ATI MED SURG
PROCTORED EXAM
QUESTIONS & CORRECT
ANSWERS
, ATI MED SURG PROCTORED EXAM QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS
A nurse in a clinic is assessing a client who was diagnosed with mononucleosis 2 weeks ago.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately? - -Answer--
Abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant
When using the urgent vs nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine that
the priority finding is left upper-quadrant pain, which can indicate an enlarged spleen. An
enlarged spleen can rupture, leading to internal hemorrhaging. The nurse should encourage the
client to refrain from engaging in strenuous activities until the splenomegaly is resolved.
A nurse in a community clinic is caring for a client who reports an increase in the frequency of
migraine headaches. To help reduce the risk for migraine headaches, which of the following
foods should the nurse recommend the client avoid? - -Answer--Aged cheese
Foods that contain tyramine, such as aged cheese and sausage, can trigger migraine
headaches.
A nurse in a dermatology clinic is using the ABCDE method while screening several skin lesions
for skin cancer on a client. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
provider? - -Answer--Color variation within a lesion
The C in the ABCDE method of screening for skin cancer stands for color variation within a
lesion. The E stands for evolving or changing in any feature of the lesion.
A nurse in a provider's office is assessing a client's skin lesion. The nurse notes that the lesions
are 0.5 cm (0.20 in) in size, elevated, and solid with distinct borders. The nurse should
document these findings as which of the following skin lesions? - -Answer--Papules
A papule is a small, solid, elevated lesion with distinct borders. It is usually smaller than 10 mm
in diameter. Papules are common lesions of warts and elevated moles.
A nurse in a provider's office is reviewing the medical records of a group of clients. Which of the
following clients is at risk for iron deficiency? (Select all that apply). - -Answer--A client who is a
vegetarian
A client who is pregnant
A toddler who is overweight
A client who is a vegetarian might require iron because the availability of iron in vegetable food
sources is limited. During pregnancy, maternal blood volume increases, and the fetus requires
additional iron. Therefore, the RDA of iron for clients who are pregnant is increased to 27 mg
per day. Toddlers who are overweight may get most of their calories from milk and foods that
are not considered healthy, which increases their risk for iron-deficiency anemia.
A nurse in an emergency department is reviewing the provider's prescriptions for a client who
sustained a rattlesnake bite to the lower leg. Which of the following prescriptions should the
expect? - -Answer--Administer an opioid analgesic to the client.
, The nurse should expect a prescription for an opioid analgesic to promote comfort following a
rattlesnake bite.
A nurse in an ICU is assessing a client who has a traumatic brain injury. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as a component of Cushing's triad? - -Answer--Bradycardia
A client who has increased intracranial pressure from a traumatic brain injury can develop
bradycardia, which is one component of Cushing's triad. The other components of Cushing's
triad are severe hypertension and a widened pulse pressure.
A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client for closed pneumothorax and
significant bruising of the left chest following a motor-vehicle crash. The client reports severe left
chest pain on inspiration. The nurse should assess the client for which of the following
manifestations of pneumothorax? - -Answer--Absence of breath sounds
A client who has pneumothorax experiences severely diminished or absent breath sounds on
the affected side.
A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client who was in a motor vehicle crash 2
days ago and sustained fracture of his tibia, ulna, and several ribs. The client is not disoriented
to time and place and has SaO2 of 87%. The nurse notes generalized petechiae on the client's
skin. Which of the following complications should the nurse suspect? - -Answer--Fat embolism
syndrome
The nurse should identify the triad of neurological changes, petechial rash, and hypoxemia as
findings of fat embolism syndrome. Risk factors include multiple fractures and a fracture of a
long bone. Male clients are also at greater risk. The manifestations occur when far globules
occlude small blood vessels.
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has Addison's disease and
reports nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. To prevent an Addisonian crisis, the
nurse should prepare to administer which of the following medications? - -Answer--
Hydrocortisone
Addison's disease causes adrenal gland hypofunction and inadequate production of
glucocorticoids. Acute adrenal insufficiency is life-threatening and can lead to severe fluid and
electrolyte imbalances. Without treatment, sodium levels fall, and potassium levels increase.
Rapid infusion of IV fluids such as 0.9% sodium chloride and IV administer of high dose
corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone are vital to correct the glucocorticoid deficiency.
A nurse in the PACU is assessing a newly admitted client and observes intercostal retractions
and a high-pitched inspiratory sound. The nurse should identify these findings as manifestations
of which of the following complications? - -Answer--Respiratory obstruction
Intercostal retractions and a high-pitched inspiratory noise (i.e. stridor) are manifestations of an
airway obstruction caused by laryngospasm and edema. The nurse should notify the rapid
response team and plan to administer racemic epinephrine.
A nurse is a caring for a client who is on bed rest and has a new prescription for enoxaparin
subcutaneous. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? - -Answer--Inject the
medication into the anterolateral abdominal wall.
PROCTORED EXAM
QUESTIONS & CORRECT
ANSWERS
, ATI MED SURG PROCTORED EXAM QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS
A nurse in a clinic is assessing a client who was diagnosed with mononucleosis 2 weeks ago.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately? - -Answer--
Abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant
When using the urgent vs nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine that
the priority finding is left upper-quadrant pain, which can indicate an enlarged spleen. An
enlarged spleen can rupture, leading to internal hemorrhaging. The nurse should encourage the
client to refrain from engaging in strenuous activities until the splenomegaly is resolved.
A nurse in a community clinic is caring for a client who reports an increase in the frequency of
migraine headaches. To help reduce the risk for migraine headaches, which of the following
foods should the nurse recommend the client avoid? - -Answer--Aged cheese
Foods that contain tyramine, such as aged cheese and sausage, can trigger migraine
headaches.
A nurse in a dermatology clinic is using the ABCDE method while screening several skin lesions
for skin cancer on a client. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
provider? - -Answer--Color variation within a lesion
The C in the ABCDE method of screening for skin cancer stands for color variation within a
lesion. The E stands for evolving or changing in any feature of the lesion.
A nurse in a provider's office is assessing a client's skin lesion. The nurse notes that the lesions
are 0.5 cm (0.20 in) in size, elevated, and solid with distinct borders. The nurse should
document these findings as which of the following skin lesions? - -Answer--Papules
A papule is a small, solid, elevated lesion with distinct borders. It is usually smaller than 10 mm
in diameter. Papules are common lesions of warts and elevated moles.
A nurse in a provider's office is reviewing the medical records of a group of clients. Which of the
following clients is at risk for iron deficiency? (Select all that apply). - -Answer--A client who is a
vegetarian
A client who is pregnant
A toddler who is overweight
A client who is a vegetarian might require iron because the availability of iron in vegetable food
sources is limited. During pregnancy, maternal blood volume increases, and the fetus requires
additional iron. Therefore, the RDA of iron for clients who are pregnant is increased to 27 mg
per day. Toddlers who are overweight may get most of their calories from milk and foods that
are not considered healthy, which increases their risk for iron-deficiency anemia.
A nurse in an emergency department is reviewing the provider's prescriptions for a client who
sustained a rattlesnake bite to the lower leg. Which of the following prescriptions should the
expect? - -Answer--Administer an opioid analgesic to the client.
, The nurse should expect a prescription for an opioid analgesic to promote comfort following a
rattlesnake bite.
A nurse in an ICU is assessing a client who has a traumatic brain injury. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as a component of Cushing's triad? - -Answer--Bradycardia
A client who has increased intracranial pressure from a traumatic brain injury can develop
bradycardia, which is one component of Cushing's triad. The other components of Cushing's
triad are severe hypertension and a widened pulse pressure.
A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client for closed pneumothorax and
significant bruising of the left chest following a motor-vehicle crash. The client reports severe left
chest pain on inspiration. The nurse should assess the client for which of the following
manifestations of pneumothorax? - -Answer--Absence of breath sounds
A client who has pneumothorax experiences severely diminished or absent breath sounds on
the affected side.
A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client who was in a motor vehicle crash 2
days ago and sustained fracture of his tibia, ulna, and several ribs. The client is not disoriented
to time and place and has SaO2 of 87%. The nurse notes generalized petechiae on the client's
skin. Which of the following complications should the nurse suspect? - -Answer--Fat embolism
syndrome
The nurse should identify the triad of neurological changes, petechial rash, and hypoxemia as
findings of fat embolism syndrome. Risk factors include multiple fractures and a fracture of a
long bone. Male clients are also at greater risk. The manifestations occur when far globules
occlude small blood vessels.
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has Addison's disease and
reports nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. To prevent an Addisonian crisis, the
nurse should prepare to administer which of the following medications? - -Answer--
Hydrocortisone
Addison's disease causes adrenal gland hypofunction and inadequate production of
glucocorticoids. Acute adrenal insufficiency is life-threatening and can lead to severe fluid and
electrolyte imbalances. Without treatment, sodium levels fall, and potassium levels increase.
Rapid infusion of IV fluids such as 0.9% sodium chloride and IV administer of high dose
corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone are vital to correct the glucocorticoid deficiency.
A nurse in the PACU is assessing a newly admitted client and observes intercostal retractions
and a high-pitched inspiratory sound. The nurse should identify these findings as manifestations
of which of the following complications? - -Answer--Respiratory obstruction
Intercostal retractions and a high-pitched inspiratory noise (i.e. stridor) are manifestations of an
airway obstruction caused by laryngospasm and edema. The nurse should notify the rapid
response team and plan to administer racemic epinephrine.
A nurse is a caring for a client who is on bed rest and has a new prescription for enoxaparin
subcutaneous. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? - -Answer--Inject the
medication into the anterolateral abdominal wall.
