ATI RN Adult Medical Surgical 2026/2027 Exam and Retake Proctored ASSESSEMENT | 100 Questions and Correct Answers | 100% Correct | Guaranteed Pass.

ATI RN Adult Medical Surgical 2026/2027 Exam and Retake Proctored ASSESSEMENT | 100 Questions and Correct Answers | 100% Correct | Guaranteed Pass. A nurse is caring for a postoperative client who has just undergone abdominal surgery and begins complaining of sudden shortness of breath and chest pain. The nurse notes tachypnea, decreased oxygen saturation, and restlessness. What should the nurse do first? A. Notify the healthcare provider. B. Administer prescribed analgesics. C. Elevate the head of the bed. D.Apply warm compresses to the chest. The correct answer is C. Elevate the head of the bed. Elevating the head of the bed facilitates lung expansion and reduces the work of breathing, which is a priority action for a client experiencing acute respiratory symptoms. While notifying the healthcare provider is essential, it is not the immediate priority when the client’s oxygenation is compromised. Administering analgesics does not address the underlying respiratory issue and may further depress respiration. Warm compresses have no therapeutic value in this context. The nurse’s immediate action should focus on airway, breathing, and circulation (the ABCs), and promoting oxygenation is the primary concern in this situation. Once the client is positioned for optimal breathing, the nurse can then notify the healthcare provider and implement additional interventions as ordered. Q.A nurse is monitoring a client with chronic heart failure who presents with increasing shortness of breath, orthopnea, and bilateral crackles on auscultation. The client also has 3+ pitting edema in both lower extremities. Which prescription should the nurse question? A. Furosemide 40 mg IV twice daily. B. Sodium-restricted diet at 2 grams daily. C. Intravenous 0.9% normal saline at 125 mL/hr. D. Daily weights every morning. The correct answer is C. Intravenous 0.9% normal saline at 125 mL/hr. In a client with worsening heart failure, additional fluid administration via IV normal saline may exacerbate fluid overload and pulmonary edema. The nurse should question any order that could worsen the patient’s volume status. Furosemide is appropriate because it is a loop diuretic that reduces fluid volume and relieves pulmonary and peripheral congestion. A sodium-restricted diet is also suitable, as sodium contributes to water retention. Daily weights are essential in evaluating fluid retention or diuresis effectiveness. The nurse must critically assess whether ordered therapies align with the patient’s evolving clinical status, especially in conditions like heart failure where fluid balance is delicate. Q.A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy in the morning. The provider orders polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution (GoLYTELY). The client becomes nauseated and refuses to drink the solution. What should the nurse do next? A. Encourage the client to drink the solution slowly over time. B. Notify the provider and request a different bowel prep. C. Cancel the procedure. D. Administer an antiemetic and try again later. The correct answer is A. Encourage the client to drink the solution slowly over time. Nausea is a common side effect of bowel preparation agents like polyethylene glycol. Encouraging the client to drink the solution slowly over a longer period can help minimize gastrointestinal distress and promote compliance. Notifying the provider may be warranted if the client continues to refuse, but the nurse should first attempt to resolve the issue with simple interventions. Canceling the procedure prematurely is inappropriate. Administering an antiemetic may be helpful in some cases, but encouraging fluid intake slowly is a less invasive first step. Nurses must balance patient comfort with procedural requirements, using evidence-based strategies to ensure safe and effective preparation. Q.A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client with a new prescription for warfarin. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching? A. "I will eat a consistent amount of green leafy vegetables each week." B. "I will inform all healthcare providers that I’m taking warfarin." C. "I will take aspirin every day to help thin my blood further." D. "I will have my INR checked regularly." The correct answer is C. "I will take aspirin every day to help thin my blood further." This statement indicates a need for further teaching because taking aspirin in combination with warfarin significantly increases the risk of bleeding unless explicitly prescribed. Clients on warfarin must be educated about drug interactions and the potential for additive anticoagulant effects with other medications like aspirin or NSAIDs. The other statements reflect appropriate understanding of warfarin management, including the importance of maintaining consistent dietary intake of vitamin K, notifying all healthcare providers, and monitoring INR to maintain therapeutic anticoagulation. Patient education is a cornerstone of safe medication use, especially with highrisk medications such as anticoagulants, where mismanagement can lead to serious complications like hemorrhage. The knowledge and skills acquired in medical-surgical nursing courses are crucial to shaping the competency and confidence of future registered nurses. Throughout training, nurses are introduced to complex physiological concepts, pathophysiology, pharmacological interventions, and holistic care strategies needed for a diverse adult patient population. These foundational teachings equip nursing students to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate care in a wide range of clinical settings, from acute care hospitals to outpatient rehabilitation facilities. For instance, understanding the progression of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, heart failure, or COPD enables nurses to anticipate complications, implement preventative strategies, and respond effectively in emergencies. This predictive capacity is not only vital in acute care but also supports nurses in long-term and community health management. In practice, medical-surgical content supports the nurse’s ability to prioritize care effectively using frameworks like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs or the ABCs—airway, breathing, circulation. Nurses learn to triage appropriately, manage multiple patients simultaneously, and adapt care based on rapidly changing clinical presentations. This clinical judgment is honed through case studies, simulation labs, and critical thinking exercises taught during med-surg rotations. Moreover, these skills translate seamlessly into any nursing specialty, whether it's emergency, ICU, oncology, or even psychiatric nursing, because a firm grasp of adult physiology and interventions remains relevant across all sectors. For example, knowledge of electrolyte imbalances or sepsis protocols developed during med-surg courses is indispensable when treating patients in a trauma unit or post-operative ward. Additionally, med-surg nursing emphasizes patient education and communication, which are fundamental to long-term health outcomes. Nurses play a crucial role in teaching patients how to manage chronic illnesses, adhere to medication regimens, and recognize warning signs of complications. This collaborative relationship fosters trust and empowers patients to participate actively in their care, which has been linked to reduced readmission rates and improved patient satisfaction scores. As future nurses encounter clients with complex psychosocial and physiological needs, they will rely on the interpersonal skills nurtured in their med-surg training to navigate sensitive conversations, support patient autonomy, and provide culturally competent care. Another essential aspect of med-surg training is interdisciplinary collaboration. Nurses often function as liaisons between physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, dietitians, and social workers to coordinate care effectively. This team-based model is emphasized in med-surg content and reflects the collaborative nature of modern healthcare delivery. Through practice scenarios, students learn to advocate for patient needs, ensure clarity in treatment plans, and participate in safety huddles or discharge planning meetings. These experiences develop a systems-thinking mindset that is crucial for nurses in high-stakes environments like surgical recovery or complex case management. Moreover, med-surg nursing enhances a nurse’s familiarity with a broad range of technical and clinical procedures, such as wound care, telemetry monitoring, venipuncture, urinary catheterization, and IV medication administration. These technical competencies build confidence and ensure that nurses are proficient in performing interventions accurately and safely. Procedural familiarity also minimizes delays in care and improves outcomes by allowing nurses to respond swiftly and competently during medical emergencies or deteriorating patient conditions.