ATI Medical-Surgical Review 2026 –
Musculoskeletal, Gastrointestinal, Immune &
Infectious Exam Questions and Answers 100%
Verified
Question:
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, which
personal protective equipment will the nurse put on before assessing a patient who is on
contact precautions for Clostridium difficile diarrhea? (Select all that apply.) A. Gloves B.
Eye protection C. Shoe covers D. Gown D. Mask
Answer:
Gloves, Gown Because the nurse will have substantial contact with the patient and
bedding when doing an assessment, gloves and gowns are needed. Eye protection and
masks are needed for patients in contact precautions only when spraying or splashing is
anticipated. Shoe covers are not recommended in the CDC guidelines.
Question:
A client who tests positive for the human immmunodeficiency virus (HIV) asks the nurse, "
should i tell my partner that I am an HIV positive/" which of the following is appropriate
nursing response? A. "That is your decision alone" B. "I would if I were you" C. "You sound
like you are unsure what to say to your partner?" D. "We are required by law to notify your
partner"
Answer:
"It sounds like you are unsure what to say to your partner." This response uses the
therapeutic communication tools of clarifying and restatement. It identifies that the client
is unsure about if or how to approach the issue of being HIV positive with his partner, a
common concern of clients due to fear of rejection. This response shows that the nurse is
open to further communication with the client and encourages his expression of feelings.
,Question:
A community health nurse is planning an educational program about hepatitis A. When
preparing the materials, the nurse should identify that which of the following groups is most
at risk for developing hepatitis A? A. Children B. Older adults C Women who are pregnant
D. Middle-aged men
Answer:
A. Children The nurse should apply the safety and risk reduction priority-setting
framework. This framework assigns priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest
safety risk to the client. When there are several risks to client safety, the one posing the
greatest threat is the highest priority. The nurse should use Maslow's Hierarchy of
Needs, the ABC priority-setting framework, or nursing knowledge to identify which risk
poses the greatest threat to the client. The hepatitis A virus can be contracted from the
feces, bile, and blood of infected clients. The usual mode of transmission is the fecal-oral
route. Children and young adults are the two groups most often affected by the hepatitis
A virus. Typically, a child or young adult acquires the infection at school, through poor
hygiene, hand-to-mouth contact, or another form of close contact.
Question:
The day after a having a right below- the-knee amputation, a patient reports pain in the
missing right foot. Which action is most important for the nurse to take? A. Tell the patient
that the pain will diminish over time. B. Explain the reasons for the pain. C. Administer
prescribed analgesics. D. Reposition the patient to assure good alignment.
Answer:
C. Administer prescribed analgesics. Acute phantom limb sensation is treated as any
other type of postoperative pain would be treated. Explanations of the reason for the pain
may be given, but the nurse should still medicate the patient. Alignment is important but
is unlikely to relieve the pain. Although the pain may decrease over time, it currently
requires treatment.
,Question:
The health care provider asks the nurse to evaluate whether a patient's angioedema has
responded to prescribed therapies. Which assessment should the nurse perform? A.
Observe for swelling of the patient's lips and tongue. B. Obtain the patient's blood pressure
and heart rate. C. Assess the patient's extremities for wheal and flare lesions. D. Question
the patient about any clear nasal discharge.
Answer:
Observe for swelling of the patient's lips and tongue. Angioedema is characterized by
swelling of the eyelids, lips, and tongue. Wheal and flare lesions, clear nasal drainage,
and hypotension and tachycardia are characteristic of other allergic reactions.
Question:
A nurse in a provider's office is providing teaching to a client who has a recent diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis and has a new prescription for naproxen tablets. Which of the following
statements by the client requires further teaching? A. "This medication will take 4 weeks for
me to notice relief in my joints." B. "I can take an antacid with this medication for
indigestion." C. "I can take this medication with aspirin." D. "The naproxen goes down easier
when I crush it and put it in applesauce."
Answer:
"I can take this medication with aspirin." The nurse should instruct the client to avoid
taking this medication with any other NSAIDs, such as aspirin, because this can increase
the risk for bleeding and gastrointestinal ulceration.
, Question:
A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client who was in a motor-vehicle
crash 2 days ago and sustained fractures to his tibia, ulna, and several ribs. The client is
now disoriented to time and place, has a SaO2 of 87%, and the nurse notes generalized
petechiae on the client's skin. Which of the following complications should the nurse
suspect? A. Hypovolemic shock B. Fat embolism syndrome C. Thrombophlebitis D.
Avascular bone necrosis
Answer:
Fat embolism syndrome ----- The nurse should identify the triad of neurologic changes,
petechial rash, and hypoxemia as findings of fat embolism syndrome. Risk factors
include multiple fractures and fracture of a long bone. Male clients are also at greater
risk. The manifestations occur when fat globules occlude small blood vessels.
Question:
A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to discharge a client following a Grade II
(moderate) ankle sprain. Which of the following instructions should the nurse plan to give to
the client? A. Perform passive range-of-motion exercises of the ankle hourly. B. Keep the
affected extremity in a dependent position. C. Wrap a loose dressing around the affected
ankle. D. Apply cold compresses to the extremity intermittently.
Answer:
Apply cold compresses to the extremity intermittently. ------ Cold minimizes swelling and
erythema to the affected area. Therefore, the nurse should instruct the client to apply
cold compresses for no more than 20 min at a time.
Musculoskeletal, Gastrointestinal, Immune &
Infectious Exam Questions and Answers 100%
Verified
Question:
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, which
personal protective equipment will the nurse put on before assessing a patient who is on
contact precautions for Clostridium difficile diarrhea? (Select all that apply.) A. Gloves B.
Eye protection C. Shoe covers D. Gown D. Mask
Answer:
Gloves, Gown Because the nurse will have substantial contact with the patient and
bedding when doing an assessment, gloves and gowns are needed. Eye protection and
masks are needed for patients in contact precautions only when spraying or splashing is
anticipated. Shoe covers are not recommended in the CDC guidelines.
Question:
A client who tests positive for the human immmunodeficiency virus (HIV) asks the nurse, "
should i tell my partner that I am an HIV positive/" which of the following is appropriate
nursing response? A. "That is your decision alone" B. "I would if I were you" C. "You sound
like you are unsure what to say to your partner?" D. "We are required by law to notify your
partner"
Answer:
"It sounds like you are unsure what to say to your partner." This response uses the
therapeutic communication tools of clarifying and restatement. It identifies that the client
is unsure about if or how to approach the issue of being HIV positive with his partner, a
common concern of clients due to fear of rejection. This response shows that the nurse is
open to further communication with the client and encourages his expression of feelings.
,Question:
A community health nurse is planning an educational program about hepatitis A. When
preparing the materials, the nurse should identify that which of the following groups is most
at risk for developing hepatitis A? A. Children B. Older adults C Women who are pregnant
D. Middle-aged men
Answer:
A. Children The nurse should apply the safety and risk reduction priority-setting
framework. This framework assigns priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest
safety risk to the client. When there are several risks to client safety, the one posing the
greatest threat is the highest priority. The nurse should use Maslow's Hierarchy of
Needs, the ABC priority-setting framework, or nursing knowledge to identify which risk
poses the greatest threat to the client. The hepatitis A virus can be contracted from the
feces, bile, and blood of infected clients. The usual mode of transmission is the fecal-oral
route. Children and young adults are the two groups most often affected by the hepatitis
A virus. Typically, a child or young adult acquires the infection at school, through poor
hygiene, hand-to-mouth contact, or another form of close contact.
Question:
The day after a having a right below- the-knee amputation, a patient reports pain in the
missing right foot. Which action is most important for the nurse to take? A. Tell the patient
that the pain will diminish over time. B. Explain the reasons for the pain. C. Administer
prescribed analgesics. D. Reposition the patient to assure good alignment.
Answer:
C. Administer prescribed analgesics. Acute phantom limb sensation is treated as any
other type of postoperative pain would be treated. Explanations of the reason for the pain
may be given, but the nurse should still medicate the patient. Alignment is important but
is unlikely to relieve the pain. Although the pain may decrease over time, it currently
requires treatment.
,Question:
The health care provider asks the nurse to evaluate whether a patient's angioedema has
responded to prescribed therapies. Which assessment should the nurse perform? A.
Observe for swelling of the patient's lips and tongue. B. Obtain the patient's blood pressure
and heart rate. C. Assess the patient's extremities for wheal and flare lesions. D. Question
the patient about any clear nasal discharge.
Answer:
Observe for swelling of the patient's lips and tongue. Angioedema is characterized by
swelling of the eyelids, lips, and tongue. Wheal and flare lesions, clear nasal drainage,
and hypotension and tachycardia are characteristic of other allergic reactions.
Question:
A nurse in a provider's office is providing teaching to a client who has a recent diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis and has a new prescription for naproxen tablets. Which of the following
statements by the client requires further teaching? A. "This medication will take 4 weeks for
me to notice relief in my joints." B. "I can take an antacid with this medication for
indigestion." C. "I can take this medication with aspirin." D. "The naproxen goes down easier
when I crush it and put it in applesauce."
Answer:
"I can take this medication with aspirin." The nurse should instruct the client to avoid
taking this medication with any other NSAIDs, such as aspirin, because this can increase
the risk for bleeding and gastrointestinal ulceration.
, Question:
A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client who was in a motor-vehicle
crash 2 days ago and sustained fractures to his tibia, ulna, and several ribs. The client is
now disoriented to time and place, has a SaO2 of 87%, and the nurse notes generalized
petechiae on the client's skin. Which of the following complications should the nurse
suspect? A. Hypovolemic shock B. Fat embolism syndrome C. Thrombophlebitis D.
Avascular bone necrosis
Answer:
Fat embolism syndrome ----- The nurse should identify the triad of neurologic changes,
petechial rash, and hypoxemia as findings of fat embolism syndrome. Risk factors
include multiple fractures and fracture of a long bone. Male clients are also at greater
risk. The manifestations occur when fat globules occlude small blood vessels.
Question:
A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to discharge a client following a Grade II
(moderate) ankle sprain. Which of the following instructions should the nurse plan to give to
the client? A. Perform passive range-of-motion exercises of the ankle hourly. B. Keep the
affected extremity in a dependent position. C. Wrap a loose dressing around the affected
ankle. D. Apply cold compresses to the extremity intermittently.
Answer:
Apply cold compresses to the extremity intermittently. ------ Cold minimizes swelling and
erythema to the affected area. Therefore, the nurse should instruct the client to apply
cold compresses for no more than 20 min at a time.