ATI MED SURG PREDICTOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has a gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) about ways to manage his condition. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include?
• Eat three large meals each day
• Eat four small meals each day
• Avoid drinking water with meals
• Lie down immediately after eating
Rationale: Eating four small meals reduces stomach distension and acid reflux, helping
manage GERD symptoms effectively.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has a colostomy. Which of the following findings should
the nurse report to the provider?
• The stoma is moist and red
• The stoma is pale in color
• The client reports mild discomfort
• The output is semi-formed
Rationale: A pale stoma indicates poor blood supply, which could signal ischemia or
necrosis, requiring immediate reporting.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer liquid famotidine 20 mg PO every 6 hr. for a client
who has GERD. Available is famotidine 40 mg/5 ml. How many ml should the nurse
administer?
• 1 ml
• 2.5 ml
• 5 ml
• 10 ml
Rationale: To calculate: (20 mg / 40 mg) × 5 ml = 2.5 ml. This ensures the correct dose
is administered based on the concentration.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who reports an area of redness, warmth, tenderness, and
pain in the right calf. The nurse anticipates which of the following orders when notifying
the provider of this finding?
• Apply a cold compress
• Obtain a venous duplex ultrasound
• Administer an oral antibiotic
, • Elevate the leg intermittently
Rationale: These symptoms suggest deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), and a venous duplex
ultrasound is the standard diagnostic test to confirm it.
5. A nurse is caring for a client following an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
procedure. Which of the following assessments is the nurse’s priority?
• Blood pressure
• Gag reflex
• Abdominal pain
• Oxygen saturation
Rationale: The gag reflex is the priority post-EGD due to throat anesthesia, ensuring the
client can swallow safely before eating or drinking.
6. A nurse is reviewing a client’s CBC findings and discovers that the client’s platelet count
is 9,000. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following conditions?
• Infection
• Spontaneous bleeding
• Dehydration
• Hypertension
Rationale: A platelet count of 9,000 (normal: 150,000–450,000) indicates severe
thrombocytopenia, increasing the risk of spontaneous bleeding.
7. A nurse is teaching a client who is receiving radiation therapy about skin care. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include?
• Use a hot water bottle on the skin
• Walk outside in the early mornings
• Apply lotion with alcohol to the area
• Scrub the skin vigorously
Rationale: Early morning walks minimize sun exposure, protecting irradiated skin from
further damage while promoting gentle activity.
8. A nurse in a clinic is caring for a client requiring a hysterectomy who states that she has
decided to delay having this surgery for several months. Which of the following statements
should the nurse make?
• “You should have it done as soon as possible.”
• “Can you elaborate on your reasons for delaying the surgery?”
• “That’s a good decision.”
1. A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has a gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) about ways to manage his condition. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include?
• Eat three large meals each day
• Eat four small meals each day
• Avoid drinking water with meals
• Lie down immediately after eating
Rationale: Eating four small meals reduces stomach distension and acid reflux, helping
manage GERD symptoms effectively.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has a colostomy. Which of the following findings should
the nurse report to the provider?
• The stoma is moist and red
• The stoma is pale in color
• The client reports mild discomfort
• The output is semi-formed
Rationale: A pale stoma indicates poor blood supply, which could signal ischemia or
necrosis, requiring immediate reporting.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer liquid famotidine 20 mg PO every 6 hr. for a client
who has GERD. Available is famotidine 40 mg/5 ml. How many ml should the nurse
administer?
• 1 ml
• 2.5 ml
• 5 ml
• 10 ml
Rationale: To calculate: (20 mg / 40 mg) × 5 ml = 2.5 ml. This ensures the correct dose
is administered based on the concentration.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who reports an area of redness, warmth, tenderness, and
pain in the right calf. The nurse anticipates which of the following orders when notifying
the provider of this finding?
• Apply a cold compress
• Obtain a venous duplex ultrasound
• Administer an oral antibiotic
, • Elevate the leg intermittently
Rationale: These symptoms suggest deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), and a venous duplex
ultrasound is the standard diagnostic test to confirm it.
5. A nurse is caring for a client following an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
procedure. Which of the following assessments is the nurse’s priority?
• Blood pressure
• Gag reflex
• Abdominal pain
• Oxygen saturation
Rationale: The gag reflex is the priority post-EGD due to throat anesthesia, ensuring the
client can swallow safely before eating or drinking.
6. A nurse is reviewing a client’s CBC findings and discovers that the client’s platelet count
is 9,000. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following conditions?
• Infection
• Spontaneous bleeding
• Dehydration
• Hypertension
Rationale: A platelet count of 9,000 (normal: 150,000–450,000) indicates severe
thrombocytopenia, increasing the risk of spontaneous bleeding.
7. A nurse is teaching a client who is receiving radiation therapy about skin care. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include?
• Use a hot water bottle on the skin
• Walk outside in the early mornings
• Apply lotion with alcohol to the area
• Scrub the skin vigorously
Rationale: Early morning walks minimize sun exposure, protecting irradiated skin from
further damage while promoting gentle activity.
8. A nurse in a clinic is caring for a client requiring a hysterectomy who states that she has
decided to delay having this surgery for several months. Which of the following statements
should the nurse make?
• “You should have it done as soon as possible.”
• “Can you elaborate on your reasons for delaying the surgery?”
• “That’s a good decision.”
