ATI RN Targeted Medical-
Surgical Comprehensive
Practice Exam 2026–2027|
Complete Test Prep Practice
Questions With Answers &
Detailed Rationales |clinical
Judgment &Safety |A+ Rated
1.
A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure. Which finding
should the nurse expect?
A. Weight loss
B. Bradycardia
C. Bilateral dependent edema
D. Increased urine output
Heart failure commonly causes fluid retention, resulting in dependent
edema, rapid weight gain, and pulmonary congestion.
2.
A client with heart failure reports increasing shortness of breath and
a 2-kg (4.4-lb) weight gain over 3 days. Which action should the
nurse take first?
,A. Encourage increased oral fluids
B. Assess the client's lung sounds
C. Place the client in a supine position
D. Encourage increased sodium intake
Rapid weight gain and dyspnea can indicate worsening fluid
overload. Lung assessment helps determine whether pulmonary
congestion is present.
3.
Which finding is most concerning in a client who has acute
pulmonary edema?
A. Blood pressure 138/82 mm Hg
B. Mild ankle edema
C. Pink, frothy sputum
D. Respiratory rate of 18/min
Pink, frothy sputum is associated with severe pulmonary edema and
requires immediate intervention.
4.
A nurse is teaching a client with heart failure about daily weights.
Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Weigh yourself after dinner each day.
B. Weigh yourself once weekly.
C. Weigh yourself at the same time each morning.
D. Weigh yourself immediately after exercise.
Daily weights should be obtained under consistent conditions,
preferably each morning after voiding and before breakfast.
5.
A client prescribed furosemide should be monitored for which
electrolyte imbalance?
,A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion and
can cause hypokalemia.
6.
A client taking digoxin reports nausea, anorexia, and seeing yellow
halos around lights. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Digoxin toxicity
C. Dehydration
D. Hypercalcemia
Nausea, anorexia, visual disturbances, and dysrhythmias are classic
manifestations of digoxin toxicity.
7.
Before administering digoxin, which assessment is most important?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Blood pressure
C. Apical heart rate
D. Temperature
Digoxin can cause bradycardia. The nurse should assess the apical
pulse before administration and follow prescribed parameters for
withholding the medication.
8.
A client with angina reports chest pain that occurs during exercise
and resolves with rest. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
, A. Stable angina
B. Unstable angina
C. Pericarditis
D. Myocardial infarction
Stable angina is predictable, usually occurs with exertion, and
improves with rest or prescribed nitroglycerin.
9.
Which statement by a client prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin
indicates correct understanding?
A. "I will swallow the tablet with water."
B. "I will place the tablet under my tongue."
C. "I will take the medication only after the pain lasts 30 minutes."
D. "I will store the tablets in a weekly pill organizer."
Nitroglycerin tablets are placed under the tongue for rapid
absorption. They should be stored according to product instructions,
generally in their original container.
10.
A client develops crushing substernal chest pain radiating to the left
arm. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Encourage ambulation.
B. Assess vital signs and obtain an ECG according to protocol.
C. Give the client a high-fat meal.
D. Place the client in Trendelenburg position.
New crushing chest pain may indicate acute coronary syndrome.
Rapid assessment and ECG evaluation are priorities.
11.
Which laboratory result is most specific for myocardial injury?
Surgical Comprehensive
Practice Exam 2026–2027|
Complete Test Prep Practice
Questions With Answers &
Detailed Rationales |clinical
Judgment &Safety |A+ Rated
1.
A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure. Which finding
should the nurse expect?
A. Weight loss
B. Bradycardia
C. Bilateral dependent edema
D. Increased urine output
Heart failure commonly causes fluid retention, resulting in dependent
edema, rapid weight gain, and pulmonary congestion.
2.
A client with heart failure reports increasing shortness of breath and
a 2-kg (4.4-lb) weight gain over 3 days. Which action should the
nurse take first?
,A. Encourage increased oral fluids
B. Assess the client's lung sounds
C. Place the client in a supine position
D. Encourage increased sodium intake
Rapid weight gain and dyspnea can indicate worsening fluid
overload. Lung assessment helps determine whether pulmonary
congestion is present.
3.
Which finding is most concerning in a client who has acute
pulmonary edema?
A. Blood pressure 138/82 mm Hg
B. Mild ankle edema
C. Pink, frothy sputum
D. Respiratory rate of 18/min
Pink, frothy sputum is associated with severe pulmonary edema and
requires immediate intervention.
4.
A nurse is teaching a client with heart failure about daily weights.
Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Weigh yourself after dinner each day.
B. Weigh yourself once weekly.
C. Weigh yourself at the same time each morning.
D. Weigh yourself immediately after exercise.
Daily weights should be obtained under consistent conditions,
preferably each morning after voiding and before breakfast.
5.
A client prescribed furosemide should be monitored for which
electrolyte imbalance?
,A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion and
can cause hypokalemia.
6.
A client taking digoxin reports nausea, anorexia, and seeing yellow
halos around lights. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Digoxin toxicity
C. Dehydration
D. Hypercalcemia
Nausea, anorexia, visual disturbances, and dysrhythmias are classic
manifestations of digoxin toxicity.
7.
Before administering digoxin, which assessment is most important?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Blood pressure
C. Apical heart rate
D. Temperature
Digoxin can cause bradycardia. The nurse should assess the apical
pulse before administration and follow prescribed parameters for
withholding the medication.
8.
A client with angina reports chest pain that occurs during exercise
and resolves with rest. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
, A. Stable angina
B. Unstable angina
C. Pericarditis
D. Myocardial infarction
Stable angina is predictable, usually occurs with exertion, and
improves with rest or prescribed nitroglycerin.
9.
Which statement by a client prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin
indicates correct understanding?
A. "I will swallow the tablet with water."
B. "I will place the tablet under my tongue."
C. "I will take the medication only after the pain lasts 30 minutes."
D. "I will store the tablets in a weekly pill organizer."
Nitroglycerin tablets are placed under the tongue for rapid
absorption. They should be stored according to product instructions,
generally in their original container.
10.
A client develops crushing substernal chest pain radiating to the left
arm. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Encourage ambulation.
B. Assess vital signs and obtain an ECG according to protocol.
C. Give the client a high-fat meal.
D. Place the client in Trendelenburg position.
New crushing chest pain may indicate acute coronary syndrome.
Rapid assessment and ECG evaluation are priorities.
11.
Which laboratory result is most specific for myocardial injury?
