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RN VATI ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS (LATEST 2025 UPDATE)
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has atopic dermatitis and a prescription
for triamcinolone ointment. The nurse should assess the client to monitor for
which of the following adverse effects? ANS >> Thinning of the skin.
Only apply the ointment to dry patches of the skin to avoid atrophy.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of left-sided
heart failure? ANS >> Frothy sputum
Pink-tinged frothy sputum can be an early indication of pulmonary edema and can be life-threatening. Therefore, the
nurse should notify the provider immediately.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anxiety as well as numbness
and tingling of the lips and fingers. The client's ABGs are ANS >> pH 7.48,
PCO2 30 mm Hg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L, PaO2 85 mm Hg. Which of thefollowing
acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the client is experiencing?
ANS >> Respiratory alkalosis
- The pH is alkaline (increased)
- PCO2 is decreased representing alveolar hyperventilation & resultant respiratory alkalosis
,4. A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect? ANS >> Osteoporosis
Bone become thinner as a result of mineral loss & nitrogen depletion.
5. A nurse is inspecting the skin of a client who has basal cell carcinoma. The
nurse should identify which of the following lesion characteristics on the client's
skin? ANS >> A pearly, waxy nodule.
- Basal cell carcinoma has a nodular lesion with well defined borders & pearly or waxy appearance resulting from
overexposure to the sun. especially on the face, head, and neck.
-A client who has melanoma has a lesion with irregular borders and variegated colors of red, white, and blue, most
often on the upper back or lower legs.
-A client who has squamous cell carcinoma has a firm, nodular, and crusty lesion with a ulcerated center, resulting from
sun exposure, chronic irritation, burns, or irradiation to the skin.
,6. A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who is overusing
prescribed diuretics and has a sodium level of 127 mEq/L. Which of the follow-
ing laboratory findings should the nurse expect? ANS >> LOW URINE SPECFIC
GRAVITY.
-A client who has hyponatremia as a result of diuretic overuse has a low urine specific gravity. The increased excretion of
water alters the ratio of particulate matter, which attects the specific gravity.
7. A home health nurse is assisting a client with planning care for a family
member who has Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include? ANS >> Remove clutter from rooms and hallways
- This allows the client is able to walk without the risk of falling or tripping over objects. Later in the disease, the client can
experience seizures, so cluttered areas could be a risk to the client
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has developed acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as
a manifestation of this syndrome? ANS >> REFRACTORY HYPOXEMIA
- A client who has ARDS has refractory hypoxemia, which is hypoxemia that does not improve with oxygen therapy.
Extensive pulmonary edema evident on a chest x-ray is a manifestation of ARDS.
9. An emergency room nurse is assessing a client who has asthma and difficulty
breathing. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the
client is experiencing status asthmaticus? ANS >> USE OF ASSCESSORY MUSCLES.
- A client who has status asthmaticus uses accessory muscles to help facilitate breathing, which is a manifestation of a
severe airflow obstruction. The situation is life-threatening and the nurse should intervene immediately with strong
systemic bronchodilators, epinephrine, corticosteroids, and oxygen.
10. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for PHENYTOIN to
treat a seizure disorder. Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse
instruct the client to report IMMEDIATELY to the provider? ANS >> SKIN RASH.
, - the nurse should determine that the priority finding is a rash, which can have a measles-like appearance and progress
to exfoliative dermatitis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The client should report this finding to the provider immediately.
11. A nurse is monitoring a client following a LUMBAR LAMINECTOMY. The client
has a drain and indwelling urinary catheter. The nurse should identify which of
RN VATI ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS (LATEST 2025 UPDATE)
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has atopic dermatitis and a prescription
for triamcinolone ointment. The nurse should assess the client to monitor for
which of the following adverse effects? ANS >> Thinning of the skin.
Only apply the ointment to dry patches of the skin to avoid atrophy.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of left-sided
heart failure? ANS >> Frothy sputum
Pink-tinged frothy sputum can be an early indication of pulmonary edema and can be life-threatening. Therefore, the
nurse should notify the provider immediately.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anxiety as well as numbness
and tingling of the lips and fingers. The client's ABGs are ANS >> pH 7.48,
PCO2 30 mm Hg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L, PaO2 85 mm Hg. Which of thefollowing
acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the client is experiencing?
ANS >> Respiratory alkalosis
- The pH is alkaline (increased)
- PCO2 is decreased representing alveolar hyperventilation & resultant respiratory alkalosis
,4. A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect? ANS >> Osteoporosis
Bone become thinner as a result of mineral loss & nitrogen depletion.
5. A nurse is inspecting the skin of a client who has basal cell carcinoma. The
nurse should identify which of the following lesion characteristics on the client's
skin? ANS >> A pearly, waxy nodule.
- Basal cell carcinoma has a nodular lesion with well defined borders & pearly or waxy appearance resulting from
overexposure to the sun. especially on the face, head, and neck.
-A client who has melanoma has a lesion with irregular borders and variegated colors of red, white, and blue, most
often on the upper back or lower legs.
-A client who has squamous cell carcinoma has a firm, nodular, and crusty lesion with a ulcerated center, resulting from
sun exposure, chronic irritation, burns, or irradiation to the skin.
,6. A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who is overusing
prescribed diuretics and has a sodium level of 127 mEq/L. Which of the follow-
ing laboratory findings should the nurse expect? ANS >> LOW URINE SPECFIC
GRAVITY.
-A client who has hyponatremia as a result of diuretic overuse has a low urine specific gravity. The increased excretion of
water alters the ratio of particulate matter, which attects the specific gravity.
7. A home health nurse is assisting a client with planning care for a family
member who has Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include? ANS >> Remove clutter from rooms and hallways
- This allows the client is able to walk without the risk of falling or tripping over objects. Later in the disease, the client can
experience seizures, so cluttered areas could be a risk to the client
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has developed acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as
a manifestation of this syndrome? ANS >> REFRACTORY HYPOXEMIA
- A client who has ARDS has refractory hypoxemia, which is hypoxemia that does not improve with oxygen therapy.
Extensive pulmonary edema evident on a chest x-ray is a manifestation of ARDS.
9. An emergency room nurse is assessing a client who has asthma and difficulty
breathing. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the
client is experiencing status asthmaticus? ANS >> USE OF ASSCESSORY MUSCLES.
- A client who has status asthmaticus uses accessory muscles to help facilitate breathing, which is a manifestation of a
severe airflow obstruction. The situation is life-threatening and the nurse should intervene immediately with strong
systemic bronchodilators, epinephrine, corticosteroids, and oxygen.
10. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for PHENYTOIN to
treat a seizure disorder. Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse
instruct the client to report IMMEDIATELY to the provider? ANS >> SKIN RASH.
, - the nurse should determine that the priority finding is a rash, which can have a measles-like appearance and progress
to exfoliative dermatitis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The client should report this finding to the provider immediately.
11. A nurse is monitoring a client following a LUMBAR LAMINECTOMY. The client
has a drain and indwelling urinary catheter. The nurse should identify which of
