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 Practice Question Walkthrough: Pharmacology Dosage Calculation Problems
A worked example of a dosage and dilution calculation question from the pharmacology and math portion of the CST exam.
May 11, 2026
How to Organize a CST Exam Study Group That Actually Works
A guide to building an effective study group for surgical technology students preparing for the CST exam together.
May 3, 2026
What to Do the Night Before Your CST Exam
A practical night-before routine for NBSTSA CST candidates that improves recall and reduces exam-day stress.
April 25, 2026
NPO Fasting Guidelines and Aspiration Prophylaxis Medications
An overview of preoperative NPO fasting guidelines and the medications sometimes used to reduce aspiration risk in surgical patients.
April 15, 2026
Preoperative Medication Reconciliation: Which Home Medications to Hold Before Surgery
An overview of preoperative medication reconciliation, including common drug classes that are held or adjusted before surgery and why.
April 7, 2026
Antibiotic Selection for Penicillin-Allergic Surgical Patients: What the Team Considers
How the surgical team selects prophylactic antibiotics for patients with a documented penicillin allergy, and the alternative drug classes used.
March 30, 2026
Ophthalmic Anesthesia Blocks and Medications: Retrobulbar, Peribulbar, and Topical Options
An overview of the regional anesthesia blocks and medications used specifically for eye surgery, distinct from general ophthalmic eye medications.
March 22, 2026
Epidural and Spinal Anesthesia Medications: What Surgical Techs Should Recognize
An overview of the local anesthetics and adjunct medications used for epidural and spinal anesthesia, and how these regional techniques differ.
March 14, 2026
Reversal Agents for Neuromuscular Blockade: How Sugammadex Differs From Neostigmine
A comparison of sugammadex and neostigmine as reversal agents for neuromuscular blocking drugs, and why the mechanism difference matters.
March 6, 2026
Insulin and Glucose Management in Surgical Patients: What CSTs Should Understand
How perioperative blood glucose is managed in surgical patients, including insulin use, and why glucose control matters for surgical outcomes.
February 26, 2026
Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity: Signs and Emergency Treatment Every CST Should Recognize
What local anesthetic systemic toxicity is, the warning signs to watch for, and the lipid emulsion therapy used to treat it.
February 18, 2026
Corticosteroids Used Perioperatively: Dexamethasone and Its Surgical Applications
An overview of dexamethasone and other corticosteroids used during the perioperative period, including their anti-inflammatory and antiemetic roles.
February 10, 2026