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Comprehensive ATI Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam Q&A
with Rationales ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam
Test Bank: High-Yield Questions with Answers
Cardiovascular Disorders
Q1. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who is receiving furosemide
80 mg IV push. Which assessment finding indicates the medication is having the
desired therapeutic effect?
A) Heart rate increases from 72 to 88 bpm
B) Urine output of 500 mL within 2 hours
C) Blood pressure increases from 100/60 to 120/80 mm Hg
D) Serum potassium increases from 3.5 to 4.2 mEq/L
☑ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Urine output of 500 mL within 2 hours
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Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes rapid diuresis. Increased
urine output indicates the medication is reducing fluid volume overload, which is
the desired therapeutic effect in heart failure.
Q2. A client with chest pain has an ECG showing ST-elevation in leads II, III, and
aVF. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Administer nitroglycerin sublingually
B) Prepare for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
C) Start oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
D) Obtain a troponin level
☑ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Prepare for percutaneous coronary intervention
(PCI)
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Rationale: ST-elevation in inferior leads indicates an acute STEMI (myocardial
infarction). Urgent PCI is the priority to restore coronary blood flow and salvage
myocardial tissue. While oxygen, nitroglycerin, and troponin are important, they
are secondary to reperfusion.
Q3. A client taking digoxin presents with nausea, vomiting, visual halos (yellow-
green halos around lights), and a serum digoxin level of 2.5 ng/mL. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer activated charcoal
B) Hold the digoxin and obtain an ECG
C) Increase the digoxin dose
D) Encourage a high-potassium diet
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☑ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Hold the digoxin and obtain an ECG
Rationale: Nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances are classic signs of digoxin
toxicity. The therapeutic range is 0.5-2 ng/mL; 2.5 ng/mL is toxic. The priority is to
hold the medication and obtain an ECG to assess for life-threatening
dysrhythmias.
Neurological Disorders
Q4. A client with an acute ischemic stroke arrives within 2 hours of symptom
onset. CT shows no hemorrhage. BP is 170/95 mm Hg. What is the priority
intervention?
A) Administer IV labetalol to lower BP below 140/90 mm Hg
B) Evaluate for alteplase (tPA) eligibility and administer if criteria are met
Comprehensive ATI Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam Q&A
with Rationales ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam
Test Bank: High-Yield Questions with Answers
Cardiovascular Disorders
Q1. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who is receiving furosemide
80 mg IV push. Which assessment finding indicates the medication is having the
desired therapeutic effect?
A) Heart rate increases from 72 to 88 bpm
B) Urine output of 500 mL within 2 hours
C) Blood pressure increases from 100/60 to 120/80 mm Hg
D) Serum potassium increases from 3.5 to 4.2 mEq/L
☑ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Urine output of 500 mL within 2 hours
,2
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes rapid diuresis. Increased
urine output indicates the medication is reducing fluid volume overload, which is
the desired therapeutic effect in heart failure.
Q2. A client with chest pain has an ECG showing ST-elevation in leads II, III, and
aVF. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Administer nitroglycerin sublingually
B) Prepare for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
C) Start oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
D) Obtain a troponin level
☑ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Prepare for percutaneous coronary intervention
(PCI)
,3
Rationale: ST-elevation in inferior leads indicates an acute STEMI (myocardial
infarction). Urgent PCI is the priority to restore coronary blood flow and salvage
myocardial tissue. While oxygen, nitroglycerin, and troponin are important, they
are secondary to reperfusion.
Q3. A client taking digoxin presents with nausea, vomiting, visual halos (yellow-
green halos around lights), and a serum digoxin level of 2.5 ng/mL. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer activated charcoal
B) Hold the digoxin and obtain an ECG
C) Increase the digoxin dose
D) Encourage a high-potassium diet
, 4
☑ CORRECT ANSWER: B) Hold the digoxin and obtain an ECG
Rationale: Nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances are classic signs of digoxin
toxicity. The therapeutic range is 0.5-2 ng/mL; 2.5 ng/mL is toxic. The priority is to
hold the medication and obtain an ECG to assess for life-threatening
dysrhythmias.
Neurological Disorders
Q4. A client with an acute ischemic stroke arrives within 2 hours of symptom
onset. CT shows no hemorrhage. BP is 170/95 mm Hg. What is the priority
intervention?
A) Administer IV labetalol to lower BP below 140/90 mm Hg
B) Evaluate for alteplase (tPA) eligibility and administer if criteria are met
