In preparing a patient for surgery, which of the following should be removed to facilitate oxygen blood level
assessment?
nail polish
What is the term used when a surgical team member who is on standby must return to the facility to do a case?
called in
Which type of sterile gown uses battery-powered ventilation for the wearer?
disposable fluid resistant
Which component of personal protective equipment (PPE) has shown the ability to decrease disease transmission from
needle punctures?
double gloving
Which of the following describes the configuration of a Mayo stand cover?
cylindrical
What is the purpose of a radiofrequency tracking system in the operating room?
Reduce possibility of retained foreign objects.
During the process of setting up the sterile field, efficiency and economy of motion recommend that the surgical
technologist (ST):
move items only once if possible
During the surgical skin prep, areas that are considered contaminated should:
be scrubbed separately or last
The main purpose of surgical skin prep is to:
reduce the microbial count on the skin to an irreducible minimum
The patient undergoing laparotomy should be prepped:
from the incision site outward toward the periphery in a circular motion
Which of the following statements regarding hair removal is INCORRECT?
Hair must be shaved from every incisional and ECG lead site.
Which position is routinely used for flexible colonoscopy procedures and may be performed on the patient’s stretcher?
Sims’
Which towel is placed first when squaring off the operative site?
same side as person applying towels
An assistant may be needed to properly perform which type of surgical skin prep?
circumferential extremity
Which term describes the condition of a surgical technologist’s skin following skin prep?
surgically clean
What is the appropriate method for delivering a sterile item to the back table from a peel package?
Open package laterally and completely; gently toss item without touching glued edge or going over back table.
Up to what area of the arms does a surgical technologist scrub?
2 inches above the elbows
Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate method of performing a surgical scrub/skin preparation?
medical hand wash
Which gloving method should be performed by the surgical technologist after donning a sterile gown and before
setting up the back table?
closed gloving
Which of the following techniques of counting sponges on the sterile field is an example of best practice?
Remove paper bands around sponges; separate each sponge into separate piles while counting aloud with the
circulator
Which of the following are NOT considered countable items for potential of retained foreign objects?
dressings
Which method of gloving is appropriate for placement of a urinary catheter as part of the skin prep?
open gloving
Where is the safety belt or strap placed on a patient in supine position on the OR table?
2 inches proximal to the knees
What would be the likely result of positioning the patient’s arms on armboards at a greater than 90° angle from the
torso?
hyperextension nerve damage
What is the temporary position for a female patient for placement of urinary catheter prior to abdominal
hysterectomy?
frog-legged
The sitting position is a modification of which position?
Fowler’s
For which position would the head of the OR table be moved to the foot before the patient is placed on the table?
lithotomy
Which position requires anesthesia administration and intubation to be performed on the patient’s stretcher prior to
final positioning?
prone
Which of the following statements about lateral kidney positioning is INCORRECT?
The lower leg is straight and the upper leg is flexed, with a pillow under the lower leg.
Before opening any supplies for delivery to the sterile field, what must be verified?
Package integrity being intact and not violated
What is the term for the normal resident microbial populations found on human skin?
flora
What should the surgical technologist do with his or her gown and gloves in preparation for donning after scrubbing?
Open gown wrapper on unsterile Mayo stand, and open and toss gloves onto gown.
What is the proper way to open a small, sterilely wrapped item for delivery to the sterile field?
First flap is pulled and opened away from self and tucked into palm, side flaps are pulled and tucked into
palm, and last flap is pulled toward self and secured before tossing item onto field.
What is the term used for the area beneath the fingernails that is cleaned with a pick during the surgical scrub?
subungual
What is the name of the common disposable surgical gown style?
wraparound
If a pack of sponges is found to have an incorrect number during the count process and the patient is on the OR table,
what should be done?
Hand off the pack to the circulator who will bag, label as incorrect, and isolate off field until case completion.
Which statement regarding instruments counts is correct?
They should be counted while all still on back table.
When transporting a patient on a stretcher through the OR suite corridors, which method should be followed?
Push the stretcher with the patient facing feet first in the position most comfortable for the patient.
Radiation, convection, conduction, and evaporation are examples of:
mechanisms of intraoperative heat loss
How many individuals are required to safely transfer a recently anesthetized patient from the OR table to the
stretcher?
4
Which of the following is NOT an example of blunt dissection of tissue?
Endo Shears are used through laparoscopic trocar to separate tissue.
Best practice states that all of the following items remain sterile until the patient leaves the room, EXCEPT the:
surgical drapes
Which member of the surgical team gives permission for the patient to be positioned or transferred?
Anesthesia provider
When turning the sterile gown, what is handed to the circulator that completes the gowning process?
gown tab or card
To secure the Mayo stand from moving during draping, what should be done?
Step on one leg of the Mayo stand.
Which two members of the surgical team are responsible for performing the counts to prevent retained items?
circulator and surgical technologist
Which of the following descriptions of how to pour liquids into a container on the sterile field is correct?
Hold the bottle 12 inches above and with only the lip of the bottle over the basin.
What does the circulator verify before the surgical technologist places the basket of instruments on the back table?
The filters on the bottom of the container are intact and the container is dry.
Which of the following statements regarding transfer of an awake, mobile patient from stretcher to OR table is
INCORRECT?
The safety strap is secured tightly across patient’s waist to prevent possible fall due to narrow OR table.
Which of the following is/are NOT included in operative vital sign measurements?
All of the above are considered operative vital sign measurements
What is the name of the device used to manually assess blood pressure?
sphygmomanometer
With what amount and which fluid is a 16 Fr., two-way Foley catheter with 5 cc balloon filled?
10 mL of sterile water
Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, Fowler’s, and lithotomy are variations of which basic position?
supine
Which table attachment is required to safely maintain a patient in the reverse Trendelenburg position?
padded footboard
Which position would facilitate exposure of the operative area during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
reverse Trendelenburg with slight tilt to the left
The purpose of the preoperative skin prep is to sterilize the patient’s skin to prevent surgical site infections.
False
The legs of a patient being placed in the lithotomy position should be raised and lowered slowly and simultaneously
by two unsterile personnel.
True
The proper sequence for performing intraoperative and closing counts is operative site, Mayo stand, back table, basins,
kick bucket or off field.
True
Suction tubing and ESU cords are attached to the sterile drape with perforating towel clips to prevent contamination.
True
The ability to anticipate the needs of the surgeon is one of the most important skills for a surgical technologist to
develop.
True
The ability to prevent penetration of fluid through material, resulting in contamination
Impervious
Area designated for placement of sharps to prevent intraoperative injury to sterile team members
Neutral zone
Type of cream used as a hair removal method that does not cause microabrasions
Depilatory
Referring to the apex of the heart; used as a method of reading a pulse rate
Apical
Rapid breaths that rise with body temperature
Tachypnea
The act of listening to sounds within organs or areas of the body
Auscultation
The act or process of being twisted or rotated around an axis
Torsion
The position in which an individual is lying on his or her side; also called decubitus
Lateral recumbent
The passage of fluid through the lymphatic system or blood vessels to an organ or tissues
Perfusion
The area between the anus and scrotum in males or between the anus and vulva in females