ATI MEDSURG
PROCTORED EXAM 2026 | Practice Questions &
Answers with Rationales | ATI Adult Medical-Surgical
Nursing Study Guide
RESOURCE FEATURES
• ATI Med-Surg practice questions
• Answers for self-assessment
• Detailed rationales and explanations
• Clinical scenario-based questions
• Priority and delegation practice
• Adult health review
• NCLEX-style clinical judgment
• Comprehensive 2026 exam preparation
,ATI MEDSURG PROCTORED EXAM 2026
| Practice Questions & Answers with
Rationales | ATI Adult Medical-Surgical
Nursing Study Guide
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client who is 12hr postoperative following a
colon resection. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report to the surgeon?
A. Heart rate 90/min
B. Absent bowel sounds
C. Hgb 8.2 g/dl
D. Gastric pH of 3
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal Hgb is 13-18 g/dL for males and 12-16 g/dL for
females. A hemoglobin of 8.2 g/dL is significantly low and may indicate
possible hemorrhaging, which requires immediate surgical intervention.
Absent bowel sounds are expected postoperatively, and a gastric pH of 3 is
normal.
,Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the
following medications should the nurse plan to administer?
A. Desmopressin
B. Regular insulin
C. Furosemide
D. Lithium carbonate
Answer: A
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus is characterized by decreased antidiuretic
hormone (ADH). Desmopressin (a synthetic ADH) is administered to
increase ADH levels and decrease excessive urination. Regular insulin is for
diabetes mellitus, furosemide is a diuretic, and lithium carbonate can
actually cause diabetes insipidus.
Question 3
Desmopressin is used to treat:
Answer: Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)
Question 4
, A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking
ibuprofen several times daily for 3 years. Which of the following tests
should the nurse monitor?
A. Fasting blood glucose
B. Stool for occult blood - GI bleed
C. Urine for white blood cells
D. Serum calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Ibuprofen is an NSAID that can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
The nurse should monitor for GI bleed, which may present as bloody or
tarry stools and abdominal pain.
Question 5
A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a sputum sample for culture
B. Prepare the client for a chest x-ray
C. Initiate airborne precautions
D. Administer ondansetron
Answer: C
PROCTORED EXAM 2026 | Practice Questions &
Answers with Rationales | ATI Adult Medical-Surgical
Nursing Study Guide
RESOURCE FEATURES
• ATI Med-Surg practice questions
• Answers for self-assessment
• Detailed rationales and explanations
• Clinical scenario-based questions
• Priority and delegation practice
• Adult health review
• NCLEX-style clinical judgment
• Comprehensive 2026 exam preparation
,ATI MEDSURG PROCTORED EXAM 2026
| Practice Questions & Answers with
Rationales | ATI Adult Medical-Surgical
Nursing Study Guide
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client who is 12hr postoperative following a
colon resection. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report to the surgeon?
A. Heart rate 90/min
B. Absent bowel sounds
C. Hgb 8.2 g/dl
D. Gastric pH of 3
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal Hgb is 13-18 g/dL for males and 12-16 g/dL for
females. A hemoglobin of 8.2 g/dL is significantly low and may indicate
possible hemorrhaging, which requires immediate surgical intervention.
Absent bowel sounds are expected postoperatively, and a gastric pH of 3 is
normal.
,Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the
following medications should the nurse plan to administer?
A. Desmopressin
B. Regular insulin
C. Furosemide
D. Lithium carbonate
Answer: A
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus is characterized by decreased antidiuretic
hormone (ADH). Desmopressin (a synthetic ADH) is administered to
increase ADH levels and decrease excessive urination. Regular insulin is for
diabetes mellitus, furosemide is a diuretic, and lithium carbonate can
actually cause diabetes insipidus.
Question 3
Desmopressin is used to treat:
Answer: Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)
Question 4
, A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking
ibuprofen several times daily for 3 years. Which of the following tests
should the nurse monitor?
A. Fasting blood glucose
B. Stool for occult blood - GI bleed
C. Urine for white blood cells
D. Serum calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Ibuprofen is an NSAID that can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
The nurse should monitor for GI bleed, which may present as bloody or
tarry stools and abdominal pain.
Question 5
A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a sputum sample for culture
B. Prepare the client for a chest x-ray
C. Initiate airborne precautions
D. Administer ondansetron
Answer: C
