RN VATI
Adult Medical-Surgical Assessment 2026 | Practice
Questions, Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales |
Comprehensive Med-Surg Nursing Review
THIS STUDY GUIDE INCLUDES:
• RN VATI Adult Medical-Surgical practice questions
• Verified answers with detailed rationales
• Clinical judgment and prioritization
• Cardiovascular disorders
• Pain management
• Pharmacology integration
• Laboratory value interpretation
• Patient safety and nursing interventions
• NCLEX-RN–style review
,TESTBANK: NCLEX-RN Practice Questions with
Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has atopic dermatitis and a prescription
for triamcinolone ointment. The nurse should assess the client to monitor
for which of the following adverse effects?
A) Increased pigmentation
B) Localized hair loss
C) Thinning of the skin
D) Excessive hair growth
Correct Answer: C) Thinning of the skin
Rationale: Topical glucocorticoid therapy can cause skin atrophy (thinning
of the skin) as a local adverse effect. This occurs due to the suppression of
collagen synthesis and decreased epidermal cell turnover. The nurse should
monitor for skin thinning, striae, telangiectasia, and easy bruising at the
application site.
Incorrect Options:
• A) Topical glucocorticoids cause hypopigmentation (decreased
pigmentation), not increased pigmentation.
• B) Long-term glucocorticoid therapy can cause hypertrichosis
(excessive hair growth), not localized hair loss. Hair loss is not a
typical adverse effect of topical glucocorticoids.
• D) While hypertrichosis can occur with systemic glucocorticoid use, it
is not the primary adverse effect the nurse should monitor with
topical triamcinolone.
,Question 2
A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of left-sided
heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema
B) Frothy sputum
C) Jugular vein distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Correct Answer: B) Frothy sputum
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion due to
increased pressure in the pulmonary vasculature. This results in fluid
accumulation in the lungs, causing pulmonary edema. Frothy, pink-tinged
sputum is a classic manifestation of pulmonary edema associated with left-
sided heart failure.
Incorrect Options:
• A) Peripheral edema is a manifestation of right-sided heart failure,
not left-sided.
• C) Jugular vein distention is a sign of right-sided heart failure.
• D) Hepatomegaly is associated with right-sided heart failure due to
venous congestion.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anxiety as well as
numbness and tingling of the lips and fingers. The client's ABGs are: pH
7.48, PCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L, PaO₂ 85 mmHg. Which of the
, following acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the client is
experiencing?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Respiratory alkalosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: C) Respiratory alkalosis
Rationale: The client's ABG results show pH 7.48 (elevated, indicating
alkalosis) and PCO₂ 30 mmHg (decreased, indicating respiratory cause).
HCO₃⁻ is normal at 24 mEq/L. The client is experiencing respiratory
alkalosis, likely due to hyperventilation from anxiety. The numbness and
tingling of the lips and fingers (paresthesia) are classic symptoms of
respiratory alkalosis.
Incorrect Options:
• A) Respiratory acidosis would show decreased pH and increased
PCO₂.
• B) Metabolic acidosis would show decreased pH and decreased
HCO₃⁻.
• D) Metabolic alkalosis would show increased pH and increased
HCO₃⁻.
•
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
Adult Medical-Surgical Assessment 2026 | Practice
Questions, Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales |
Comprehensive Med-Surg Nursing Review
THIS STUDY GUIDE INCLUDES:
• RN VATI Adult Medical-Surgical practice questions
• Verified answers with detailed rationales
• Clinical judgment and prioritization
• Cardiovascular disorders
• Pain management
• Pharmacology integration
• Laboratory value interpretation
• Patient safety and nursing interventions
• NCLEX-RN–style review
,TESTBANK: NCLEX-RN Practice Questions with
Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has atopic dermatitis and a prescription
for triamcinolone ointment. The nurse should assess the client to monitor
for which of the following adverse effects?
A) Increased pigmentation
B) Localized hair loss
C) Thinning of the skin
D) Excessive hair growth
Correct Answer: C) Thinning of the skin
Rationale: Topical glucocorticoid therapy can cause skin atrophy (thinning
of the skin) as a local adverse effect. This occurs due to the suppression of
collagen synthesis and decreased epidermal cell turnover. The nurse should
monitor for skin thinning, striae, telangiectasia, and easy bruising at the
application site.
Incorrect Options:
• A) Topical glucocorticoids cause hypopigmentation (decreased
pigmentation), not increased pigmentation.
• B) Long-term glucocorticoid therapy can cause hypertrichosis
(excessive hair growth), not localized hair loss. Hair loss is not a
typical adverse effect of topical glucocorticoids.
• D) While hypertrichosis can occur with systemic glucocorticoid use, it
is not the primary adverse effect the nurse should monitor with
topical triamcinolone.
,Question 2
A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of left-sided
heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema
B) Frothy sputum
C) Jugular vein distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Correct Answer: B) Frothy sputum
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion due to
increased pressure in the pulmonary vasculature. This results in fluid
accumulation in the lungs, causing pulmonary edema. Frothy, pink-tinged
sputum is a classic manifestation of pulmonary edema associated with left-
sided heart failure.
Incorrect Options:
• A) Peripheral edema is a manifestation of right-sided heart failure,
not left-sided.
• C) Jugular vein distention is a sign of right-sided heart failure.
• D) Hepatomegaly is associated with right-sided heart failure due to
venous congestion.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anxiety as well as
numbness and tingling of the lips and fingers. The client's ABGs are: pH
7.48, PCO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L, PaO₂ 85 mmHg. Which of the
, following acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the client is
experiencing?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Respiratory alkalosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: C) Respiratory alkalosis
Rationale: The client's ABG results show pH 7.48 (elevated, indicating
alkalosis) and PCO₂ 30 mmHg (decreased, indicating respiratory cause).
HCO₃⁻ is normal at 24 mEq/L. The client is experiencing respiratory
alkalosis, likely due to hyperventilation from anxiety. The numbness and
tingling of the lips and fingers (paresthesia) are classic symptoms of
respiratory alkalosis.
Incorrect Options:
• A) Respiratory acidosis would show decreased pH and increased
PCO₂.
• B) Metabolic acidosis would show decreased pH and decreased
HCO₃⁻.
• D) Metabolic alkalosis would show increased pH and increased
HCO₃⁻.
•
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
