ATI Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice
Questions
Introduction
This document contains 80 original, non-repeating NCLEX-style multiple-choice
questions for the ATI Medical-Surgical Nursing assessment, covering Respira-
tory, Cardiac, Neurological, Renal, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, and Musculoskele-
tal systems, chronic and acute conditions, and nursing interventions and clinical
judgment. Each question includes a patient-based scenario, four answer choices
(A–D), and one correct answer. An answer key is provided at the end.
Respiratory System (10 Questions)
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with acute exacerbation of COPD report-
ing increased dyspnea. Which intervention is the priority?
A) Administer a sedative
B) Place the patient in a high Fowler’s position
C) Encourage bed rest without oxygen
D) Restrict fluid intake
2. A nurse is assessing a patient with pneumonia. Which finding requires
immediate action?
A) Oxygen saturation of 88%
B) Productive cough with green sputum
C) Temperature of 99°F
D) Heart rate of 80 bpm
3. A nurse is caring for a patient post-thoracentesis. Which finding indi-
cates a complication?
A) Decreased breath sounds on the affected side
B) Stable blood pressure
C) Clear lung sounds bilaterally
D) Mild discomfort at the puncture site
4. A nurse is monitoring a patient with asthma using a peak flow meter.
1
, Which result indicates worsening asthma?
A) Peak flow in the green zone
B) Peak flow in the yellow zone
C) Peak flow in the red zone
D) Peak flow above baseline
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with a pulmonary embolism. Which in-
tervention is the priority?
A) Administer oxygen
B) Encourage ambulation
C) Restrict all fluids
D) Apply warm compresses
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected pneumothorax. Which
finding is most concerning?
A) Symmetrical chest expansion
B) Tracheal deviation
C) Normal respiratory rate
D) Clear breath sounds
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with a tracheostomy. Which action pre-
vents complications?
A) Suction the tracheostomy as needed
B) Remove the tracheostomy tube daily
C) Use sterile water for humidification
D) Keep the tracheostomy cuff deflated
8. A nurse is teaching a patient with COPD about pursed-lip breathing.
Which outcome is expected?
A) Increased respiratory rate
B) Prolonged exhalation
C) Decreased oxygen saturation
D) Increased carbon dioxide retention
9. A nurse is caring for a patient on mechanical ventilation. Which alarm
requires immediate action?
A) Low-pressure alarm
B) High-pressure alarm
C) Normal tidal volume alarm
D) Stable oxygen saturation alarm
10. A nurse is assessing a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS). Which finding is expected?
A) Clear lung sounds
B) Severe hypoxemia
2
, C) Normal chest X-ray
D) Stable respiratory rate
Cardiac System (10 Questions)
11. A nurse is caring for a patient with chest pain suspected of myocardial
infarction. Which action is the priority?
A) Administer aspirin as prescribed
B) Encourage ambulation
C) Restrict oxygen therapy
D) Apply a warm compress
12. A nurse is monitoring a patient with heart failure. Which finding indi-
cates worsening condition?
A) Weight gain of 3 pounds in 2 days
B) Stable blood pressure
C) Clear lung sounds
D) Normal urine output
13. A nurse is caring for a patient with atrial fibrillation. Which medica-
tion is most likely prescribed?
A) Metformin
B) Warfarin
C) Albuterol
D) Furosemide
14. A nurse is assessing a patient post-cardiac catheterization. Which find-
ing requires immediate action?
A) Mild bruising at the site
B) Absent distal pulses
C) Stable blood pressure
D) Normal sensation in the limb
15. A nurse is caring for a patient with hypertension. Which instruction
promotes adherence?
A) Avoid monitoring blood pressure
B) Take medications as prescribed daily
C) Increase sodium intake
D) Limit physical activity
16. A nurse is monitoring a patient with a pacemaker. Which finding indi-
cates malfunction?
A) Heart rate of 70 bpm
3
Questions
Introduction
This document contains 80 original, non-repeating NCLEX-style multiple-choice
questions for the ATI Medical-Surgical Nursing assessment, covering Respira-
tory, Cardiac, Neurological, Renal, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, and Musculoskele-
tal systems, chronic and acute conditions, and nursing interventions and clinical
judgment. Each question includes a patient-based scenario, four answer choices
(A–D), and one correct answer. An answer key is provided at the end.
Respiratory System (10 Questions)
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with acute exacerbation of COPD report-
ing increased dyspnea. Which intervention is the priority?
A) Administer a sedative
B) Place the patient in a high Fowler’s position
C) Encourage bed rest without oxygen
D) Restrict fluid intake
2. A nurse is assessing a patient with pneumonia. Which finding requires
immediate action?
A) Oxygen saturation of 88%
B) Productive cough with green sputum
C) Temperature of 99°F
D) Heart rate of 80 bpm
3. A nurse is caring for a patient post-thoracentesis. Which finding indi-
cates a complication?
A) Decreased breath sounds on the affected side
B) Stable blood pressure
C) Clear lung sounds bilaterally
D) Mild discomfort at the puncture site
4. A nurse is monitoring a patient with asthma using a peak flow meter.
1
, Which result indicates worsening asthma?
A) Peak flow in the green zone
B) Peak flow in the yellow zone
C) Peak flow in the red zone
D) Peak flow above baseline
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with a pulmonary embolism. Which in-
tervention is the priority?
A) Administer oxygen
B) Encourage ambulation
C) Restrict all fluids
D) Apply warm compresses
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected pneumothorax. Which
finding is most concerning?
A) Symmetrical chest expansion
B) Tracheal deviation
C) Normal respiratory rate
D) Clear breath sounds
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with a tracheostomy. Which action pre-
vents complications?
A) Suction the tracheostomy as needed
B) Remove the tracheostomy tube daily
C) Use sterile water for humidification
D) Keep the tracheostomy cuff deflated
8. A nurse is teaching a patient with COPD about pursed-lip breathing.
Which outcome is expected?
A) Increased respiratory rate
B) Prolonged exhalation
C) Decreased oxygen saturation
D) Increased carbon dioxide retention
9. A nurse is caring for a patient on mechanical ventilation. Which alarm
requires immediate action?
A) Low-pressure alarm
B) High-pressure alarm
C) Normal tidal volume alarm
D) Stable oxygen saturation alarm
10. A nurse is assessing a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS). Which finding is expected?
A) Clear lung sounds
B) Severe hypoxemia
2
, C) Normal chest X-ray
D) Stable respiratory rate
Cardiac System (10 Questions)
11. A nurse is caring for a patient with chest pain suspected of myocardial
infarction. Which action is the priority?
A) Administer aspirin as prescribed
B) Encourage ambulation
C) Restrict oxygen therapy
D) Apply a warm compress
12. A nurse is monitoring a patient with heart failure. Which finding indi-
cates worsening condition?
A) Weight gain of 3 pounds in 2 days
B) Stable blood pressure
C) Clear lung sounds
D) Normal urine output
13. A nurse is caring for a patient with atrial fibrillation. Which medica-
tion is most likely prescribed?
A) Metformin
B) Warfarin
C) Albuterol
D) Furosemide
14. A nurse is assessing a patient post-cardiac catheterization. Which find-
ing requires immediate action?
A) Mild bruising at the site
B) Absent distal pulses
C) Stable blood pressure
D) Normal sensation in the limb
15. A nurse is caring for a patient with hypertension. Which instruction
promotes adherence?
A) Avoid monitoring blood pressure
B) Take medications as prescribed daily
C) Increase sodium intake
D) Limit physical activity
16. A nurse is monitoring a patient with a pacemaker. Which finding indi-
cates malfunction?
A) Heart rate of 70 bpm
3
