TL;DR
Master intravenous access techniques, fluid therapy principles, and IV medication administration. IV skills are essential for emergency care and frequently tested.
Free Administrative & Supply Management Practice Questions
CST Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) · Ancillary Duties
This module covers Administrative & Supply Management as part of the Ancillary Duties section, testing your understanding of core concepts and their practical application.
| Exam | CST Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) |
| Pass Rate | 72% |
| Duration | 240 minutes |
| Module | Administrative & Supply Management |
Why Administrative & Supply Management matters
Administrative & Supply Management is a commonly tested topic on the CST Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) because it covers fundamental knowledge required for competent professional practice.
Sample Practice Questions (5)
1. A surgeon's preference card lists all of the following information EXCEPT:
- Preferred suture types and sizes for each tissue layer
- Specific instruments, equipment, and supplies needed for the procedure
- The patient's insurance information and billing codes
- Skin prep solution, patient position, and draping preferences
2. A sentinel event related to a retained surgical instrument occurs at a hospital. According to The Joint Commission, what is the facility REQUIRED to do?
- Terminate the surgical technologist and circulating nurse involved
- Conduct a root cause analysis (RCA) to identify system failures that contributed to the event and develop corrective action plans to prevent recurrence
- Report only to the surgeon and take no further action
- Increase the number of instrument counts from four to six for all future cases
3. Which document serves as the official legal record of the intraoperative events during a surgical procedure?
- The surgeon's preference card
- The operative report (intraoperative record)
- The anesthesia preoperative assessment
- The supply charge sheet
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Start practicing free →4. During a root cause analysis (RCA) following a retained surgical sponge event, the investigation reveals that the count was performed but the count sheet was incorrectly documented. According to the principles of RCA, the MOST important factor to identify is:
- The individual who made the documentation error so they can be disciplined
- The system factors (workflow design, staffing levels, count procedures, distraction sources) that contributed to the error
- Whether the patient experienced harm, since no harm means no corrective action is needed
- The brand and type of sponge that was retained, to switch to a different product
5. During an emergency case, the surgeon requests an instrument not listed on the preference card and not available in the current instrument set. What is the BEST course of action?
- Tell the surgeon the instrument is unavailable and suggest an alternative from the current set
- Communicate the request to the circulating nurse, who contacts sterile processing or retrieves the instrument from another location, while the ST suggests available alternatives to the surgeon
- Leave the sterile field to retrieve the instrument from the sterile supply room
- Wait until the current procedure is complete before addressing the instrument request
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