AATI RN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL PROCTORED RETAKE
EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST UPDATED VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
A nurse is assessing a client who has a calcium level of 8.1 mg/dL. Which of the following findings is the
priority for the nurse to assess?
A. Deep-tendon reflexes
B. Cardiac rhythm
C. Peripheral sensation
D. Bowel sounds - answer>>B
A nurse is preparing to administer oral potassium to a client who has a potassium level of 5.5 mEq/L.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer a hypertonic solution
B. Repeat the potassium level
C. Withhold the medication
D. Monitor for paresthesia - answer>>C
A nurse is caring for a client who reports difficulty breathing and tingling in both hands. His respiratory
rate is 36/min and he appears very restless. Which of the following values should the nurse anticipate
to be outside the expected reference range if the client is experiencing respiratory alkalosis?
A. PaO2
B. PaCO2
C. Sodium
D. Bicarbonate - answer>>B
A nurse is reviewing the ABG results for four clients. Which of the following findings should the nurse
identify as metabolic acidosis?
A. pH 7.51, PaO2 94 mmHg, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3 29 mEq/L
,B. pH 7.48, PaO2 89 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L
C. pH 7.36, PaO2 77 mmHg, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3 26 mEq/L
D. pH 7.26, PaO2 84 mmHg, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3 20 mEq/L - answer>>D
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. The nurse should plan to
monitor the client for which of the following findings?
A. Hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes
B. Orthostatic Hypotension
C. Rapid, deep respiration
D. Strong, bounding pulses - answer>>B
A nurse is assessing a client who had hyperkalemia. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
A. Decreased muscle strength
B. Decreased gastric motility
C. Increased heart rate
D. Increased BP - answer>>A
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has venous insufficiency of the lower extremities. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "If my stockings feel tight, I'll just roll them down for a while"
B. "I'll put on my elastic stocking at the first sign of swelling"
C. "When I sit down to watch television, I'll be sure to put my feet up"
D. "It's okay to cross my legs as long as it's for less than an hour" - answer>>C
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory report of a client who has fluid volume excess. Which of the
following laboratory values should the nurse expect?
A. Hgb 20 g/dL
B. Hct 34%
,C. BUN 25 mg/dL
D. Urine specific gravity 1.050 - answer>>B
A nurse is planning care for a client who has experienced excessive fluid loss. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? (SOA)
A. Administer IV fluids to the client evenly over 24 hours
B. Provide the client with a salt substitute
C. Assess the client for pitting edema
D. Encourage the client to rise slowly when standing up
E. Weigh the client every 8 hours - answer>>ADE
A nurse is providing dietary teaching to a client who has kidney disease. Which of the following food
choices should the nurse include in the teaching as containing the lowest amount of magnesium?
A. One large hard-boiled egg
B. 1 cup bran cereal
C. 1/2 cup almonds
D. 1 cup cooked spinach - answer>>A
A nurse is caring for a client who requires continuous cardiac monitoring. The nurse identifies a
prolonged PR interval and a widening QRS complex. Which of the following laboratory values supports
this findings?
A. Sodium 152 mEq/L
B. Chloride 102 mEq/L
C. Magnesium 1.8 mEq/L
D. Potassium 6.1 mEq/L - answer>>D
A nurse is caring for a client who requires nasogastric suctioning. Which of the following sets of
laboratory results indicates that the client has metabolic alkalosis?
A. pH 7.51, PaO2 94 mmHg, PaCO2 36 mmHg, HCO3 31 mEq/L
B. pH 7,48, PaO2 89 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3 26 mEq/L
, C. pH 7.31, PaO2 77 mmHg, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3 23 mEq/L
D. pH 7.26, PaO2 84 mmHg, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3 20 mEq/L - answer>>A
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving furosemide daily. During the morning assessment, the
client tells the nurse that he is "feeling weak in the legs." Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Monitor the client's bowel sounds
B. Review the client's daily laboratory results
C. Auscultate the client's lungs
D. Palpate the client's peripheral pulses - answer>>C
A nurse is evaluating a client who is receiving IV fluids to treat dehydration. Which of the following
laboratory findings indicates that the fluid therapy has been effective?
A. BUN 26 mg/dL
B. Sodium 142 mEq/L
C. Hct 56%
D. Urine Specific gravity 1.035 - answer>>B
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing respiratory distress as a result of pulmonary edema.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Assist with intubation
B. Initiate high-flow oxygen therapy
C. Administer a rapid-acting diuretic
D. Provide cardiac monitoring - answer>>B
A nurse is assessing a client who has hypomagnesemia. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
A. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
B. Increased bowel sounds
C. Drowsiness
EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST UPDATED VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
A nurse is assessing a client who has a calcium level of 8.1 mg/dL. Which of the following findings is the
priority for the nurse to assess?
A. Deep-tendon reflexes
B. Cardiac rhythm
C. Peripheral sensation
D. Bowel sounds - answer>>B
A nurse is preparing to administer oral potassium to a client who has a potassium level of 5.5 mEq/L.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer a hypertonic solution
B. Repeat the potassium level
C. Withhold the medication
D. Monitor for paresthesia - answer>>C
A nurse is caring for a client who reports difficulty breathing and tingling in both hands. His respiratory
rate is 36/min and he appears very restless. Which of the following values should the nurse anticipate
to be outside the expected reference range if the client is experiencing respiratory alkalosis?
A. PaO2
B. PaCO2
C. Sodium
D. Bicarbonate - answer>>B
A nurse is reviewing the ABG results for four clients. Which of the following findings should the nurse
identify as metabolic acidosis?
A. pH 7.51, PaO2 94 mmHg, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3 29 mEq/L
,B. pH 7.48, PaO2 89 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L
C. pH 7.36, PaO2 77 mmHg, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3 26 mEq/L
D. pH 7.26, PaO2 84 mmHg, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3 20 mEq/L - answer>>D
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. The nurse should plan to
monitor the client for which of the following findings?
A. Hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes
B. Orthostatic Hypotension
C. Rapid, deep respiration
D. Strong, bounding pulses - answer>>B
A nurse is assessing a client who had hyperkalemia. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
A. Decreased muscle strength
B. Decreased gastric motility
C. Increased heart rate
D. Increased BP - answer>>A
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has venous insufficiency of the lower extremities. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "If my stockings feel tight, I'll just roll them down for a while"
B. "I'll put on my elastic stocking at the first sign of swelling"
C. "When I sit down to watch television, I'll be sure to put my feet up"
D. "It's okay to cross my legs as long as it's for less than an hour" - answer>>C
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory report of a client who has fluid volume excess. Which of the
following laboratory values should the nurse expect?
A. Hgb 20 g/dL
B. Hct 34%
,C. BUN 25 mg/dL
D. Urine specific gravity 1.050 - answer>>B
A nurse is planning care for a client who has experienced excessive fluid loss. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? (SOA)
A. Administer IV fluids to the client evenly over 24 hours
B. Provide the client with a salt substitute
C. Assess the client for pitting edema
D. Encourage the client to rise slowly when standing up
E. Weigh the client every 8 hours - answer>>ADE
A nurse is providing dietary teaching to a client who has kidney disease. Which of the following food
choices should the nurse include in the teaching as containing the lowest amount of magnesium?
A. One large hard-boiled egg
B. 1 cup bran cereal
C. 1/2 cup almonds
D. 1 cup cooked spinach - answer>>A
A nurse is caring for a client who requires continuous cardiac monitoring. The nurse identifies a
prolonged PR interval and a widening QRS complex. Which of the following laboratory values supports
this findings?
A. Sodium 152 mEq/L
B. Chloride 102 mEq/L
C. Magnesium 1.8 mEq/L
D. Potassium 6.1 mEq/L - answer>>D
A nurse is caring for a client who requires nasogastric suctioning. Which of the following sets of
laboratory results indicates that the client has metabolic alkalosis?
A. pH 7.51, PaO2 94 mmHg, PaCO2 36 mmHg, HCO3 31 mEq/L
B. pH 7,48, PaO2 89 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3 26 mEq/L
, C. pH 7.31, PaO2 77 mmHg, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3 23 mEq/L
D. pH 7.26, PaO2 84 mmHg, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3 20 mEq/L - answer>>A
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving furosemide daily. During the morning assessment, the
client tells the nurse that he is "feeling weak in the legs." Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Monitor the client's bowel sounds
B. Review the client's daily laboratory results
C. Auscultate the client's lungs
D. Palpate the client's peripheral pulses - answer>>C
A nurse is evaluating a client who is receiving IV fluids to treat dehydration. Which of the following
laboratory findings indicates that the fluid therapy has been effective?
A. BUN 26 mg/dL
B. Sodium 142 mEq/L
C. Hct 56%
D. Urine Specific gravity 1.035 - answer>>B
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing respiratory distress as a result of pulmonary edema.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Assist with intubation
B. Initiate high-flow oxygen therapy
C. Administer a rapid-acting diuretic
D. Provide cardiac monitoring - answer>>B
A nurse is assessing a client who has hypomagnesemia. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect?
A. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
B. Increased bowel sounds
C. Drowsiness
