ATI Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice Questions Set
1
Respiratory System
1. A 62-year-old patient with COPD presents with dyspnea and oxygen saturation of 88%
on room air. Which nursing intervention is the priority?
A. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B. Encourage deep breathing exercises
C. Position the patient flat in bed
D. Administer a bronchodilator nebulizer
2. A 45-year-old patient with pneumonia reports a productive cough with green sputum.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a sputum culture
B. Administer an antibiotic
C. Increase fluid intake
D. Perform chest physiotherapy
3. A 70-year-old patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is on mechanical
ventilation. The nurse notes high peak airway pressures. What is the priority action?
A. Notify the respiratory therapist
B. Increase the tidal volume
C. Administer a sedative
D. Suction the airway
4. A 28-year-old patient with asthma experiences wheezing and shortness of breath. The
nurse administers albuterol. What should the nurse monitor next?
A. Heart rate
B. Blood glucose
C. Urine output
D. Temperature
1
, 5. A 55-year-old patient with pulmonary embolism reports sudden chest pain and tachycar-
dia. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Administer heparin per protocol
B. Apply warm compresses to the chest
C. Encourage ambulation
D. Provide a high-fat diet
6. A 60-year-old patient with chronic bronchitis has a barrel chest and uses accessory mus-
cles to breathe. What should the nurse include in the care plan?
A. Pursed-lip breathing exercises
B. High-protein diet
C. Bed rest with legs elevated
D. Daily weight measurements
7. A 50-year-old patient post-thoracotomy reports pain at the incision site. Which non-
pharmacological intervention should the nurse implement?
A. Teach splinting with a pillow
B. Apply a heating pad
C. Encourage rapid breathing
D. Massage the incision site
8. A 35-year-old patient with tuberculosis is on a multi-drug regimen. The nurse notes the
patient has not taken their medication. What is the priority action?
A. Educate on the importance of adherence
B. Administer a double dose
C. Discontinue the regimen
D. Schedule a follow-up in one month
9. A 65-year-old patient with lung cancer reports increased dyspnea. The nurse observes
cyanosis. What is the first action?
A. Administer supplemental oxygen
B. Elevate the head of the bed
C. Start an IV fluid bolus
D. Check blood pressure
10. A 40-year-old patient with a tracheostomy has thick secretions. Which intervention should
the nurse prioritize?
A. Suction the tracheostomy
B. Change the tracheostomy tube
2
, C. Administer a mucolytic
D. Increase room humidity
Cardiac System
11. A 58-year-old patient with myocardial infarction reports chest pain. The nurse administers
nitroglycerin. What should the nurse assess first?
A. Blood pressure
B. Respiratory rate
C. Temperature
D. Pain level
12. A 72-year-old patient with heart failure has 2+ pitting edema in the lower extremities.
Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Elevate the legs
B. Apply heating pads
C. Increase sodium intake
D. Restrict fluid intake to 500 mL/day
13. A 50-year-old patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. What should the nurse
include in patient teaching?
A. Monitor for signs of bleeding
B. Increase green leafy vegetable intake
C. Avoid all physical activity
D. Take the medication in the morning
14. A 65-year-old patient post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery reports sternal
pain. What should the nurse do first?
A. Assess the incision site
B. Administer an analgesic
C. Encourage deep breathing
D. Increase IV fluids
15. A 45-year-old patient with hypertension has a blood pressure of 180/100 mmHg. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer prescribed antihypertensive
B. Encourage relaxation techniques
C. Restrict dietary potassium
D. Measure weight
3
1
Respiratory System
1. A 62-year-old patient with COPD presents with dyspnea and oxygen saturation of 88%
on room air. Which nursing intervention is the priority?
A. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B. Encourage deep breathing exercises
C. Position the patient flat in bed
D. Administer a bronchodilator nebulizer
2. A 45-year-old patient with pneumonia reports a productive cough with green sputum.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a sputum culture
B. Administer an antibiotic
C. Increase fluid intake
D. Perform chest physiotherapy
3. A 70-year-old patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is on mechanical
ventilation. The nurse notes high peak airway pressures. What is the priority action?
A. Notify the respiratory therapist
B. Increase the tidal volume
C. Administer a sedative
D. Suction the airway
4. A 28-year-old patient with asthma experiences wheezing and shortness of breath. The
nurse administers albuterol. What should the nurse monitor next?
A. Heart rate
B. Blood glucose
C. Urine output
D. Temperature
1
, 5. A 55-year-old patient with pulmonary embolism reports sudden chest pain and tachycar-
dia. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Administer heparin per protocol
B. Apply warm compresses to the chest
C. Encourage ambulation
D. Provide a high-fat diet
6. A 60-year-old patient with chronic bronchitis has a barrel chest and uses accessory mus-
cles to breathe. What should the nurse include in the care plan?
A. Pursed-lip breathing exercises
B. High-protein diet
C. Bed rest with legs elevated
D. Daily weight measurements
7. A 50-year-old patient post-thoracotomy reports pain at the incision site. Which non-
pharmacological intervention should the nurse implement?
A. Teach splinting with a pillow
B. Apply a heating pad
C. Encourage rapid breathing
D. Massage the incision site
8. A 35-year-old patient with tuberculosis is on a multi-drug regimen. The nurse notes the
patient has not taken their medication. What is the priority action?
A. Educate on the importance of adherence
B. Administer a double dose
C. Discontinue the regimen
D. Schedule a follow-up in one month
9. A 65-year-old patient with lung cancer reports increased dyspnea. The nurse observes
cyanosis. What is the first action?
A. Administer supplemental oxygen
B. Elevate the head of the bed
C. Start an IV fluid bolus
D. Check blood pressure
10. A 40-year-old patient with a tracheostomy has thick secretions. Which intervention should
the nurse prioritize?
A. Suction the tracheostomy
B. Change the tracheostomy tube
2
, C. Administer a mucolytic
D. Increase room humidity
Cardiac System
11. A 58-year-old patient with myocardial infarction reports chest pain. The nurse administers
nitroglycerin. What should the nurse assess first?
A. Blood pressure
B. Respiratory rate
C. Temperature
D. Pain level
12. A 72-year-old patient with heart failure has 2+ pitting edema in the lower extremities.
Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Elevate the legs
B. Apply heating pads
C. Increase sodium intake
D. Restrict fluid intake to 500 mL/day
13. A 50-year-old patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. What should the nurse
include in patient teaching?
A. Monitor for signs of bleeding
B. Increase green leafy vegetable intake
C. Avoid all physical activity
D. Take the medication in the morning
14. A 65-year-old patient post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery reports sternal
pain. What should the nurse do first?
A. Assess the incision site
B. Administer an analgesic
C. Encourage deep breathing
D. Increase IV fluids
15. A 45-year-old patient with hypertension has a blood pressure of 180/100 mmHg. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer prescribed antihypertensive
B. Encourage relaxation techniques
C. Restrict dietary potassium
D. Measure weight
3
