ATI Med-Surg Proctored – VERIFIED Questions
& Answers STUDY GUIDE
🔥 100 High-Yield, Actual Exam Questions with Correct Answers &
Rationales
Ace your ATI Med-Surg Proctored Exam with confidence using this
comprehensive, exam-focused study guide! This resource is perfect for
nursing students who want real exam preparation and results.
1. A nurse is reviewing a client’s repeat laboratory results.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
provider?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
C. Chloride 102 mEq/L
✅ D. Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
Rationale: A potassium level greater than 5.0 mEq/L indicates
hyperkalemia and should be reported promptly due to the risk of cardiac
dysrhythmias.
Page 1 of 27
,2. A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to promote thinning of
respiratory secretions?
A. Encourage ambulation
B. Elevate the head of the bed
C. Provide a high-protein diet
✅ D. Increase fluid intake
Rationale: Adequate hydration helps thin mucus secretions and improves
airway clearance.
3. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a
female client. Which action should the nurse take first?
✅ A. Perform hand hygiene
B. Open the catheterization kit
C. Don sterile gloves
D. Clean the urinary meatus
Rationale: The first step in any sterile procedure is proper hand hygiene to
prevent infection.
4. A nurse is planning care for a client who has COPD and is
malnourished. Which action should the nurse take to promote
nutritional intake?
A. Recommend three large meals per day
✅ B. Offer frequent small meals and snacks
C. Encourage fluid intake with meals
D. Administer bronchodilators after meals
Rationale: Small, frequent meals reduce the effort of eating and maximize
intake.
5. A nurse is caring for a client immediately following a
bronchoscopy. Which of the following actions is the nurse’s
priority?
✅ A. Confirm the gag reflex
B. Monitor oxygen saturation
C. Encourage deep breathing
D. Administer pain medication
Rationale: Risk of aspiration is high after bronchoscopy. Ensuring the gag
reflex
has returned is critical before offering oral fluids or food.
Page 2 of 27
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a
thyroidectomy. Which finding should the nurse immediately
report to the provider?
A. Hoarse voice
✅ B. Tingling around the mouth
C. Sore throat
D. Difficulty sleeping
Rationale: Tingling around the mouth may indicate hypocalcemia, a
complication of thyroid surgery.
7. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for furosemide. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
A. Avoid foods high in vitamin K
✅ B. Increase intake of potassium-rich foods
C. Take with calcium supplements
D. Restrict fluid intake
Rationale: Furosemide causes potassium loss, so potassium intake should
be increased to avoid hypokalemia.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer packed RBCs to a client. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Infuse the blood over 5 hours
✅ B. Stay with the client during the first 15 minutes
C. Obtain consent after the blood is hung
D. Use a 22-gauge IV catheter
Rationale: The nurse must monitor for transfusion reactions closely during
the first 15 minutes.
9. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new diagnosis
of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which of the following statements
indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should avoid carbohydrates altogether."
Page 3 of 27
& Answers STUDY GUIDE
🔥 100 High-Yield, Actual Exam Questions with Correct Answers &
Rationales
Ace your ATI Med-Surg Proctored Exam with confidence using this
comprehensive, exam-focused study guide! This resource is perfect for
nursing students who want real exam preparation and results.
1. A nurse is reviewing a client’s repeat laboratory results.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
provider?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
C. Chloride 102 mEq/L
✅ D. Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
Rationale: A potassium level greater than 5.0 mEq/L indicates
hyperkalemia and should be reported promptly due to the risk of cardiac
dysrhythmias.
Page 1 of 27
,2. A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to promote thinning of
respiratory secretions?
A. Encourage ambulation
B. Elevate the head of the bed
C. Provide a high-protein diet
✅ D. Increase fluid intake
Rationale: Adequate hydration helps thin mucus secretions and improves
airway clearance.
3. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a
female client. Which action should the nurse take first?
✅ A. Perform hand hygiene
B. Open the catheterization kit
C. Don sterile gloves
D. Clean the urinary meatus
Rationale: The first step in any sterile procedure is proper hand hygiene to
prevent infection.
4. A nurse is planning care for a client who has COPD and is
malnourished. Which action should the nurse take to promote
nutritional intake?
A. Recommend three large meals per day
✅ B. Offer frequent small meals and snacks
C. Encourage fluid intake with meals
D. Administer bronchodilators after meals
Rationale: Small, frequent meals reduce the effort of eating and maximize
intake.
5. A nurse is caring for a client immediately following a
bronchoscopy. Which of the following actions is the nurse’s
priority?
✅ A. Confirm the gag reflex
B. Monitor oxygen saturation
C. Encourage deep breathing
D. Administer pain medication
Rationale: Risk of aspiration is high after bronchoscopy. Ensuring the gag
reflex
has returned is critical before offering oral fluids or food.
Page 2 of 27
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a
thyroidectomy. Which finding should the nurse immediately
report to the provider?
A. Hoarse voice
✅ B. Tingling around the mouth
C. Sore throat
D. Difficulty sleeping
Rationale: Tingling around the mouth may indicate hypocalcemia, a
complication of thyroid surgery.
7. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for furosemide. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
A. Avoid foods high in vitamin K
✅ B. Increase intake of potassium-rich foods
C. Take with calcium supplements
D. Restrict fluid intake
Rationale: Furosemide causes potassium loss, so potassium intake should
be increased to avoid hypokalemia.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer packed RBCs to a client. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Infuse the blood over 5 hours
✅ B. Stay with the client during the first 15 minutes
C. Obtain consent after the blood is hung
D. Use a 22-gauge IV catheter
Rationale: The nurse must monitor for transfusion reactions closely during
the first 15 minutes.
9. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new diagnosis
of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which of the following statements
indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should avoid carbohydrates altogether."
Page 3 of 27
