Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

The primary role of a surgical technologist in the operating room is to assist the surgeon during surgery. This includes preparing the operating room, ensuring that all surgical instruments and equipment are sterile and ready for use, as well as passing instruments to the surgeon during the procedure. Surgical technologists play a crucial role in maintaining a sterile environment and supporting the surgical team throughout the operation, ensuring everything runs smoothly. While administering anesthesia, providing post-operative care, and managing hospital supplies are important functions within the surgical setting or healthcare environment, they fall under the responsibilities of other specialized roles. Anesthesia is typically administered by anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, and post-operative care is provided by nurses or specialized recovery staff. Meanwhile, supply management is generally overseen by surgical services coordinators or hospital materials management. Each of these roles is essential, but the direct assistance to the surgeon during the surgery is the hallmark duty of surgical technologists.