Med-Surg Exam 3 ATI Practice Questions with Rationales
2026 | Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam Prep & Study Guide
Axnursexisxprovidingxdischargexinstructionsxforxaxclientxfollowingxcataractxsurgeryx
withxinsertionxofxanxintraocularxlens.xWhichxofxthexfollowingxinstructionxshouldxthex
nursexinclude?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Restrictxliftingxobjectsxgreaterxthanx10xpounds
Rationale:xthexnursexinstructxthexclientxtoxrestrictxliftingxobjectsxgreaterxthanx10xpou
ndsxtoxreducexthexrestxforxincreasedxinterocularxpressure
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxwhoxhasxexpressivexaphasiaxfollowingxaxcerebrovascul
arxaccidentx(CVA).xWhichxofxthexfollowingxparametersxshouldxthexnursexusexfirstxinx
orderxtoxassessxthexclient'sxpainxlevel?x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅Axself-
reportxpainxratingxscalex
Rationale:xexpressivexaphasiaxresultsxfromxdamagextoxanxareaxofxthexfrontalxlobexan
dxisxaxmotorxspeechxproblem.xThexclientxwhoxhasxexpressivexaphasiaxisxablextoxunde
rstandxwhatxisxsad,xbutxisxunablextoxcommunicatexverbally.xHowever,xthisxdoesxnotxn
ecessarilyxmeanxthatxaxclientxisxunablextoxreliablyxreportxpain.xevidencexbasedxpracti
cexindicatesxthexnursexshouldxfirstxattemptxtoxobtainxthexclientxselfxreportxofxpain.xW
henxassessingxaxclientxforxpain,xthexnursexshouldxutilizexthexhierarchyxofxpainxmeasu
resxwhichxbeginsxwithxselfxreport.xItxisxalwaysxbetterxtoxusexaxsubjectivexmethod,xsuc
hxasxaxclientxreport,xinsteadxofxanxobjectivexmethod,xsuchxasxsomethingxthatxisxobser
vablexbyxthexnurse,xwhichxisxmuchxlessxreliable.
Axnursexisxassessingxaxclientxwhoxhasxaxconcussionxfromxaxsportsxinjury.xWhichxofxt
hexfollowingxmanifestationsxshouldxthexnursexexpect?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Sensitivityxtoxlight
,Rationale:xthexnursexshouldxexpectxaxclientxwhoxhasxaxmildxtraumaticxbrainxinjury,xs
uchxasxaxconcussion,xtoxhavexsensitivityxtoxlightxandxnoise
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxwhoxhasxaphasiaxfollowingxaxstroke.xAxfamilyxmember
xasksxthexnursexhowxshexshouldxcommunicatexwithxthexclient.xWhichxofxthexfollowin
gxresponsesxbyxthexnursexisxappropriate?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Incorporatexnonverbalxcuesxinxthexconversationx
Rationale:xnonverbalxcues,xenhancexthexclient'sxabilityxtoxcomprehendxandxusexlang
uage
AxnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxwhoxhasxParkinson'sxdiseasexandxisxtakingxdiphenhydr
aminex25xmgxPOxTID.xWhichxofxthexfollowingxtherapeuticxoutcomexshouldxthexnurs
exexpectxtoxsee?x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅Decreasedxtremors
Rationale:xClientsxwhoxhavexParkinson'sxdiseasexoftenxexperiencextrembling,xmuscl
exrigidity,xdifficultyxwalkingxandxproblemsxwithxbalancexandxcoordination.xAntihist
amines,xlikexdiphenhydramine,xhavexaxmildxanticholinergicxeffectxandxmayxbexhelpf
ulxinxcontrollingxtremorsxinxthexearlyxstagexofxthexdisease.
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxwhoxisxunconsciousxfollowingxaxcerebralxhemorrhage.x
Whichxofxthexfollowingxnursingxinterventionsxisxofxhighestxpriority?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Suctionxsalivaxfromxthexclientsxmouth
Rationale:xthexunconsciousxclientxisxunablextoxindependentlyxmaintainxaxclearxairwa
yxandxisxatxriskxforxineffectivexairwayxclearancexaccordingxtoxthexsafetyxandxriskxred
uctionxpriorityxsettingxframework,xmaintainingxthexclientsxairway,xbreathing,xandxcir
culationxisxthexhighestxpriority
, Patientxadmittedxwithxaxpossiblexdiagnosisxofxinfectivexendocarditisxandxprescribedx
gentamicin.xClientxisxexhibitingxsignsxofxheadache,xdizziness,xnauseaxandxtinnitus.x
Client'sxdiagnosticxlabxwailersxalsoxindicatedxanxincreasexinxBUN,xcreatinine,xgenta
micinxpeakxlevel,xAST/ALT.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Thexnursexshouldxidentifyxthatxthexpriorityxhypothesisxisxthatx
thexgreatestxriskxforxthexclientxisxdevelopingxhearingxlossxduextoxantibiotics.xOtotoxi
cityxmayxoccurxinxclientsxwhoxarexreceivingxaminoglycosides,xsuchxasxgentamicin.x
AnxincreasexinxBUN,xcreatinine,xgentamicinxpeakxlevel,xALT/ASTxallxplacexthexclie
ntxatxriskxforxototoxicityxandxhearingxloss.xHearingxlossxisxgenerallyxinxthexhighxfreq
uencyxrangexandxisxassociatedxwithxpeakxaminoglycosidexlevelsxthatxcontinuextoxre
mainxelevated.
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxfollowingxcataractxsurgery.xWhichxofxthexfollowingxco
mmentsxfromxthexclientxshouldxthexnursexreportxtoxthexclientsxprovider?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅"Ixneedxsomethingxforxthexpainxinxmyxeye.xIxcan'txstandxit"
Rationale:xfollowingxcataractxsurgery,xthexclientxshouldxexpectxonlyxmildxpainxandxs
houldximmediatelyxreportxanyxpain,xdecreasexinxvision,xorxincreasexinxdischargexfro
mxthexeye.xSeverexeyexpainxafterxsurgeryxmightxindicatexincreasedxintraocularxpress
urexorxhemorrhage.
Axnursexisxassessingxaxclientxwhoxhasxaxspinalxcordxinjury.xWhichxofxthexfollowingxa
ctionxshouldxthexnursextakextoxmonitorxC4xfunction?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Applyxdownwardxpressurexwhilexthexclientxshrugsxtheirxshou
ldersxupward
Rationale:xthisxassessmentxmonitorsxthexmotorxfunctionxofxC4xtoxC5
Axnursexisxplanningxcarexforxaxclientxwhoxhadxaxtraumaticxbrainxinjuryxandxisxemergi
ngxrestlesslyxfromxaxcoma.xwhichxofxthexfollowingxinterventionxshouldxthexnursexinc
ludexinxthexplan?x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅Reducexstimulix
2026 | Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam Prep & Study Guide
Axnursexisxprovidingxdischargexinstructionsxforxaxclientxfollowingxcataractxsurgeryx
withxinsertionxofxanxintraocularxlens.xWhichxofxthexfollowingxinstructionxshouldxthex
nursexinclude?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Restrictxliftingxobjectsxgreaterxthanx10xpounds
Rationale:xthexnursexinstructxthexclientxtoxrestrictxliftingxobjectsxgreaterxthanx10xpou
ndsxtoxreducexthexrestxforxincreasedxinterocularxpressure
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxwhoxhasxexpressivexaphasiaxfollowingxaxcerebrovascul
arxaccidentx(CVA).xWhichxofxthexfollowingxparametersxshouldxthexnursexusexfirstxinx
orderxtoxassessxthexclient'sxpainxlevel?x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅Axself-
reportxpainxratingxscalex
Rationale:xexpressivexaphasiaxresultsxfromxdamagextoxanxareaxofxthexfrontalxlobexan
dxisxaxmotorxspeechxproblem.xThexclientxwhoxhasxexpressivexaphasiaxisxablextoxunde
rstandxwhatxisxsad,xbutxisxunablextoxcommunicatexverbally.xHowever,xthisxdoesxnotxn
ecessarilyxmeanxthatxaxclientxisxunablextoxreliablyxreportxpain.xevidencexbasedxpracti
cexindicatesxthexnursexshouldxfirstxattemptxtoxobtainxthexclientxselfxreportxofxpain.xW
henxassessingxaxclientxforxpain,xthexnursexshouldxutilizexthexhierarchyxofxpainxmeasu
resxwhichxbeginsxwithxselfxreport.xItxisxalwaysxbetterxtoxusexaxsubjectivexmethod,xsuc
hxasxaxclientxreport,xinsteadxofxanxobjectivexmethod,xsuchxasxsomethingxthatxisxobser
vablexbyxthexnurse,xwhichxisxmuchxlessxreliable.
Axnursexisxassessingxaxclientxwhoxhasxaxconcussionxfromxaxsportsxinjury.xWhichxofxt
hexfollowingxmanifestationsxshouldxthexnursexexpect?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Sensitivityxtoxlight
,Rationale:xthexnursexshouldxexpectxaxclientxwhoxhasxaxmildxtraumaticxbrainxinjury,xs
uchxasxaxconcussion,xtoxhavexsensitivityxtoxlightxandxnoise
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxwhoxhasxaphasiaxfollowingxaxstroke.xAxfamilyxmember
xasksxthexnursexhowxshexshouldxcommunicatexwithxthexclient.xWhichxofxthexfollowin
gxresponsesxbyxthexnursexisxappropriate?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Incorporatexnonverbalxcuesxinxthexconversationx
Rationale:xnonverbalxcues,xenhancexthexclient'sxabilityxtoxcomprehendxandxusexlang
uage
AxnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxwhoxhasxParkinson'sxdiseasexandxisxtakingxdiphenhydr
aminex25xmgxPOxTID.xWhichxofxthexfollowingxtherapeuticxoutcomexshouldxthexnurs
exexpectxtoxsee?x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅Decreasedxtremors
Rationale:xClientsxwhoxhavexParkinson'sxdiseasexoftenxexperiencextrembling,xmuscl
exrigidity,xdifficultyxwalkingxandxproblemsxwithxbalancexandxcoordination.xAntihist
amines,xlikexdiphenhydramine,xhavexaxmildxanticholinergicxeffectxandxmayxbexhelpf
ulxinxcontrollingxtremorsxinxthexearlyxstagexofxthexdisease.
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxwhoxisxunconsciousxfollowingxaxcerebralxhemorrhage.x
Whichxofxthexfollowingxnursingxinterventionsxisxofxhighestxpriority?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Suctionxsalivaxfromxthexclientsxmouth
Rationale:xthexunconsciousxclientxisxunablextoxindependentlyxmaintainxaxclearxairwa
yxandxisxatxriskxforxineffectivexairwayxclearancexaccordingxtoxthexsafetyxandxriskxred
uctionxpriorityxsettingxframework,xmaintainingxthexclientsxairway,xbreathing,xandxcir
culationxisxthexhighestxpriority
, Patientxadmittedxwithxaxpossiblexdiagnosisxofxinfectivexendocarditisxandxprescribedx
gentamicin.xClientxisxexhibitingxsignsxofxheadache,xdizziness,xnauseaxandxtinnitus.x
Client'sxdiagnosticxlabxwailersxalsoxindicatedxanxincreasexinxBUN,xcreatinine,xgenta
micinxpeakxlevel,xAST/ALT.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Thexnursexshouldxidentifyxthatxthexpriorityxhypothesisxisxthatx
thexgreatestxriskxforxthexclientxisxdevelopingxhearingxlossxduextoxantibiotics.xOtotoxi
cityxmayxoccurxinxclientsxwhoxarexreceivingxaminoglycosides,xsuchxasxgentamicin.x
AnxincreasexinxBUN,xcreatinine,xgentamicinxpeakxlevel,xALT/ASTxallxplacexthexclie
ntxatxriskxforxototoxicityxandxhearingxloss.xHearingxlossxisxgenerallyxinxthexhighxfreq
uencyxrangexandxisxassociatedxwithxpeakxaminoglycosidexlevelsxthatxcontinuextoxre
mainxelevated.
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxclientxfollowingxcataractxsurgery.xWhichxofxthexfollowingxco
mmentsxfromxthexclientxshouldxthexnursexreportxtoxthexclientsxprovider?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅"Ixneedxsomethingxforxthexpainxinxmyxeye.xIxcan'txstandxit"
Rationale:xfollowingxcataractxsurgery,xthexclientxshouldxexpectxonlyxmildxpainxandxs
houldximmediatelyxreportxanyxpain,xdecreasexinxvision,xorxincreasexinxdischargexfro
mxthexeye.xSeverexeyexpainxafterxsurgeryxmightxindicatexincreasedxintraocularxpress
urexorxhemorrhage.
Axnursexisxassessingxaxclientxwhoxhasxaxspinalxcordxinjury.xWhichxofxthexfollowingxa
ctionxshouldxthexnursextakextoxmonitorxC4xfunction?x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅Applyxdownwardxpressurexwhilexthexclientxshrugsxtheirxshou
ldersxupward
Rationale:xthisxassessmentxmonitorsxthexmotorxfunctionxofxC4xtoxC5
Axnursexisxplanningxcarexforxaxclientxwhoxhadxaxtraumaticxbrainxinjuryxandxisxemergi
ngxrestlesslyxfromxaxcoma.xwhichxofxthexfollowingxinterventionxshouldxthexnursexinc
ludexinxthexplan?x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅Reducexstimulix
