Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

Which of the following is the correct postoperative sequence of actions completed by the surgical technologist?

1. Assist with post op patient care, Remove drapes, Remove gown and gloves, Break down sterile setup

2. Remove drapes, Assist with post op patient care, Break down sterile setup, Remove gown and gloves

3. Remove gown and gloves, Break down sterile setup, Assist with post op patient care, Remove drapes

4. Break down sterile setup, Remove drapes, Assist with post op patient care, Remove gown and gloves

The correct answer is: Assist with post op patient care, Remove drapes, Remove gown and gloves, Break down sterile setup

The correct sequence begins with assisting with post-operative patient care, as this is crucial for ensuring the patient's safety and comfort immediately following surgery. Following that, it is necessary to remove the drapes, as this allows for access to the patient while maintaining a clean environment. Once the drapes are removed, the surgical technologist should then remove their gown and gloves. This step is essential for minimizing the risk of contamination and ensuring that the surgical team leaves the sterile environment properly. Finally, breaking down the sterile setup comes last, as it is important to maintain the integrity of the sterile field until all necessary actions are completed. In this context, the importance of a prioritized approach is evident in ensuring patient safety before addressing the setup used during the procedure. This sequence reflects a comprehensive understanding of infection control and patient care protocols, which are vital for every surgical technologist to master both in practice and examination.