NBSTSA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the NBSTSA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 NBSTSA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 NBSTSA Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample NBSTSA Questions & Answers
1. An item is considered sterile if it was sterilized by steam autoclave and stored in a clean, closed cabinet for:
Per event-related sterility, an item sterilized by autoclave remains sterile indefinitely as long as the packaging remains intact and undamaged.
2. The scrub technologist's role in the final wound count is to:
The scrub person and circulator count together, both visualizing each item, and verbally confirm counts are correct to the surgeon before wound closure is completed.
3. What is the purpose of applying sequential compression devices (SCDs) to a surgical patient preoperatively?
Sequential compression devices apply intermittent pneumatic pressure to the lower extremities to promote venous return and prevent deep vein thrombosis in immobile surgical patients.
4. During preoperative checklist completion, the surgical technologist verifies that the operative site has been marked. Who is responsible for marking the surgical site?
Per The Joint Commission's Universal Protocol, the licensed practitioner who will perform the procedure is responsible for marking the operative site.
5. What bacteria can survive without oxygen?
Anaerobes are microorganisms, typically bacteria, that are capable of growing and thriving in environments completely devoid of oxygen. Unlike aerobes, which require oxygen for respiration, anaerobes utilize other molecules as electron acceptors for their metabolic processes. Some anaerobes are even harmed or killed by the presence of oxygen.
6. Which aneurysm typically forms in the iliac and renal arteries?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a localized enlargement or ballooning of the abdominal aorta, the body's largest artery. While primarily affecting the aorta, AAAs frequently extend into or involve the iliac arteries, which branch off the aorta. Although renal arteries are not directly part of the aneurysm, their proximity means they can be affected if the aneurysm is located near them.