ATI MED SURG RESPIRATOR EXAM 300 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A+
ASSURED PASS
This comprehensive study guide contains 300 unique, multiple-choice questions
designed for the ATI Medical-Surgical Respiratory Nursing Exam. The questions
are organized into eight sections covering preoperative and postoperative
respiratory care, COPD, asthma and acute respiratory disorders, pneumonia and
respiratory infections, tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism and ARDS, oxygen
therapy and ABG interpretation, and upper respiratory disorders. Each question
includes the correct answer and a detailed rationale explaining the underlying
nursing principles and pathophysiology. The content is based on ATI testing
blueprints, medical-surgical nursing textbooks, and evidence-based practice
guidelines for respiratory nursing care.
Section 1: Preoperative and Postoperative Respiratory Care
(Questions 1-40)
Question 1
A nurse is providing preoperative teaching to a client who is to undergo a
pneumonectomy. The client states, "I am afraid it will hurt to cough after the
surgery." Which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate?
A. "After the surgeon removes the lung, you will not need to cough."
B. "I'll make sure you get a cough suppressant to keep you from straining the
incision when you cough."
C. "Don't worry. You will have a pump that delivers pain medication as you need
it, so you will have very little pain."
D. "I will show you how to splint your incision while coughing."
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The client who had a pneumonectomy should cough to clear secretions
from the remaining lung. The nurse should show the client how to splint her
incision to reduce pain when coughing.
,Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who's 1 hour postoperative following a thoracentesis.
Which of the following is the priority assessment finding?
A. Pallor
B. Insertion site pain
C. Persistent cough
D. Temperature 37.3°C (99.1°F)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care,
the nurse should determine that the priority finding is a persistent cough because
this can indicate a tension pneumothorax, which is a medical emergency.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client after thoracic surgery. Which intervention helps
prevent atelectasis?
A. Apply suction while inserting the catheter
B. Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter
C. Suction continuously for 60 seconds
D. Use sterile water as the p rimary suction solution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suction should be applied during withdrawal to minimize trauma and
hypoxemia. Each suction pass should be brief.
Question 4
Following thoracentesis, which finding should the nurse report immediately?
A. Mild soreness at the puncture site
B. Sudden shortness of breath
C. Small dressing
D. Mild fatigue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden dyspnea following thoracentesis can indicate pneumothorax, a
potentially serious complication requiring immediate assessment.
Question 5
,A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube following a lobectomy. Which
of the following items should the nurse keep easily accessible for the client?
A. Extra drainage system
B. Suture removal kit
C. Container of sterile water
D. Non adherent pads
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should have a container of sterile water in a location that is
easily accessible for this client. The nurse should plan to place the open end of the
tubing into the sterile water if the tubing becomes disconnected to prevent a
pneumothorax.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing a client for a thoracentesis. Which position is most
appropriate?
A. Supine with head flat
B. Sitting while leaning forward over a bedside table
C. Lying on the affected side
D. Trendelenburg position
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sitting and leaning forward widens the intercostal spaces and provides
the best access to the pleural space for needle insertion.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. What action should be included in
the plan of care?
A. Strip the tubing every 2 hours to maintain patency
B. Keep the drainage system below the level of the chest
C. Clamp the tube when ambulating the client
D. Empty the drainage chamber when full
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The chest tube drainage system must remain below the level of the chest
to promote drainage by gravity and prevent backflow into the pleural space.
Clamping is generally avoided unless specifically indicated.
, Question 8
A client has a chest tube in place following a lobectomy. The drainage collection
chamber contains 100 mL of sanguineous drainage in the first hour. What is the
priority action?
A. Clamp the chest tube
B. Notify the provider immediately
C. Milk the chest tube to ensure patency
D. Document the finding as expected
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Postoperative drainage greater than 70-100 mL/hr is indicative of active
hemorrhage. The provider must be notified immediately.
Question 9
While ambulating a client with a chest tube, the drainage system is accidentally
knocked over and cracks. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
B. Submerge the end of the chest tube in sterile water
C. Clamp the chest tube near the insertion site
D. Reconnect the tubing to a new drainage system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: If the system breaks, the priority is to prevent air from re-entering the
pleural space, which would cause a tension pneumothorax. Submerging the tube in
sterile water creates a temporary water seal.
Question 10
A nurse is caring for a client who had a pneumonectomy. Which position is most
appropriate for this client?
A. High-Fowler's
B. Supine
C. Lying on the operative side
D. Lying on the non-operative side
Correct Answer: C
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A+
ASSURED PASS
This comprehensive study guide contains 300 unique, multiple-choice questions
designed for the ATI Medical-Surgical Respiratory Nursing Exam. The questions
are organized into eight sections covering preoperative and postoperative
respiratory care, COPD, asthma and acute respiratory disorders, pneumonia and
respiratory infections, tuberculosis, pulmonary embolism and ARDS, oxygen
therapy and ABG interpretation, and upper respiratory disorders. Each question
includes the correct answer and a detailed rationale explaining the underlying
nursing principles and pathophysiology. The content is based on ATI testing
blueprints, medical-surgical nursing textbooks, and evidence-based practice
guidelines for respiratory nursing care.
Section 1: Preoperative and Postoperative Respiratory Care
(Questions 1-40)
Question 1
A nurse is providing preoperative teaching to a client who is to undergo a
pneumonectomy. The client states, "I am afraid it will hurt to cough after the
surgery." Which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate?
A. "After the surgeon removes the lung, you will not need to cough."
B. "I'll make sure you get a cough suppressant to keep you from straining the
incision when you cough."
C. "Don't worry. You will have a pump that delivers pain medication as you need
it, so you will have very little pain."
D. "I will show you how to splint your incision while coughing."
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The client who had a pneumonectomy should cough to clear secretions
from the remaining lung. The nurse should show the client how to splint her
incision to reduce pain when coughing.
,Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who's 1 hour postoperative following a thoracentesis.
Which of the following is the priority assessment finding?
A. Pallor
B. Insertion site pain
C. Persistent cough
D. Temperature 37.3°C (99.1°F)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care,
the nurse should determine that the priority finding is a persistent cough because
this can indicate a tension pneumothorax, which is a medical emergency.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client after thoracic surgery. Which intervention helps
prevent atelectasis?
A. Apply suction while inserting the catheter
B. Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter
C. Suction continuously for 60 seconds
D. Use sterile water as the p rimary suction solution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suction should be applied during withdrawal to minimize trauma and
hypoxemia. Each suction pass should be brief.
Question 4
Following thoracentesis, which finding should the nurse report immediately?
A. Mild soreness at the puncture site
B. Sudden shortness of breath
C. Small dressing
D. Mild fatigue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden dyspnea following thoracentesis can indicate pneumothorax, a
potentially serious complication requiring immediate assessment.
Question 5
,A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube following a lobectomy. Which
of the following items should the nurse keep easily accessible for the client?
A. Extra drainage system
B. Suture removal kit
C. Container of sterile water
D. Non adherent pads
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should have a container of sterile water in a location that is
easily accessible for this client. The nurse should plan to place the open end of the
tubing into the sterile water if the tubing becomes disconnected to prevent a
pneumothorax.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing a client for a thoracentesis. Which position is most
appropriate?
A. Supine with head flat
B. Sitting while leaning forward over a bedside table
C. Lying on the affected side
D. Trendelenburg position
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sitting and leaning forward widens the intercostal spaces and provides
the best access to the pleural space for needle insertion.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. What action should be included in
the plan of care?
A. Strip the tubing every 2 hours to maintain patency
B. Keep the drainage system below the level of the chest
C. Clamp the tube when ambulating the client
D. Empty the drainage chamber when full
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The chest tube drainage system must remain below the level of the chest
to promote drainage by gravity and prevent backflow into the pleural space.
Clamping is generally avoided unless specifically indicated.
, Question 8
A client has a chest tube in place following a lobectomy. The drainage collection
chamber contains 100 mL of sanguineous drainage in the first hour. What is the
priority action?
A. Clamp the chest tube
B. Notify the provider immediately
C. Milk the chest tube to ensure patency
D. Document the finding as expected
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Postoperative drainage greater than 70-100 mL/hr is indicative of active
hemorrhage. The provider must be notified immediately.
Question 9
While ambulating a client with a chest tube, the drainage system is accidentally
knocked over and cracks. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
B. Submerge the end of the chest tube in sterile water
C. Clamp the chest tube near the insertion site
D. Reconnect the tubing to a new drainage system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: If the system breaks, the priority is to prevent air from re-entering the
pleural space, which would cause a tension pneumothorax. Submerging the tube in
sterile water creates a temporary water seal.
Question 10
A nurse is caring for a client who had a pneumonectomy. Which position is most
appropriate for this client?
A. High-Fowler's
B. Supine
C. Lying on the operative side
D. Lying on the non-operative side
Correct Answer: C
