ATI Medical-Surgical Foundations of Adult Health Nursing Week 1
2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is reviewing the nursing process. Which activity is considered part of
the assessment phase?
A. Establishing client-centered goals
B. Administering a prescribed medication
C. Collecting data about a client’s past health history
D. Determining if the client met the expected outcomes
Answer: C
Rationale: The assessment phase involves systematic collection of data. Planning involves
setting goals, implementation involves interventions like giving meds, and evaluation
involves checking outcomes.
2. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the nurse regarding
informed consent?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Describing alternative treatments to the client
C. Choosing the specific surgical technique for the client
D. Ensuring the client understands the information and witnessing the signature
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse’s role is to witness the signature and verify that the client is
competent and has received the necessary information from the provider.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client with a serum sodium level of 152 mEq/L. Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Increased thirst and dry mucous membranes
B. Abdominal cramping
C. Muscle weakness
D. Confusion and lethargy
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypernatremia (Sodium >145) causes cellular dehydration, leading to thirst,
dry membranes, and potentially neurological changes.
4. A client’s potassium level is 3.2 mEq/L. Which of the following ECG changes
should the nurse monitor for?
A. Peaked T waves
B. Presence of U waves
C. Widened QRS complex
D. Shortened QT interval
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia typically presents with flat or inverted T waves and the presence
of U waves. Peaked T waves are seen in hyperkalemia.
5. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances is associated with a positive
Chvostek’s sign?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia both cause increased neuromuscular
irritability, leading to Chvostek’s and Trousseau’s signs.
, 6. A client is scheduled for surgery. The nurse knows that ‘Time Out’ in the OR is
performed to:
A. Ensure the surgeon is present
B. Verify correct patient, correct site, and correct procedure
C. Calculate the total anesthesia time
D. Confirm the insurance authorization
Answer: B
Rationale: A ‘Time Out’ is a mandatory safety pause to prevent wrong-site, wrong-patient,
and wrong-procedure errors.
7. A nurse is teaching a client about using a Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA)
pump. Which statement indicates understanding?
A. My family can press the button for me if I am asleep
B. I should wait until the pain is severe before pressing the button
C. I will only get a dose if I press the button myself
D. The machine will give me a dose every 5 minutes regardless of what I do
Answer: C
Rationale: Only the patient should push the PCA button to prevent accidental overdose
(PCA by proxy). Dose limits prevent too frequent administration.
8. Which type of precaution should the nurse implement for a client with
Pulmonary Tuberculosis?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Airborne Precautions
D. Standard Precautions only
Answer: C
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted via small droplets that remain suspended in air,
requiring an N95 respirator and a negative pressure room.
2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is reviewing the nursing process. Which activity is considered part of
the assessment phase?
A. Establishing client-centered goals
B. Administering a prescribed medication
C. Collecting data about a client’s past health history
D. Determining if the client met the expected outcomes
Answer: C
Rationale: The assessment phase involves systematic collection of data. Planning involves
setting goals, implementation involves interventions like giving meds, and evaluation
involves checking outcomes.
2. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the nurse regarding
informed consent?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Describing alternative treatments to the client
C. Choosing the specific surgical technique for the client
D. Ensuring the client understands the information and witnessing the signature
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse’s role is to witness the signature and verify that the client is
competent and has received the necessary information from the provider.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client with a serum sodium level of 152 mEq/L. Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Increased thirst and dry mucous membranes
B. Abdominal cramping
C. Muscle weakness
D. Confusion and lethargy
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypernatremia (Sodium >145) causes cellular dehydration, leading to thirst,
dry membranes, and potentially neurological changes.
4. A client’s potassium level is 3.2 mEq/L. Which of the following ECG changes
should the nurse monitor for?
A. Peaked T waves
B. Presence of U waves
C. Widened QRS complex
D. Shortened QT interval
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia typically presents with flat or inverted T waves and the presence
of U waves. Peaked T waves are seen in hyperkalemia.
5. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances is associated with a positive
Chvostek’s sign?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia both cause increased neuromuscular
irritability, leading to Chvostek’s and Trousseau’s signs.
, 6. A client is scheduled for surgery. The nurse knows that ‘Time Out’ in the OR is
performed to:
A. Ensure the surgeon is present
B. Verify correct patient, correct site, and correct procedure
C. Calculate the total anesthesia time
D. Confirm the insurance authorization
Answer: B
Rationale: A ‘Time Out’ is a mandatory safety pause to prevent wrong-site, wrong-patient,
and wrong-procedure errors.
7. A nurse is teaching a client about using a Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA)
pump. Which statement indicates understanding?
A. My family can press the button for me if I am asleep
B. I should wait until the pain is severe before pressing the button
C. I will only get a dose if I press the button myself
D. The machine will give me a dose every 5 minutes regardless of what I do
Answer: C
Rationale: Only the patient should push the PCA button to prevent accidental overdose
(PCA by proxy). Dose limits prevent too frequent administration.
8. Which type of precaution should the nurse implement for a client with
Pulmonary Tuberculosis?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Airborne Precautions
D. Standard Precautions only
Answer: C
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted via small droplets that remain suspended in air,
requiring an N95 respirator and a negative pressure room.
