Latest ATI RN Adult Medical Surgical (Med-Surg) 2026
Proctored Exam with NGN and 100 Questions with Answers |
Real ATI RN Med-Surg Exam Content
Exam
SECTION 1: PRIORITIZATION & DELEGATION (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A nurse is receiving change-of-shift report on four clients. Which client should the
nurse assess first?
A) A client with a dressing that needs reinforcement
B) A client reporting pain rated 6/10
C) A client whose urinary output was 100 mL in 12 hours
D) A client scheduled for discharge
Answer: C) A client whose urinary output was 100 mL in 12 hours
Rationale: Low urine output (100 mL in 12 hours = ~8 mL/hour) indicates possible
acute kidney injury or severe hypovolemia. Urine output should be at least 30
mL/hour (240 mL in 8 hours). This is an urgent finding requiring immediate
assessment .
Question 2
A charge nurse is assigning rooms for four clients. Which client should be placed
in a private room?
A) Client with pneumonia
B) Client with Clostridioides difficile
C) Client with cellulitis
D) Client with urinary tract infection
Answer: B) Client with Clostridioides difficileRationale: C. diff requires contact
precautions and a private room to prevent
spore transmission. Pneumonia may need droplet precautions, while cellulitis and
UTI require standard precautions only .
Question 3
A nurse is delegating tasks to an LPN. Which task is appropriate?
A) Initial admission assessment
B) Insertion of a nasogastric tube for decompression
C) Teaching a diabetic patient about insulin injection
D) Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication
Answer: B) Insertion of a nasogastric tube for decompression
Rationale: LPNs can perform stable, standard procedures like NG tube insertion
,(check facility policy). Initial assessment, teaching, and evaluation of effectiveness
require RN scope .
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a confused client attempting to pull out their IV line. The
provider orders restraints. Which action should the nurse take BEFORE applying
restraints?
A) Obtain verbal consent from the client
B) Try less restrictive measures first
C) Restrain all four extremities for safety
D) Apply restraints without documentation
Answer: B) Try less restrictive measures first
Rationale: Restraints are a last resort. The nurse must attempt less restrictive
measures first (repositioning, sitters, diversions). Restraints require a provider
order, client/family notification, and frequent monitoring .
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hours postoperative following a
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Which finding is the priority to
report to the provider?
A) Thick, red-colored urine
B) Complaints of bladder spasms
C) Continuous bladder irrigation infusing at 40 mL/hr
D) Urine output of 100 mL in the past 4 hours
Answer: A) Thick, red-colored urine
Rationale: Thick, red-colored urine indicates active bleeding. Small amounts of
pink-tinged urine are expected. Bladder spasms are common post-TURP but are
not the priority over hemorrhage .
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client who has a temperature of 39.7°C (103.5°F) and has a
prescription for a hypothermia blanket. The nurse should monitor the client for
which adverse effect?
A) Hyperthermia
B) Shivering
C) Tachycardia
D) Hypertension
Answer: B) Shivering
Rationale: Shivering is an adverse effect of rapid cooling from a hypothermia
blanket. Shivering increases metabolic rate and oxygen demand. The nurse should
, monitor for shivering and may need to adjust the cooling rate .
Question 7
A nurse notes a small section of bowel protruding from the abdominal incision of
a client who is postoperative. After calling for assistance, which action should the
nurse take FIRST?
A) Attempt to push the bowel back into the abdomen
B) Cover the wound with a dry, sterile dressingC) Cover the wound with a moist,
sterile dressing
D) Place the client in Trendelenburg position
Answer: C) Cover the wound with a moist, sterile dressing
Rationale: Protruding bowel (evisceration) requires covering with a moist, sterile
saline dressing to prevent drying of tissue. Do not attempt to replace organs. The
client should be placed in low Fowler's or supine with knees bent .
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who has been taking digoxin 0.25
mg daily. The client refuses breakfast and reports nausea. Which action should
the nurse take FIRST?
A) Administer an antiemetic
B) Notify the provider
C) Check the client's vital signs
D) Hold the digoxin dose
Answer: C) Check the client's vital signs
Rationale: Nausea with digoxin can indicate digoxin toxicity. The priority is to
assess the client's apical pulse and other vital signs before determining whether
to hold the medication and notify the provider .
Question 9
A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client following a cataract
extraction. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A) "You may bend over to tie your shoes."
B) "Avoid bending at the waist."
C) "You can resume heavy lifting after 1 week."
D) "It is safe to rub your eye if it itches."
Answer: B) "Avoid bending at the waist."Rationale: After cataract surgery,
clients should avoid activities that increase
intraocular pressure including bending at the waist, lifting heavy objects,
coughing, sneezing, and straining with bowel movements .
Question 10
Proctored Exam with NGN and 100 Questions with Answers |
Real ATI RN Med-Surg Exam Content
Exam
SECTION 1: PRIORITIZATION & DELEGATION (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A nurse is receiving change-of-shift report on four clients. Which client should the
nurse assess first?
A) A client with a dressing that needs reinforcement
B) A client reporting pain rated 6/10
C) A client whose urinary output was 100 mL in 12 hours
D) A client scheduled for discharge
Answer: C) A client whose urinary output was 100 mL in 12 hours
Rationale: Low urine output (100 mL in 12 hours = ~8 mL/hour) indicates possible
acute kidney injury or severe hypovolemia. Urine output should be at least 30
mL/hour (240 mL in 8 hours). This is an urgent finding requiring immediate
assessment .
Question 2
A charge nurse is assigning rooms for four clients. Which client should be placed
in a private room?
A) Client with pneumonia
B) Client with Clostridioides difficile
C) Client with cellulitis
D) Client with urinary tract infection
Answer: B) Client with Clostridioides difficileRationale: C. diff requires contact
precautions and a private room to prevent
spore transmission. Pneumonia may need droplet precautions, while cellulitis and
UTI require standard precautions only .
Question 3
A nurse is delegating tasks to an LPN. Which task is appropriate?
A) Initial admission assessment
B) Insertion of a nasogastric tube for decompression
C) Teaching a diabetic patient about insulin injection
D) Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication
Answer: B) Insertion of a nasogastric tube for decompression
Rationale: LPNs can perform stable, standard procedures like NG tube insertion
,(check facility policy). Initial assessment, teaching, and evaluation of effectiveness
require RN scope .
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a confused client attempting to pull out their IV line. The
provider orders restraints. Which action should the nurse take BEFORE applying
restraints?
A) Obtain verbal consent from the client
B) Try less restrictive measures first
C) Restrain all four extremities for safety
D) Apply restraints without documentation
Answer: B) Try less restrictive measures first
Rationale: Restraints are a last resort. The nurse must attempt less restrictive
measures first (repositioning, sitters, diversions). Restraints require a provider
order, client/family notification, and frequent monitoring .
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hours postoperative following a
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Which finding is the priority to
report to the provider?
A) Thick, red-colored urine
B) Complaints of bladder spasms
C) Continuous bladder irrigation infusing at 40 mL/hr
D) Urine output of 100 mL in the past 4 hours
Answer: A) Thick, red-colored urine
Rationale: Thick, red-colored urine indicates active bleeding. Small amounts of
pink-tinged urine are expected. Bladder spasms are common post-TURP but are
not the priority over hemorrhage .
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client who has a temperature of 39.7°C (103.5°F) and has a
prescription for a hypothermia blanket. The nurse should monitor the client for
which adverse effect?
A) Hyperthermia
B) Shivering
C) Tachycardia
D) Hypertension
Answer: B) Shivering
Rationale: Shivering is an adverse effect of rapid cooling from a hypothermia
blanket. Shivering increases metabolic rate and oxygen demand. The nurse should
, monitor for shivering and may need to adjust the cooling rate .
Question 7
A nurse notes a small section of bowel protruding from the abdominal incision of
a client who is postoperative. After calling for assistance, which action should the
nurse take FIRST?
A) Attempt to push the bowel back into the abdomen
B) Cover the wound with a dry, sterile dressingC) Cover the wound with a moist,
sterile dressing
D) Place the client in Trendelenburg position
Answer: C) Cover the wound with a moist, sterile dressing
Rationale: Protruding bowel (evisceration) requires covering with a moist, sterile
saline dressing to prevent drying of tissue. Do not attempt to replace organs. The
client should be placed in low Fowler's or supine with knees bent .
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who has been taking digoxin 0.25
mg daily. The client refuses breakfast and reports nausea. Which action should
the nurse take FIRST?
A) Administer an antiemetic
B) Notify the provider
C) Check the client's vital signs
D) Hold the digoxin dose
Answer: C) Check the client's vital signs
Rationale: Nausea with digoxin can indicate digoxin toxicity. The priority is to
assess the client's apical pulse and other vital signs before determining whether
to hold the medication and notify the provider .
Question 9
A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client following a cataract
extraction. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A) "You may bend over to tie your shoes."
B) "Avoid bending at the waist."
C) "You can resume heavy lifting after 1 week."
D) "It is safe to rub your eye if it itches."
Answer: B) "Avoid bending at the waist."Rationale: After cataract surgery,
clients should avoid activities that increase
intraocular pressure including bending at the waist, lifting heavy objects,
coughing, sneezing, and straining with bowel movements .
Question 10
