CST OR Setup & Room Turnover 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During OR room turnover, which surface should be cleaned FIRST to prevent contamination of already-cleaned areas?
- Floor
- Overhead surgical lights (Correct answer)
- Back table
- Anesthesia machine
Correct answer: Overhead surgical lights
Cleaning proceeds top-to-bottom to prevent debris from soiling already-cleaned lower surfaces.
Question 2: What is the minimum time a freshly cleaned OR must remain idle before the next surgical case can begin?
- 15 minutes
- No mandatory idle time is required if terminal cleaning was performed (Correct answer)
- 30 minutes
- 5 minutes
Correct answer: No mandatory idle time is required if terminal cleaning was performed
No mandatory idle time is required after routine between-case cleaning; the room can be used immediately once cleaning is complete.
Question 3: A scrub technician notices a small tear in the sterile drape covering the back table. The correct action is to:
- Cover the tear with a sterile towel and continue
- Remove all items and re-drape with new sterile drape (Correct answer)
- Report to circulator and document only
- Reinforce with sterile tape and continue
Correct answer: Remove all items and re-drape with new sterile drape
Any compromise to sterile draping requires complete replacement because the entire field is considered contaminated.
Question 4: When setting up the back table, sutures should be placed:
- In the order they will most likely be used (Correct answer)
- Alphabetically by suture name
- By suture gauge from largest to smallest
- At the far edge to maximize working space
Correct answer: In the order they will most likely be used
Organizing sutures in anticipated order of use improves efficiency and reduces errors during the procedure.
Question 5: Which OR environmental condition is most critical for preventing surgical site infections?
- Room temperature of exactly 68°F
- Positive-pressure ventilation with HEPA filtration (Correct answer)
- Humidity below 30%
- Complete darkness except for surgical lights
Correct answer: Positive-pressure ventilation with HEPA filtration
Positive-pressure HEPA-filtered ventilation keeps airborne contaminants from entering the sterile field and reduces SSI risk.
Question 6: During room turnover, when should the scrub technician break down the sterile field?
- Immediately after skin closure
- After the patient has been safely transferred from the OR table (Correct answer)
- After the surgeon leaves the room
- Only when the circulator gives the all-clear
Correct answer: After the patient has been safely transferred from the OR table
The sterile field is maintained until the patient is transferred to preserve access to instruments in case of emergency.
Question 7: What is the purpose of placing a sterile waterproof drape directly under the patient before other draping?
- To prevent the patient from sliding
- To create a fluid barrier protecting the sterile field from strike-through contamination (Correct answer)
- To reduce the patient's heat loss
- To mark the surgical site
Correct answer: To create a fluid barrier protecting the sterile field from strike-through contamination
A waterproof under-drape prevents fluid strike-through, which would compromise the sterile field from below.
CST OR Setup & Room Turnover 2
During OR room turnover, which surface should be cleaned FIRST to prevent contamination of already-cleaned areas?