ATI Medical-Surgical Exam 9 Comprehensive Review 2026 |Questions
|Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a prescription for incentive
spirometry. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Hold your breath for 3 to 5 seconds after inhalation.
B. Exhale as hard as possible into the device.
C. Perform this exercise once every 4 hours.
D. Use the device only when feeling short of breath.
Answer: A
Rationale: Incentive spirometry requires the client to inhale slowly and deeply, holding
their breath for 3-5 seconds to keep the alveoli open and prevent atelectasis.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who is 24 hours postoperative following
abdominal surgery. Which of the following findings is the priority to report to
the provider?
A. Urinary output of 20 mL/hr over the last 2 hours.
B. Pain level of 6 on a 0 to 10 scale.
C. Absent bowel sounds in all four quadrants.
D. Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing.
Answer: A
Rationale: Urinary output less than 30 mL/hr can indicate decreased renal perfusion or
hypovolemia and is the priority finding to report.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus who is shaky and
irritable. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates.
B. Give the client a complex carbohydrate snack.
C. Call the provider for an insulin adjustment.
D. Check the client’s blood glucose level.
Answer: D
Rationale: The first step in the nursing process is assessment. The nurse should confirm
hypoglycemia before treating it, unless the client is unconscious.
4. A nurse is reviewing the lab results of a client with heart failure. Which of the
following results indicates the client is experiencing fluid volume overload?
A. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) 600 pg/mL
B. Potassium 4.0 mEq/L
C. Hematocrit 45%
D. Sodium 138 mEq/L
Answer: A
Rationale: BNP is a marker for heart failure; levels above 100 pg/mL indicate heart failure
and fluid overload.
5. A client has a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which of the following lifestyle
modifications should the nurse emphasize to the client?
A. Adopt the DASH diet.
B. Increase sodium intake to 3,000 mg per day.
C. Limit potassium intake.
D. Exercise vigorously for 10 minutes once a week.
Answer: A
Rationale: The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is high in fruits,
vegetables, and low-fat dairy, which is proven to lower blood pressure.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Massage the affected extremity to improve blood flow.
B. Apply cold compresses to the leg.
C. Elevate the affected extremity.
D. Encourage the client to ambulate frequently.
Answer: C
Rationale: Elevating the extremity helps reduce edema and facilitates venous return in a
client with DVT.
7. A nurse is educating a client about a colonoscopy. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include?
A. You will need to follow a clear liquid diet the day before.
B. You may eat a normal breakfast the morning of the procedure.
C. The procedure will take approximately 4 hours.
D. You can drive yourself home after the procedure.
Answer: A
Rationale: A clear liquid diet is required the day before a colonoscopy to ensure the bowel
is properly cleansed for visualization.
8. A nurse is assessing a client with Cushing’s syndrome. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Weight loss and dehydration.
B. Moon face and buffalo hump.
C. Hypotension and tachycardia.
D. Hyperpigmentation of the skin.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by excess cortisol, leading to fat
redistribution resulting in a moon face and a buffalo hump.
|Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a prescription for incentive
spirometry. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Hold your breath for 3 to 5 seconds after inhalation.
B. Exhale as hard as possible into the device.
C. Perform this exercise once every 4 hours.
D. Use the device only when feeling short of breath.
Answer: A
Rationale: Incentive spirometry requires the client to inhale slowly and deeply, holding
their breath for 3-5 seconds to keep the alveoli open and prevent atelectasis.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who is 24 hours postoperative following
abdominal surgery. Which of the following findings is the priority to report to
the provider?
A. Urinary output of 20 mL/hr over the last 2 hours.
B. Pain level of 6 on a 0 to 10 scale.
C. Absent bowel sounds in all four quadrants.
D. Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing.
Answer: A
Rationale: Urinary output less than 30 mL/hr can indicate decreased renal perfusion or
hypovolemia and is the priority finding to report.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus who is shaky and
irritable. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates.
B. Give the client a complex carbohydrate snack.
C. Call the provider for an insulin adjustment.
D. Check the client’s blood glucose level.
Answer: D
Rationale: The first step in the nursing process is assessment. The nurse should confirm
hypoglycemia before treating it, unless the client is unconscious.
4. A nurse is reviewing the lab results of a client with heart failure. Which of the
following results indicates the client is experiencing fluid volume overload?
A. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) 600 pg/mL
B. Potassium 4.0 mEq/L
C. Hematocrit 45%
D. Sodium 138 mEq/L
Answer: A
Rationale: BNP is a marker for heart failure; levels above 100 pg/mL indicate heart failure
and fluid overload.
5. A client has a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which of the following lifestyle
modifications should the nurse emphasize to the client?
A. Adopt the DASH diet.
B. Increase sodium intake to 3,000 mg per day.
C. Limit potassium intake.
D. Exercise vigorously for 10 minutes once a week.
Answer: A
Rationale: The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is high in fruits,
vegetables, and low-fat dairy, which is proven to lower blood pressure.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Massage the affected extremity to improve blood flow.
B. Apply cold compresses to the leg.
C. Elevate the affected extremity.
D. Encourage the client to ambulate frequently.
Answer: C
Rationale: Elevating the extremity helps reduce edema and facilitates venous return in a
client with DVT.
7. A nurse is educating a client about a colonoscopy. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include?
A. You will need to follow a clear liquid diet the day before.
B. You may eat a normal breakfast the morning of the procedure.
C. The procedure will take approximately 4 hours.
D. You can drive yourself home after the procedure.
Answer: A
Rationale: A clear liquid diet is required the day before a colonoscopy to ensure the bowel
is properly cleansed for visualization.
8. A nurse is assessing a client with Cushing’s syndrome. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Weight loss and dehydration.
B. Moon face and buffalo hump.
C. Hypotension and tachycardia.
D. Hyperpigmentation of the skin.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by excess cortisol, leading to fat
redistribution resulting in a moon face and a buffalo hump.
