ATI MEDICAL - SURGERY NURSING PROCTORED EXAM
WITH A+ GRADED ANSWERS UPDATED 2025/2026
1.A nurse is assessing a client who is 12hr postoperative following a
colon resection. Which of the following findings should the nurse report
to the surgeon?
1. Heart rate 90/min
2. Absent bowel sounds → normal findings after major bowel surgery;
takes several days to return to
normal.
3. Hgb 8.2 g/dl
4. Gastric pH of 3.0 CORRECT ANSWER3
Rationale: Normal Hgb is 13-18M g/dl, 12-16 g/dl. This may indicate a
possible hemorrhaging.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the
following medications should the nurse plan to administer?
a. Desmopressin
b. Regular insulin
c. Furosemide
d. Lithium carbonate CORRECT ANSWERA
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus has decreased ADH. Administer
Desmopressin/Vasopressin increase ADH and keeps pt. on urinating
,3. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking
ibuprofen several times daily for 3 years. Which of the following test
should the nurse monitor?
a. Fasting blood glucose
b. Stool for occult blood
c. Urine for white blood cells
d. Serum calcium CORRECT ANSWERB
Rationale:ATI Pharm 16. Pg. 485 Ibuprofen (NSAIDs) monitor for GI
bleed (bloody, tarry stools, abd pain).
4. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first (Click on the "Exhibit"
button for additional information about the client. There are three tabs
that contain separate categories of data.)
a. Obtain a sputum sample for culture
b. Prepare the client for a chest x-ray
c. Initiate airborne precautions
d. Administer ondansertron. CORRECT ANSWER
5. A nurse is contacting the provider for a client who has cancer and is
experiencing breakthrough pain. Which of the following prescriptions
should the nurse anticipate?
a. Transmucosal fentanyl
b. Intramuscular meperidine
c. Oral acetaminophen
,d. Intravenous dexamethasone Rationale:ATI pg. 27 CORRECT
ANSWERA
6. A nurse is admitting a client who reports chest pain and has been
placed on a telemetry monitor. Which of the following should the nurse
analyze to determine whether the client is experiencing a myocardial
infarction?
a. PR interval
b. QRS duration
c. T wave
d. ST segment CORRECT ANSWERD
Rationale: ST elevation indicates MI. ST depression indicates ischemia
nurse is teaching a client who has ovarian cancer about skin care
following radiation treatment. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
a. Pat the skin on the radiation site to dry it
B) Apply OTC moisturizer to the radiation site
C) Cover the radiation site loosely with a gauze wrap before dressing
D) Use a soft washcloth to clean the area around the radiation
CORRECT ANSWERA
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. The
nurse observes that the client has bounding peripheral pulses,
, hypertension, and distended jugular veins. The nurse should anticipate
administering which of the following prescribed medications?
a. Diphenhydramine
b. Acetaminophen
c. Pantoprazole
d. Furosemide CORRECT ANSWERD
Rationale: S/S may indicate fluid retention or heart failure. It is
important to administer diuretics to prevent cardiovascular/respiratory
distress.
9. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate IV
for the treatment of hypomagnesemia. Which of the following findings
indicates effectiveness of the medication?
a. Lungs clear
b. Apical pulse 82/min
c. Hyperactive bowel sounds
d. Blood pressure 90/50 mm Hg CORRECT ANSWERB
Rationale: ATI p. 494: s/s of hypomagnesemia consist of hypoactive
bowel sounds, constipation, paralytic ileus. So effectiveness would
indicate opposite of this
10. A nurse is reviewing a client's ABG results pH 7.42, PaC02 30 mm
Hg, and HCO3 21 mEq/L. The nurse should recognize these findings as
indication of which of the following conditions?
a. Metabolic acidosis
WITH A+ GRADED ANSWERS UPDATED 2025/2026
1.A nurse is assessing a client who is 12hr postoperative following a
colon resection. Which of the following findings should the nurse report
to the surgeon?
1. Heart rate 90/min
2. Absent bowel sounds → normal findings after major bowel surgery;
takes several days to return to
normal.
3. Hgb 8.2 g/dl
4. Gastric pH of 3.0 CORRECT ANSWER3
Rationale: Normal Hgb is 13-18M g/dl, 12-16 g/dl. This may indicate a
possible hemorrhaging.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the
following medications should the nurse plan to administer?
a. Desmopressin
b. Regular insulin
c. Furosemide
d. Lithium carbonate CORRECT ANSWERA
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus has decreased ADH. Administer
Desmopressin/Vasopressin increase ADH and keeps pt. on urinating
,3. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking
ibuprofen several times daily for 3 years. Which of the following test
should the nurse monitor?
a. Fasting blood glucose
b. Stool for occult blood
c. Urine for white blood cells
d. Serum calcium CORRECT ANSWERB
Rationale:ATI Pharm 16. Pg. 485 Ibuprofen (NSAIDs) monitor for GI
bleed (bloody, tarry stools, abd pain).
4. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first (Click on the "Exhibit"
button for additional information about the client. There are three tabs
that contain separate categories of data.)
a. Obtain a sputum sample for culture
b. Prepare the client for a chest x-ray
c. Initiate airborne precautions
d. Administer ondansertron. CORRECT ANSWER
5. A nurse is contacting the provider for a client who has cancer and is
experiencing breakthrough pain. Which of the following prescriptions
should the nurse anticipate?
a. Transmucosal fentanyl
b. Intramuscular meperidine
c. Oral acetaminophen
,d. Intravenous dexamethasone Rationale:ATI pg. 27 CORRECT
ANSWERA
6. A nurse is admitting a client who reports chest pain and has been
placed on a telemetry monitor. Which of the following should the nurse
analyze to determine whether the client is experiencing a myocardial
infarction?
a. PR interval
b. QRS duration
c. T wave
d. ST segment CORRECT ANSWERD
Rationale: ST elevation indicates MI. ST depression indicates ischemia
nurse is teaching a client who has ovarian cancer about skin care
following radiation treatment. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
a. Pat the skin on the radiation site to dry it
B) Apply OTC moisturizer to the radiation site
C) Cover the radiation site loosely with a gauze wrap before dressing
D) Use a soft washcloth to clean the area around the radiation
CORRECT ANSWERA
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. The
nurse observes that the client has bounding peripheral pulses,
, hypertension, and distended jugular veins. The nurse should anticipate
administering which of the following prescribed medications?
a. Diphenhydramine
b. Acetaminophen
c. Pantoprazole
d. Furosemide CORRECT ANSWERD
Rationale: S/S may indicate fluid retention or heart failure. It is
important to administer diuretics to prevent cardiovascular/respiratory
distress.
9. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate IV
for the treatment of hypomagnesemia. Which of the following findings
indicates effectiveness of the medication?
a. Lungs clear
b. Apical pulse 82/min
c. Hyperactive bowel sounds
d. Blood pressure 90/50 mm Hg CORRECT ANSWERB
Rationale: ATI p. 494: s/s of hypomagnesemia consist of hypoactive
bowel sounds, constipation, paralytic ileus. So effectiveness would
indicate opposite of this
10. A nurse is reviewing a client's ABG results pH 7.42, PaC02 30 mm
Hg, and HCO3 21 mEq/L. The nurse should recognize these findings as
indication of which of the following conditions?
a. Metabolic acidosis
