permanent legal record of the patient's interaction with health care providers.
• In the operating room, which item is designed to hold sterile basins used during procedures?
• What is the recommended practice during perioperative handoffs to ensure patient safety?
• What steps should be taken if there is a discrepancy in instrument or sponge counts?
• Which of the following pairs correctly identifies a hazard and its mitigation in the OR?
• Which statement reflects the role of non-physician team members in the surgical setting?
• Self-actualization is defined as what?
• Which items constitute common sterile technique breaches and the immediate corrective actions you should take?
• Which agency aims to improve the quality and safety of healthcare and is a U.S. government agency?
• Which of the following best reflects key principles of wound closure to minimize infection and tissue damage?
• How should intraoperative blood loss be managed?
• Which concept focuses on reducing the severity or painfulness of an event?
• Patient-centered care is best described as what?
• How should latex allergy be managed in the OR?
• Is certification for surgical technologists mandatory?
• End-tidal CO2 monitoring in the OR serves what purpose?
• What action should be taken when readings are abnormal during anesthesia monitoring?
• Why is routine verification of instrument counts at the end of a case important, and what actions follow a discrepancy?
• What is the function of the electro-surgical unit (ESU) in a procedure and key safety considerations?
• Which equipment is designed to hold sterile basins used during surgical procedures?
• If an instrument count discrepancy occurs during surgery, what is the recommended course of action?
• What does certification demonstrate?
• Name four sterilization methods used for different instrument loads.
• How can perioperative hypothermia be prevented?
• Which pair of pain assessment tools is commonly used in the perioperative setting?
• What is the primary purpose of informed consent in surgical ethics?
• What is the universal protocol?
• What is the most common sterilization method for heat-stable items in the OR?
• In patient positioning, what measures help prevent nerve injury during long operative cases?
• What is the primary pharmacologic antidote for malignant hyperthermia?
• In disaster response, which term refers to prioritizing patient care based on the seriousness of the condition?
• What steps should be taken to manage a suspected intraoperative allergic reaction?
• What is the primary accreditation organization for health care facilities?
• What is the back table in the operating room used for?
• Which of the following best describes surgical counts?
• Differentiate absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures with two examples each and typical uses.
• Which of the following is a recommended practice for safe sharps handling?
• What is the purpose of the surgical timeout and who must participate?
• What are the core elements of the Universal Protocol used to prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-person surgery?
• What safety precautions protect staff from bloodborne pathogens in the OR?
• Identify two chemical hazards in the OR and one safety measure for each.
• What is delegation?
• Which steps ensure accuracy in specimen labeling and tracking?
• What are the results of poor communication skills?
• A hazardous material accident typically involves ...
• Which elements should be verified during perioperative handoffs?
• Which statement best describes self-actualization?
• What is the objective of the surgical department's design?
• Which option is NOT recommended to prevent perioperative hypothermia?
• Which statements reflect key laser safety considerations in the OR?
• Which term describes an action plan to reduce the impact of hazards, commonly used in planning for disasters?
• Differentiate medical asepsis from surgical asepsis.
• What best describes feedback in communication?
• In pre-disaster planning, which process is used to lessen potential harm?
• Which items are core components of the sterile field that must be maintained throughout the procedure?
• What is the purpose of warming devices and warmed IV fluids in the operating room?
• During an emergency, triage determines treatment priority based on which factor?
• Surgical counts are performed by how many people during surgery to ensure no items are left in the patient?
• How can pressure injuries and nerve injuries be prevented during prolonged surgeries?
• What is the purpose of documenting handoffs and equipment changes?
• Which statement best describes Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?
• What is the role of the circulating nurse in maintaining the sterile field?
• What constitutes an accurate sponge count, and how many counts are required?
• Which process in emergencies decides treatment order based on severity?
• Which term best describes a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment, requiring urgent intervention?
• Which statement best describes the role of medical records?
• During lithotomy or lateral positioning, which nerve injury is a risk and how can it be mitigated?
• Which is a common strategy for preventing postoperative DVT?
• Which solution is an example of a balanced crystalloid used for perfusion in surgery?
• Disaster is defined as ...
• In a hospital setting, what creates boundaries between areas of infection risk and clean areas?
• What is required for any tissue or foreign object removed during surgery?
• Which practice demonstrates proper sharps disposal at the point of use?
• What is malignant hyperthermia and what is the initial treatment?
• What is the purpose of preoperative patient assessment and what key data should be collected?
• What actions should be taken if a transfusion reaction occurs?
• Why is cultural competence important in patient care and give one example of a respectful practice.
• What is the purpose of the Universal Protocol in the operating room?
• Which sterilization method is specifically described as a low-temperature option suitable for heat-sensitive instruments?
• Prophylactic antibiotics in clean surgical procedures are given to prevent postoperative infections. Which statement best describes a common agent used for this purpose?
• When should prophylactic antibiotics be administered relative to incision time, and why?
• In sterilization monitoring, which statement is true?
• Which concept involves reducing vulnerability and exposure to hazards?
• What is the correct approach to maintaining a sterile field?
• What is the purpose of a surgical time-out?
• How do endotracheal tube (ETT) and laryngeal mask airway (LMA) differ, and when is each typically used?
• What defines a sentinel event in healthcare quality improvement?
• Which term refers to a container used to collect waste or fluids during surgical procedures?
• What are the key principles of draping to maintain a sterile field?