CST Ethics & Professionalism 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A surgical technologist notices a surgeon consistently skips a required timeout step before incision. What is the most appropriate action?
- Ignore it to avoid conflict with the surgeon
- Document it privately but take no further action
- Report the pattern to the charge nurse or supervisor (Correct answer)
- Refuse to scrub in on that surgeon's future cases
Correct answer: Report the pattern to the charge nurse or supervisor
Reporting recurring safety protocol violations to a supervisor upholds patient safety and professional accountability.
Question 2: Which ethical principle requires a surgical technologist to act in the patient's best interest even when the patient cannot speak for themselves?
- Autonomy
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Justice
- Veracity
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence means acting in the best interest of the patient, especially when they are unable to advocate for themselves.
Question 3: A CST overhears colleagues discussing a patient's surgical case in the hospital cafeteria using the patient's name. This violates which standard?
- Scope of practice
- HIPAA patient privacy regulations (Correct answer)
- Standard of care protocols
- Informed consent requirements
Correct answer: HIPAA patient privacy regulations
Discussing identifiable patient information in public areas violates HIPAA privacy regulations.
Question 4: When a surgical technologist is asked to perform a task outside their training, the correct response is to:
- Attempt the task and ask questions later
- Decline and explain it exceeds their scope of practice (Correct answer)
- Complete the task if a physician is present
- Delegate the task to another tech without informing anyone
Correct answer: Decline and explain it exceeds their scope of practice
A CST must refuse tasks outside their scope of practice to protect patient safety and maintain professional standards.
Question 5: Which organization publishes the Code of Ethics specifically applicable to Certified Surgical Technologists?
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) (Correct answer)
- The Joint Commission (TJC)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Correct answer: Association of Surgical Technologists (AST)
The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) publishes the Code of Ethics that guides CST professional conduct.
Question 6: A surgical technologist is asked by a friend to look up a mutual acquaintance's surgery records out of curiosity. The CST should:
- Access the records only if the friend promises confidentiality
- Refuse, as accessing records without a care need violates patient privacy (Correct answer)
- Access the records since they work at the facility
- Request supervisor permission before accessing the records
Correct answer: Refuse, as accessing records without a care need violates patient privacy
Accessing patient records without a legitimate care-related need is a HIPAA violation regardless of the requester's relationship.
Question 7: Maintaining current certification and continuing education is an example of which professional obligation?
- Fidelity
- Competence (Correct answer)
- Nonmaleficence
- Justice
Correct answer: Competence
Continuing education and maintaining certification demonstrate a commitment to professional competence and safe patient care.
CST Ethics & Professionalism 2
A surgical technologist notices a surgeon consistently skips a required timeout step before incision.
What is the most appropriate action?