RN Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing
Content Mastery Series Ed 12.0 (ATI
CMS) 2026/2027 | Medical-Surgical
Nursing, NGN Clinical Judgment & ATI
Exam Prep | 250 Verified Questions
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who is receiving furosemide (Lasix).
Which of the following assessment findings indicates the medication is having the
desired therapeutic effect? Select all that apply.
A) Decreased peripheral edema
B) Weight loss of 2 kg in 24 hours
C) Increased jugular venous distension
D) Decreased shortness of breath
E) Increased crackles in lung bases
Correct Answers: A, B, D
Rationales>..: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that reduces fluid volume overload.
Desired effects include decreased peripheral edema (A), weight loss from fluid loss
(B), and decreased dyspnea (D). JVD (C) and crackles (E) indicate fluid overload
and would decrease, not increase, with effective therapy.
,Question 2
A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which of the following
laboratory values should the nurse monitor to evaluate therapeutic effectiveness?
A) aPTT
B) PT/INR
C) Platelet count
D) Bleeding time
Correct Answer: B) PT/INR
Rationales>..: Warfarin is monitored using PT (prothrombin time) and INR
(international normalized ratio). The therapeutic INR range for atrial fibrillation is
typically 2.0-3.0. aPTT is used to monitor heparin therapy.
Question 3
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with angina who has a new
prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. Which of the following client statements
indicates understanding of the teaching?
A) "I will take one tablet and wait 15 minutes before taking another."
B) "I will call 911 if I still have chest pain after taking three tablets."
C) "I will take my pulse rate before taking each tablet."
D) "I will store the tablets in the refrigerator."
Correct Answer: B) "I will call 911 if I still have chest pain after taking three
tablets."
,Rationales>..: Nitroglycerin should be taken at onset of pain, repeated every 5
minutes up to 3 doses. If pain persists after 3 doses, emergency services should be
called (B). Tablets should be taken every 5 minutes (A), pulse is not required (C),
and tablets should be stored at room temperature (D).
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 days post-myocardial infarction. Which of the
following findings is the priority to report to the healthcare provider?
A) Chest pain rated 6 on a 0-10 scale
B) Heart rate of 52 bpm
C) Oxygen saturation of 91%
D) New onset of dysrhythmias
Correct Answer: D) New onset of dysrhythmias
Rationales>..: New onset of dysrhythmias after MI may indicate re-infarction or
heart block and requires immediate intervention. While chest pain, bradycardia,
and hypoxia are concerning, dysrhythmias pose the greatest immediate risk.
Question 5
A client with heart failure has a prescription for digoxin. Which of the following
findings indicates digoxin toxicity?
A) Heart rate of 72 bpm
B) Serum potassium of 4.0 mEq/L
, C) Yellow-green halos around lights
D) Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg
Correct Answer: C) Yellow-green halos around lights
Rationales>..: Visual disturbances, including yellow-green halos around lights
(xanthopsia), are classic signs of digoxin toxicity. Other signs include nausea,
vomiting, bradycardia, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who is receiving
heparin therapy. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse
monitor?
A) PT/INR
B) aPTT
C) Platelet count
D) Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: B) aPTT
Rationales>..: Heparin therapy is monitored using the activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT). The therapeutic range is typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the
control value. PT/INR is used to monitor warfarin therapy.
Question 7
Content Mastery Series Ed 12.0 (ATI
CMS) 2026/2027 | Medical-Surgical
Nursing, NGN Clinical Judgment & ATI
Exam Prep | 250 Verified Questions
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who is receiving furosemide (Lasix).
Which of the following assessment findings indicates the medication is having the
desired therapeutic effect? Select all that apply.
A) Decreased peripheral edema
B) Weight loss of 2 kg in 24 hours
C) Increased jugular venous distension
D) Decreased shortness of breath
E) Increased crackles in lung bases
Correct Answers: A, B, D
Rationales>..: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that reduces fluid volume overload.
Desired effects include decreased peripheral edema (A), weight loss from fluid loss
(B), and decreased dyspnea (D). JVD (C) and crackles (E) indicate fluid overload
and would decrease, not increase, with effective therapy.
,Question 2
A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which of the following
laboratory values should the nurse monitor to evaluate therapeutic effectiveness?
A) aPTT
B) PT/INR
C) Platelet count
D) Bleeding time
Correct Answer: B) PT/INR
Rationales>..: Warfarin is monitored using PT (prothrombin time) and INR
(international normalized ratio). The therapeutic INR range for atrial fibrillation is
typically 2.0-3.0. aPTT is used to monitor heparin therapy.
Question 3
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with angina who has a new
prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. Which of the following client statements
indicates understanding of the teaching?
A) "I will take one tablet and wait 15 minutes before taking another."
B) "I will call 911 if I still have chest pain after taking three tablets."
C) "I will take my pulse rate before taking each tablet."
D) "I will store the tablets in the refrigerator."
Correct Answer: B) "I will call 911 if I still have chest pain after taking three
tablets."
,Rationales>..: Nitroglycerin should be taken at onset of pain, repeated every 5
minutes up to 3 doses. If pain persists after 3 doses, emergency services should be
called (B). Tablets should be taken every 5 minutes (A), pulse is not required (C),
and tablets should be stored at room temperature (D).
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 days post-myocardial infarction. Which of the
following findings is the priority to report to the healthcare provider?
A) Chest pain rated 6 on a 0-10 scale
B) Heart rate of 52 bpm
C) Oxygen saturation of 91%
D) New onset of dysrhythmias
Correct Answer: D) New onset of dysrhythmias
Rationales>..: New onset of dysrhythmias after MI may indicate re-infarction or
heart block and requires immediate intervention. While chest pain, bradycardia,
and hypoxia are concerning, dysrhythmias pose the greatest immediate risk.
Question 5
A client with heart failure has a prescription for digoxin. Which of the following
findings indicates digoxin toxicity?
A) Heart rate of 72 bpm
B) Serum potassium of 4.0 mEq/L
, C) Yellow-green halos around lights
D) Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg
Correct Answer: C) Yellow-green halos around lights
Rationales>..: Visual disturbances, including yellow-green halos around lights
(xanthopsia), are classic signs of digoxin toxicity. Other signs include nausea,
vomiting, bradycardia, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who is receiving
heparin therapy. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse
monitor?
A) PT/INR
B) aPTT
C) Platelet count
D) Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: B) aPTT
Rationales>..: Heparin therapy is monitored using the activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT). The therapeutic range is typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the
control value. PT/INR is used to monitor warfarin therapy.
Question 7
