ATI Advanced Med-Surg Quiz Bank Questions and Answers Graded A 2025

Cardiovascular and Hematology 1. A nurse is assessing a client who has pernicious anemia. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? A. Thick, white coating on the client's tongue B. Decreased pulse rate C. Paresthesias in the hands and feet D. Joint pain in the extremities 2. A nurse is caring for a client who is undergoing conservative treatment for deep-vein thrombosis. The client asks the nurse what will happen to the clot. Which of the following responses should the nurse make? A. "Your body has a process called fibrinolysis that will eventually dissolve the clot." B. "Your body has a mechanism that will keep the clot stable in its present location." C. "The clot will break into tiny fragments and float harmlessly in your bloodstream." D. "Treatment with heparin will dissolve the clot and keep other clots from forming." 3. A nurse is planning care for a client who has pernicious anemia. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan? A. Administer ferrous sulfate supplementation B. Increase dietary intake of folic acid C. Initiate weekly injections of vitamin B12 D. Initiate a blood transfusion 4. A nurse is preparing to transfuse 250 mL of packed red blood cells (RBCs) to a client over 4 hr. A blood administration set is available that delivers 10 gtt/mL. The nurse should set the manual blood transfusion to deliver how many gtt/min? (Fill in the blank with the numeric value only, round the answer to the nearest whole number, and use a leading zero if applicable. Do not use a trailing zero.) 10 gtt/min 5. A nurse is monitoring a client for reperfusion following thrombolytic therapy to treat acute myocardial infarction (MI). Which of the following indicators should the nurse identify to confirm reperfusion? A. Ventricular dysrhythmias B. Appearance of Q waves C. Elevated ST segments D. Recurrence of chest pain 6. A nurse is preparing an in-service presentation about assessing clients who are having an acute myocard bu ial infarction (MI). What is the most common assessment finding with acute MI? A. Dyspnea B. Pain in the shoulder and left arm C. Substernal chest pain D. Palpitations 7. A nurse is reviewing laboratory values for an adult client who has sickle cell anemia and a history of receiving blood transfusions. For which of the following complications should the nurse monitor? A. Hypokalemia B. Lead poisoning C. Hypercalcemia D. Iron toxicity 8. A nurse is planning care for a client who is having a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with stent placement. Which of the following actions should the nurse anticipate in the post-procedure plan of care? A. Instruct the client about a long-term cardiac conditioning program B. Administer scheduled doses of acetaminophen C. Check for peak laboratory markers of myocardial damage D. Monitor for bleeding 9. A nurse is monitoring a client who has heart failure related to mitral stenosis. The client reports shortness of breath on exertion. Which of the following conditions should the nurse expect? A. Increased cardiac output B. Increased pulmonary congestion C. Decreased left atrial pressure D. Decreased pulmonary artery pressure 10. A nurse is assessing a client who has pericarditis. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect? A. Bradycardia with ST-segment depression B. Relief of chest pain with deep inspiration C. Dyspnea with hiccups D. Chest pain that increases when sitting upright 11. A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has a newly inserted permanent pacemaker. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching? A. "Request a provider's prescription when traveling to alert airport security." B. "Stand at least 3 feet away while using a microwave." C. "Keep your cell phone 6 inches away from your pacemaker when making a call." D. "Avoid showering for the first 2 weeks following surgery." 12. A nurse is assessing a client who has peripheral vascular disease and a venous ulcer on the right ankle. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect in the client's affected extremity? A. Absent pedal pulses B. Ankle swelling C. Hair loss D. Skin atrophy 13. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of pernicious anemia. The nurse should expect the client's provider to prescribe which of the following medications for this client? A. Ferrous sulfate B. Epoetin alfa C. Vitamin B12 D. Folic acid 14. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new permanent pacemaker. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I should check my heart rate at the same time each day." B. "I don't have to take my antihypertensive medications now that I have a pacemaker." C. "I should keep a pressure dressing over the generator until the incision is healed." D. "I cannot stand in front of our new microwave oven when it is on." 15. A nurse is teaching a client who has pernicious anemia. The nurse should encourage the client to increase consumption of which of the following foods? A. Eggs B. Squash C. Kale D. Tofu 16. A nurse on a telemetry unit is caring for a client who has an irregular radial pulse. Which of the following ECG abnormalities should the nurse recognize as atrial flutter? A. P waves occurring at 0.16 seconds before each QRS complex B. Atrial rate of 300/min with QRS complex of 80/min C. Ventricular rate of 82/min with an atrial rate of 80/min D. Irregular ventricular rate of 125/min with a wide QRS pattern 17. A nurse is teaching a client who has polycythemia vera about self-care measures. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include? A. "Drink at least 1 liter of fluid each day." B. "Continuously wear support hose." C. "Elevate your legs when sitting." D. "Use dental floss daily." 18. A nurse is assessing a client who has deep-vein thrombosis in her left calf. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect to find? (Select all that apply.) A. Hardening along the blood vessel B. Absence of a peripheral pulse C. Tenderness in the calf D. Cool skin on the leg E. Increased leg circumference 19. A nurse is caring for a client who has peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and ulcers on the toes. Which of the following findings of PVD is a risk factor for ulceration of the extremities? A. Insufficient skin care B. Dehydration C. Immobility D. Impaired circulation 20. A nurse is teaching about a low-cholesterol diet to a client who had a myocardial infarction. Which of the following meal selections by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. Chicken breast and corn on the cob B. Shrimp and rice C. Cheese omelet and turkey bacon D. Liver and onions 21. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has aplastic anemia. Which of the following statements indicates that the client understands the instructions? A. "I need to stay active to prevent blood clots in my legs." B. "If I have a bad headache, I can take aspirin to get rid of it." C. "I should eliminate uncooked foods from my diet for now." D. "I should eat more iron-fortified cereal to strengthen my blood." 22. A nurse is caring for a client who has hemophilia. The client reports pain and swelling in a joint following an injury. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Obtain blood samples to test platelet function B. Prepare for replacement of the missing clotting factor C. Administer aspirin for the client's pain D. Place the bleeding joint in the dependent position 23. A nurse is caring for a client who is undergoing treatment for hypertension. Which of the following statements indicates that the client is adhering to the treatment plan? A. "I would never have believed I could get used to enjoying my food without salt." B. "My blood pressure device at home usually shows about 156 over 98 or so." C. "I make sure I take my blood pressure medicine when I have headaches." D. "My blood pressure pills are very expensive. Could I take a cheaper medication?" 24. A nurse is caring for a client who has a platelet count of 50,000/mm^3. After discontinuing the client's peripheral IV site, which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Apply warm compresses B. Apply pressure to the catheter removal site for 5 min C. Place the affected arm in a dependent position D. Clean the insertion site with alcohol 25. A. Apply warm compresses B. Apply pressure to the catheter removal site for 5 min C. Place the affected arm in a dependent position D. Clean the insertion site with alcohol A. Hyperkalemia B. Hyponatremia C. Hypercalcemia D. Hypomagnesemia 26. A nurse is preparing an in-service presentation about the management of myocardial infarction (MI). Death following MI is often a result of which of the following complications? A. Cardiogenic shock B. Dysrhythmias C. Heart failure D. Pulmonary edema 27. A client who just learned that he has variant (Prinzmetal's) angina asks the nurse how this type of angina compares with stable angina. Which of the following replies should the nurse make? A. "Exertion often brings on pain." B. "Variant angina occurs randomly at various times." C. "Variant angina can cause changes on your electrocardiogram." D. "Reducing your cholesterol can help you experience less pain." 28. A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following vein ligation and stripping for varicose veins. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Position the client supine with his legs elevated when in bed B. Encourage the client to ambulate for 15 min every hour while awake for the first 24 hr C. Tell the client to sit with his legs dependent after ambulating D. Instruct the client to wear knee-length socks for 2 weeks after surgery 29. A. Position the client supine with his legs elevated when in bed B. Encourage the client to ambulate for 15 min every hour while awake for the first 24 hr C. Tell the client to sit with his legs dependent after ambulating D. Instruct the client to wear knee-length socks for 2 weeks after surgery A. "I’ll stick with sof t foods for now." B. "My family will be bringing me fresh flowers today." C. "I'll use a new disposable razor each day." D. "I’ll blow my nose more often to avoid nosebleeds." 30. A nurse is providing information to a client who is scheduled for an exercise electrocardiography test. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I will not drink coffee 4 hr prior to my test." B. "I can eat a light meal 1 hr prior to the test." C. "I can have a cigarette up to 30 min prior to the test." D. "I will take my heart medication on the day of the test." 31. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has end-stage renal disease and reports fatigue. The client's hemoglobin level is 8 g/dL. The nurse should expect a prescription for which of the following medications? A. Erythropoietin B. Erythromycin C. Filgrastim D. Calcitriol 32. A nurse is examining the ECG of a client who has frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Which of the following QRS changes should the nurse expect to see on the client's ECG? A. Narrower than usual QRS complexes B. Much greater amplitude than the usual QRS complexes C. Same polarity as the usual QRS complexes D. Immediate resumption of the usual rhythm 33. A charge nurse is observing a newly licensed nurse administer an IV medication to a client who has an implanted venous access port. Which of the following observations requires intervention by the charge nurse? A. A dressing is not applied to the port site after use. B. A 22-gauge non-coring needle is used to access the port. C. Blood return is noted prior to administering the medication. D. A solution of 5 mL heparin 1,000 units/mL has been prepared. 34. A nurse is caring for a client who has an upper gastrointestinal bleed and a hematocrit of 24%. Prior to initiating a transfusion of packed red blood cells (RBCs), which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.) A. Assess and document the client's vital signs B. Restart the IV with a 22-gauge needle C. Verify with another nurse the blood type and Rh of the packed RBCs D. Hang a bag of lactated Ringer's IV solution E. Change IV tubing to a set that has a filter 35. A nurse is completing a medication history for a client who reports using fish oil as a dietary supplement. Which of the following substances in fish oil should the nurse recognize as a health benefit to the client? A. Omega-3 fatty acids B. Antioxidants C. Vitamins A, D, and C D. Beta-carotene 36. A nurse is caring for a client who has an abdominal aortic aneurysm and is scheduled for surgery. The client’s vital signs are blood pressure 160/98 mmHg, heart rate 102/min, respirations 22/min, and SpO2 95%. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Administer antihypertensive medication for blood pressure B. Monitor to ensure the client’s urinary output is 20 mL/hr C. Withhold pain medication to prepare the client for surgery D. Take the client’s vital signs every 2 hr 37. A nurse is teaching a client who has iron-deficiency anemia. The nurse should encourage the client to increase consumption of which of the following foods? A. Beef liver B. Oranges C. Turnips D. Whole milk 38. A nurse is completing dietary teaching with a client who has heart failure and is prescribed a 2 g sodium diet. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I should use salt sparingly while cooking." B. "I can have yogurt as a dessert." C. "I should use baking soda when I bake." D. "I should use canned vegetables instead of frozen.” 39. A nurse is assessing a client who has an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Which of the following findings indicates that the AAA is expanding? A. Increased BP and decreased pulse rate B. Jugular vein distention and peripheral edema C. Report of sudden, severe back pain D. Report of retrosternal chest pain radiating to the left arm 40. A nurse is preparing a client for cardiac catheterization. Which of the following pieces of information should the nurse give the client before the procedure? (Select all that apply.) A. "You'll have to lie flat for several hours after the procedure." B. "You'll receive medication to relax you before the procedure." C. "You'll feel a cool sensation after the injection of the dye." D. "You'll have to keep your leg straight after the procedure." E. "You'll have to limit the amount of fluid you drink for the first 24 hr." 41. A nurse is caring for a client who has thrombocytopenia and develops epistaxis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Have the client gently blow clots from the nose every 5 min B. Instruct the client to sit with his head hyperextended C. Apply ice compresses to the back of the client’s neck D. Apply lateral pressure to the client’s nose for 10 min 42. A nurse is planning care for a client who has acute myelogenous leukemia and a platelet count of 48,000/mm^3. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include? A. Avoid IM injections B. Assess the client for ecchymosis once per shift C. Do not allow the client to have visitors D. Encourage daily flossing between teeth 43. A nurse is examining the ECG of a client who has hyperkalemia. Which of the following ECG changes should the nurse expect? A. Elevated ST segments B. Absent P waves C. Depressed ST segments D. Varying PP intervals 44. A nurse is teaching a client who has iron-deficiency anemia. The nurse should encourage the client to increase her consumption of which of the following foods? A. Lentils B. Avocados C. Cabbage D. Broccoli 45. A nurse observes tachycardia, dyspnea, a cough, and distended neck veins in a client who is receiving a transfusion of packed red blood cells (RBCs). Which of the following interventions should the nurse use to prevent these manifestations with the client's next transfusion? A. Warm the unit of blood to room temperature before administering it B. Administer acetaminophen prior to the blood transfusion C. Give an antihistamine prior to the transfusion D. Use a transfusion pump to regulate and maintain the transfusion at a slower rate 46. A nurse is preparing to administer packed RBCs to a client who is anemic. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.) A. Insert a 23-gauge angiocatheter with an IV adaptor B. Check to determine the packed RBCs are less than 1 week old C. Administer the packed RBCs over a 6-hr period D. Ask another nurse to check the packed RBCs’ label against the medical record E. Prime the transfusion tubing with 0.9% sodium chloride 47. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving a unit of whole blood. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of a hemolytic transfusion reaction? A. Bradycardia B. Paresthesia C. Hypertension D. Low back pain 48. A nurse in a clinic is assessing the lower extremities and ankles of a client who has a history of peripheral arterial disease. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? A. Pitting edema B. Areas of reddish-brown pigmentation C. Dry, pale skin with minimal body hair D. Sunburned appearance with desquamation 49. A nurse is caring for an older adult client who had an acute myocardial infarction (MI). When assessing this client, the nurse should identify that older adults are prone to complications of MI from poor tissue perfusion because of which of the following age-related factors? A. Peripheral vascular resistance increases. B. The sensitivity of blood pressure-adjusting baroreceptors increases. C. Blood is hypercoagulable and clots more quickly. D. Cardiac medications are less effective. 50. A nurse is transfusing a unit of B-positive fresh frozen plasma to a client whose blood type is O-negative. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Continue to monitor for manifestations of a transfusion reaction B. Remove the unit of plasma immediately and start an IV infusion of normal saline solution C. Continue the transfusion and repeat the type and crossmatch D. Prepare to administer a dose of diphenhydramine IV 51. A nurse is planning care for a client who has thrombocytopenia. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? A. Restrict fluids to 1,000 mL per day B. Measure the client's abdominal girth daily C. Check IV sites every 4 hr for bleeding D. Administer an enema as needed for constipation 52. A nurse is preparing an in-service presentation about the basics of hematology. Which of the following factors provides a stimulus for the production of RBCs? A. Venous stasis B. Thrombocytopenia C. Inflammation D. Tissue hypoxia 53. A nurse is providing teaching about lifestyle changes to a client who experienced a myocardial infarction and has a new prescription for a beta blocker. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I should eat foods that are high in saturated fat." B. "Before taking my medication, I will count my radial pulse rate." C. "I will exercise once a week for an hour at the health club." D. "I will stop taking my medication when my blood pressure is within a normal range." 54. A nurse is caring for a client who is having a possible myocardial infarction (MI). Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an associated manifestation of an MI? A. Headache B. Hemoptysis C. Nausea D. Diarrhea 55. A nurse is caring for a client following a stroke. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? A. Obtain coagulation laboratory studies from the client B. Apply pneumatic compression boots to the client C. Request a referral for a speech-language pathologist D. Keep the client NPO 56. While participating in a community health fair, a nurse is providing information to a client who has a blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg during screening. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Give the client a written record of his BP to bring to his provider B. Encourage the client to go to the nearest emergency department C. Instruct the client to follow-up with a provider within 6 months D. Explain to the client that he is not at risk unless he has manifestations of hypertension 57. A nurse is administering a unit of packed red blood cells (RBCs) to a client who is postoperative. The client reports itching and hives 30 min after the infusion begins. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? A. Maintain IV access with 0.9% sodium chloride B. Stop the infusion of blood C. Send the blood container and tubing to the blood bank D. Obtain a urine sample 58. A nurse is assessing a client who has fluid volume overload from a cardiovascular disorder. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.) A. Jugular vein distension B. Moist crackles C. Postural hypotension D. Increased heart rate E. Fever 59. A nurse is rewarming a client following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. For which of the following complications of the rewarming process should the nurse monitor the client? A. Acidosis B. Infection C. Hypertension D. Cardiac tamponade 60. A nurse is showing a client who has right-sided heart failure an illustration of the heart. Which of the following blood vessels carry deoxygenated blood to the right atrium? A. Right coronary artery B. Left carotid artery C. Aorta D. Superior vena cava