ATI RN Medical-Surgical Retake Exam (NGN Format)
| Updated Version | Exam-Style Questions with Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales | A+ Study Guide
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12hr postoperative following a colon
resection. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
surgeon?
a. Heart rate 90/min
b. Absent bowel sounds
c. Hgb 8.2 g/dl
d. Gastric pH of 3.0
Rationale: Normal Hgb is 13-18M g/dl, 12-16 g/dl. This may indicate
a possible hemorrhaging.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the
following medications should the nurse plan to administer?
a. Desmopressin
b. Regular insulin
c. Furosemide
d. Lithium carbonate
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus has decreased ADH. Administer
Desmopressin/Vasopressin increase ADH and to stop patient
on urinating.
,3. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking
ibuprofen several times daily for 3 years. Which of the following test should
the nurse monitor?
a. Fasting blood glucose
b. Stool for occult blood - GI bleed
c. Urine for white blood cells
d. Serum calcium
Rationale: ATI Pharm 16. Pg. 485 Ibuprofen (NSAIDs) monitor for GI bleed
(bloody, tarry stools, abdominal pain).
4. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first (Click on the “Exhibit” button
for additional information about the client. There are three tabs that contain
separate categories of data.)
a. Obtain a sputum sample for culture
b. Prepare the client for a chest x-ray
c. Initiate airborne precautions
d. Administer ondansetron.
Rationale: No idea what the Exhibit is all about; won’t be able
to answer it.
5. A nurse is contacting the provider for a client who has cancer and is
experiencing breakthrough pain. Which of the following prescriptions should
the nurse anticipate?
a. Transmucosal fentanyl
b. Intramuscular meperidine
c. Oral acetaminophen
d. Intravenous dexamethasone
Rationale: ATI pg. 27 Morphine sulfate and fentanyl are opioid agents used
to treat moderate to severe pain. A
short-acting pain medication is administered for breakthrough pain.
,6. A nurse is admitting a client who reports chest pain and has been placed on
a telemetry monitor. Which of the following should the nurse analyze to
determine whether the client is experiencing a myocardial infarction?
a. PR interval
b. QRS duration
c. T wave
d. ST segment
Rationale: ST elevation indicates MI. ST depression
indicates ischemia
7. A nurse is teaching a client who has ovarian cancer about skin care
following radiation treatment. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include? a. Pat the skin on the radiation site to dry it
b. Apply OTC moisturizer to the radiation site
c. Cover the radiation site loosely with a gauze wrap before
dressing
d. Use a soft washcloth to clean the area around the radiation site
Rationale: pg. 584. Dry the area thoroughly using patting
motions.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. The
nurse observes that the client has bounding peripheral pulses,
hypertension, and distended jugular veins. The nurse should anticipate
administering which of the following prescribed medications?
a. Diphenhydramine
b. Acetaminophen
c. Pantoprazole
d. Furosemide
Rationale: S/S may indicate fluid retention or heart failure. It is important
to administer diuretics to prevent
cardiovascular/respiratory distress.
, 9. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate IV for
the treatment of hypomagnesemia. Which of the following findings indicates
effectiveness of the medication?
a. Lungs clear
b. Apical pulse 82/min
c. Hyperactive bowel sounds
d. Blood pressure 90/50 mm Hg
Rationale: pg. 278 Confirmed on answer sheet
10. A nurse is reviewing a client’s ABG results pH 7.42, PaC02 30 mm Hg,
and HCO3 21 mEq/L. The nurse should recognize these findings as indication
of which of the following conditions?
a. Metabolic acidosis
b. Metabolic alkalosis
c. Compensated respiratory alkalosis
d. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
Rationale: because the HCO3 21 trying to compensate for
respiratory alkalosis.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who has a deep partial thickness burns
over 15% of her body which of the following labs should the nurse expect
during the first 24 hours A. Decreased BUN (elevated due to fluid loss)
B. Hypoglycemia (High due to stress)
C. Hypoalbuminemia (Low due to fluid loss)
D. Decreased Hematocrit (Elevated due to 3rd spacing during
resuscitation phase)
Rationale: Pg. 481 ATI. Total protein and albumin- low due to fluid loss.
12. A nurse is caring for a client who has dumping syndrome following a
gastrectomy, which of the following actions should the nurse takes?
a. Offer the client high carbohydrate meal options (High fat,
high protein, low fiber, low to moderate carbs page
| Updated Version | Exam-Style Questions with Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales | A+ Study Guide
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12hr postoperative following a colon
resection. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
surgeon?
a. Heart rate 90/min
b. Absent bowel sounds
c. Hgb 8.2 g/dl
d. Gastric pH of 3.0
Rationale: Normal Hgb is 13-18M g/dl, 12-16 g/dl. This may indicate
a possible hemorrhaging.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the
following medications should the nurse plan to administer?
a. Desmopressin
b. Regular insulin
c. Furosemide
d. Lithium carbonate
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus has decreased ADH. Administer
Desmopressin/Vasopressin increase ADH and to stop patient
on urinating.
,3. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking
ibuprofen several times daily for 3 years. Which of the following test should
the nurse monitor?
a. Fasting blood glucose
b. Stool for occult blood - GI bleed
c. Urine for white blood cells
d. Serum calcium
Rationale: ATI Pharm 16. Pg. 485 Ibuprofen (NSAIDs) monitor for GI bleed
(bloody, tarry stools, abdominal pain).
4. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first (Click on the “Exhibit” button
for additional information about the client. There are three tabs that contain
separate categories of data.)
a. Obtain a sputum sample for culture
b. Prepare the client for a chest x-ray
c. Initiate airborne precautions
d. Administer ondansetron.
Rationale: No idea what the Exhibit is all about; won’t be able
to answer it.
5. A nurse is contacting the provider for a client who has cancer and is
experiencing breakthrough pain. Which of the following prescriptions should
the nurse anticipate?
a. Transmucosal fentanyl
b. Intramuscular meperidine
c. Oral acetaminophen
d. Intravenous dexamethasone
Rationale: ATI pg. 27 Morphine sulfate and fentanyl are opioid agents used
to treat moderate to severe pain. A
short-acting pain medication is administered for breakthrough pain.
,6. A nurse is admitting a client who reports chest pain and has been placed on
a telemetry monitor. Which of the following should the nurse analyze to
determine whether the client is experiencing a myocardial infarction?
a. PR interval
b. QRS duration
c. T wave
d. ST segment
Rationale: ST elevation indicates MI. ST depression
indicates ischemia
7. A nurse is teaching a client who has ovarian cancer about skin care
following radiation treatment. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include? a. Pat the skin on the radiation site to dry it
b. Apply OTC moisturizer to the radiation site
c. Cover the radiation site loosely with a gauze wrap before
dressing
d. Use a soft washcloth to clean the area around the radiation site
Rationale: pg. 584. Dry the area thoroughly using patting
motions.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. The
nurse observes that the client has bounding peripheral pulses,
hypertension, and distended jugular veins. The nurse should anticipate
administering which of the following prescribed medications?
a. Diphenhydramine
b. Acetaminophen
c. Pantoprazole
d. Furosemide
Rationale: S/S may indicate fluid retention or heart failure. It is important
to administer diuretics to prevent
cardiovascular/respiratory distress.
, 9. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate IV for
the treatment of hypomagnesemia. Which of the following findings indicates
effectiveness of the medication?
a. Lungs clear
b. Apical pulse 82/min
c. Hyperactive bowel sounds
d. Blood pressure 90/50 mm Hg
Rationale: pg. 278 Confirmed on answer sheet
10. A nurse is reviewing a client’s ABG results pH 7.42, PaC02 30 mm Hg,
and HCO3 21 mEq/L. The nurse should recognize these findings as indication
of which of the following conditions?
a. Metabolic acidosis
b. Metabolic alkalosis
c. Compensated respiratory alkalosis
d. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
Rationale: because the HCO3 21 trying to compensate for
respiratory alkalosis.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who has a deep partial thickness burns
over 15% of her body which of the following labs should the nurse expect
during the first 24 hours A. Decreased BUN (elevated due to fluid loss)
B. Hypoglycemia (High due to stress)
C. Hypoalbuminemia (Low due to fluid loss)
D. Decreased Hematocrit (Elevated due to 3rd spacing during
resuscitation phase)
Rationale: Pg. 481 ATI. Total protein and albumin- low due to fluid loss.
12. A nurse is caring for a client who has dumping syndrome following a
gastrectomy, which of the following actions should the nurse takes?
a. Offer the client high carbohydrate meal options (High fat,
high protein, low fiber, low to moderate carbs page
