ATI PN Adult Medical-Surgical Exam – Overview
The ATI PN Adult Medical-Surgical proctored exam assesses your knowledge of caring
for adult clients with acute and chronic medical-surgical conditions. It covers the
following major content areas:
1. Cardiovascular Disorders
• Heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension
• Myocardial infarction, angina, dysrhythmias
• Peripheral vascular disease, venous insufficiency
2. Respiratory Disorders
• COPD, asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis
• Pulmonary embolism, ARDS, respiratory failure
• Oxygen therapy and chest tube management
3. Gastrointestinal Disorders
• GERD, peptic ulcer disease, diverticulitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis
• Bowel obstructions, ostomy care
4. Neurological Disorders
• Stroke (CVA), seizures, Parkinson's disease
• Multiple sclerosis, head injuries, increased ICP
• Neurological assessments and safety precautions
,5. Endocrine Disorders
• Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 and Type 2)
• Thyroid disorders, adrenal insufficiency
• Diabetes insipidus, SIADH
6. Renal and Urinary Disorders
• Acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease
• Glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis
• Dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis)
7. Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Fractures, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis
• Total joint arthroplasty, osteomyelitis
• Traction, casts, and mobility aids
8. Immune and Infectious Disorders
• HIV/AIDS, opportunistic infections
• Autoimmune disorders, transplant rejection
• Infection control and isolation precautions
9. Oncology
• Cancer types, staging, treatment modalities
• Chemotherapy, radiation, symptom management
• Oncologic emergencies
10. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
, • Dehydration, fluid overload
• Electrolyte imbalances (sodium, potassium, calcium)
• Acidosis and alkalosis (respiratory and metabolic)
NGN (Next Generation NCLEX) Question Formats
The exam includes NGN-style questions that test clinical judgment through:
1. Case Studies – Extended scenarios with multiple questions
2. Bow-tie Questions – Drag-and-drop prioritization
3. Matrix/Grid Questions – Multiple rows and columns
4. Highlighting Questions – Identifying relevant findings
5. Drop-down Questions – Selecting from a list
Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Here are over 200 practice questions covering all major content areas, with detailed
rationales.
Cardiovascular Disorders (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who has a prescription for furosemide.
Which of the following findings indicates that the medication is effective?
, A. Increased blood pressure
B. Decreased dyspnea
C. Increased heart rate
D. Decreased urine outpu
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that reduces fluid volume. Effectiveness is
indicated by decreased dyspnea (B), decreased blood pressure (not increased),
decreased heart rate (not increased), and increased urine output (not decreased).
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 days post-myocardial infarction. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Chest pain rated 3 on a scale of 0-10
B. Blood pressure 110/70 mmHg
C. Heart rate 88/min
D. Oxygen saturation 96%
Answer: A
Rationale: Chest pain in a client post-MI may indicate ongoing ischemia or reinfarction
and should be reported immediately. BP 110/70, HR 88, and SpO2 96% are within
acceptable ranges.
Question 3
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with heart failure. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply)
The ATI PN Adult Medical-Surgical proctored exam assesses your knowledge of caring
for adult clients with acute and chronic medical-surgical conditions. It covers the
following major content areas:
1. Cardiovascular Disorders
• Heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension
• Myocardial infarction, angina, dysrhythmias
• Peripheral vascular disease, venous insufficiency
2. Respiratory Disorders
• COPD, asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis
• Pulmonary embolism, ARDS, respiratory failure
• Oxygen therapy and chest tube management
3. Gastrointestinal Disorders
• GERD, peptic ulcer disease, diverticulitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis
• Bowel obstructions, ostomy care
4. Neurological Disorders
• Stroke (CVA), seizures, Parkinson's disease
• Multiple sclerosis, head injuries, increased ICP
• Neurological assessments and safety precautions
,5. Endocrine Disorders
• Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 and Type 2)
• Thyroid disorders, adrenal insufficiency
• Diabetes insipidus, SIADH
6. Renal and Urinary Disorders
• Acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease
• Glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis
• Dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis)
7. Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Fractures, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis
• Total joint arthroplasty, osteomyelitis
• Traction, casts, and mobility aids
8. Immune and Infectious Disorders
• HIV/AIDS, opportunistic infections
• Autoimmune disorders, transplant rejection
• Infection control and isolation precautions
9. Oncology
• Cancer types, staging, treatment modalities
• Chemotherapy, radiation, symptom management
• Oncologic emergencies
10. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
, • Dehydration, fluid overload
• Electrolyte imbalances (sodium, potassium, calcium)
• Acidosis and alkalosis (respiratory and metabolic)
NGN (Next Generation NCLEX) Question Formats
The exam includes NGN-style questions that test clinical judgment through:
1. Case Studies – Extended scenarios with multiple questions
2. Bow-tie Questions – Drag-and-drop prioritization
3. Matrix/Grid Questions – Multiple rows and columns
4. Highlighting Questions – Identifying relevant findings
5. Drop-down Questions – Selecting from a list
Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Here are over 200 practice questions covering all major content areas, with detailed
rationales.
Cardiovascular Disorders (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who has a prescription for furosemide.
Which of the following findings indicates that the medication is effective?
, A. Increased blood pressure
B. Decreased dyspnea
C. Increased heart rate
D. Decreased urine outpu
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that reduces fluid volume. Effectiveness is
indicated by decreased dyspnea (B), decreased blood pressure (not increased),
decreased heart rate (not increased), and increased urine output (not decreased).
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 days post-myocardial infarction. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Chest pain rated 3 on a scale of 0-10
B. Blood pressure 110/70 mmHg
C. Heart rate 88/min
D. Oxygen saturation 96%
Answer: A
Rationale: Chest pain in a client post-MI may indicate ongoing ischemia or reinfarction
and should be reported immediately. BP 110/70, HR 88, and SpO2 96% are within
acceptable ranges.
Question 3
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with heart failure. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply)
