ATI MED SURG PROCTORED
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Intraventricular catheter (Ventriculostomy).
Answer: A catheter inserted into the ventricles of the brain to monitor
intracranial pressure (ICP).
◍ A nurse is caring for a client who has developed acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following findings should the nurse
identify as a manifestation of this syndrome?A. An audible pleural friction
rubB. Tracheal deviation from the midlineC. Refractory hypoxemiaD.
Bloody expectorant when coughing.
Answer: C. Refractory hypoxemiaARDS is a systemic inflammatory
response to trauma, sepsis, burns, pancreatitis, and bloodtransfusions, when
excess lung fluid dilutes surfactant activity in the lungs. A client whohas
ARDS has refractory hypoxemia, which is hypoxemia that does not improve
withoxygen therapy. Extensive pulmonary edema evident on a chest x-ray is
a manifestation ofARDS.
◍ A nurse is caring for a client who is 12 hours postoperative following a
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and has a 3-way urinary
catheter with continuous irrigation. The nurse notes there has not been any
urinary output in the last hour. Which of the following actions should the
nurse perform first?.
Answer: Notify the provider.. Determine the patency of the tubing.
◍ 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 assessing for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a
client who has septic shock secondary to an untreated foot wound. Which of
the following findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.)A.
BradycardiaB. Bleeding at the venipuncture siteC. Petechiae on the chest
and armsD. Flushed, dry skinE. Abdominal distension.
Answer: B C EThe formation of large amounts of microemboli in the
circulation depletes the body's platelets and clotting factors. As a result,
uncontrollable bleeding can occur, as manifested by bleeding at the
venipuncture site, petechiae on the chest and arms, and bleeding in the
abdominal cavity resulting in abdominal distension due to internal bleeding.
◍ A nurse is assessing a client who has a new diagnosis of pericarditis. Which
of the following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of
cardiac tamponade?A. FeverB. Atrial fibrillationC. Paradoxical pulseD.
Pericardial friction rub.
Answer: C. Paradoxical pulseCardiac tamponade results from an excess of
fluid in the pericardial cavity and causes a sudden drop in cardiac output.
Paradoxical pulse is a systolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg or more on
expiration and is a manifestation of cardiac tamponade. The nurse should
report manifestations of cardiac tamponade to the provider immediately.
◍ Nasal cannula.
Answer: A device used to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient or
person in need of extra oxygen.
◍ A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has constipation-predominant
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). Which of the following statements
should the nurse include in the teaching?A. "Take a dose of loperamide each
morning."B. "Increase your fluid intake to 1,000 milliliters per day."C.
"Take psyllium in the evening."D. "Consume a diet that is low in protein.".
Answer: C. "Take psyllium in the evening."A client who has IBS-C should
take a bulk-forming laxative, such as psyllium, to increase the bulk of the
stool, reduce constipation, and promote regular bowel movements.
◍ A nurse is reviewing the health histories of a group of clients. Which of the
, following findings should the nurse identify as an indication that a client is
at an increased risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs)?A. Diabetes
mellitusB. Pernicious anemiaC. OsteoporosisD. Asthma.
Answer: A. Diabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitus is a predisposing factor for
UTIs. Clients who have underlying diseasesthat compromise their immune
response have an increased risk for UTIs.
◍ 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 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 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 caring for a client who has a prescription for lactated Ringer's by
continuous IV infusion to replace output from an NG tube. Which of the
following findings should indicate to the nurse that this therapy is
effective?A. Decreased NG tube drainageB. Serum osmolality 350
mOsm/LC. Urine specific gravity 1.020D. Increased hematocrit.
Answer: C. Urine specific gravity 1.020The concentration of the urine
regulated by hydration is measured by the weight of the particles in the
urine. A urine specific gravity within the expected reference range of 1.005
to 1.030 indicates that fluid replacement is keeping up with fluid loss from
gastric drainage.
, ◍ A nurse is caring for a client who is hemorrhaging and hypotensive from
esophageal variceal bleeding. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?A. Administer vasopressin to the client.B. Request blood
from blood bank.C. Verify that the client has adequate IV access.D. Insert
an indwelling urinary catheter..
Answer: C. Verify that the client has adequate IV access.When using the
airway, breathing, and circulation approach to client care, the nurse
shouldfirst verify that the client has at least a 20-gauge IV for the
administration of blood.
◍ A nurse is preparing a client who is scheduled to have an arthroscopy the
following day. Which of the following statements indicates that the client
understands the pre-procedure teaching?A. "I have to keep my leg straight
throughout the whole procedure."B. "The doctor will be able to see if I have
signs of rheumatoid arthritis."C. "I should expect to stay overnight until I
can walk around."D. "I'll have a scar that will be about an inch long.".
Answer: B. "The doctor will be able to see if I have signs of rheumatoid
arthritis."An arthroscopy helps with diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders
such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and internal joint injuries.
◍ A nurse is providing teaching to a group of clients about the prevention of
coronary artery disease. Which of the following information should the
nurse include in the teaching?A. Walk 30 min daily at a comfortable pace.B.
Limit saturated fat intake to 10% of total daily calories.C. Maintain a BMI
of 30.D. Consume at least 2,000 mg of sodium per day..
Answer: A. Walk 30 min daily at a comfortable pace.The clients should
walk 30 min daily at a comfortable pace to prevent weight gain and decrease
the risk of coronary artery disease.
◍ A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anxiety as well as
numbness and tingling of the lips and fingers. The client's ABGs are: pH
7.48, PCO2 30 mm Hg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L, PaO2 85 mm Hg. Which of the
following acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the client is
experiencing?A. Respiratory alkalosisB. Metabolic alkalosisC. Respiratory
CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Intraventricular catheter (Ventriculostomy).
Answer: A catheter inserted into the ventricles of the brain to monitor
intracranial pressure (ICP).
◍ A nurse is caring for a client who has developed acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following findings should the nurse
identify as a manifestation of this syndrome?A. An audible pleural friction
rubB. Tracheal deviation from the midlineC. Refractory hypoxemiaD.
Bloody expectorant when coughing.
Answer: C. Refractory hypoxemiaARDS is a systemic inflammatory
response to trauma, sepsis, burns, pancreatitis, and bloodtransfusions, when
excess lung fluid dilutes surfactant activity in the lungs. A client whohas
ARDS has refractory hypoxemia, which is hypoxemia that does not improve
withoxygen therapy. Extensive pulmonary edema evident on a chest x-ray is
a manifestation ofARDS.
◍ A nurse is caring for a client who is 12 hours postoperative following a
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and has a 3-way urinary
catheter with continuous irrigation. The nurse notes there has not been any
urinary output in the last hour. Which of the following actions should the
nurse perform first?.
Answer: Notify the provider.. Determine the patency of the tubing.
◍ 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 assessing for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a
client who has septic shock secondary to an untreated foot wound. Which of
the following findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.)A.
BradycardiaB. Bleeding at the venipuncture siteC. Petechiae on the chest
and armsD. Flushed, dry skinE. Abdominal distension.
Answer: B C EThe formation of large amounts of microemboli in the
circulation depletes the body's platelets and clotting factors. As a result,
uncontrollable bleeding can occur, as manifested by bleeding at the
venipuncture site, petechiae on the chest and arms, and bleeding in the
abdominal cavity resulting in abdominal distension due to internal bleeding.
◍ A nurse is assessing a client who has a new diagnosis of pericarditis. Which
of the following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of
cardiac tamponade?A. FeverB. Atrial fibrillationC. Paradoxical pulseD.
Pericardial friction rub.
Answer: C. Paradoxical pulseCardiac tamponade results from an excess of
fluid in the pericardial cavity and causes a sudden drop in cardiac output.
Paradoxical pulse is a systolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg or more on
expiration and is a manifestation of cardiac tamponade. The nurse should
report manifestations of cardiac tamponade to the provider immediately.
◍ Nasal cannula.
Answer: A device used to deliver supplemental oxygen to a patient or
person in need of extra oxygen.
◍ A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has constipation-predominant
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). Which of the following statements
should the nurse include in the teaching?A. "Take a dose of loperamide each
morning."B. "Increase your fluid intake to 1,000 milliliters per day."C.
"Take psyllium in the evening."D. "Consume a diet that is low in protein.".
Answer: C. "Take psyllium in the evening."A client who has IBS-C should
take a bulk-forming laxative, such as psyllium, to increase the bulk of the
stool, reduce constipation, and promote regular bowel movements.
◍ A nurse is reviewing the health histories of a group of clients. Which of the
, following findings should the nurse identify as an indication that a client is
at an increased risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs)?A. Diabetes
mellitusB. Pernicious anemiaC. OsteoporosisD. Asthma.
Answer: A. Diabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitus is a predisposing factor for
UTIs. Clients who have underlying diseasesthat compromise their immune
response have an increased risk for UTIs.
◍ 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 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 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 caring for a client who has a prescription for lactated Ringer's by
continuous IV infusion to replace output from an NG tube. Which of the
following findings should indicate to the nurse that this therapy is
effective?A. Decreased NG tube drainageB. Serum osmolality 350
mOsm/LC. Urine specific gravity 1.020D. Increased hematocrit.
Answer: C. Urine specific gravity 1.020The concentration of the urine
regulated by hydration is measured by the weight of the particles in the
urine. A urine specific gravity within the expected reference range of 1.005
to 1.030 indicates that fluid replacement is keeping up with fluid loss from
gastric drainage.
, ◍ A nurse is caring for a client who is hemorrhaging and hypotensive from
esophageal variceal bleeding. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?A. Administer vasopressin to the client.B. Request blood
from blood bank.C. Verify that the client has adequate IV access.D. Insert
an indwelling urinary catheter..
Answer: C. Verify that the client has adequate IV access.When using the
airway, breathing, and circulation approach to client care, the nurse
shouldfirst verify that the client has at least a 20-gauge IV for the
administration of blood.
◍ A nurse is preparing a client who is scheduled to have an arthroscopy the
following day. Which of the following statements indicates that the client
understands the pre-procedure teaching?A. "I have to keep my leg straight
throughout the whole procedure."B. "The doctor will be able to see if I have
signs of rheumatoid arthritis."C. "I should expect to stay overnight until I
can walk around."D. "I'll have a scar that will be about an inch long.".
Answer: B. "The doctor will be able to see if I have signs of rheumatoid
arthritis."An arthroscopy helps with diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders
such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and internal joint injuries.
◍ A nurse is providing teaching to a group of clients about the prevention of
coronary artery disease. Which of the following information should the
nurse include in the teaching?A. Walk 30 min daily at a comfortable pace.B.
Limit saturated fat intake to 10% of total daily calories.C. Maintain a BMI
of 30.D. Consume at least 2,000 mg of sodium per day..
Answer: A. Walk 30 min daily at a comfortable pace.The clients should
walk 30 min daily at a comfortable pace to prevent weight gain and decrease
the risk of coronary artery disease.
◍ A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anxiety as well as
numbness and tingling of the lips and fingers. The client's ABGs are: pH
7.48, PCO2 30 mm Hg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L, PaO2 85 mm Hg. Which of the
following acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the client is
experiencing?A. Respiratory alkalosisB. Metabolic alkalosisC. Respiratory
