ATI Medical-Surgical CMS Proctored Exam
2025/2026 | Latest Actual Exam with Verified
Correct Answers
ATI Comprehensive Medical-Surgical Nursing | Key Domains: Patient Safety, Pharmacology,
Chronic & Acute Conditions, Surgical Nursing, Fluid & Electrolytes, Cardiovascular, Respiratory,
Endocrine, Neurological, GI/GU, and Emergency Care | Expert-Verified Q&A | Academic &
Clinical Excellence
Introduction
This 2025/2026 ATI Medical-Surgical CMS Proctored Exam resource contains 60 verified
questions, matching the standard exam format, with 100% correct answers graded A+. It covers
critical medical-surgical nursing topics, including patient safety, pharmacology, acute and
chronic conditions, surgical care, and system-specific disorders (e.g., cardiovascular,
respiratory, GI/GU). Questions are designed to reflect ATI’s focus on clinical judgment,
prioritization, and evidence-based practice, ensuring readiness for both academic success and
clinical application.
Answer Format
All correct answers are highlighted in bold and green, with concise rationales included to
reinforce understanding of key medical-surgical nursing concepts.
ATI Medical-Surgical CMS Proctored Exam 2025/2026 | Verified Actual Questions
& Correct Answers | 100% Pass Guarantee | Nursing Academic Success
ATI Medical-Surgical CMS Proctored Exam Questions (1–60)
1. A client with heart failure is admitted with dyspnea and bilateral crackles.
Which intervention should the nurse prioritize?
a) Administer oxygen therapy
b) Encourage ambulation
c) Increase fluid intake
d) Administer a bronchodilator
a) Administer oxygen therapy
Rationale: Dyspnea and crackles indicate pulmonary edema in heart failure. Oxygen therapy
improves oxygenation, addressing the priority need (ABCs), per heart failure management
guidelines.
2. A client with type 2 diabetes mellitus reports a blood glucose level of 300
mg/dL. Which action should the nurse take first?
, a) Administer insulin as prescribed
b) Encourage the client to drink water
c) Check the client’s hemoglobin A1c
d) Assess for signs of diabetic ketoacidosis
d) Assess for signs of diabetic ketoacidosis
Rationale: A blood glucose of 300 mg/dL may indicate hyperglycemia or DKA. Assessing for
symptoms (e.g., Kussmaul respirations, fruity breath) is the priority to determine urgency, per
the nursing process.
3. A client post-appendectomy reports severe abdominal pain and fever.
What should the nurse suspect?
a) Normal postoperative recovery
b) Surgical site infection
c) Constipation
d) Paralytic ileus
b) Surgical site infection
Rationale: Severe pain and fever post-surgery suggest infection, a common complication
requiring immediate assessment, per postoperative care guidelines.
4. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
prescribed albuterol. What is the primary action of this medication?
a) Reduce inflammation
b) Dilate bronchioles
c) Suppress cough
d) Thin mucus secretions
b) Dilate bronchioles
Rationale: Albuterol, a beta-2 agonist, relaxes bronchial smooth muscles to dilate airways,
improving airflow in COPD, per pharmacologic guidelines.
5. A client with a new colostomy reports leakage around the stoma. What
should the nurse do first?
a) Change the ostomy appliance
b) Assess the stoma and surrounding skin
c) Administer an antidiarrheal
d) Teach dietary restrictions
b) Assess the stoma and surrounding skin
Rationale: Assessing the stoma and skin identifies causes of leakage (e.g., improper fit, skin
breakdown), guiding intervention, per the nursing process.
6. A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory
value should the nurse monitor?
a) Platelet count
b) International Normalized Ratio (INR)
c) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
d) Hemoglobin
2025/2026 | Latest Actual Exam with Verified
Correct Answers
ATI Comprehensive Medical-Surgical Nursing | Key Domains: Patient Safety, Pharmacology,
Chronic & Acute Conditions, Surgical Nursing, Fluid & Electrolytes, Cardiovascular, Respiratory,
Endocrine, Neurological, GI/GU, and Emergency Care | Expert-Verified Q&A | Academic &
Clinical Excellence
Introduction
This 2025/2026 ATI Medical-Surgical CMS Proctored Exam resource contains 60 verified
questions, matching the standard exam format, with 100% correct answers graded A+. It covers
critical medical-surgical nursing topics, including patient safety, pharmacology, acute and
chronic conditions, surgical care, and system-specific disorders (e.g., cardiovascular,
respiratory, GI/GU). Questions are designed to reflect ATI’s focus on clinical judgment,
prioritization, and evidence-based practice, ensuring readiness for both academic success and
clinical application.
Answer Format
All correct answers are highlighted in bold and green, with concise rationales included to
reinforce understanding of key medical-surgical nursing concepts.
ATI Medical-Surgical CMS Proctored Exam 2025/2026 | Verified Actual Questions
& Correct Answers | 100% Pass Guarantee | Nursing Academic Success
ATI Medical-Surgical CMS Proctored Exam Questions (1–60)
1. A client with heart failure is admitted with dyspnea and bilateral crackles.
Which intervention should the nurse prioritize?
a) Administer oxygen therapy
b) Encourage ambulation
c) Increase fluid intake
d) Administer a bronchodilator
a) Administer oxygen therapy
Rationale: Dyspnea and crackles indicate pulmonary edema in heart failure. Oxygen therapy
improves oxygenation, addressing the priority need (ABCs), per heart failure management
guidelines.
2. A client with type 2 diabetes mellitus reports a blood glucose level of 300
mg/dL. Which action should the nurse take first?
, a) Administer insulin as prescribed
b) Encourage the client to drink water
c) Check the client’s hemoglobin A1c
d) Assess for signs of diabetic ketoacidosis
d) Assess for signs of diabetic ketoacidosis
Rationale: A blood glucose of 300 mg/dL may indicate hyperglycemia or DKA. Assessing for
symptoms (e.g., Kussmaul respirations, fruity breath) is the priority to determine urgency, per
the nursing process.
3. A client post-appendectomy reports severe abdominal pain and fever.
What should the nurse suspect?
a) Normal postoperative recovery
b) Surgical site infection
c) Constipation
d) Paralytic ileus
b) Surgical site infection
Rationale: Severe pain and fever post-surgery suggest infection, a common complication
requiring immediate assessment, per postoperative care guidelines.
4. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
prescribed albuterol. What is the primary action of this medication?
a) Reduce inflammation
b) Dilate bronchioles
c) Suppress cough
d) Thin mucus secretions
b) Dilate bronchioles
Rationale: Albuterol, a beta-2 agonist, relaxes bronchial smooth muscles to dilate airways,
improving airflow in COPD, per pharmacologic guidelines.
5. A client with a new colostomy reports leakage around the stoma. What
should the nurse do first?
a) Change the ostomy appliance
b) Assess the stoma and surrounding skin
c) Administer an antidiarrheal
d) Teach dietary restrictions
b) Assess the stoma and surrounding skin
Rationale: Assessing the stoma and skin identifies causes of leakage (e.g., improper fit, skin
breakdown), guiding intervention, per the nursing process.
6. A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory
value should the nurse monitor?
a) Platelet count
b) International Normalized Ratio (INR)
c) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
d) Hemoglobin
