ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL-SURGICAL
PROCTORED EXAM-ALIGNED STUDY & PRACTICE GUIDE
2023 - 2026 Edition
150 Original Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
Adult Health | Priority & Delegation | Clinical Judgment | NGN-Oriented Practice
This ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical proctored exam-aligned study and practice guide contains 150 original
questions with correct answers and detailed rationales covering adult health, priority and delegation, clinical
judgment, and NGN-oriented nursing practice. Topics include respiratory, cardiovascular, hematologic, fluids and
electrolytes, renal and urinary, endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurologic, musculoskeletal, integumentary, immune
and infectious disorders, oncology, and perioperative nursing. The practice material also emphasizes ABC
prioritization, emergency recognition, safe delegation, client assessment, nursing interventions, and clinical
decision-making for the 2023–2026 edition.
Respiratory
1. A nurse is caring for a client with COPD who has increasing dyspnea. Which finding requires immediate
action?
A. Barrel-shaped chest
B. Chronic productive cough
C. New confusion and marked restlessness
D. Diminished breath sounds
Correct Answer: C. New confusion and marked restlessness
Rationale: Acute confusion and restlessness can indicate worsening hypoxemia. Airway and breathing concerns
take priority.
2. The nurse is reviewing a similar client scenario. a nurse is caring for a client with COPD who has
increasing dyspnea. Which finding requires immediate action?
ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical | 2023/2026 | 150 Original Practice Questions
, A. Chronic productive cough
B. New confusion and marked restlessness
C. Diminished breath sounds
D. Barrel-shaped chest
Correct Answer: B. New confusion and marked restlessness
Rationale: Acute confusion and restlessness can indicate worsening hypoxemia. Airway and breathing concerns
take priority.
3. Which response best reflects safe ATI/NCLEX-style nursing judgment? A nurse is caring for a client with
COPD who has increasing dyspnea. Which finding requires immediate action?
A. New confusion and marked restlessness
B. Diminished breath sounds
C. Barrel-shaped chest
D. Chronic productive cough
Correct Answer: A. New confusion and marked restlessness
Rationale: Acute confusion and restlessness can indicate worsening hypoxemia. Airway and breathing concerns
take priority.
4. Which position best promotes ventilation for a client experiencing acute shortness of breath?
A. Trendelenburg
B. High-Fowler's position
C. Prone with legs elevated
D. Supine
Correct Answer: B. High-Fowler's position
Rationale: High-Fowler's promotes lung expansion and reduces diaphragmatic pressure.
5. The nurse is reviewing a similar client scenario. which position best promotes ventilation for a client
experiencing acute shortness of breath?
A. High-Fowler's position
B. Prone with legs elevated
C. Supine
ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical | 2023/2026 | 150 Original Practice Questions
, D. Trendelenburg
Correct Answer: A. High-Fowler's position
Rationale: High-Fowler's promotes lung expansion and reduces diaphragmatic pressure.
6. Which response best reflects safe ATI/NCLEX-style nursing judgment? Which position best promotes
ventilation for a client experiencing acute shortness of breath?
A. Prone with legs elevated
B. Supine
C. Trendelenburg
D. High-Fowler's position
Correct Answer: D. High-Fowler's position
Rationale: High-Fowler's promotes lung expansion and reduces diaphragmatic pressure.
7. A client with a chest tube has continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What should the nurse
suspect?
A. Expected drainage
B. Tube obstruction
C. Normal tidaling
D. An air leak in the system
Correct Answer: D. An air leak in the system
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber generally indicates an air leak that should be located
and corrected.
8. The nurse is reviewing a similar client scenario. a client with a chest tube has continuous bubbling in
the water-seal chamber. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Tube obstruction
B. Normal tidaling
C. An air leak in the system
D. Expected drainage
Correct Answer: C. An air leak in the system
ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical | 2023/2026 | 150 Original Practice Questions
, Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber generally indicates an air leak that should be located
and corrected.
9. Which response best reflects safe ATI/NCLEX-style nursing judgment? A client with a chest tube has
continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Normal tidaling
B. An air leak in the system
C. Expected drainage
D. Tube obstruction
Correct Answer: B. An air leak in the system
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber generally indicates an air leak that should be located
and corrected.
10. Which finding is most consistent with a pulmonary embolism?
A. Slow-onset constipation
B. Gradual ankle edema only
C. Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
D. Chronic morning cough
Correct Answer: C. Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
Rationale: Pulmonary embolism commonly presents abruptly with dyspnea, pleuritic pain, tachycardia,
anxiety, or hypoxemia.
11. The nurse is reviewing a similar client scenario. which finding is most consistent with a pulmonary
embolism?
A. Gradual ankle edema only
B. Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
C. Chronic morning cough
D. Slow-onset constipation
Correct Answer: B. Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
Rationale: Pulmonary embolism commonly presents abruptly with dyspnea, pleuritic pain, tachycardia,
anxiety, or hypoxemia.
ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical | 2023/2026 | 150 Original Practice Questions
PROCTORED EXAM-ALIGNED STUDY & PRACTICE GUIDE
2023 - 2026 Edition
150 Original Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
Adult Health | Priority & Delegation | Clinical Judgment | NGN-Oriented Practice
This ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical proctored exam-aligned study and practice guide contains 150 original
questions with correct answers and detailed rationales covering adult health, priority and delegation, clinical
judgment, and NGN-oriented nursing practice. Topics include respiratory, cardiovascular, hematologic, fluids and
electrolytes, renal and urinary, endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurologic, musculoskeletal, integumentary, immune
and infectious disorders, oncology, and perioperative nursing. The practice material also emphasizes ABC
prioritization, emergency recognition, safe delegation, client assessment, nursing interventions, and clinical
decision-making for the 2023–2026 edition.
Respiratory
1. A nurse is caring for a client with COPD who has increasing dyspnea. Which finding requires immediate
action?
A. Barrel-shaped chest
B. Chronic productive cough
C. New confusion and marked restlessness
D. Diminished breath sounds
Correct Answer: C. New confusion and marked restlessness
Rationale: Acute confusion and restlessness can indicate worsening hypoxemia. Airway and breathing concerns
take priority.
2. The nurse is reviewing a similar client scenario. a nurse is caring for a client with COPD who has
increasing dyspnea. Which finding requires immediate action?
ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical | 2023/2026 | 150 Original Practice Questions
, A. Chronic productive cough
B. New confusion and marked restlessness
C. Diminished breath sounds
D. Barrel-shaped chest
Correct Answer: B. New confusion and marked restlessness
Rationale: Acute confusion and restlessness can indicate worsening hypoxemia. Airway and breathing concerns
take priority.
3. Which response best reflects safe ATI/NCLEX-style nursing judgment? A nurse is caring for a client with
COPD who has increasing dyspnea. Which finding requires immediate action?
A. New confusion and marked restlessness
B. Diminished breath sounds
C. Barrel-shaped chest
D. Chronic productive cough
Correct Answer: A. New confusion and marked restlessness
Rationale: Acute confusion and restlessness can indicate worsening hypoxemia. Airway and breathing concerns
take priority.
4. Which position best promotes ventilation for a client experiencing acute shortness of breath?
A. Trendelenburg
B. High-Fowler's position
C. Prone with legs elevated
D. Supine
Correct Answer: B. High-Fowler's position
Rationale: High-Fowler's promotes lung expansion and reduces diaphragmatic pressure.
5. The nurse is reviewing a similar client scenario. which position best promotes ventilation for a client
experiencing acute shortness of breath?
A. High-Fowler's position
B. Prone with legs elevated
C. Supine
ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical | 2023/2026 | 150 Original Practice Questions
, D. Trendelenburg
Correct Answer: A. High-Fowler's position
Rationale: High-Fowler's promotes lung expansion and reduces diaphragmatic pressure.
6. Which response best reflects safe ATI/NCLEX-style nursing judgment? Which position best promotes
ventilation for a client experiencing acute shortness of breath?
A. Prone with legs elevated
B. Supine
C. Trendelenburg
D. High-Fowler's position
Correct Answer: D. High-Fowler's position
Rationale: High-Fowler's promotes lung expansion and reduces diaphragmatic pressure.
7. A client with a chest tube has continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What should the nurse
suspect?
A. Expected drainage
B. Tube obstruction
C. Normal tidaling
D. An air leak in the system
Correct Answer: D. An air leak in the system
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber generally indicates an air leak that should be located
and corrected.
8. The nurse is reviewing a similar client scenario. a client with a chest tube has continuous bubbling in
the water-seal chamber. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Tube obstruction
B. Normal tidaling
C. An air leak in the system
D. Expected drainage
Correct Answer: C. An air leak in the system
ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical | 2023/2026 | 150 Original Practice Questions
, Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber generally indicates an air leak that should be located
and corrected.
9. Which response best reflects safe ATI/NCLEX-style nursing judgment? A client with a chest tube has
continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Normal tidaling
B. An air leak in the system
C. Expected drainage
D. Tube obstruction
Correct Answer: B. An air leak in the system
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber generally indicates an air leak that should be located
and corrected.
10. Which finding is most consistent with a pulmonary embolism?
A. Slow-onset constipation
B. Gradual ankle edema only
C. Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
D. Chronic morning cough
Correct Answer: C. Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
Rationale: Pulmonary embolism commonly presents abruptly with dyspnea, pleuritic pain, tachycardia,
anxiety, or hypoxemia.
11. The nurse is reviewing a similar client scenario. which finding is most consistent with a pulmonary
embolism?
A. Gradual ankle edema only
B. Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
C. Chronic morning cough
D. Slow-onset constipation
Correct Answer: B. Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
Rationale: Pulmonary embolism commonly presents abruptly with dyspnea, pleuritic pain, tachycardia,
anxiety, or hypoxemia.
ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical | 2023/2026 | 150 Original Practice Questions
