Rothrock: Alexander's Surgical Procedures

Chapter 01: Importance of the Surgical Technologist on the Surgical Team

Test Bank

MULTIPLE CHOICE

	1.	The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) was formed in ________________________.
a.	1965	
b.	1970	
c.	1969	
d.	1980	

ANS:	C
The association was formed in 1969.

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	2.	Entry level surgical technologists can fill which of the following roles:
a.	Scrub surgical technologist	
b.	Circulating surgical technologist	
c.	Second assisting surgical technologist	
d.	All of the above	

ANS:	D
The entry level surgical technologist can serve in any of the listed roles. It is always important for surgical technologists to be familiar with their institutional job description and comply with it. Knowing federal and state rules and regulations is also important.

REF:	2

	3.	The scrub surgical technologist is defined as the:
a.	The non sterile member of the surgical team.	
b.	The assisting member of the team.	
c.	The sterile member of the team	
d.	None of the above	

ANS:	C
The term ‘scrub’ in this instance refers to the surgical technologist who has donned a sterile gown and gloves, making them a sterile member of the surgical team.

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	4.	Professional settings for the surgical technologist can include:
a.	Hospital suites and ambulatory surgery centers.	
b.	Ambulatory surgery centers and PACU	
c.	Labor and delivery units and for a physician as a private scrub	
d.	All of the above	

ANS:	D
Surgical technologists can work in both hospital surgical suites and ambulatory surgery centers. They can also work in labor and delivery suites within the hospital setting.

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	5.	Which role of the surgical technologist would likely include making hospital rounds, first-assisting, and expanded patient interaction?
a.	scrub surgical technologist	
b.	circulating surgical technologist	
c.	labor and delivery technologist	
d.	private scrub technologist	

ANS:	D
A surgical technologist who is practicing as a private scrub for a surgeon or group of surgeons can take on expanded duties under their direct supervision. Activities such as making hospital rounds often require additional credentialing to obtain privileges to assume an expanded role. The surgical technologist who acts as an assistant during surgery needs both additional educational preparation for the role and credentialing if they are a private employee of the surgeon.

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	6.	What is the minimum number of Continuing Education (CE) credits required for a 4-year CST recertification cycle?
a.	30	
b.	40	
c.	50	
d.	60	

ANS:	D
In order to maintain current certification, a surgical technologist must acquire 60 Continuing Education credits in a four year certification cycle or sit for re-examination through the National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants (NBSTSA).

REF:	4

	7.	How many phases of patient care constitute surgical case management?
a.	2	
b.	3	
c.	4	
d.	5	

ANS:	B
This three-phase involvement – preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative - is called surgical case management.

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	8.	Prevention of which of the following is the MAIN reason for performing surgical sponge, sharps, and instrument counts?
a.	stock/supply depletion	
b.	accidental disposal in trash or linen	
c.	retained foreign objects in patient	
d.	revenue loss from non-charged items	

ANS:	C
Performing sponge, sharps, and instrument counts with the circulating nurse helps to ensure that all items have been retrieved from the patient.

REF:	6

	9.	Which of the following personal character traits pertains to one’s pledge to recognize and admit mistakes so that corrective action can be taken immediately?
a.	Surgical conscience	
b.	Respect for the team	
c.	Good manual dexterity	
d.	Organizational skills	

ANS:	A
Beside education in critical technical skills, the surgical technologists needs to have good communication with and respect for the entire surgical team. This produces the necessary environment to safely admit one's own mistakes and provides the ability for corrective action.

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	10.	Which of the following describes “An unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof”?
a.	Guideline initiative	
b.	Sentinel event	
c.	Time out	
d.	Paradigm shift	

ANS:	B
A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury; or the risk thereof. Serious injury specifically includes loss of limb or function. The phrase "or the risk thereof" includes any process variation of which a recurrence would carry a significant chance of serious adverse outcomes. Such events are called "sentinel" because they signal the need for immediate investigation and response. (The Joint Commission, 2010)

REF:	6

	11.	Which of the following groups created a patient safety campaign titled “Safe Surgery Saves Lives” which utilized a surgical safety checklist to aid in the time-out process?
a.	American College of Surgeons (ACS)	
b.	Council on Surgical and Perioperative Safety (CSPS)	
c.	Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)	
d.	World Health Organization (WHO)	

ANS:	D
WHO designed a campaign titled” Safe Surgery Saves Lives”, which includes a Surgical Safety Checklist to be used by all operating room teams to aid in the time-out process.

REF:	6

	12.	A set of guidelines for professional advancement and recognition within an institution or department through the use of an AST-established set of performance-based evaluation and advancement criteria is also known as:
a.	clinical ladder	
b.	continuum of care	
c.	core curriculum	
d.	crew management model	

ANS:	A
A clinical ladder is a tool for encouraging surgical technologists to pursue continuing education and competency in their field.

REF:	7

	13.	Which of the following involves establishment of high standards, professional conduct, legal rights, and protection of the profession’s integrity?
a.	Recommended Standards of Practice	
b.	Position Statements	
c.	Code of Ethics	
d.	Guidelines	

ANS:	C
The code of ethics focuses on protecting the patient but expands to protect professional standards and the profession’s integrity.

REF:	7