Postoperative Care and Professional/Administrative Practice — Surgical Tech practice questions

The Joint Commission's Universal Protocol requires:

1. Pre-procedure verification, site marking, and time-out
2. Only a time-out
3. Site marking only
4. Hand hygiene only

Answer: A — Pre-procedure verification, site marking, and time-out

Three components: verification, site marking, time-out — all required to prevent wrong-site/-patient/-procedure events.

A 'final' count includes which of the following moments?

1. Initial count only
2. Initial + before closure of a cavity + at skin closure (and any relief scrub)
3. After the patient leaves the room
4. Whenever the surgeon requests

Answer: B — Initial + before closure of a cavity + at skin closure (and any relief scrub)

AORN counts: initial baseline, before closure of any cavity, at skin closure (and at relief scrub).

Between cases, OR floors and high-touch surfaces should be:

1. Cleaned with EPA-registered disinfectant — high-touch surfaces between cases and full terminal clean at end of day
2. Damp-dusted only at end of day
3. Vacuumed only
4. Wet-mopped with plain water

Answer: A — Cleaned with EPA-registered disinfectant — high-touch surfaces between cases and full terminal clean at end of day

Inter-case cleaning targets high-touch surfaces; terminal cleaning includes all surfaces and floors at end of day.

A patient who received a regional or general anesthetic is typically transferred postoperatively to:

1. The OR holding area
2. The medical-surgical floor directly
3. The PACU (Phase I recovery) for monitored emergence
4. Home immediately

Answer: C — The PACU (Phase I recovery) for monitored emergence

PACU Phase I provides monitored emergence; floor transfer happens only after appropriate recovery criteria are met.

During room turnover, blood and body fluid spills are cleaned using:

1. Alcohol only
2. An EPA-registered hospital disinfectant per facility policy and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard
3. Soap and water
4. No cleaning if the spill is small

Answer: B — An EPA-registered hospital disinfectant per facility policy and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard

OSHA and CDC require EPA-registered disinfectants and proper PPE for blood/body fluid spills.

CST continuing education requirements are governed by:

1. The surgeon
2. AORN
3. The hospital alone
4. NBSTSA (continuing education credits required to maintain CST certification)

Answer: D — NBSTSA (continuing education credits required to maintain CST certification)

NBSTSA sets CE/CEU requirements for ongoing CST certification.

The three elements required for a surgical fire (the 'fire triangle') in the OR are:

1. An oxidizer (e.g., supplemental oxygen), an ignition source (e.g., electrosurgical unit or laser), and a fuel source (e.g., prep solution, drapes, patient hair)
2. Electricity, water, and metal
3. Heat, humidity, and pressure
4. Anesthesia gas, blood, and suture

Answer: A — An oxidizer (e.g., supplemental oxygen), an ignition source (e.g., electrosurgical unit or laser), and a fuel source (e.g., prep solution, drapes, patient hair)

A) Correct — an oxidizer-enriched atmosphere, an ignition source, and a fuel source together create surgical fire risk; removing any one element prevents fire. B) Electricity/water/metal is not the recognized fire triangle model used in OR fire safety education. C) Heat, humidity, and pressure are unrelated environmental factors, not the fire triangle. D) Anesthesia gas, blood, and suture do not represent the standard oxidizer-ignition-fuel model.

After skin closure, a primary dressing is applied while:

1. The wound is still in the sterile field, before drapes are removed
2. The patient is in PACU
3. Drapes are removed first
4. On the stretcher only

Answer: A — The wound is still in the sterile field, before drapes are removed

Apply the sterile dressing before drapes come off so the wound remains protected by the sterile field.

Used sharps at the end of the case should be:

1. Discarded in the trash
2. Stored in the linen bag
3. Returned to the case cart
4. Placed in a puncture-resistant sharps container at the field before breakdown

Answer: D — Placed in a puncture-resistant sharps container at the field before breakdown

All sharps go directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container as part of safe sharps handling.

After the case, the CST documents:

1. Only the total case time
2. Items relevant to their role (e.g., counts, instrument issues, specimens) per facility documentation policy
3. The patient's discharge instructions
4. The surgeon's H&P

Answer: B — Items relevant to their role (e.g., counts, instrument issues, specimens) per facility documentation policy

A) Case time alone omits counts, instrument issues, and specimen handling that facility policy requires. B) Correct — the CST documents within their scope: counts, instrument or equipment issues, and specimen handling per facility policy. C) Discharge instructions are written by the surgeon or nursing staff, not the CST. D) The History & Physical is authored by the surgeon or admitting provider before the case, not by the CST afterward.

CST role?

Sets up sterile field, prepares + passes instruments, anticipates surgeon's needs during procedures. Part of the surgical team. Works under RN circulator + surgeon supervision.