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 Last-Minute Review Checklist: Your Final 48 Hours
A focused checklist for the final 48 hours before your CST exam appointment, covering both content review and logistics.
August 17, 2026
Surgical Tech Interview Questions and How to Answer Them Well
Common interview questions surgical technology candidates face, along with guidance on how to answer them effectively.
August 9, 2026
Surgical Count Discrepancy Protocol: What Happens When the Numbers Don't Match
A step-by-step look at the standard protocol surgical teams follow when a surgical count does not reconcile.
August 1, 2026
Surgical Smoke Evacuation Guidelines: What AORN and OSHA Recommend
An overview of current surgical smoke evacuation standards and why active evacuation matters for OR staff health.
July 24, 2026
Preventing Electrosurgery Burns: A Practical Safety Guide
Practical strategies surgical technologists use to help prevent unintended burn injuries related to electrosurgical unit use during surgery.
July 16, 2026
Building a Latex-Free Cart: A Step-by-Step Setup Guide for the OR
A practical guide to assembling and maintaining a dedicated latex-free supply cart for patients with a documented latex allergy.
July 8, 2026
Electrosurgical Fire Prevention: Reducing Ignition Risk During Active Electrosurgery Use
How surgical technologists help reduce fire ignition risk specifically related to electrosurgical unit use during procedures.
June 30, 2026
CDC Surgical Site Infection Prevention Guidelines: What Surgical Technologists Need to Know
A summary of current CDC surgical site infection prevention guidance and how it applies to the surgical technologist's intraoperative role.
June 22, 2026
Trauma Surgery for Surgical Technologists: A CST Exam Specialty Guide
A focused guide to trauma surgery instrumentation, positioning, and technique concepts relevant to surgical technology students and the CST exam.
June 14, 2026
Cardiac Surgery for Surgical Technologists: A CST Exam Specialty Guide
A focused guide to cardiac surgery instrumentation, positioning, and technique concepts relevant to surgical technology students and the CST exam.
June 6, 2026
Hospital-Based vs. Community College Surgical Technology Programs Compared
A comparison of hospital-based and community college surgical technology training pathways, including cost, clinical access, and job placement.
May 29, 2026
CST Exam Anatomy Mnemonics: Memorizing Layers, Regions, and Landmarks
A set of anatomy mnemonics tailored to the layers, abdominal regions, and surgical landmarks tested on the CST exam.
May 21, 2026