ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL EXAM
2025/2026. COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.GUARANTEED SUCCESS.
A nurse is providing postoperative teaching for a client who had a total knee
arthroplasty. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
CORRECT ANS->> Flex the foot every hour when awake.
EXPLANATION: The nurse should instruct the client to flex the foot every hour
to reduce the risk for thromboembolism and promote venous return.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a pneumothorax and a closed-chest
drainage system. Which of the following findings is an indication of lung re-
expansion? CORRECT ANS->> Bubbling in the water seal chamber has ceased.
EXPLANATION: Bubbling in the water seal chamber ceases when the lung re-
expands.
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking warfarin for
chronic atrial fibrillation. Which of the following values should the nurse
identify as a desired outcome for this therapy? CORRECT ANS->> INR 2.5
EXPLANATION: Clients receive warfarin therapy to decrease the risk of stroke,
myocardial infarction (MI), or pulmonary emboli (PE) from blood clots. Since
warfarin is an anticoagulant, the medication must be monitored to ensure the
anticoagulation is within the therapeutic range and prevent hemorrhage (high
levels of anticoagulation) or stroke, MI, or PE (low levels of anticoagulation). An
INR of 2.5 is within the targeted therapeutic range of 2 to 3 for a client who has
atrial fibrillation.
A home health nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a stage 1
pressure injury on the greater trochanter of his left hip. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include in the teaching? CORRECT ANS->> Change
position every hour
EXPLANATION: Changing position every 1 to 2 hr. decreases pressure on bony
prominences. The nurse should also instruct the client to limit the angle of the
hips when in a lateral position to no more than 30°. This positioning prevents
direct pressure on the trochanter.
,A nurse is assessing a client following the completion of hemodialysis. Which of
the following findings is the nurse's priority to report to the provider? CORRECT
ANS->> Restlessness
EXPLANATION: Using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the
nurse should determine that the priority finding to report to the provider is
restlessness, which can be an indication the client is experiencing
disequilibrium syndrome. Disequilibrium syndrome is caused by the rapid
removal of electrolytes from the client's blood and can lead to dysrhythmias or
seizures. Other manifestations include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and
headache.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 8 hr. postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty. The client is unable to void on the bedpan. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first? CORRECT ANS->> Scan the bladder with a
portable ultrasound.
EXPLANATION: The first action the nurse should take using the nursing
process is to assess the client. Scanning the bladder with a portable ultrasound
device will determine the amount of urine in the bladder
A nurse is planning a health promotional presentation for a group of African
American clients at a community center. Which of the following disorders
presents the greatest risk to this group of clients? CORRECT ANS->>
Hypertension
EXPLANATION: When using the safety/risk reduction approach to client care,
the nurse should determine that the disorder with the greatest risk for this
group of clients is hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is highest
among African American clients, followed by Caucasian clients, and then
Hispanic clients.
A nurse is caring for a client who has DKA. Which of the following findings
should indicate to the nurse that the client's condition is improving? CORRECT
ANS->> Glucose 272 mg/dL
EXPLANATION: A glucose reading less than 300 mg/dL indicates improvement
in the client's status.
A nurse is caring for a client following estuation of an endotracheal tube 10
min. ago. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
, provider immediately? CORRECT ANS->> Stridor
EXPLANATION: Using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the
nurse should determine that the priority finding is stridor. Stridor can indicate a
narrowing airway or possible obstruction caused by edema or laryngeal
spasms. The nurse should report the finding immediately and implement an
intervention.
A nurse is caring for a client who had a nephrostomy tube inserted 112 hr. ago.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
CORRECT ANS->> The client reports back pain
EXPLANATION: The nurse should notify the provider if the client reports back
pain, which can indicate that the nephrostomy tube is dislodged or clogged.
A nurse is admitting a client who has active TB. Which of the following types of
transmission precautions should the nurse initiate? CORRECT ANS->> Airborne
EXPLANATION: Airborne precautions are required for clients who have
infections due to micro-organisms that can remain suspended in air for lengthy
periods of time, such as tuberculosis, measles, varicella, and disseminated
varicella zoster.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a sealed radiation implant for
cervical cancer. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include
in the plan of care? CORRECT ANS->> Keep a lead-lined container in the client's
room
EXPLANATION: The nurse should keep a lead-lined container and forceps in
the client's room in case of accidental dislodgement of the implant.
A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy.
Which of the following findings is the nurse's priority? CORRECT ANS->>
Temperature 38.9° C (102° F)
EXPLANATION: When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care,
the nurse should determine that the priority finding is an elevated
temperature. An elevated temperature is a manifestation of excessive thyroid
hormone release, or thyroid storm, due to an increase in metabolic rate. The
nurse should report this finding immediately to the provider because it can lead
to seizures and coma.
2025/2026. COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.GUARANTEED SUCCESS.
A nurse is providing postoperative teaching for a client who had a total knee
arthroplasty. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
CORRECT ANS->> Flex the foot every hour when awake.
EXPLANATION: The nurse should instruct the client to flex the foot every hour
to reduce the risk for thromboembolism and promote venous return.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a pneumothorax and a closed-chest
drainage system. Which of the following findings is an indication of lung re-
expansion? CORRECT ANS->> Bubbling in the water seal chamber has ceased.
EXPLANATION: Bubbling in the water seal chamber ceases when the lung re-
expands.
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking warfarin for
chronic atrial fibrillation. Which of the following values should the nurse
identify as a desired outcome for this therapy? CORRECT ANS->> INR 2.5
EXPLANATION: Clients receive warfarin therapy to decrease the risk of stroke,
myocardial infarction (MI), or pulmonary emboli (PE) from blood clots. Since
warfarin is an anticoagulant, the medication must be monitored to ensure the
anticoagulation is within the therapeutic range and prevent hemorrhage (high
levels of anticoagulation) or stroke, MI, or PE (low levels of anticoagulation). An
INR of 2.5 is within the targeted therapeutic range of 2 to 3 for a client who has
atrial fibrillation.
A home health nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a stage 1
pressure injury on the greater trochanter of his left hip. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include in the teaching? CORRECT ANS->> Change
position every hour
EXPLANATION: Changing position every 1 to 2 hr. decreases pressure on bony
prominences. The nurse should also instruct the client to limit the angle of the
hips when in a lateral position to no more than 30°. This positioning prevents
direct pressure on the trochanter.
,A nurse is assessing a client following the completion of hemodialysis. Which of
the following findings is the nurse's priority to report to the provider? CORRECT
ANS->> Restlessness
EXPLANATION: Using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the
nurse should determine that the priority finding to report to the provider is
restlessness, which can be an indication the client is experiencing
disequilibrium syndrome. Disequilibrium syndrome is caused by the rapid
removal of electrolytes from the client's blood and can lead to dysrhythmias or
seizures. Other manifestations include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and
headache.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 8 hr. postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty. The client is unable to void on the bedpan. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first? CORRECT ANS->> Scan the bladder with a
portable ultrasound.
EXPLANATION: The first action the nurse should take using the nursing
process is to assess the client. Scanning the bladder with a portable ultrasound
device will determine the amount of urine in the bladder
A nurse is planning a health promotional presentation for a group of African
American clients at a community center. Which of the following disorders
presents the greatest risk to this group of clients? CORRECT ANS->>
Hypertension
EXPLANATION: When using the safety/risk reduction approach to client care,
the nurse should determine that the disorder with the greatest risk for this
group of clients is hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is highest
among African American clients, followed by Caucasian clients, and then
Hispanic clients.
A nurse is caring for a client who has DKA. Which of the following findings
should indicate to the nurse that the client's condition is improving? CORRECT
ANS->> Glucose 272 mg/dL
EXPLANATION: A glucose reading less than 300 mg/dL indicates improvement
in the client's status.
A nurse is caring for a client following estuation of an endotracheal tube 10
min. ago. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
, provider immediately? CORRECT ANS->> Stridor
EXPLANATION: Using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the
nurse should determine that the priority finding is stridor. Stridor can indicate a
narrowing airway or possible obstruction caused by edema or laryngeal
spasms. The nurse should report the finding immediately and implement an
intervention.
A nurse is caring for a client who had a nephrostomy tube inserted 112 hr. ago.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
CORRECT ANS->> The client reports back pain
EXPLANATION: The nurse should notify the provider if the client reports back
pain, which can indicate that the nephrostomy tube is dislodged or clogged.
A nurse is admitting a client who has active TB. Which of the following types of
transmission precautions should the nurse initiate? CORRECT ANS->> Airborne
EXPLANATION: Airborne precautions are required for clients who have
infections due to micro-organisms that can remain suspended in air for lengthy
periods of time, such as tuberculosis, measles, varicella, and disseminated
varicella zoster.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a sealed radiation implant for
cervical cancer. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include
in the plan of care? CORRECT ANS->> Keep a lead-lined container in the client's
room
EXPLANATION: The nurse should keep a lead-lined container and forceps in
the client's room in case of accidental dislodgement of the implant.
A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy.
Which of the following findings is the nurse's priority? CORRECT ANS->>
Temperature 38.9° C (102° F)
EXPLANATION: When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care,
the nurse should determine that the priority finding is an elevated
temperature. An elevated temperature is a manifestation of excessive thyroid
hormone release, or thyroid storm, due to an increase in metabolic rate. The
nurse should report this finding immediately to the provider because it can lead
to seizures and coma.
