Chapter 1

Question 1

Who is the father of anatomy?

Answer 1

Vesalius

Question 2

Who are the basic members of the surgical team?

Answer 2

Surgeon, Anesthesiologist, First Scrub, and Circulating Nurse

Question 3

What are the phases of surgical case management?

Answer 3

Preoperative, Intraoperative, and Post Operative

Question 4

What are the capacities of each surgical team member?

Answer 4

Nonsterile and sterile

Question 5

Who are the nonsterile team members?

Answer 5

Anesthesia provider and circulating nurse

Question 6

What are the duties of the anesthesia care provider?

Answer 6

Assess the patient preoperatively.

Determine the type of anesthetic to be administered.

Discuss the risks and benefits of the planned anesthetic with the patient and obtain the informed consent for anesthesia.

Offer alternative anesthetic options to the patient, if necessary.

Determine the patient position in consultation with the surgeon.

Manage all phases of anesthesia (refer to Chapter 9).

Monitor the patient’s vital signs during the surgical procedure.

Provide supportive measures such as fluid and airway management.

Question 7

What are the duties of a circulator?

Answer 7

Assist the surgical technologist with preparation of the OR.

Ensure documents and reports such as history and physical (H&P), surgical consent, diagnostic and laboratory results, and X-rays are available.

Conduct the preoperative patient interview with the anesthesia care provider.

Transport the patient from the pre-op holding area to the OR and assist transferring the patient from the stretcher to the OR table.

Assist with positioning the patient.

Perform the patient skin preparation (see Chapter 12).

Connect various cords and tubes.

Assist with initiating the surgical time out.

Perform surgical counts with the first scrub ST.

Provide additional items to the sterile field during the procedure as needed.

Maintain the operative record (charting).

Assist with the appropriate care of specimens.

Secure dressings.

Assist with transferring the patient from the OR table to the stretcher at the completion of the procedure.

Assist with transporting the patient to the post anesthesia care unit (PACU).

Assist with preparing the OR for the next patient (OR turnover).

Question 8

Who are the sterile team members?

Answer 8

Surgeon and First Scrub

Question 9

What are the duties of a surgeon

Answer 9

Determine the necessity of surgical intervention and the type of procedure to be performed.

Offer possible alternative treatment options, if necessary.

Discuss the risks and benefits of the planned procedure with the patient and obtain the surgical consent.

Identify the correct surgical site.

Assist with the surgical time out.

Perform the surgical procedure.

Provide follow-up patient care.

Question 10

What does the surgical first assistant do?

Answer 10

The SFA provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, closing, and other intraoperative procedures.

Question 11

What are the duties of a surgical first assistant?

Answer 11

Assist in positioning the patient.

Assist with draping the patient

Participate in the surgical time out.

Provide exposure and visualization of the surgical site through retraction of tissue, suctioning, and sponging.

Assist in identifying anatomical structures and landmarks.

Assist with achieving temporary or permanent hemostasis.

Closure of body planes.

Apply dressings as directed by the surgeon.

Assist in transferring the patient from the OR table to the stretcher.

Question 12

What are the preoperative duties of a First Scrub Surgical Technologist?

Answer 12

Gather the necessary case cart, equipment, and supplies.

Review the patient’s information.

Arrange the OR furniture.

Perform the surgical scrub.

Don the sterile gown and gloves.

Create and maintain the sterile field.

Organize the sterile field for use including labeling of medications

Gather the necessary case cart, equipment, and supplies.

Review the patient’s information.

Arrange the OR furniture.

Perform the surgical scrub.

Don the sterile gown and gloves.

Create and maintain the sterile field.

Organize the sterile field for use including labeling of medications

Question 13

What are the intraoperative duties of a First Scrub Surgical Technologist?

Answer 13

Maintain the sterile field, including establishing a neutral zone.

Participate in the surgical time out.

Anticipate the needs of the patient and surgeon to provide the necessary items in the order needed.

Pass instruments and supplies to the surgeon

Prepare irrigation fluids and other medications.

Perform additional surgical counts as needed.

Maintain appropriate care of specimens.

Clear residual blood and skin prep solution from the patient prior to the application of the sterile surgical dressings as directed by the surgeon.

Question 14

What are the postoperative duties of a First Scrub Surgical Technologist?

Answer 14

Maintain a sterile field until the patient has been transported from the OR suite.

Separate instruments and disassemble the sterile field.

Place sharps in a secured sharps container.

Place contaminated items in biohazard bags.

Transport instruments to the decontamination area.

Coordinate and assist with room turnover.

Question 15

What are the duties of a second scrub surgical technologist?

Answer 15

Sponging.

Suctioning.

Cutting sutures.

Apply electrocautery to clamps on bleeders.

Hold retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon.

Maneuver the endoscopic camera as directed by the surgeon.

Question 16

What are the three categories of surgery?

Answer 16

Emergent, Urgent, and Elective (know the difference)

Question 17

How does a professional maintain competency?

Answer 17

Continuing education

Being nonjudgmental of patients

Surgical conscience and honesty

Respect for the patient’s decisions

Ability to communicate effectively

Willingness to serve on committees

Consistent attendance and punctuality

Maintaining the patient’s confidentiality

Willingness to learn and cope with change

Question 18

What does the CAAHEP do?

Answer 18

Provides accreditation to surgical technology programs

Question 19

What does the ARC/STSA do?

Answer 19

Ensure that accredited programs meet expectations.

Question 20

What does the NBSTSA do?

Answer 20

Provides the board certification and writes exam.

Question 21

What does the AST do?

Answer 21

Writes curriculum for surgical technology programs. They are the nonprofit organization for ST’s and provide continuing education as well

Question 22

What are the basic employability skills?

Answer 22

Dedication: empathy, devotion, and vocation

Communication skills: verbal and nonverbal

Work ethic: professional and personal honesty; moral integrity; strong desire to help others and make a valuable contribution to society

Accountability: responsibility for your own actions

Adaptability: ability to change to accept positive outcomes

Conflict resolution: making a difference between positive and negative results

Detail oriented: must be able to work quickly and accurately

Responsibility: stable temperament and strong sense of responsibility

Physical characteristics: excellent manual dexterity, good vision and hearing, physical stamina are vital

Commitment to continuing education: enhancing your knowledge and personal growth

Personal appearance and hygiene: important grooming habits for health care professionals

Question 23

What is a job description and whats included in it?

Answer 23

Job title (e.g., surgical technologist level 1)

Requirements (e.g., graduation from an accredited program and national certification)

Nature of the position (e.g., the surgical technologist is a member of the intraoperative surgical team)

Duties (e.g., the surgical technologist, level 1, shall perform in the first scrub role and shall be responsible for …)

Accountability (e.g., the ST shall be directly accountable to the director of surgical services)

Immediate supervisor (e.g., the immediate supervisor for all surgical services personnel is the OR manager)

Work hours (e.g., evening or night shift work; weekend; holidays; “emergency call”)

Question 24

Levels of the clinical ladder for STs

Answer 24

1. Entry-level practitioners
2. Proficient practitioner
3. Expert practitioner

Question 25

What is the lifestyle of a surgical technologist?

Answer 25

standing for extended periods of time, and the ability to lift and move heavy objects. OR staff are exposed to communicable diseases, unpleasant sights, odors, and hazardous materials. Most procedures are completed during the day and a 40-hour workweek is common. At large health care facilities, hours outside of this should be expected as those facilities often have evening and night shifts. Additionally, the ST might have to work weekends and holidays, as well as “emergency call” hours.

Question 26

What are the principles of a surgical conscience

Answer 26

Maintain the principles of asepsis/sterile technique

Maintain confidentiality

Demonstrate nondiscriminatory treatment

Mindful of cost

Question 27

What are the stages of group development?

Answer 27

Forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning

Question 28

What are the five modes of response to conflict?

Answer 28

Competing, accommodating, avoiding, collaborating, compromising

Question 29

What are the three types of relationships STs should distinguish?

Answer 29

social relationships, professional relationships, and therapeutic relationships

Question 30

What are the five goals of communication?

Answer 30

Solve problems.

Express personal feelings.

Provide information to an individual or group.

Obtain information from an individual or group.

Question 31

What are the four components of communication?

Answer 31

Sender, message, receiver, feedback

Question 32

ACS

Answer 32

American College of Surgeons. professional organization dedicated to improving the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting standards for surgical education and practice.

Question 33

AMA

Answer 33

American Medical Association. professional organization dedicated to ensuring sustainable physician practices that result in better health outcomes for patients.

Question 34

ANSI

Answer 34

American National Standards Institute. national organization that oversees the development and use of recognized standards that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector, including health care.

Question 35

APIC

Answer 35

Association for Professionals of Infection Control and Epidemiology. international professional organization for infection preventionists (IPs). Many IPs are employed within health care institutions and also serve as educators, researchers, consultants, and clinical scientists. The mission of the organization is to promote wellness and worldwide infection prevention.

Question 36

AAMI

Answer 36

Association for Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. nonprofit organization involved in the development, management, and use of safe and effective medical technology and devices.

Question 37

AORN

Answer 37

Association of perioperative registered nurses. nonprofit professional organization that represents the interests of perioperative nurses by establishing standards in nursing education and clinical practice.

Question 38

CDC

Answer 38

Centers for Disease Control. U.S. government organization under the federal Department of Health and Human Services that works with states and other partners to provide a system of health surveillance to monitor and prevent disease outbreaks (including bioterrorism), implement disease prevention strategies, and maintain international health statistics.

Question 39

CSPS

Answer 39

Council on Surgical and Perioperative Safety. consists of seven health organizations, including AST, that promote excellence in surgical patient safety.

Question 40

ESAR-VHP

Answer 40

Emergency Services Advanced Registry for Volunteer Health Professionals. federal program created to support states and territories in establishing standardized volunteer registration programs for disasters and public health and medical emergencies. The program, administered on the state level, verifies health professionals’ identification and credentials so that they can respond more quickly when disaster strikes. By registering through ESAR-VHP, volunteers’ identities, licenses, credentials, accreditations, and hospital privileges are all verified in advance, saving valuable time in emergency situations.

Question 41

EPA

Answer 41

Environmental Protection Agency. agency of the U.S. government charged with protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress.

Question 42

FDA

Answer 42

Food and Drug Administration.
agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for promoting public health through the regulation of food safety, tobacco products, medications, blood transfusions, medical devices, and cosmetics.

Question 43

The Joint Commission

Answer 43

independent, nonprofit national organization that develops standards and accredits health care organizations in the U.S. The Joint Commission defines surgical technologist (ST) in its Lexikon: Dictionary of Health Care Terms, Organizations, and Acronyms for the Era of Reform as follows: An allied health professional who works closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel delivering patient care and assuming appropriate responsibilities before, during, and after surgery.

Question 44

MRC

Answer 44

Medical Reserve Corps
national network of volunteers organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. The MRC network consists of community-based units and volunteers located throughout the United States and its territories. Volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members that do not have a health care background.

Question 45

NFPA

Answer 45

National Fire Protection Agency. nonprofit organization focused on reducing fire hazards and dedicated to establishing consensus fire safety codes and standards.

Question 46

NIOSH

Answer 46

National Institute of Occupational Safely.
U.S. federal agency within the CDC that conducts research and makes recommendations to prevent work-related injury and illness.

Question 47

OSHA

Answer 47

Occupation Safety and Health Administration. agency of the U.S. Department of Labor dedicated to preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and occupational fatalities by issuing and enforcing standards for workplace safety and health.

Question 48

WHO

Answer 48

World Health Organization. directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends.