Page 1 of 154
ATI MED SURG PROCTORED EXAM A,B & C 2023 ACTUAL
EXAM GUIDE ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES| LATEST 2026 AGRADE
1. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has just transferred to the
medical- surgical unit form the PACU following a right total knee arthroplasty. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? - ANSWER>>Assist the
client to change positions at least every 2 hr.
Rationale:
The nurse should assist the client to change positions at least every 2 hr to promote return of
respiratory function following anesthesia and prevent atelectasis and pneumonia.
2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has chronic kidney disease about disease
management. Which of the following statements by the client indicated an understanding of
the teaching? - ANSWER>>"I will limit my daily intake of protein."
Rationale:
The client should decrease their intake of protein to slow the progression of kidney failure.
Therefore, the nurse should identify this statement as an understanding of the teaching.
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The nurse should reinforce that the client should avoid eating foods high in potassium, such as
bananas, because kidney impairment causes hyperkalemia.
The nurse should reinforce that the client should maintain adequate intake of carbohydrates as
part of a balanced diet to maintain tissue integrity. Restriction of fluids and phosphorus are
necessary.
The nurse should caution the client to avoid salt substitutes, which are high in potassium,
because kidney impairment causes hyperkalemia.
3.A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is postoperative. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as a complication of surgery? - ANSWER>>WBC count of
15,000/mm3
Rationale:
The nurse should monitor laboratory findings for indications of a postoperative complication.
This WBC count is above the expected reference range and indicates the presence of infection.
4.A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 hr postoperative following the amputation of a foot.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? - ANSWER>>Check the incisional
dressing.
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Rationale:
The greatest risk to the client is hemorrhage following an amputation of the lower extremity.
Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is to check the client's incisional dressing for
excessive bleeding.
5.A nurse is caring for a client following a thyroidectomy. Which of the following findings
should alert the nurse to the possibility of parathyroid gland injury? - ANSWER>>Muscle
twitching
Rationale:
A common complication of a thyroidectomy is parathyroid gland injury, leading to
hypocalcemia. Clients experiencing hypocalcemia can have twitching, numbness, and tingling of
fingers, toes, and around the mouth.
6.A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client prior to the removal of a leg cast. Which of the
following statements should indicated to the nurse that the client understand the teaching? -
ANSWER>>"I will feel vibrations on my leg from the cast cutter."
Rationale:
The client will feel heat and vibrations from the cast cutter on the affected extremity. The nurse
should assure the client that cast removal should not cause any pain.
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7.A nurse is caring for a client who has end-stage liver disease and just underwent an abdominal
paracentesis. For which of the following manifestations should the nurse monitor as an adverse
effect of the procedure? - ANSWER>>Decreased blood pressure
Rationale:
Following an abdominal paracentesis, the nurse should monitor the client for a decrease in
blood pressure. This finding indicates hypovolemia as a result of excess fluid withdrawal.
Depending on the amount of fluid withdrawn, hypovolemia can lead to shock.
8.A home health nurse is caring for a client who has COPD. The client reports shortness of
breath while eating, despite the use of home oxygen. Which of the following recommendations
should the nurse make? - ANSWER>>"Use a bronchodilator 30 minutes before your meal."
Rationale:
The client should use a bronchodilator 30 min before meals to prevent shortness of breath
while eating.
The nurse should recommend that the client consume a diet that is high in protein to promote
lung tissue repair.
4
ATI MED SURG PROCTORED EXAM A,B & C 2023 ACTUAL
EXAM GUIDE ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES| LATEST 2026 AGRADE
1. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has just transferred to the
medical- surgical unit form the PACU following a right total knee arthroplasty. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? - ANSWER>>Assist the
client to change positions at least every 2 hr.
Rationale:
The nurse should assist the client to change positions at least every 2 hr to promote return of
respiratory function following anesthesia and prevent atelectasis and pneumonia.
2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has chronic kidney disease about disease
management. Which of the following statements by the client indicated an understanding of
the teaching? - ANSWER>>"I will limit my daily intake of protein."
Rationale:
The client should decrease their intake of protein to slow the progression of kidney failure.
Therefore, the nurse should identify this statement as an understanding of the teaching.
1
,Page 2 of 154
The nurse should reinforce that the client should avoid eating foods high in potassium, such as
bananas, because kidney impairment causes hyperkalemia.
The nurse should reinforce that the client should maintain adequate intake of carbohydrates as
part of a balanced diet to maintain tissue integrity. Restriction of fluids and phosphorus are
necessary.
The nurse should caution the client to avoid salt substitutes, which are high in potassium,
because kidney impairment causes hyperkalemia.
3.A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is postoperative. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as a complication of surgery? - ANSWER>>WBC count of
15,000/mm3
Rationale:
The nurse should monitor laboratory findings for indications of a postoperative complication.
This WBC count is above the expected reference range and indicates the presence of infection.
4.A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 hr postoperative following the amputation of a foot.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? - ANSWER>>Check the incisional
dressing.
2
,Page 3 of 154
Rationale:
The greatest risk to the client is hemorrhage following an amputation of the lower extremity.
Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is to check the client's incisional dressing for
excessive bleeding.
5.A nurse is caring for a client following a thyroidectomy. Which of the following findings
should alert the nurse to the possibility of parathyroid gland injury? - ANSWER>>Muscle
twitching
Rationale:
A common complication of a thyroidectomy is parathyroid gland injury, leading to
hypocalcemia. Clients experiencing hypocalcemia can have twitching, numbness, and tingling of
fingers, toes, and around the mouth.
6.A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client prior to the removal of a leg cast. Which of the
following statements should indicated to the nurse that the client understand the teaching? -
ANSWER>>"I will feel vibrations on my leg from the cast cutter."
Rationale:
The client will feel heat and vibrations from the cast cutter on the affected extremity. The nurse
should assure the client that cast removal should not cause any pain.
3
, Page 4 of 154
7.A nurse is caring for a client who has end-stage liver disease and just underwent an abdominal
paracentesis. For which of the following manifestations should the nurse monitor as an adverse
effect of the procedure? - ANSWER>>Decreased blood pressure
Rationale:
Following an abdominal paracentesis, the nurse should monitor the client for a decrease in
blood pressure. This finding indicates hypovolemia as a result of excess fluid withdrawal.
Depending on the amount of fluid withdrawn, hypovolemia can lead to shock.
8.A home health nurse is caring for a client who has COPD. The client reports shortness of
breath while eating, despite the use of home oxygen. Which of the following recommendations
should the nurse make? - ANSWER>>"Use a bronchodilator 30 minutes before your meal."
Rationale:
The client should use a bronchodilator 30 min before meals to prevent shortness of breath
while eating.
The nurse should recommend that the client consume a diet that is high in protein to promote
lung tissue repair.
4
