ATI - Med Surg Practice Questions
1. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with an older adult client who has osteoporosis. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse in the teaching?
a) "Place throw rugs on wooden floors at home. "
b) "Supplement your diet with vitamin E."
c) "Swim laps for 20 minutes twice per week."
d) "Take calcium supplements with meals." d) "Take calcium supplements with meals." (The nurse should instruct the
client to take calcium carbonate supplements with or following meals to increase absorption and effectiveness.)
2. A nurse is reviewing the medication record of a client who is taking digoxin. Which of the following medications should
the nurse identify as increasing the risk for the client to develop digoxin toxicity?
a) Potassium chloride
b) Famotidine
c) Levothyroxine
d) Furosemide d) Furosemide (The nurse should identify that loop diuretics, such as furosemide, increase the urinary
excretion of potassium, which can lead to hypokalemia. Hypokalemia increases the risk for the development of digoxin
toxicity.)
3. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about insulin injections with an adult client who weighs 45.4 kg (100 lb.). Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
a) "I should insert the needle at a 90-degree angle."
b) "I should give my shot in my belly tissue."
c) "I will pull back on the syringe plunger to look for blood before I push the medication in."
d) "I will use the side of my hand to pull my skin to the side prior to administering the insulin." b) "I should give my shot in
my belly tissue."
4. A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching for a client who had a mechanical mitral valve replacement. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
a) "I will notify my dentist about this procedure."
,b) "I will take an enteric-coated aspirin daily."
c) "I will use a firm-bristled toothbrush."
d) "I will weigh myself once a week." a) "I will notify my dentist about this procedure." (The nurse should instruct the
client to notify his dentist about the mechanical mitral valve replacement before any procedures so antibiotic therapy can
be initiated to reduce the risk of endocardial infection.)
5. A nurse is reviewing the medical record for an older adult client who is experiencing nausea and vomiting. Based on the
client data, which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Click on the "Exhibit" button for additional client
information. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.) View the Exhibit Exhibit 1 Exhibit 2 Exhibit 3
Diagnosis Results Sodium 142 mEq/ Potassium 4.2 mEq/L BUN 36 mg/dL Creatinine 1.4 mg/dL Nurses' Notes 1200:
Alert and oriented x3 Lungs clear to auscultation Decreased skin turgor Dry mucous membranes Graphic Record
Temperature 0800: 37.7° C (99.9° F) 1200: 37.2° C (99.0° F) Pulse 0800: 96/min 1200:105/min Respiratory rate 0800:
18/min 1200: 20/min Blood pressure 0800; 118/62 mmHg 1200: 104/65 mm Hg
a) Encourage the client to ambulate.
b) Administer an antipyretic medication.
c) Notify the charge nurse of the client's BUN level
d) Keep the temperature i c) Notify the charge nurse of the client's BUN level (The client's BUN level is above the
expected reference range of 10 to 20 mg/dL, which indicates dehydration and impaired renal function. The nurse should
notify the charge nurse of this finding and anticipate interventions to restore the client's fluid volume.)
6. A nurse is providing information regarding transmission-based precautions for a client who has Clostridium difficile to
assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following instructions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply).
a) "Provide the client with disposable utensils and dishes for meals."
b) "Leave blood pressure equipment in the client's room."
c) "Clean contaminated surfaces with a bleach solution."
d) "Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after client care."
e) "Wear a face mask when in the client's room." a) "Provide the client with disposable utensils and dishes for
meals." (Clients who have C. difficile require contact precautions, which include using disposable utensils and dishes
during meals to prevent exposure to contaminants by others.)
b) "Leave blood pressure equipment in the client's room." (When using contact precautions, the health care staff should
dedicate equipment to single-client use to prevent transmission of the pathogen.)
,c) "Clean contaminated surfaces with a bleach solution." (The health care staff should use a bleach solution to clean
equipment to prevent transmission of the pathogen.)
7. A nurse is admitting a client who is suspected having active tuberculosis (TB). Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first? (chap. 20)
a) Administer antituberculosis medication.
b) Institute airborne precautions.
c) Obtain sputum cultures.
d) Auscultate breath sounds. b) Institute airborne precautions. (The greatest risk from this client is transmitting TB to
staff and other clients. Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is to implement airborne precautions.)
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a Jackson-Pratt drain. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
a) Fill the bulb reservoir with 0.9% sodium chloride.
b) Allow the Jackson-Pratt drain to hang freely.
c) Cut a slit in a gauze sponge and apply it around the tubing insertion site.
d) Compress the bulb reservoir and then close the drainage valve. d) Compress the bulb reservoir and then close the
drainage valve. (The nurse should fully compress the bulb reservoir and then replace the valve plug using aseptic
technique to establish suction after emptying or activating a Jackson-Pratt drain.)
9. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parent of a toddler who has type I diabetes mellitus and whose prescription has
been changed from regular insulin to lispro insulin. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the
teaching?
a) Lispro is given once a day.
b) Lispro should be given before eating.
c) Lispro cannot be given with other insulin.
d) Lispro does not cause hypoglycemia. b) Lispro should be given before eating. (Lispro insulin should be given around
mealtime, within 15 min before or after eating.)
10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has microcytic anemia and is prescribed a daily iron supplement. The
nurse tells the client to consume foods containing vitamin C when taking the supplement to enhance iron absorption.
Which of the following client food choices indicates an understanding of the teaching?
a) 1 cup cooked brown rice
, b) 1 cup boiled broccoli
c) 1 cup cottage cheese
d) 1 cup cooked kidney beans b) 1 cup boiled broccoli (The nurse should determine that choosing boiled broccoli
indicates an understanding of the teaching because 1 cup contains 101 mg of vitamin C per serving.)
11. A nurse is assisting with the development of a plan of care to manage pain for a client who has herpes zoster with
lesions on the lower extremities. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
a) Keep bed linens off of the affected areas.
b) Position a heat lamp over the lower extremities.
c) Apply warm, moist compresses to the affected areas.
d) Initiate droplet isolation precautions. a) Keep bed linens off of the affected areas. (The nurse should keep bed linens
off of the affected areas using a bed cradle, which will relieve pain caused by the linens rubbing against the lesions.)
12. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about increasing dietary fiber. The nurse should recommend which of the
following foods as the best source of fiber?
a) ½ cup cooked kidney beans
b) ½ cup raw cauliflower
c) 1 cup cucumber with peel
d) 1 cup parboiled brown rice a) ½ cup cooked kidney beans (The nurse should recommend kidney beans as the best
source of fiber because ½ cup contains 6.5 g of fiber per serving.)
13. A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who has AIDS-related pneumonia. The client is receiving antibiotic therapy
and albuterol nebulizer treatments daily. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client's
therapeutic regimen is effective?
a) Adventitious lung sounds
b) Decrease in exertional dyspnea
c) Respiratory rate of 26/min while sitting in a chair
d) Elevation of the head of the bed is required to sleep b) Decrease in exertional dyspnea (A decrease in exertional
dyspnea indicates the antibiotics are resolving the infection and the albuterol treatments are facilitating effective
ventilation. Therefore, the nurse should evaluate the therapeutic regimen as effective for the client.)
14. A nurse is monitoring a client who has a wrist cast and reports intense itching underneath the cast. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
1. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with an older adult client who has osteoporosis. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse in the teaching?
a) "Place throw rugs on wooden floors at home. "
b) "Supplement your diet with vitamin E."
c) "Swim laps for 20 minutes twice per week."
d) "Take calcium supplements with meals." d) "Take calcium supplements with meals." (The nurse should instruct the
client to take calcium carbonate supplements with or following meals to increase absorption and effectiveness.)
2. A nurse is reviewing the medication record of a client who is taking digoxin. Which of the following medications should
the nurse identify as increasing the risk for the client to develop digoxin toxicity?
a) Potassium chloride
b) Famotidine
c) Levothyroxine
d) Furosemide d) Furosemide (The nurse should identify that loop diuretics, such as furosemide, increase the urinary
excretion of potassium, which can lead to hypokalemia. Hypokalemia increases the risk for the development of digoxin
toxicity.)
3. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about insulin injections with an adult client who weighs 45.4 kg (100 lb.). Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
a) "I should insert the needle at a 90-degree angle."
b) "I should give my shot in my belly tissue."
c) "I will pull back on the syringe plunger to look for blood before I push the medication in."
d) "I will use the side of my hand to pull my skin to the side prior to administering the insulin." b) "I should give my shot in
my belly tissue."
4. A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching for a client who had a mechanical mitral valve replacement. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
a) "I will notify my dentist about this procedure."
,b) "I will take an enteric-coated aspirin daily."
c) "I will use a firm-bristled toothbrush."
d) "I will weigh myself once a week." a) "I will notify my dentist about this procedure." (The nurse should instruct the
client to notify his dentist about the mechanical mitral valve replacement before any procedures so antibiotic therapy can
be initiated to reduce the risk of endocardial infection.)
5. A nurse is reviewing the medical record for an older adult client who is experiencing nausea and vomiting. Based on the
client data, which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Click on the "Exhibit" button for additional client
information. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.) View the Exhibit Exhibit 1 Exhibit 2 Exhibit 3
Diagnosis Results Sodium 142 mEq/ Potassium 4.2 mEq/L BUN 36 mg/dL Creatinine 1.4 mg/dL Nurses' Notes 1200:
Alert and oriented x3 Lungs clear to auscultation Decreased skin turgor Dry mucous membranes Graphic Record
Temperature 0800: 37.7° C (99.9° F) 1200: 37.2° C (99.0° F) Pulse 0800: 96/min 1200:105/min Respiratory rate 0800:
18/min 1200: 20/min Blood pressure 0800; 118/62 mmHg 1200: 104/65 mm Hg
a) Encourage the client to ambulate.
b) Administer an antipyretic medication.
c) Notify the charge nurse of the client's BUN level
d) Keep the temperature i c) Notify the charge nurse of the client's BUN level (The client's BUN level is above the
expected reference range of 10 to 20 mg/dL, which indicates dehydration and impaired renal function. The nurse should
notify the charge nurse of this finding and anticipate interventions to restore the client's fluid volume.)
6. A nurse is providing information regarding transmission-based precautions for a client who has Clostridium difficile to
assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following instructions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply).
a) "Provide the client with disposable utensils and dishes for meals."
b) "Leave blood pressure equipment in the client's room."
c) "Clean contaminated surfaces with a bleach solution."
d) "Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after client care."
e) "Wear a face mask when in the client's room." a) "Provide the client with disposable utensils and dishes for
meals." (Clients who have C. difficile require contact precautions, which include using disposable utensils and dishes
during meals to prevent exposure to contaminants by others.)
b) "Leave blood pressure equipment in the client's room." (When using contact precautions, the health care staff should
dedicate equipment to single-client use to prevent transmission of the pathogen.)
,c) "Clean contaminated surfaces with a bleach solution." (The health care staff should use a bleach solution to clean
equipment to prevent transmission of the pathogen.)
7. A nurse is admitting a client who is suspected having active tuberculosis (TB). Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first? (chap. 20)
a) Administer antituberculosis medication.
b) Institute airborne precautions.
c) Obtain sputum cultures.
d) Auscultate breath sounds. b) Institute airborne precautions. (The greatest risk from this client is transmitting TB to
staff and other clients. Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is to implement airborne precautions.)
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a Jackson-Pratt drain. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
a) Fill the bulb reservoir with 0.9% sodium chloride.
b) Allow the Jackson-Pratt drain to hang freely.
c) Cut a slit in a gauze sponge and apply it around the tubing insertion site.
d) Compress the bulb reservoir and then close the drainage valve. d) Compress the bulb reservoir and then close the
drainage valve. (The nurse should fully compress the bulb reservoir and then replace the valve plug using aseptic
technique to establish suction after emptying or activating a Jackson-Pratt drain.)
9. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parent of a toddler who has type I diabetes mellitus and whose prescription has
been changed from regular insulin to lispro insulin. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the
teaching?
a) Lispro is given once a day.
b) Lispro should be given before eating.
c) Lispro cannot be given with other insulin.
d) Lispro does not cause hypoglycemia. b) Lispro should be given before eating. (Lispro insulin should be given around
mealtime, within 15 min before or after eating.)
10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has microcytic anemia and is prescribed a daily iron supplement. The
nurse tells the client to consume foods containing vitamin C when taking the supplement to enhance iron absorption.
Which of the following client food choices indicates an understanding of the teaching?
a) 1 cup cooked brown rice
, b) 1 cup boiled broccoli
c) 1 cup cottage cheese
d) 1 cup cooked kidney beans b) 1 cup boiled broccoli (The nurse should determine that choosing boiled broccoli
indicates an understanding of the teaching because 1 cup contains 101 mg of vitamin C per serving.)
11. A nurse is assisting with the development of a plan of care to manage pain for a client who has herpes zoster with
lesions on the lower extremities. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
a) Keep bed linens off of the affected areas.
b) Position a heat lamp over the lower extremities.
c) Apply warm, moist compresses to the affected areas.
d) Initiate droplet isolation precautions. a) Keep bed linens off of the affected areas. (The nurse should keep bed linens
off of the affected areas using a bed cradle, which will relieve pain caused by the linens rubbing against the lesions.)
12. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about increasing dietary fiber. The nurse should recommend which of the
following foods as the best source of fiber?
a) ½ cup cooked kidney beans
b) ½ cup raw cauliflower
c) 1 cup cucumber with peel
d) 1 cup parboiled brown rice a) ½ cup cooked kidney beans (The nurse should recommend kidney beans as the best
source of fiber because ½ cup contains 6.5 g of fiber per serving.)
13. A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who has AIDS-related pneumonia. The client is receiving antibiotic therapy
and albuterol nebulizer treatments daily. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client's
therapeutic regimen is effective?
a) Adventitious lung sounds
b) Decrease in exertional dyspnea
c) Respiratory rate of 26/min while sitting in a chair
d) Elevation of the head of the bed is required to sleep b) Decrease in exertional dyspnea (A decrease in exertional
dyspnea indicates the antibiotics are resolving the infection and the albuterol treatments are facilitating effective
ventilation. Therefore, the nurse should evaluate the therapeutic regimen as effective for the client.)
14. A nurse is monitoring a client who has a wrist cast and reports intense itching underneath the cast. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
