SurgicalTechPrep Blog
Study smarter. Pass the CST exam.
Study guides, procedure breakdowns, and exam strategy to help you pass the NBSTSA CST exam on your first attempt.
CST Exam Results Timeline: When and How You'll Find Out Your Score
What CST candidates can expect regarding exam results timing, score reports, and next steps after sitting for the exam.
August 18, 2026
Traveling Surgical Tech Guide: Is a Travel Assignment Right for Your Career
An overview of travel surgical technologist assignments, including pay structure, licensing considerations, and lifestyle trade-offs.
August 10, 2026
Radiofrequency-Tagged Sponge Technology: How It Works and Why Facilities Use It
An overview of radiofrequency sponge detection technology and how it supplements, rather than replaces, the standard manual surgical count.
August 2, 2026
AORN Smoke-Free OR Recommendations: Building a Compliance Plan
A look at AORN's recommended practices for a smoke-free operating room and how facilities implement them in daily practice.
July 25, 2026
Argon Beam Coagulation Safety: What Surgical Technologists Should Understand
An overview of argon beam coagulation technology, its clinical uses, and the specific safety considerations surgical technologists should know.
July 17, 2026
Latex Allergy vs. Latex Sensitivity: A Distinction Surgical Technologists Should Understand
An explanation of the clinical difference between a true latex allergy and latex sensitivity, and why the distinction affects OR precautions.
July 9, 2026
Oxygen-Enriched Surgical Environments: Understanding and Managing Fire Risk
An explanation of what makes an oxygen-enriched surgical environment, and how the surgical team manages the added fire risk it creates.
July 1, 2026
AORN Sterile Technique Updates: What Changed and Why It Matters for the CST Exam
An overview of how AORN periodically updates its Guidelines for Perioperative Practice and why surgical technology students should track current recommendations.
June 23, 2026
Pediatric Surgery for Surgical Technologists: A CST Exam Specialty Guide
A focused guide to pediatric surgery instrumentation, positioning, and technique concepts relevant to surgical technology students and the CST exam.
June 15, 2026
Neurosurgery for Surgical Technologists: A CST Exam Specialty Guide
A focused guide to neurosurgery instrumentation, positioning, and technique concepts relevant to surgical technology students and the CST exam.
June 7, 2026
Robotic Surgery Advances and What They Mean for the Surgical Technologist Role
How advances in robotic-assisted surgery are changing the surgical technologist's responsibilities in the operating room.
May 30, 2026
OR Team Roles Mnemonic: Remembering Who Does What in the Sterile and Unsterile Fields
A memory framework for distinguishing the roles and responsibilities of each operating room team member for the CST exam.
May 22, 2026