Surgical Technology for the Surgical Technologist Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• What are typical responsibilities of a surgical technologist during a procedure?
• What is defined as a medical intervention preventing sensation during surgical procedures?
• Which term indicates that a package is complete, with no breaks or tears?
• Which instrument is primarily used for cutting during surgery?
• Which process is referred to as rendering items safe to handle by sterilization?
• What level of disinfection kills most microorganisms but not spores?
• What is the daily test used to detect air entrapment in prevacuum steam sterilizers called?
• What is surgical conscience?
• What is a key benefit of using suction devices during surgery?
• Which of the following organisms is NOT typically associated with surgical site infections?
• Which organism is a gram-positive aerobic cocci that causes rheumatic fever?
• Ensuring that all surgical items are accounted for is a practice meant to enhance what?
• What is associated with the control of infections in surgical settings?
• What is the primary goal of decontamination?
• What does the term "surgical site infection" refer to?
• What gram-negative rod is commonly found in burn infections?
• Define "laparotomy."
• What is a hemostat commonly used for?
• Which statement accurately reflects the use of virucides in healthcare settings?
• What cleaning method uses a solution to disperse two immiscible liquids?
• What prion disease is associated with contaminated central nervous system tissue?
• What practice helps to ensure that a surgical field remains sterile?
• When is the surgical count typically performed during a procedure?
• Which of the following best describes a vector in terms of disease transmission?
• When is the Bowie-Dick test typically performed?
• What is the process of quickly sterilizing unwrapped instruments known as?
• What does the term asepsis refer to?
• Who is known as the "father of antiseptic surgery" from the 19th century?
• What term describes the absence of microorganisms?
• What is the term for an infection acquired within a health care facility?
• What are the safety protocols for carrying sharp instruments in the OR?
• What is the primary function of a suction device during surgery?
• What is the significance of the "surgical count"?
• What term describes the contamination of a person or object by another?
• What is the process of complete submersion in a liquid that contacts all surfaces of an item called?
• What does the term "maturation phase" indicate in wound healing?
• What is the primary benefit of the inflammatory phase in wound healing?
• What is the process called to render items safe to handle through high-level disinfection?
• What is the role of the anesthesia provider during surgery?
• Which is an example of a disease transmitted by a vector?
• What does a bacteriostatic substance do?
• What would be a potential consequence of not ensuring correct surgical counts?
• What is a key factor in maintaining a sterile field during surgery?
• What is the name of the substance that kills or destroys bacteria in a spore stage?
• What term describes the invasion of the human body by pathogenic microorganisms that reproduce and multiply, causing disease?
• What is the role of medical documentation in the surgical setting?
• What pathogen is most commonly associated with urinary tract infections and exists outside the intestine?
• What is the term for a microorganism that causes an infection?
• In surgical procedures, what is the role of the first scrub surgical technologist?
• What type of instrument is typically used for making a precise incision?
• What must all surgical counts include to be effective?
• What is the process of laparoscopy?
• What do you call the cleaning process that utilizes a cavitation effect for removing debris?
• Which spore-forming anaerobic gram-positive rod is known to cause gas gangrene?
• What is one of the primary ways bacteria can be killed?
• Which of the following actions would not typically reduce the presence of vectors?
• Which factors can influence wound healing?
• In a surgical procedure, what does improved visibility at the surgical site allow for?
• What does the term bioburden refer to?
• Why do surgical teams focus on cleanliness during procedures?
• Which agent is known for destroying viruses?
• What bacteria is commonly associated with MDR (multidrug-resistant) infections identified via positive acid-fast stain?
• What measure is often taken to control vector populations in public health?
• What device is used for pressure steam sterilization?
• How is sterility determined when packages are handled rather than by the time lapsed?
• Which of the following is defined as an inanimate object that harbors microorganisms?
• What is the purpose of surgical drapes?
• What is the purpose of aseptic technique in a surgical environment?
• What is the role of a surgical assistant?
• What type of scalpel blade is commonly used for incisions in soft tissue?
• What term describes a hollow canal that is open at both ends and runs through the length of a device?
• What is the name of the lensed device used for viewing the interior of a body cavity?
• What does the term "contaminated" mean in the surgical environment?
• Which of the following best describes sterilization?
• Which of the following is NOT a type of anesthesia?
• What is the primary public health concern associated with vectors?
• What is the purpose of using IV fluids in surgical patients?
• Which organism is commonly tested for in patients with a suspected urinary tract infection?
• Which of the following describes a role of vectors in disease transmission?
• Which bacterium is primarily responsible for gas gangrene infection?
• What type of gown is worn by surgical technologists in the operating room?
• Which of the following best describes the role of surgical instruments designed for grasping?
• What does chelation refer to in the context of medical cleaning?
• Which pathogen is often responsible for post-operative pneumonia?
• Define "surgical conscience."
• What is a prion?
• Why is it essential to verify all surgical counts before closing a patient?
• What is the purpose of the sterile field during a surgical procedure?
• What is a characteristic of bacteriostatic substances?
• What is the primary responsibility of a surgical technologist in the operating room?
• What infection can lead to severe tissue death if not treated promptly?
• Which type of flora consists of microbes that normally reside below the skin surface or within the body?
• What does a chemical indicator signify in a sterilization process?
• What virus is known to cause chronic disease without jaundice?
• In public health terminology, which entity is often responsible for the transmission of vector-borne diseases?
• What does "surgically clean" refer to regarding the cleaning process of instruments?
• Which chemical is recommended for disinfection in certain cases of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease?
• True or False: Glutaraldehyde is considered both a high-level disinfectant and a sterilization product.
• What term describes the calendar days that are sequentially numbered through the year from 1 to 365?
• Which term refers to a substance that destroys or kills bacteria?
• What is an essential practice for postoperative monitoring?
• What is the primary role of a virucide?
• What type of chemical agent kills most microbes but is typically too strong for living tissue?
• Which term refers to an object that has come into contact with pathogenic materials?
• Does the presence of hair around a surgical wound increase the chances of a patient developing a surgical site infection (SSI)?
• What is the purpose of draping the surgical site?
• What term describes an infection usually accompanied by fever, resulting from the presence of pathogenic microorganisms?
• What aspect of disinfectants is critical in preventing infections?
• Which of the following is an example of a vector?
• Which pathogen is the most common cause of surgical site infections and is commonly found on the skin?
• What is the primary function of an electrosurgical unit?
• Explain the term "postoperative care."
• What is an important consideration in the use of suction devices during surgery?
• What is the process called that involves the destruction of all microorganisms, including spores, on inanimate objects?
• What is the primary function of an antiseptic?
• What term is used for a living carrier that transmits disease?
• How should a contaminated instrument be handled?
• What type of organism is Helicobacter pylori?
• What is one way that suction devices contribute to surgical efficiency?
• What device is specifically used for steam or gas sterilization?
• What does "asepsis" mean?
• What type of microbe is known for being difficult to eliminate due to its ability to protect itself from severe conditions?
• What term could be used interchangeably with "antiviral agent"?
• What is a biological indicator used for in sterilization?
• What is colonization in a microbiological context?
• What is the function of retractors during surgery?
• Why is understanding bioburden important in surgical technology?
• Which opportunistic fungus is known to affect immunocompromised individuals?
• What is the term used for the study of fungi, including yeasts and molds?
• What is the primary responsibility of a surgical technologist in the operating room?
• What type of agent would be used to specifically target viruses?
• What type of flora consists of microbes that reside on the skin surface and are easily removed?
• What is the primary characteristic of viruses?
• What does the acronym MDR stand for in a medical context?
• What precautions should be taken with electrical equipment in the operating room?
• Which of the following is a common type of surgical suturing technique?
• What term describes the number of microbes or amount of organic debris on an object?
• True or False: Instruments used with patients having Creutzfeld-Jakob disease can be disinfected by soaking in Cidex.
• Why is it important to follow manufacturer instructions when using surgical instruments?
• What role does a surgical technologist play in patient positioning?
• What does hypoxia refer to in surgical care?
• What is the purpose of a surgical sponge?
• What type of cleaner uses cavitation to dislodge organic particles?
• What is a frequent outcome of neglected surgical counts?
• What is the primary focus of aseptic technique in surgery?
• What type of microbes do fungicides specifically target?
• Which of the following is commonly used to prevent infection on living tissue?
• Why is patient positioning critical during surgery?
• Which condition occurs when there is an infection in a group of tissues often due to bacterial multiplication?
• In surgical terminology, what does "scalpel" refer to?
• How does the surgical technologist ensure the efficient delivery of instruments during surgery?
• Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a virucide?
• What does the term "aseptic technique" refer to in surgical practice?
• What is the role of the circulator in the operating room?
• Which term refers to procedures aimed at minimizing microbial presence in the surgical area?
• What is a common high-level disinfectant used in healthcare settings?
• What is the difference between a biopsy and a resection?
• Who is primarily responsible for ensuring that surgical counts are performed accurately?
• Why is maintaining a sterile field crucial during surgery?
• What is the primary purpose of using an autoclave in surgical settings?
• Which of the following are components of the surgical instrument set-up?
• Which agent is specifically used to destroy fungi?
• Which of the following is the primary goal of sterile technique in the operating room?
• What is the main purpose of a tourniquet during surgery?
• What is the ability of a wrapper to allow the passage of steam and air through a barrier called?
• What is an "aseptic barrier" in a surgical setting?
• What test is specifically designed to check for air entrapment in a pre-vacuum steam sterilizer?
• Which type of dressing is typically used post-surgery?
• What crucial aspect does the verification of surgical counts help to maintain?
• What is the term for a specified area that is considered free of microorganisms?
• What is a surgical tray?
• What is the main difference between antiseptics and disinfectants?
• What is the practice of creating and maintaining a sterile field while keeping microbes at an irreducible minimum called?
• What type of bacteria is most often responsible for infections associated with chronic wounds?
• What does the acronym "TAP" represent in surgical procedures?
• What type of surgical instruments are used for cutting tissues?
• What is a common method to verify if sterilization has successfully occurred?
• What is the role of surgical drapes in creating a sterile field?
• What does "strike-through force" refer to in a sterile field?
• What type of materials may be retained in a patient if surgical counts are incorrect?
• What is the primary difference between local and general anesthesia?
• What is the purpose of a time-out in the surgical setting?
• What is the primary purpose of an autoclave?
• What does SSI stand for in the context of surgical infections?
• What is described as an abnormal connection between two bodily structures?
• Why is proper positioning of the patient important during surgery?