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RN VATI Adult Medical-Surgical 2026
Verified Questions and Answers with
Rationale | Complete Review | 100%
Guaranteed Pass
Subject: Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing (RN VATI Review)
Source: RN VATI Adult Medical Surgical 2026 Verified Q&A
Format: Multiple-choice Q&A with rationales
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. Increased sensitivity to the sun
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Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
1. Topical glucocorticoids like triamcinolone can cause skin atrophy
with prolonged use.
2. This leads to thinning of the skin and delayed wound healing.
3. Hypopigmentation (not increased pigmentation) and hypertrichosis
(not hair loss) are possible. Triamcinolone does not typically cause
photosensitivity.
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. Dependent edema
B. Jugular distention
C. Weight gain
D. Frothy sputum
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
1. Left-sided heart failure primarily causes pulmonary congestion due
to backup of blood into the lungs.
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2. Frothy (often pink-tinged) sputum indicates pulmonary edema, a life-
threatening manifestation.
3. Dependent edema, jugular distention, and weight gain are signs of
right-sided heart failure.
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 mm Hg, HCO₃ 24 mEq/L, PaO₂ 85 mm Hg. Which of
the following acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the
client is experiencing?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
1. The pH is elevated (alkalosis).
2. The PCO₂ is low, indicating a respiratory origin (hyperventilation).
3. The HCO₃ is normal, confirming an acute respiratory alkalosis,
commonly caused by anxiety-induced hyperventilation.
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4. A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing's syndrome.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Vitiligo
B. Osteoporosis
C. Myxedema
D. Heat intolerance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
1. Chronic glucocorticoid excess in Cushing's syndrome leads to
increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation.
2. This results in osteoporosis and increased fracture risk.
3. Vitiligo is seen in adrenal insufficiency; myxedema in
hypothyroidism; heat intolerance in hyperthyroidism.
5. A nurse is inspecting the skin of a client who has basal cell
carcinoma. The nurse should identify which of the following lesion
characteristics on the client's skin?
A. An irregular border on a variegated-colored lesion
B. A firm, nodular, crusty, or ulcerated lesion
C. A weeping vesicle
D. A nodular lesion with well-defined borders and a pearly or waxy
RN VATI Adult Medical-Surgical 2026
Verified Questions and Answers with
Rationale | Complete Review | 100%
Guaranteed Pass
Subject: Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing (RN VATI Review)
Source: RN VATI Adult Medical Surgical 2026 Verified Q&A
Format: Multiple-choice Q&A with rationales
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. Increased sensitivity to the sun
, 2|Page
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
1. Topical glucocorticoids like triamcinolone can cause skin atrophy
with prolonged use.
2. This leads to thinning of the skin and delayed wound healing.
3. Hypopigmentation (not increased pigmentation) and hypertrichosis
(not hair loss) are possible. Triamcinolone does not typically cause
photosensitivity.
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. Dependent edema
B. Jugular distention
C. Weight gain
D. Frothy sputum
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
1. Left-sided heart failure primarily causes pulmonary congestion due
to backup of blood into the lungs.
, 3|Page
2. Frothy (often pink-tinged) sputum indicates pulmonary edema, a life-
threatening manifestation.
3. Dependent edema, jugular distention, and weight gain are signs of
right-sided heart failure.
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 mm Hg, HCO₃ 24 mEq/L, PaO₂ 85 mm Hg. Which of
the following acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the
client is experiencing?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
1. The pH is elevated (alkalosis).
2. The PCO₂ is low, indicating a respiratory origin (hyperventilation).
3. The HCO₃ is normal, confirming an acute respiratory alkalosis,
commonly caused by anxiety-induced hyperventilation.
, 4|Page
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing's syndrome.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Vitiligo
B. Osteoporosis
C. Myxedema
D. Heat intolerance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
1. Chronic glucocorticoid excess in Cushing's syndrome leads to
increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation.
2. This results in osteoporosis and increased fracture risk.
3. Vitiligo is seen in adrenal insufficiency; myxedema in
hypothyroidism; heat intolerance in hyperthyroidism.
5. A nurse is inspecting the skin of a client who has basal cell
carcinoma. The nurse should identify which of the following lesion
characteristics on the client's skin?
A. An irregular border on a variegated-colored lesion
B. A firm, nodular, crusty, or ulcerated lesion
C. A weeping vesicle
D. A nodular lesion with well-defined borders and a pearly or waxy
