ATI Med-Surg Pro Clinical Question Bank 2025 –
High-Accuracy Answers With Case-Based Scenarios
1. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is experiencing dys-
pnea. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize?
A) Administer a high-flow oxygen mask
B) Place the patient in a supine position
C) Encourage pursed-lip breathing
D) Administer a bronchodilator after 1 hour
Correct Answer: C
2. A patient with acute myocardial infarction reports chest pain. What is the nurse’s
first action?
A) Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
B) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C) Administer morphine IV
D) Apply supplemental oxygen
Correct Answer: D
3. A patient with type 1 diabetes presents with blood glucose of 450 mg/dL. Which
finding suggests diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A) Slow, deep respirations
B) Fruity breath odor
C) Bradycardia
D) Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
4. A patient with a suspected stroke is admitted. Which diagnostic test should the
nurse prepare the patient for first?
A) Lumbar puncture
B) CT scan of the head
C) Electroencephalogram (EEG)
D) Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
Correct Answer: B
5. A patient with peptic ulcer disease reports epigastric pain. Which instruction
should the nurse provide?
A) Avoid all dairy products
B) Take antacids 1 hour after meals
C) Increase spicy food intake
D) Skip meals to reduce acid production
Correct Answer: B
6. A patient with chronic kidney disease is on hemodialysis. Which dietary restriction
should the nurse reinforce?
A) Low-fiber diet
B) Low-potassium diet
C) High-sodium diet
D) High-protein diet
Correct Answer: B
1
, 7. A patient with pneumonia has a productive cough. Which intervention promotes
airway clearance?
A) Restrict fluid intake
B) Encourage deep breathing and coughing
C) Administer a sedative
D) Position the patient flat
Correct Answer: B
8. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which laboratory value
should the nurse monitor?
A) Serum potassium
B) Serum calcium
C) Serum glucose
D) Serum albumin
Correct Answer: A
9. A patient with hypothyroidism reports fatigue and weight gain. Which medication
should the nurse expect to administer?
A) Metformin
B) Levothyroxine
C) Insulin
D) Propranolol
Correct Answer: B
10. A patient with a traumatic brain injury has increased intracranial pressure. Which
position should the nurse maintain?
A) Supine with head flat
B) Head of bed elevated 30 degrees
C) Trendelenburg position
D) Side-lying with knees flexed
Correct Answer: B
11. A patient with cirrhosis reports abdominal distension. Which condition should the
nurse assess for?
A) Ascites
B) Pancreatitis
C) Cholecystitis
D) Appendicitis
Correct Answer: A
12. A patient with acute renal failure has a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
intervention should the nurse anticipate?
A) Administer potassium chloride
B) Prepare for dialysis
C) Increase fluid intake
D) Administer furosemide
Correct Answer: B
13. A patient with asthma experiences wheezing. Which medication should the nurse
administer first?
2
, A) Prednisone
B) Albuterol
C) Montelukast
D) Ipratropium
Correct Answer: B
14. A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value
should the nurse monitor?
A) Platelet count
B) INR
C) Creatinine clearance
D) Blood urea nitrogen
Correct Answer: B
15. A patient with hyperthyroidism reports palpitations. Which medication should the
nurse expect to administer?
A) Levothyroxine
B) Methimazole
C) Insulin
D) Metformin
Correct Answer: B
16. A patient with a spinal cord injury at T6 is at risk for which complication?
A) Autonomic dysreflexia
B) Seizures
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: A
17. A patient with ulcerative colitis reports bloody diarrhea. Which diet should the
nurse recommend during a flare-up?
A) High-fiber diet
B) Low-residue diet
C) High-fat diet
D) Low-protein diet
Correct Answer: B
18. A patient with chronic kidney disease has edema. Which medication should the
nurse expect to administer?
A) Spironolactone
B) Furosemide
C) Mannitol
D) Hydrochlorothiazide
Correct Answer: B
19. A patient with COPD is prescribed oxygen therapy. What is the target oxygen
saturation range?
A) 80–85%
B) 88–92%
C) 95–100%
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High-Accuracy Answers With Case-Based Scenarios
1. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is experiencing dys-
pnea. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize?
A) Administer a high-flow oxygen mask
B) Place the patient in a supine position
C) Encourage pursed-lip breathing
D) Administer a bronchodilator after 1 hour
Correct Answer: C
2. A patient with acute myocardial infarction reports chest pain. What is the nurse’s
first action?
A) Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
B) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C) Administer morphine IV
D) Apply supplemental oxygen
Correct Answer: D
3. A patient with type 1 diabetes presents with blood glucose of 450 mg/dL. Which
finding suggests diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A) Slow, deep respirations
B) Fruity breath odor
C) Bradycardia
D) Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
4. A patient with a suspected stroke is admitted. Which diagnostic test should the
nurse prepare the patient for first?
A) Lumbar puncture
B) CT scan of the head
C) Electroencephalogram (EEG)
D) Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
Correct Answer: B
5. A patient with peptic ulcer disease reports epigastric pain. Which instruction
should the nurse provide?
A) Avoid all dairy products
B) Take antacids 1 hour after meals
C) Increase spicy food intake
D) Skip meals to reduce acid production
Correct Answer: B
6. A patient with chronic kidney disease is on hemodialysis. Which dietary restriction
should the nurse reinforce?
A) Low-fiber diet
B) Low-potassium diet
C) High-sodium diet
D) High-protein diet
Correct Answer: B
1
, 7. A patient with pneumonia has a productive cough. Which intervention promotes
airway clearance?
A) Restrict fluid intake
B) Encourage deep breathing and coughing
C) Administer a sedative
D) Position the patient flat
Correct Answer: B
8. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which laboratory value
should the nurse monitor?
A) Serum potassium
B) Serum calcium
C) Serum glucose
D) Serum albumin
Correct Answer: A
9. A patient with hypothyroidism reports fatigue and weight gain. Which medication
should the nurse expect to administer?
A) Metformin
B) Levothyroxine
C) Insulin
D) Propranolol
Correct Answer: B
10. A patient with a traumatic brain injury has increased intracranial pressure. Which
position should the nurse maintain?
A) Supine with head flat
B) Head of bed elevated 30 degrees
C) Trendelenburg position
D) Side-lying with knees flexed
Correct Answer: B
11. A patient with cirrhosis reports abdominal distension. Which condition should the
nurse assess for?
A) Ascites
B) Pancreatitis
C) Cholecystitis
D) Appendicitis
Correct Answer: A
12. A patient with acute renal failure has a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
intervention should the nurse anticipate?
A) Administer potassium chloride
B) Prepare for dialysis
C) Increase fluid intake
D) Administer furosemide
Correct Answer: B
13. A patient with asthma experiences wheezing. Which medication should the nurse
administer first?
2
, A) Prednisone
B) Albuterol
C) Montelukast
D) Ipratropium
Correct Answer: B
14. A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value
should the nurse monitor?
A) Platelet count
B) INR
C) Creatinine clearance
D) Blood urea nitrogen
Correct Answer: B
15. A patient with hyperthyroidism reports palpitations. Which medication should the
nurse expect to administer?
A) Levothyroxine
B) Methimazole
C) Insulin
D) Metformin
Correct Answer: B
16. A patient with a spinal cord injury at T6 is at risk for which complication?
A) Autonomic dysreflexia
B) Seizures
C) Pulmonary edema
D) Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: A
17. A patient with ulcerative colitis reports bloody diarrhea. Which diet should the
nurse recommend during a flare-up?
A) High-fiber diet
B) Low-residue diet
C) High-fat diet
D) Low-protein diet
Correct Answer: B
18. A patient with chronic kidney disease has edema. Which medication should the
nurse expect to administer?
A) Spironolactone
B) Furosemide
C) Mannitol
D) Hydrochlorothiazide
Correct Answer: B
19. A patient with COPD is prescribed oxygen therapy. What is the target oxygen
saturation range?
A) 80–85%
B) 88–92%
C) 95–100%
3
