ATI MEDICAL SURGICAL PROCTORED EXAM
TEST PAPER 2026 COMPLETE RESPONSES
GRADED A+
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and respiratory
arrest. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Answer: Feel for a carotid pulse.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client scheduled for coronary artery bypass
grafting who reports he is no longer certain he wants to have the
procedure. Which of the following responses should the nurse
make? Answer: "Bypass surgery must be very frightening for you."
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following foot
surgery and is not to bear weight on the operative foot. The nurse
enters the room to discover the client hopped on one foot to the
bathroom, using an IV pole for support. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take? Answer: Tell the client to remain in
the bathroom after toileting and obtain a wheelchair
◉ A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is postoperative
and has a closed-wound drainage system in place. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? Answer: Fully recollapse
the reservoir after emptying it
,◉ A nurse is reinforcing discharge instructions with a client who has
hepatitis A. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
an understanding of the teaching? Answer: "I will abstain from
sexual intercourse."
◉ A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching on actions that improve
gas exchange to a client diagnosed with emphysema. Which of the
following instructions should be included in the teaching? Answer:
Breathe in through her nose and out through pursed lips.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a
history Addison's disease. For which of the following manifestations
should the nurse monitor? Answer: Hypotension
◉ A nurse is reinforcing pre-operative teaching for a client who is
scheduled for surgery and is to take hydroxyzine preoperatively.
Which of the following effects of the medication should the nurse
include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.) Answer: 1)
Decreasing anxiety 2) Controlling emesis 5) Reducing the amount of
narcotics needed for pain relief
◉ A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new
prescription for epoetin alfa. The nurse should reinforce to the client
to take which of the following dietary supplements with this
medication? Answer: Iron
,◉ A nurse is caring for a client after a radical neck dissection. To
which of the following should the nurse give priority in the
immediate postoperative period? Answer: Ineffective airway
clearance related to thick, copious secretions
◉ A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has a
spinal cord injury at level C8 who is admitted for comprehensive
rehabilitation. Which of the following long-term goals is appropriate
with regard to the client's mobility? Answer: Propel a wheelchair
equipped with knobs on the wheels.
◉ A nurse is reinforcing health teaching about skin cancer with a
group of clients. Which of the following risk factors should the nurse
identify as the leading cause of non-melanoma skin cancer? Answer:
Sun exposure.
◉ Based on a client's recent history, a nurse suspects that a client is
beginning menopause. Which of the following questions should the
nurse ask the client to help confirm the client is experiencing
manifestations of menopause? Answer: "Do you sleep well at night?"
◉ A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about cancer
prevention and plans to address the importance of foods high in
antioxidants. Which of the following foods should the nurse include
in the teaching? Answer: Fresh berries
, ◉ A nurse is assisting with caring for a client who has a new
concussion following a motor-vehicle crash. The nurse should
monitor the client for which of the following manifestations of
increased intracranial pressure? Answer: Lethargy
◉ A nurse is reinforcing teaching about a tonometry examination
with a client who has manifestations of glaucoma. Which of the
following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
Answer: "This test will measure the intraocular pressure of the eye."
◉ A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is
taking cyclosporine following a kidney transplant. Which of the
following laboratory findings should the nurse identify as the most
important to report to the provider? Answer: Increase in serum
creatinine
◉ A nurse is checking for paradoxical blood pressure on a client who
has constrictive pericarditis. Which of the following findings should
the nurse expect? Answer: Drop in systolic BP more than 10 mm Hg
on inspiration
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has Alzheimer's disease. The
nurse discovers the client entering the room of another client, who
becomes upset and frightened. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take? Answer: Attempt to determine what the
client was looking for
TEST PAPER 2026 COMPLETE RESPONSES
GRADED A+
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and respiratory
arrest. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Answer: Feel for a carotid pulse.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client scheduled for coronary artery bypass
grafting who reports he is no longer certain he wants to have the
procedure. Which of the following responses should the nurse
make? Answer: "Bypass surgery must be very frightening for you."
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following foot
surgery and is not to bear weight on the operative foot. The nurse
enters the room to discover the client hopped on one foot to the
bathroom, using an IV pole for support. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take? Answer: Tell the client to remain in
the bathroom after toileting and obtain a wheelchair
◉ A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is postoperative
and has a closed-wound drainage system in place. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? Answer: Fully recollapse
the reservoir after emptying it
,◉ A nurse is reinforcing discharge instructions with a client who has
hepatitis A. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
an understanding of the teaching? Answer: "I will abstain from
sexual intercourse."
◉ A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching on actions that improve
gas exchange to a client diagnosed with emphysema. Which of the
following instructions should be included in the teaching? Answer:
Breathe in through her nose and out through pursed lips.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a
history Addison's disease. For which of the following manifestations
should the nurse monitor? Answer: Hypotension
◉ A nurse is reinforcing pre-operative teaching for a client who is
scheduled for surgery and is to take hydroxyzine preoperatively.
Which of the following effects of the medication should the nurse
include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.) Answer: 1)
Decreasing anxiety 2) Controlling emesis 5) Reducing the amount of
narcotics needed for pain relief
◉ A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new
prescription for epoetin alfa. The nurse should reinforce to the client
to take which of the following dietary supplements with this
medication? Answer: Iron
,◉ A nurse is caring for a client after a radical neck dissection. To
which of the following should the nurse give priority in the
immediate postoperative period? Answer: Ineffective airway
clearance related to thick, copious secretions
◉ A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has a
spinal cord injury at level C8 who is admitted for comprehensive
rehabilitation. Which of the following long-term goals is appropriate
with regard to the client's mobility? Answer: Propel a wheelchair
equipped with knobs on the wheels.
◉ A nurse is reinforcing health teaching about skin cancer with a
group of clients. Which of the following risk factors should the nurse
identify as the leading cause of non-melanoma skin cancer? Answer:
Sun exposure.
◉ Based on a client's recent history, a nurse suspects that a client is
beginning menopause. Which of the following questions should the
nurse ask the client to help confirm the client is experiencing
manifestations of menopause? Answer: "Do you sleep well at night?"
◉ A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about cancer
prevention and plans to address the importance of foods high in
antioxidants. Which of the following foods should the nurse include
in the teaching? Answer: Fresh berries
, ◉ A nurse is assisting with caring for a client who has a new
concussion following a motor-vehicle crash. The nurse should
monitor the client for which of the following manifestations of
increased intracranial pressure? Answer: Lethargy
◉ A nurse is reinforcing teaching about a tonometry examination
with a client who has manifestations of glaucoma. Which of the
following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
Answer: "This test will measure the intraocular pressure of the eye."
◉ A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is
taking cyclosporine following a kidney transplant. Which of the
following laboratory findings should the nurse identify as the most
important to report to the provider? Answer: Increase in serum
creatinine
◉ A nurse is checking for paradoxical blood pressure on a client who
has constrictive pericarditis. Which of the following findings should
the nurse expect? Answer: Drop in systolic BP more than 10 mm Hg
on inspiration
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has Alzheimer's disease. The
nurse discovers the client entering the room of another client, who
becomes upset and frightened. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take? Answer: Attempt to determine what the
client was looking for
