Test Bank for Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery 17th Edition by Rothrock

In the operating room, small details carry big consequences. A wrong count, a break in sterile technique, or a poorly padded pressure point can harm a patient. That is why surgical technology and perioperative nursing exams test more than memory. They ask what you would do, in what order, and why.

This test bank was built to give you practice with that kind of thinking. It follows the chapter order of Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery, 17th Edition, by Jane C. Rothrock, so each study session matches what your course is covering.

If you are in a surgical technology program, a perioperative nursing course, or preparing for a certification exam, this resource gives you steady practice with the decisions the surgical team makes every day.

Topics Covered

The question sets follow the textbook and include:

• The surgical team and the role of each member
• Patient safety, the surgical time-out, and preventing wrong-site surgery
• Infection prevention, surgical hand scrub, gowning, and gloving
• Creating and keeping a sterile field
• Cleaning, packaging, and sterilizing instruments, including how sterilization is checked
• Fire safety, electrosurgery, lasers, and other equipment hazards
• Preparing the patient before surgery, including skin prep and consent
• Positioning the patient and protecting skin, nerves, and joints
• Anesthesia basics and emergencies, such as malignant hyperthermia
• Counting sponges, sharps, and instruments
• Wound closure, dressings, drains, and specimen handling
• Surgery for different body systems and special groups, such as children and older adults
• Moving the patient to recovery and handing off care

Questions are a mix of multiple-choice, ordering, and short scenario items, the formats most surgical courses and certification exams use.

Why Practice Questions Help in This Course

Operating room content is full of rules that sound alike. Which items may be reused? When is a count done? Which part of a gown stays sterile? Practicing with questions helps you:

• Remember the rules behind sterile technique instead of guessing
• Spot a break in technique and know the right fix
• Put steps in the correct order, such as the sequence for a count or a setup
• Recognize emergencies early and respond in the right order
• Get comfortable with how exam questions are worded

Many students say they know a rule while reading, then second-guess it when a question changes one detail. Regular practice by chapter helps you stay sure of the details.

What Makes This Test Bank Different

Every question includes a full rationale. You will see why the best answer is correct and why each other option is unsafe, out of order, or not the best action. In the operating room, a wrong answer often looks like a common habit, so understanding why it fails helps you avoid it.

Questions are grouped by chapter and topic. Review one area, such as sterilization, before a quiz, or work through several chapters before a final. Use it beside your reading, before clinical days, or as a structured review before a certification exam.

Sample Questions

Question 1
During a tonsillectomy, a fire starts in the patient’s airway while the surgeon is using an electrosurgical unit. What is the first action?

A. Pour saline into the airway before doing anything else
B. Stop the flow of airway gases and remove the endotracheal tube
C. Call for the fire extinguisher and wait for it to arrive
D. Cover the patient’s face with a wet towel

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An airway fire needs fuel, an oxidizer such as oxygen, and an ignition source. The fastest way to stop the fire is to stop the oxygen and remove the burning tube. After that, saline is poured into the airway, the patient is ventilated, and the airway is checked for injury. Pouring saline first leaves the oxidizer and the burning tube in place. Waiting for an extinguisher wastes time. A wet towel over the face does not stop a fire inside the airway.

Question 2
Which indicator gives the most reliable proof that a steam sterilization cycle killed microorganisms?

A. A chemical indicator strip on the outside of the package
B. A biological indicator containing spores of Geobacillus stearothermophilus
C. The printout showing the time and temperature
D. The package feeling dry after the cycle

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Biological indicators use very resistant bacterial spores. If the spores are killed, the process has shown it can destroy microorganisms, which makes this the strongest test of sterilization. A chemical indicator shows only that the package was exposed to certain conditions. A printout records the cycle settings but does not prove that organisms were killed. A dry package only shows that drying worked and says nothing about sterility.

Question 3
Before the surgeon begins to close the wound, the final count shows one sponge missing. What should the circulating nurse do first?

A. Tell the surgeon right away and begin a search
B. Close the wound and recount after the patient wakes up
C. Record the count as correct to avoid delaying the case
D. Wait for the scrub person to find the sponge on his own

Correct Answer: A
Rationale: An unaccounted-for item may be inside the patient, so the surgeon must be told right away. The team then rechecks the field, floor, and trash, and the facility policy is followed, which often includes an x-ray before closing. Closing first would risk leaving the sponge inside. Recording a false count is unsafe and breaks professional standards. Leaving the search to one person delays action and ignores the team’s shared duty.

Question 4
A patient is placed in the prone position for spine surgery. Which action best protects the patient?

A. Let the abdomen press against the bed so the patient stays still
B. Use chest and hip supports that leave the abdomen free and keep the head in neutral alignment
C. Turn the head fully to one side for the whole case
D. Leave the arms hanging below the table without support

Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Supports under the chest and hips keep the abdomen free, which allows the chest to expand and helps blood return to the heart. Keeping the head and neck in neutral alignment protects the neck and the eyes. Pressure on the abdomen can reduce breathing and blood flow. A fully turned head for a long time strains the neck and can reduce blood flow. Arms hanging unsupported can stretch nerves and cause injury.

Question 5
Which area of a sterile surgical gown is considered unsterile once the gown is on?

A. The front of the gown from the chest to the level of the sterile field
B. The sleeves from about 2 inches above the elbow to the cuffs
C. The neckline, shoulders, underarms, and back
D. The area in front of the waist

Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The neckline, shoulders, underarms, and back are considered unsterile because they cannot be seen, they touch the wearer’s skin and clothing, and they sit outside the sterile zone. The front of the gown from the chest to the level of the sterile field and the sleeves from about 2 inches above the elbow to the cuffs are the parts the team members use near the field and are treated as sterile. Knowing which parts are sterile helps each person keep their hands and instruments in the right place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as the publisher’s official test bank?
No. This is an independently written study resource meant to help you review the topics in the 17th edition of Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery. It is a self-study companion and is not distributed by the publisher.

Will it help with surgical technologist certification?
The scenario style is similar to certification questions. It focuses on sterile technique, patient safety, equipment, and the order of steps in the operating room.

Does it cover every chapter?
Yes. The questions follow the chapter order of the 17th edition, from the surgical team and patient safety through surgical procedures and recovery.

What kinds of questions are included?
Mostly multiple-choice, plus ordering and short scenario questions.

Are there explanations?
Yes. Every question has a full rationale that explains why the best answer is correct and why the others are not.

Who is it for?
Surgical technology and perioperative nursing students, and anyone reviewing operating room practice before an exam.

How should I use it?
Read the chapter first, then answer the questions before checking the answers. Study the rationales for anything you missed, since understanding why a rule exists helps more than memorizing the letter.

Can it replace the textbook?
No. It works best alongside the textbook and your lab practice. The book teaches the procedures, and the test bank gives you practice applying them.

Is it matched to the 17th edition?
Yes. It follows the topics and chapter structure of the 17th edition.

Is it useful the night before an exam?
Yes. Because it is organized by chapter and topic, you can quickly review one area, such as sterilization or fire safety, without rereading the whole book.