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ATI Med-Surg Respiratory Exam
2026/2027 Update – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers for Top Scores |
100% Correct | Grade A
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and
pneumonia who has an order for arterial blood gases to be drawn. What is the minimum length of
time the nurse should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes
B. 5 minutes
After obtaining blood for an arterial blood gas measurement, the nurse should hold pressure on
the puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is an
elastic vessel under much higher pressure than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma
formation could occur if the time is insufficient.
A patient with a recent history of a dry cough has had a chest x-ray that revealed the presence of
nodules. In an effort to determine whether the nodules are malignant or benign, what is the
primary care provider likely to order?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Pulmonary angiogram
C. CT scan of the patient's chest
D. Positron emission tomography (PET)
D. Positron emission tomography (PET)
PET is used to distinguish benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Because malignant lung
cells have an increased uptake of glucose, the PET scan (which uses an IV radioactive glucose
preparation) can demonstrate increased uptake of glucose in malignant lung cells. This
differentiation cannot be made using CT, a pulmonary angiogram, or thoracentesis.
After assisting at the bedside with a thoracentesis, the nurse should continue to assess the patient
for signs and symptoms of what?
A. Bronchospasm
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Respiratory acidosis
B. Pneumothorax
Because thoracentesis involves the introduction of a catheter into the pleural space, there is a risk
, of pneumothorax. Thoracentesis does not carry a significant potential for causing bronchospasm,
pulmonary edema, or respiratory acidosis.
The patient had abdominal surgery yesterday. Today the lung sounds in the lower lobes have
decreased. The nurse knows this could be due to what occurring?
A. Pain
B. Atelectasis
C. Pneumonia
D. Pleural effusion
B. Atelectasis
Postoperatively there is an increased risk for atelectasis from anesthesia as well as restricted
breathing from pain. Without deep breathing to stretch the alveoli, surfactant secretion to hold
the alveoli open is not promoted. Pneumonia will occur later after surgery. Pleural effusion
occurs because of blockage of lymphatic drainage or an imbalance between intravascular and
oncotic fluid pressures, which is not expected in this case
The patient is hospitalized with pneumonia. Which diagnostic test should be used to measure the
efficiency of gas transfer in the lung and tissue oxygenation?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Bronchoscopy
C. Arterial blood gases
D. Pulmonary function tests
C. Arterial blood gases
Arterial blood gases are used to assess the efficiency of gas transfer in the lung and tissue
oxygenation as is pulse oximetry. Thoracentesis is used to obtain specimens for diagnostic
evaluation, remove pleural fluid, or instill medication into the pleural space. Bronchoscopy is
used for diagnostic purposes, to obtain biopsy specimens, and to assess changes resulting from
treatment. Pulmonary function tests measure lung volumes and airflow to diagnose pulmonary
disease, monitor disease progression, evaluate disability, and evaluate response to
bronchodilators
The nurse is interpreting a tuberculin skin test (TST) for a 58-year-old female patient with end-
stage kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus. Which finding would indicate a positive
reaction?
A. Acid-fast bacilli cultured at the injection site
B. 15-mm area of redness at the TST injection site
C. 11-mm area of induration at the TST injection site
D. Wheal formed immediately after intradermal injection
C. 11-mm area of induration at the TST injection site
An area of induration ≥ 10 mm would be a positive reaction in a person with end-stage kidney
disease. Reddened, flat areas do not indicate a positive reaction. A wheal appears when the TST
is administered that indicates correct administration of the intradermal antigen. Presence of acid-
fast bacilli in the sputum indicates active tuberculosis.
ATI Med-Surg Respiratory Exam
2026/2027 Update – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers for Top Scores |
100% Correct | Grade A
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and
pneumonia who has an order for arterial blood gases to be drawn. What is the minimum length of
time the nurse should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes
B. 5 minutes
After obtaining blood for an arterial blood gas measurement, the nurse should hold pressure on
the puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is an
elastic vessel under much higher pressure than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma
formation could occur if the time is insufficient.
A patient with a recent history of a dry cough has had a chest x-ray that revealed the presence of
nodules. In an effort to determine whether the nodules are malignant or benign, what is the
primary care provider likely to order?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Pulmonary angiogram
C. CT scan of the patient's chest
D. Positron emission tomography (PET)
D. Positron emission tomography (PET)
PET is used to distinguish benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Because malignant lung
cells have an increased uptake of glucose, the PET scan (which uses an IV radioactive glucose
preparation) can demonstrate increased uptake of glucose in malignant lung cells. This
differentiation cannot be made using CT, a pulmonary angiogram, or thoracentesis.
After assisting at the bedside with a thoracentesis, the nurse should continue to assess the patient
for signs and symptoms of what?
A. Bronchospasm
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Respiratory acidosis
B. Pneumothorax
Because thoracentesis involves the introduction of a catheter into the pleural space, there is a risk
, of pneumothorax. Thoracentesis does not carry a significant potential for causing bronchospasm,
pulmonary edema, or respiratory acidosis.
The patient had abdominal surgery yesterday. Today the lung sounds in the lower lobes have
decreased. The nurse knows this could be due to what occurring?
A. Pain
B. Atelectasis
C. Pneumonia
D. Pleural effusion
B. Atelectasis
Postoperatively there is an increased risk for atelectasis from anesthesia as well as restricted
breathing from pain. Without deep breathing to stretch the alveoli, surfactant secretion to hold
the alveoli open is not promoted. Pneumonia will occur later after surgery. Pleural effusion
occurs because of blockage of lymphatic drainage or an imbalance between intravascular and
oncotic fluid pressures, which is not expected in this case
The patient is hospitalized with pneumonia. Which diagnostic test should be used to measure the
efficiency of gas transfer in the lung and tissue oxygenation?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Bronchoscopy
C. Arterial blood gases
D. Pulmonary function tests
C. Arterial blood gases
Arterial blood gases are used to assess the efficiency of gas transfer in the lung and tissue
oxygenation as is pulse oximetry. Thoracentesis is used to obtain specimens for diagnostic
evaluation, remove pleural fluid, or instill medication into the pleural space. Bronchoscopy is
used for diagnostic purposes, to obtain biopsy specimens, and to assess changes resulting from
treatment. Pulmonary function tests measure lung volumes and airflow to diagnose pulmonary
disease, monitor disease progression, evaluate disability, and evaluate response to
bronchodilators
The nurse is interpreting a tuberculin skin test (TST) for a 58-year-old female patient with end-
stage kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus. Which finding would indicate a positive
reaction?
A. Acid-fast bacilli cultured at the injection site
B. 15-mm area of redness at the TST injection site
C. 11-mm area of induration at the TST injection site
D. Wheal formed immediately after intradermal injection
C. 11-mm area of induration at the TST injection site
An area of induration ≥ 10 mm would be a positive reaction in a person with end-stage kidney
disease. Reddened, flat areas do not indicate a positive reaction. A wheal appears when the TST
is administered that indicates correct administration of the intradermal antigen. Presence of acid-
fast bacilli in the sputum indicates active tuberculosis.
