VTNE Surgical Nursing Practice Test Questions Answers 2026

Last Updated on February 20, 2026

VTNE Surgical Nursing Practice Test Questions Answers 2026. The second group of questions on the VTNE is about surgical preparation and assisting. This group accounts for 13 percent (20 items) of the questions on the exam.

These questions test your knowledge of surgical procedures, operating room preparation and maintenance, patient preparation for surgery, and performing as a sterile or nonsterile assistant during surgical procedures.

The surgical preparation and assisting questions are multiple-choice questions that deal with veterinary technicians’ duties before, during, and after surgery. Some questions may also ask you to identify the correct name of surgical procedures or tools based on definitions or scenarios. Other questions may ask you to identify one true statement among three incorrect statements or to determine which of four statements is incorrect or correct.

VTNE Surgical Nursing Practice Test 2026

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VTNE Surgical Nursing Practice Test

VTNE Surgical Nursing Practice Test
Total No of Question: 25
Time Limit: N/A

To correctly answer questions about surgery preparation and assisting, you will need to know the names of surgical procedures, the uses of surgical instruments and equipment, sterilization and disinfectant techniques, and ideal operating room conditions. You may also be asked about suturing techniques, setting up the surgical station, disposing of surgical materials, and fasting procedures for different animals.

1 / 25

1) Which of the following is a key measure to maintain a sterile field during surgery?

A) Touching the sterile field with ungloved hands

B) Reusing drapes between procedures

C) Replacing gloves immediately if contamination occurs

D) Allowing instruments to remain uncovered for long periods

2 / 25

2) Which type of scissors is best for removing bandages from a patient?

A) Mayo scissors

B) Carless scissors

C) Metzenbaum scissors

D) Lister scissors

3 / 25

3) For a patient undergoing bloat surgery (gastric dilatation–volvulus), what is a critical aspect of preoperative stabilization?

A) Rapid stabilization of hemodynamic status

B) Administering a high–fiber diet preoperatively

C) Keeping the patient in a horizontal position

D) Using nonsterile instruments to expedite the procedure

4 / 25

4) When assembling a surgical pack, which practice is critical to maintain instrument sterility?

A) Mixing sterile drapes with non–sterile swabs

B) Wrapping instruments with a water–resistant cover

C) Leaving instruments exposed for air drying

D) Placing instruments directly on a metal tray

5 / 25

5) Which environmental health and safety measure is most important during surgical setup?

A) Ensuring proper ventilation in the operating room

B) Overloading the sterilizer to maximize instrument use

C) Using expired disinfectants to reduce waste

D) Keeping windows closed at all times

6 / 25

6) In preparing a patient for wound repair surgery, which preoperative step is most important?

A) Applying a nonsterile bandage before surgery

B) Removing all devitalized tissue from the wound

C) Delaying the procedure until granulation tissue forms

D) Irrigating the wound with a nonsterile solution

7 / 25

7) Which of the following demonstrates proper aseptic technique during surgical assistance?

A) A nonsterile team member reaching over the sterile field

B) A team member adjusting drapes with bare hands

C) Reusing an instrument previously contaminated

D) A scrubbed team member handing a sterile instrument to the surgeon

8 / 25

8) For an 8–year–old canine patient scheduled for surgery, the recommended preoperative fasting period is:

A) 12 hours

B) 15 hours

C) 4 hours

D) 1 hour

9 / 25

9) Which sterilization method uses high–pressure saturated steam to sterilize surgical instruments?

A) Ultraviolet radiation

B) Autoclaving

C) Chemical sterilization

D) Dry heat sterilization

10 / 25

10) During surgery requiring delicate tissue handling, which forceps is most appropriate to minimize trauma?

A) Kelly forceps

B) Adson forceps

C) Babcock forceps

D) Ruskin forceps

11 / 25

11) In preparing a patient for a cystotomy procedure, it is essential to:

A) Ensure the bladder is emptied prior to surgery

B) Fast the patient for 12 hours

C) Administer prophylactic antibiotics only

D) Clip hair from the ventral midline

12 / 25

12) Which action should be avoided by a nonsterile assistant during surgery?

A) Monitoring patient vital signs

B) Handling sterile instruments

C) Assisting with patient positioning

D) Retrieving supplies from the instrument table

13 / 25

13) What is the first step in preparing a patient for limb surgery?

A) Evacuating bladder contents

B) Scrubbing for sterilization

C) Wrapping the paw or foot

D) Clipping hair or fur from the site

14 / 25

14) Prior to ophthalmological surgery, which diagnostic aid is essential for evaluating corneal damage?

A) Fluorescein staining

B) Ultrasonography

C) Electroretinography

D) Schirmer tear test

15 / 25

15) Which surgical procedure is primarily performed for population control and prevention of reproductive diseases?

A) Femoral head ostectomy

B) Tail docking

C) Triple pelvic osteotomy

D) Ovariohysterectomy

16 / 25

16) Which statement about postoperative instrument cleaning is true?

A) Sterile instruments may be soaked in room–temperature water

B) Instruments should be cleaned as soon as possible after surgery

C) All instruments can be cleaned with the same abrasive brush

D) Dull instruments should be removed from the tray first

17 / 25

17) When positioning a patient for thyroidectomy, which factor is most important?

A) Applying a tight wrap around the neck

B) Positioning the patient in lateral recumbency

C) Extending the neck to expose the thyroid region

D) Placing the patient in a prone position

18 / 25

18) Which surgical procedure is performed to alleviate pain and improve mobility in dogs with hip dysplasia?

A) Debarking

B) Declawing

C) Thyroidectomy

D) Femoral head ostectomy

19 / 25

19) In preparing for tumor removal surgery, which preoperative step is most essential for the surgical site?

A) Clipping hair from the surgical site

B) Packing instruments without sterilization

C) Taking a complete patient history

D) Reusing disposable instruments

20 / 25

20) In order to minimize the risk of postoperative infection, instruments should be:

A) Washed later in a batch process

B) Reprocessed only at the end of the day

C) Cleaned immediately after surgery

D) Sprayed with disinfectant during the procedure

21 / 25

21) If a sterile instrument is dropped during a procedure, the correct protocol is to:

A) Hand it directly to the surgeon without delay

B) Wipe it off with a clean towel and continue use

C) Remove it from the field and use a backup instrument

D) Immediately re–sterilize the instrument during the procedure

22 / 25

22) If an instrument is suspected of being contaminated during surgery, the team should:

A) Substitute it with a nonsterile equivalent

B) Remove it immediately from the sterile field and replace it

C) Reprocess it after the procedure is complete

D) Continue using the instrument to avoid delays

23 / 25

23) When setting up a surgical station, the best practice for organizing instruments is to:

A) Place instruments in random order

B) Arrange instruments based on frequency of use and procedural sequence

C) Group all instruments in one large container

D) Position nonsterile items adjacent to sterile ones

24 / 25

24) What is the primary purpose of using water–resistant drapes on instrument trays?

A) To facilitate rapid instrument identification

B) To prevent fluid penetration and maintain instrument sterility

C) To reduce glare from surgical lighting

D) To allow reuse of instruments without re–sterilization

25 / 25

25) Which retractor is self–retaining and commonly used to hold open a surgical incision?

A) Weitlaner retractor

B) Ochsner retractor

C) Volkmann retractor

D) Malleable retractor

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