ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam |
ATI RN Med-Surg Proctored Exam 2026–2027 | ATI
Adult Medical-Surgical Content Mastery Series
Study Guide, Practice Questions & Answers, Adult
Health Nursing, Cardiovascular, Respiratory,
Neurological, Gastrointestinal, Renal, Endocrine,
Diabetes, Hematologic, Immune, Musculoskeletal,
Oncology, Pharmacology, Prioritization, Clinical
Judgment & NGN Review
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a client who has a suspected
peptic ulcer. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect the client to report?
A. Pain relieved by eating
B. Pain worsened by eating
C. Pain radiating to the left shoulder
D. Pain accompanied by fever and chills
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Pain relieved by eating
Rationale: Duodenal ulcers typically present with pain that is relieved by
food intake, as food buffers gastric acid. Gastric ulcers, in contrast, often
cause pain that worsens with eating. Left shoulder pain suggests
diaphragmatic irritation, and fever/chills suggest infection, neither of which
are typical of uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease.
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a client who has just returned
from a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral artery. Which
of the following findings requires immediate intervention?
A. Blood pressure of 128/76 mm Hg
B. Heart rate of 92/min
C. Swelling and ecchymosis at the insertion site
D. Warm, dry skin on the right lower extremity
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Swelling and ecchymosis at the insertion
site
Rationale: Swelling and ecchymosis at the femoral access site may indicate
a hematoma or retroperitoneal bleeding, which requires immediate
assessment and provider notification. Blood pressure, heart rate, and warm
extremity findings are within expected parameters post-procedure.
,Question 3: A nurse is teaching a client who has type 1 diabetes
mellitus about sick-day management. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include?
A. "Discontinue your insulin if you are unable to eat."
B. "Check your blood glucose every 4 to 6 hours."
C. "Restrict fluids to prevent fluid overload."
D. "Take your usual dose of insulin even if you are not eating."
CORRECT ANSWER: D. "Take your usual dose of insulin even if you
are not eating."
Rationale: During illness, stress hormones increase blood glucose even
without food intake. Insulin must be continued to prevent hyperglycemia
and diabetic ketoacidosis. Blood glucose should be checked every 3 to 4
hours, fluids should be encouraged, and insulin should never be
discontinued without provider direction.
Question 4: A nurse is assessing a client who has chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is receiving oxygen at 2
L/min via nasal cannula. Which of the following findings indicates
the therapy is effective?
A. Oxygen saturation of 90%
B. Respiratory rate of 28/min
C. Use of accessory muscles
D. Confusion and restlessness
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Oxygen saturation of 90%
Rationale: Clients with COPD have a target oxygen saturation of 88% to
92% to maintain hypoxic drive. A saturation of 90% is within the therapeutic
range. Accessory muscle use, tachypnea, and confusion indicate respiratory
distress and ineffective oxygenation.
Question 5: A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and
a new prescription for furosemide. Which of the following findings
indicates a therapeutic response?
A. Increased urine output with decreased edema
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Weight gain of 1 kg in 24 hours
D. Decreased potassium level
, CORRECT ANSWER: A. Increased urine output with decreased
edema
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes diuresis, reducing
fluid volume and peripheral edema. Weight loss, not gain, is expected.
Hypotension, not hypertension, may occur. Hypokalemia is an adverse
effect, not a therapeutic response.
Question 6: A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who
had a total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
A. "Cross your legs at the ankles when sitting."
B. "Sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs."
C. "Bend at the waist to pick up objects from the floor."
D. "Use a low, soft chair for sitting during the day."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "Sleep on your side with a pillow between
your legs."
Rationale: Sleeping on the side with a pillow between the legs maintains hip
abduction and prevents dislocation. Crossing legs, bending at the waist, and
sitting in low chairs all increase the risk of hip flexion beyond 90 degrees,
which can cause dislocation.
Question 7: A nurse is assessing a client who has increased
intracranial pressure (ICP). Which of the following findings is an
early sign of increased ICP?
A. Decreased level of consciousness
B. Fixed and dilated pupils
C. Decerebrate posturing
D. Cushing's triad
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Decreased level of consciousness
Rationale: A decreasing level of consciousness is often the earliest indicator
of increased ICP. Fixed pupils, posturing, and Cushing's triad (bradycardia,
hypertension, irregular respirations) are late, ominous signs indicating
herniation.
Question 8: A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood
transfusion. Which of the following findings indicates an acute
hemolytic reaction?
ATI RN Med-Surg Proctored Exam 2026–2027 | ATI
Adult Medical-Surgical Content Mastery Series
Study Guide, Practice Questions & Answers, Adult
Health Nursing, Cardiovascular, Respiratory,
Neurological, Gastrointestinal, Renal, Endocrine,
Diabetes, Hematologic, Immune, Musculoskeletal,
Oncology, Pharmacology, Prioritization, Clinical
Judgment & NGN Review
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a client who has a suspected
peptic ulcer. Which of the following findings should the nurse
expect the client to report?
A. Pain relieved by eating
B. Pain worsened by eating
C. Pain radiating to the left shoulder
D. Pain accompanied by fever and chills
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Pain relieved by eating
Rationale: Duodenal ulcers typically present with pain that is relieved by
food intake, as food buffers gastric acid. Gastric ulcers, in contrast, often
cause pain that worsens with eating. Left shoulder pain suggests
diaphragmatic irritation, and fever/chills suggest infection, neither of which
are typical of uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease.
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a client who has just returned
from a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral artery. Which
of the following findings requires immediate intervention?
A. Blood pressure of 128/76 mm Hg
B. Heart rate of 92/min
C. Swelling and ecchymosis at the insertion site
D. Warm, dry skin on the right lower extremity
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Swelling and ecchymosis at the insertion
site
Rationale: Swelling and ecchymosis at the femoral access site may indicate
a hematoma or retroperitoneal bleeding, which requires immediate
assessment and provider notification. Blood pressure, heart rate, and warm
extremity findings are within expected parameters post-procedure.
,Question 3: A nurse is teaching a client who has type 1 diabetes
mellitus about sick-day management. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include?
A. "Discontinue your insulin if you are unable to eat."
B. "Check your blood glucose every 4 to 6 hours."
C. "Restrict fluids to prevent fluid overload."
D. "Take your usual dose of insulin even if you are not eating."
CORRECT ANSWER: D. "Take your usual dose of insulin even if you
are not eating."
Rationale: During illness, stress hormones increase blood glucose even
without food intake. Insulin must be continued to prevent hyperglycemia
and diabetic ketoacidosis. Blood glucose should be checked every 3 to 4
hours, fluids should be encouraged, and insulin should never be
discontinued without provider direction.
Question 4: A nurse is assessing a client who has chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is receiving oxygen at 2
L/min via nasal cannula. Which of the following findings indicates
the therapy is effective?
A. Oxygen saturation of 90%
B. Respiratory rate of 28/min
C. Use of accessory muscles
D. Confusion and restlessness
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Oxygen saturation of 90%
Rationale: Clients with COPD have a target oxygen saturation of 88% to
92% to maintain hypoxic drive. A saturation of 90% is within the therapeutic
range. Accessory muscle use, tachypnea, and confusion indicate respiratory
distress and ineffective oxygenation.
Question 5: A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and
a new prescription for furosemide. Which of the following findings
indicates a therapeutic response?
A. Increased urine output with decreased edema
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Weight gain of 1 kg in 24 hours
D. Decreased potassium level
, CORRECT ANSWER: A. Increased urine output with decreased
edema
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes diuresis, reducing
fluid volume and peripheral edema. Weight loss, not gain, is expected.
Hypotension, not hypertension, may occur. Hypokalemia is an adverse
effect, not a therapeutic response.
Question 6: A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who
had a total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
A. "Cross your legs at the ankles when sitting."
B. "Sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs."
C. "Bend at the waist to pick up objects from the floor."
D. "Use a low, soft chair for sitting during the day."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "Sleep on your side with a pillow between
your legs."
Rationale: Sleeping on the side with a pillow between the legs maintains hip
abduction and prevents dislocation. Crossing legs, bending at the waist, and
sitting in low chairs all increase the risk of hip flexion beyond 90 degrees,
which can cause dislocation.
Question 7: A nurse is assessing a client who has increased
intracranial pressure (ICP). Which of the following findings is an
early sign of increased ICP?
A. Decreased level of consciousness
B. Fixed and dilated pupils
C. Decerebrate posturing
D. Cushing's triad
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Decreased level of consciousness
Rationale: A decreasing level of consciousness is often the earliest indicator
of increased ICP. Fixed pupils, posturing, and Cushing's triad (bradycardia,
hypertension, irregular respirations) are late, ominous signs indicating
herniation.
Question 8: A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood
transfusion. Which of the following findings indicates an acute
hemolytic reaction?
