ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam
ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam With
Verified Correct Answers With Detailed Rationales
For Grade A+
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who reports sudden weight gain
of 4 lb in 48 hours. What is the priority action?
A. Encourage fluid intake
B. Notify the provider
C. Document the finding
D. Reweigh the client next week
Correct Answer: B. Notify the provider
Rationale:
Rapid weight gain indicates fluid retention and worsening heart failure. Early intervention
prevents pulmonary edema.
A client with type 2 diabetes has a blood glucose of 68 mg/dL and is alert. What
should the nurse administer?
A. IV dextrose
B. 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
C. Long-acting insulin
D. Glucagon IM
Correct Answer: B. 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
Rationale:
For conscious hypoglycemia, follow the 15–15 rule.
Which finding requires immediate intervention in a client with COPD?
A. O2 saturation 90% on 2 L NC
B. Barrel chest
C. RR 8/min after morphine
D. Productive cough
1|Page
,ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam
Correct Answer: C. RR 8/min after morphine
Rationale:
Respiratory depression is life-threatening.
A client receiving heparin develops bleeding gums. What is the antidote?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: B. Protamine sulfate
Rationale:
Protamine reverses heparin.
Which assessment finding indicates hyperkalemia?
A. U waves
B. Peaked T waves
C. Hyporeflexia only
D. Constipation
Correct Answer: B. Peaked T waves
Rationale:
Classic ECG sign of hyperkalemia.
Select all that apply: Which findings indicate hypocalcemia?
A. Positive Chvostek’s sign
B. Tetany
C. Constipation
D. Seizures
E. Bradycardia
Correct Answers: A, B, D
2|Page
,ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam
Rationale:
Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability.
A client with DKA is receiving insulin infusion. Which lab value indicates
improvement?
A. Glucose 480 mg/dL
B. pH 7.36
C. Positive ketones
D. Potassium 6.0
Correct Answer: B. pH 7.36
Rationale:
Normal pH indicates correction of acidosis.
A nurse is assessing a client with increased ICP. Which finding is late sign?
A. Headache
B. Vomiting
C. Bradycardia
D. Restlessness
Correct Answer: C. Bradycardia
Rationale:
Part of Cushing’s triad.
A client with chest pain is prescribed MONA. Which medication should be given
first?
A. Morphine
B. Oxygen
C. Nitroglycerin
D. Aspirin
Correct Answer: D. Aspirin
Rationale:
Aspirin reduces mortality by preventing clot progression.
3|Page
, ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam
A client with pancreatitis reports severe pain. Which intervention is priority?
A. Encourage oral intake
B. Administer IV opioids
C. Apply heat
D. Encourage ambulation
Correct Answer: B. Administer IV opioids
Rationale:
Pain management is priority.
Which finding suggests pulmonary embolism?
A. Gradual dyspnea
B. Sudden shortness of breath
C. Productive cough
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: B. Sudden shortness of breath
A client with SIADH will have which lab finding?
A. Sodium 150 mEq/L
B. Sodium 128 mEq/L
C. High urine output
D. Dilute urine
Correct Answer: B. Sodium 128 mEq/L
Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client with pneumonia and RR 22
B. Client with chest pain and diaphoresis
C. Client with UTI and dysuria
D. Client with fracture and pain 6/10
Correct Answer: B. Client with chest pain and diaphoresis
4|Page
ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam With
Verified Correct Answers With Detailed Rationales
For Grade A+
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who reports sudden weight gain
of 4 lb in 48 hours. What is the priority action?
A. Encourage fluid intake
B. Notify the provider
C. Document the finding
D. Reweigh the client next week
Correct Answer: B. Notify the provider
Rationale:
Rapid weight gain indicates fluid retention and worsening heart failure. Early intervention
prevents pulmonary edema.
A client with type 2 diabetes has a blood glucose of 68 mg/dL and is alert. What
should the nurse administer?
A. IV dextrose
B. 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
C. Long-acting insulin
D. Glucagon IM
Correct Answer: B. 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate
Rationale:
For conscious hypoglycemia, follow the 15–15 rule.
Which finding requires immediate intervention in a client with COPD?
A. O2 saturation 90% on 2 L NC
B. Barrel chest
C. RR 8/min after morphine
D. Productive cough
1|Page
,ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam
Correct Answer: C. RR 8/min after morphine
Rationale:
Respiratory depression is life-threatening.
A client receiving heparin develops bleeding gums. What is the antidote?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: B. Protamine sulfate
Rationale:
Protamine reverses heparin.
Which assessment finding indicates hyperkalemia?
A. U waves
B. Peaked T waves
C. Hyporeflexia only
D. Constipation
Correct Answer: B. Peaked T waves
Rationale:
Classic ECG sign of hyperkalemia.
Select all that apply: Which findings indicate hypocalcemia?
A. Positive Chvostek’s sign
B. Tetany
C. Constipation
D. Seizures
E. Bradycardia
Correct Answers: A, B, D
2|Page
,ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam
Rationale:
Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability.
A client with DKA is receiving insulin infusion. Which lab value indicates
improvement?
A. Glucose 480 mg/dL
B. pH 7.36
C. Positive ketones
D. Potassium 6.0
Correct Answer: B. pH 7.36
Rationale:
Normal pH indicates correction of acidosis.
A nurse is assessing a client with increased ICP. Which finding is late sign?
A. Headache
B. Vomiting
C. Bradycardia
D. Restlessness
Correct Answer: C. Bradycardia
Rationale:
Part of Cushing’s triad.
A client with chest pain is prescribed MONA. Which medication should be given
first?
A. Morphine
B. Oxygen
C. Nitroglycerin
D. Aspirin
Correct Answer: D. Aspirin
Rationale:
Aspirin reduces mortality by preventing clot progression.
3|Page
, ATI RN Medical-Surgical Practice Exam
A client with pancreatitis reports severe pain. Which intervention is priority?
A. Encourage oral intake
B. Administer IV opioids
C. Apply heat
D. Encourage ambulation
Correct Answer: B. Administer IV opioids
Rationale:
Pain management is priority.
Which finding suggests pulmonary embolism?
A. Gradual dyspnea
B. Sudden shortness of breath
C. Productive cough
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: B. Sudden shortness of breath
A client with SIADH will have which lab finding?
A. Sodium 150 mEq/L
B. Sodium 128 mEq/L
C. High urine output
D. Dilute urine
Correct Answer: B. Sodium 128 mEq/L
Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client with pneumonia and RR 22
B. Client with chest pain and diaphoresis
C. Client with UTI and dysuria
D. Client with fracture and pain 6/10
Correct Answer: B. Client with chest pain and diaphoresis
4|Page
