Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

When a patient trusts the surgical team's abilities according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, they are primarily satisfying the safety needs. This level of the hierarchy emphasizes the importance of feeling secure and protected from harm. Trust in the expertise and competence of the surgical team contributes significantly to the patient's sense of safety before undergoing a procedure.

The physiological needs, belonging, and esteem are related concepts but do not directly correlate with the trust in a surgical team's abilities. Physiological needs are about basic survival requirements such as food and water. The belonging level pertains to emotional connections and social relationships, while esteem encompasses feelings of accomplishment and recognition. Hence, trust in the surgical team's skills falls squarely under the safety needs, as it directly addresses the patient's concerns regarding their well-being during surgery.