ATI Medical-Surgical Final Exam Version 2 Practice 2026 |Questions
|Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking digoxin. Which
of the following findings should the nurse identify as an early indicator of
digoxin toxicity?
A. Anorexia
B. Blurred vision
C. Increased urine output
D. Tachycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting are early gastrointestinal signs of digoxin
toxicity. Blurred or yellow-tinged vision is a later sign.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 hr postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Maintain the client’s legs in an adducted position.
B. Keep the head of the bed at a 95-degree angle.
C. Instruct the client to lean forward when sitting in a chair.
D. Place an abduction pillow between the client’s legs.
Answer: D
Rationale: An abduction pillow or wedge should be used to prevent adduction of the
affected hip, which could lead to dislocation.
,3. A nurse is reviewing the lab results of a client who has Cushing’s syndrome.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Decreased cortisol levels
Answer: B
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by high cortisol, which leads to
hypernatremia, hyperglycemia, and hypokalemia.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube connected to a water-seal
drainage system. The nurse notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal
chamber. Which of the following should the nurse suspect?
A. The system is functioning correctly
B. An air leak in the system
C. The lung has fully expanded
D. Excessive suction pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak.
Intermittent bubbling is normal during expiration or coughing.
5. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
levothyroxine to treat hypothyroidism. Which of the following statements
should the nurse include?
A. Take the medication with a full meal.
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach in the morning.
C. Expect to see full results within 24 hours.
D. Decrease fiber intake while on this medication.
Answer: B
, Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach, usually 30-60 minutes
before breakfast, to ensure proper absorption.
6. A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving a unit of packed RBCs. Which of
the following findings indicates a hemolytic transfusion reaction?
A. Urticaria
B. Hypertension
C. Bradycardia
D. Lower back pain
Answer: D
Rationale: Manifestations of a hemolytic reaction include low back pain, fever, chills, and
hemoglobinuria.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the oliguric phase of acute kidney
injury. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances should the nurse expect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypophosphatemia
Answer: B
Rationale: In AKI, the kidneys fail to excrete magnesium and potassium, leading to
hypermagnesemia and hyperkalemia.
8. A nurse is assessing a client with a history of COPD. Which of the following
findings is a manifestation of cor pulmonale?
A. Clubbing of the fingers
B. Dry cough
C. Weight loss
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: D
|Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking digoxin. Which
of the following findings should the nurse identify as an early indicator of
digoxin toxicity?
A. Anorexia
B. Blurred vision
C. Increased urine output
D. Tachycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting are early gastrointestinal signs of digoxin
toxicity. Blurred or yellow-tinged vision is a later sign.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 hr postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Maintain the client’s legs in an adducted position.
B. Keep the head of the bed at a 95-degree angle.
C. Instruct the client to lean forward when sitting in a chair.
D. Place an abduction pillow between the client’s legs.
Answer: D
Rationale: An abduction pillow or wedge should be used to prevent adduction of the
affected hip, which could lead to dislocation.
,3. A nurse is reviewing the lab results of a client who has Cushing’s syndrome.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Decreased cortisol levels
Answer: B
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by high cortisol, which leads to
hypernatremia, hyperglycemia, and hypokalemia.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube connected to a water-seal
drainage system. The nurse notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal
chamber. Which of the following should the nurse suspect?
A. The system is functioning correctly
B. An air leak in the system
C. The lung has fully expanded
D. Excessive suction pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak.
Intermittent bubbling is normal during expiration or coughing.
5. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
levothyroxine to treat hypothyroidism. Which of the following statements
should the nurse include?
A. Take the medication with a full meal.
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach in the morning.
C. Expect to see full results within 24 hours.
D. Decrease fiber intake while on this medication.
Answer: B
, Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach, usually 30-60 minutes
before breakfast, to ensure proper absorption.
6. A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving a unit of packed RBCs. Which of
the following findings indicates a hemolytic transfusion reaction?
A. Urticaria
B. Hypertension
C. Bradycardia
D. Lower back pain
Answer: D
Rationale: Manifestations of a hemolytic reaction include low back pain, fever, chills, and
hemoglobinuria.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the oliguric phase of acute kidney
injury. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances should the nurse expect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypophosphatemia
Answer: B
Rationale: In AKI, the kidneys fail to excrete magnesium and potassium, leading to
hypermagnesemia and hyperkalemia.
8. A nurse is assessing a client with a history of COPD. Which of the following
findings is a manifestation of cor pulmonale?
A. Clubbing of the fingers
B. Dry cough
C. Weight loss
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: D
