ATI RN Adult Medical Surgical Proctored
Exam 2023| Full Comprehensive Review +
Practice Test Bank with Rationales
(2025/2026)
1. A nurse is providing postoperative teaching for a client who had a total knee arthroplasty.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Elevate the leg on two pillows continuously
B. Flex the foot every hour when awake.
C. Apply a heating pad to the knee for pain
D. Avoid walking for the first 48 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should instruct the client to flex the foot every hour to reduce the risk for
thromboembolism and promote venous return.
2. 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?
A. Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
B. Blood clotting in the tubing
C. Bubbling in the water seal chamber has ceased.
D. The client reports increased pain
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bubbling in the water seal chamber ceases when the lung re-expands.
,3. 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?
A. INR 1.0
B. INR 2.5
C. INR 4.0
D. INR 5.5
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An INR of 2.5 is within the targeted therapeutic range of 2 to 3 for a client who has
atrial fibrillation.
4. A home health nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a stage 1 pressure injury on the
greater trochanter. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Massage the reddened area vigorously
B. Change position every hour
C. Use a donut-shaped cushion when sitting
D. Clean the area with hydrogen peroxide
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Changing position every 1 to 2 hr decreases pressure on bony prominences.
5. 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?
,A. Mild fatigue
B. Restlessness
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Report of a headache
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority finding to report is restlessness, which can be an indication the client is
experiencing disequilibrium syndrome, which can lead to dysrhythmias or seizures.
6. 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?
A. Insert a straight catheter.
B. Encourage fluid intake.
C. Scan the bladder with a portable ultrasound.
D. Assist the client to a commode.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The first action the nurse should take using the nursing process is to assess the client.
Scanning the bladder will determine the amount of urine in the bladder.
7. 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?
A. Diabetes Mellitus
B. Hypertension
, C. Osteoporosis
D. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The prevalence of hypertension is highest among African American clients.
8. 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?
A. Glucose 450 mg/dL
B. *Glucose 272 mg/dL*
C. Glucose 150 mg/dL
D. Glucose 600 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A glucose reading less than 300 mg/dL indicates improvement in the client's status.
9. A nurse is caring for a client following extubation of an endotracheal tube 10 min. ago. Which
of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
A. Hoarse voice
B. Stridor
C. Weak cough
D. Sore throat
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority finding is stridor, which can indicate a narrowing airway or possible
obstruction caused by edema or laryngeal spasms.
Exam 2023| Full Comprehensive Review +
Practice Test Bank with Rationales
(2025/2026)
1. A nurse is providing postoperative teaching for a client who had a total knee arthroplasty.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Elevate the leg on two pillows continuously
B. Flex the foot every hour when awake.
C. Apply a heating pad to the knee for pain
D. Avoid walking for the first 48 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should instruct the client to flex the foot every hour to reduce the risk for
thromboembolism and promote venous return.
2. 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?
A. Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
B. Blood clotting in the tubing
C. Bubbling in the water seal chamber has ceased.
D. The client reports increased pain
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bubbling in the water seal chamber ceases when the lung re-expands.
,3. 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?
A. INR 1.0
B. INR 2.5
C. INR 4.0
D. INR 5.5
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An INR of 2.5 is within the targeted therapeutic range of 2 to 3 for a client who has
atrial fibrillation.
4. A home health nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a stage 1 pressure injury on the
greater trochanter. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Massage the reddened area vigorously
B. Change position every hour
C. Use a donut-shaped cushion when sitting
D. Clean the area with hydrogen peroxide
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Changing position every 1 to 2 hr decreases pressure on bony prominences.
5. 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?
,A. Mild fatigue
B. Restlessness
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Report of a headache
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority finding to report is restlessness, which can be an indication the client is
experiencing disequilibrium syndrome, which can lead to dysrhythmias or seizures.
6. 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?
A. Insert a straight catheter.
B. Encourage fluid intake.
C. Scan the bladder with a portable ultrasound.
D. Assist the client to a commode.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The first action the nurse should take using the nursing process is to assess the client.
Scanning the bladder will determine the amount of urine in the bladder.
7. 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?
A. Diabetes Mellitus
B. Hypertension
, C. Osteoporosis
D. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The prevalence of hypertension is highest among African American clients.
8. 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?
A. Glucose 450 mg/dL
B. *Glucose 272 mg/dL*
C. Glucose 150 mg/dL
D. Glucose 600 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A glucose reading less than 300 mg/dL indicates improvement in the client's status.
9. A nurse is caring for a client following extubation of an endotracheal tube 10 min. ago. Which
of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
A. Hoarse voice
B. Stridor
C. Weak cough
D. Sore throat
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority finding is stridor, which can indicate a narrowing airway or possible
obstruction caused by edema or laryngeal spasms.
