1
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored
Exam
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam
Test Bank 1 2026 – 350 Verified Questions
and Detailed Answers WITH DETAILED
RATIONALESLATEST EXAM (BRAND
NEW!!)
The nurse reading a tuberculin skin test (TST) on a new employee who lives in the Midwest, is
20 years old, and has no known history of contact with any persons with tuberculosis (TB) will
record it as positive if the area around the injection site has an area of swelling of _____ mm
_____ hours after the injection.
a. 15; 48
b. 10; 72
, 2
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored
c. 5; 48 Exam
d. 0 to 5; 72 - Correct Answer :ANS: A
All TSTs are read at 48 to 72 hours after the injection. A positive reading of a TST for a person
who is low risk for exposure is an area of swelling 15 mm or more. For individuals who are at
high risk for TB (such as recent immigrants from countries where TB is prevalent, medically
underserved groups, and the homeless), swelling of more than 10 mm is considered positive.
Individuals with a history of contact with infectious TB or who are immunocompromised are
considered to have a positive TST if there is more than 5 mm of swelling.
The nurse explains that a serious complication of a patient's chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) is cor pulmonale, which is exhibited by:
a. distended neck veins.
b. weight loss.
c. confusion and disorientation.
d. excessive coughing. - Correct Answer :ANS: A
Cor pulmonale is exhibited by distended neck veins, enlarged right side of the heart, liver
engorgement, and edema.
The patient with asthma is prescribed a leukotriene modifier drug, montelukast (Singulair).
The nurse points out that the major advantage of this drug is it:
a. has no GI side effects.
b. provides bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects.
c. controls acute asthma episodes.
d. can be substituted for all other asthma remedies. - Correct Answer :ANS: B
Singulair provides both bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects, but it has numerous GI
side effects and is not effective in controlling acute asthmatic attacks.
, 3
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored
Exam
The patient with chronic airflow limitation (CAL) changed to the use of a simple face mask
from a nasal cannula delivery system. The nasal equipment oxygen was set at 3 L/min. The
nurse instructs the patient that, with the change in delivery systems, the oxygen should be
_____ L/min.
a. decreased to 2
b. decreased to 1
c. increased to 4
d. increased to 6 - Correct Answer :ANS: D
When changing to a mask from a nasal cannula, the oxygen should be increased by
approximately 100% to get the same concentration. Simple face masks deliver approximately
the same range of concentration of oxygen as the nasal cannula. However, the nasal cannula
flow rates range from 1 L to 6 L, delivering 24% to 44% oxygen, whereas the simple face mask
delivers 35% to 50% oxygen which is achieved with flow rates from 6 L to 12 L.
A patient who has had a left pneumonectomy to remove a lung cancer is returned to the unit
from surgery. The nurse should position the patient in a _____ position.
a. high Fowler's
b. semi-Fowler's
c. right side-lying
d. left side-lying - Correct Answer :ANS: D
Postoperative positioning after a pneumonectomy is on the operated side to prevent the
threat of tension pneumothorax with mediastinal shift and leakage from the amputated
bronchial stump. The physician's order should always be checked before turning the patient
or raising the head of the bed.
When caring for a patient who is on a closed-chest drainage system with chest tubes, the
nurse can confirm that the system is intact and working when:
a. the water level in the water-seal chamber fluctuates.
, 4
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored
b. the level of fluid in the collection chamber rises. Exam
c. there are constant bubbles in the water-seal chamber.
d. the suction has been attached. - Correct Answer :ANS: A
If the level of the water in the water-seal chamber rises and falls with the patient's respiration,
the system is intact. Constant bubbles in the water-seal chamber indicate a leak in the system.
The fluid in the collection container drains by gravity whether the closed-chest drainage
system is intact or not. Suction is not significant with respect to whether the system is intact
When the nurse assesses that the level of drainage has not increased over the last 3 hours on
a first-day postoperative thoracotomy patient, the nurse should initially:
a. inform the charge nurse.
b. rearrange tubing to correct dependent loops.
c. splint the patient with a pillow and coach to cough.
d. gently massage the tube toward the collection bottle. - Correct Answer :ANS: B
Dependent loops can capture drainage and plug the tube, not allowing any more drainage to
leave the chest. Massaging (milking) the tube can be implemented after the dependent loops
have been corrected. It would not be necessary to notify the charge nurse unless there is a
problem, and having the patient cough would not correct the drainage problem.
The nurse schedules the postural drainage treatments to be done before breakfast because:
a. fluids that have accumulated overnight can be expelled.
b. bronchial openings are still more fully open after a night's rest.
c. appetite will be stimulated for a meal after fluid is expelled.
d. the empty stomach reduces gagging. - Correct Answer :ANS: A
Morning postural drainage can expel the fluids collected overnight. After a postural drainage,
the patient is tired and may not want to eat at all. The empty stomach prevents excessive
vomiting but not gagging.
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored
Exam
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam
Test Bank 1 2026 – 350 Verified Questions
and Detailed Answers WITH DETAILED
RATIONALESLATEST EXAM (BRAND
NEW!!)
The nurse reading a tuberculin skin test (TST) on a new employee who lives in the Midwest, is
20 years old, and has no known history of contact with any persons with tuberculosis (TB) will
record it as positive if the area around the injection site has an area of swelling of _____ mm
_____ hours after the injection.
a. 15; 48
b. 10; 72
, 2
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored
c. 5; 48 Exam
d. 0 to 5; 72 - Correct Answer :ANS: A
All TSTs are read at 48 to 72 hours after the injection. A positive reading of a TST for a person
who is low risk for exposure is an area of swelling 15 mm or more. For individuals who are at
high risk for TB (such as recent immigrants from countries where TB is prevalent, medically
underserved groups, and the homeless), swelling of more than 10 mm is considered positive.
Individuals with a history of contact with infectious TB or who are immunocompromised are
considered to have a positive TST if there is more than 5 mm of swelling.
The nurse explains that a serious complication of a patient's chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) is cor pulmonale, which is exhibited by:
a. distended neck veins.
b. weight loss.
c. confusion and disorientation.
d. excessive coughing. - Correct Answer :ANS: A
Cor pulmonale is exhibited by distended neck veins, enlarged right side of the heart, liver
engorgement, and edema.
The patient with asthma is prescribed a leukotriene modifier drug, montelukast (Singulair).
The nurse points out that the major advantage of this drug is it:
a. has no GI side effects.
b. provides bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects.
c. controls acute asthma episodes.
d. can be substituted for all other asthma remedies. - Correct Answer :ANS: B
Singulair provides both bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects, but it has numerous GI
side effects and is not effective in controlling acute asthmatic attacks.
, 3
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored
Exam
The patient with chronic airflow limitation (CAL) changed to the use of a simple face mask
from a nasal cannula delivery system. The nasal equipment oxygen was set at 3 L/min. The
nurse instructs the patient that, with the change in delivery systems, the oxygen should be
_____ L/min.
a. decreased to 2
b. decreased to 1
c. increased to 4
d. increased to 6 - Correct Answer :ANS: D
When changing to a mask from a nasal cannula, the oxygen should be increased by
approximately 100% to get the same concentration. Simple face masks deliver approximately
the same range of concentration of oxygen as the nasal cannula. However, the nasal cannula
flow rates range from 1 L to 6 L, delivering 24% to 44% oxygen, whereas the simple face mask
delivers 35% to 50% oxygen which is achieved with flow rates from 6 L to 12 L.
A patient who has had a left pneumonectomy to remove a lung cancer is returned to the unit
from surgery. The nurse should position the patient in a _____ position.
a. high Fowler's
b. semi-Fowler's
c. right side-lying
d. left side-lying - Correct Answer :ANS: D
Postoperative positioning after a pneumonectomy is on the operated side to prevent the
threat of tension pneumothorax with mediastinal shift and leakage from the amputated
bronchial stump. The physician's order should always be checked before turning the patient
or raising the head of the bed.
When caring for a patient who is on a closed-chest drainage system with chest tubes, the
nurse can confirm that the system is intact and working when:
a. the water level in the water-seal chamber fluctuates.
, 4
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored
b. the level of fluid in the collection chamber rises. Exam
c. there are constant bubbles in the water-seal chamber.
d. the suction has been attached. - Correct Answer :ANS: A
If the level of the water in the water-seal chamber rises and falls with the patient's respiration,
the system is intact. Constant bubbles in the water-seal chamber indicate a leak in the system.
The fluid in the collection container drains by gravity whether the closed-chest drainage
system is intact or not. Suction is not significant with respect to whether the system is intact
When the nurse assesses that the level of drainage has not increased over the last 3 hours on
a first-day postoperative thoracotomy patient, the nurse should initially:
a. inform the charge nurse.
b. rearrange tubing to correct dependent loops.
c. splint the patient with a pillow and coach to cough.
d. gently massage the tube toward the collection bottle. - Correct Answer :ANS: B
Dependent loops can capture drainage and plug the tube, not allowing any more drainage to
leave the chest. Massaging (milking) the tube can be implemented after the dependent loops
have been corrected. It would not be necessary to notify the charge nurse unless there is a
problem, and having the patient cough would not correct the drainage problem.
The nurse schedules the postural drainage treatments to be done before breakfast because:
a. fluids that have accumulated overnight can be expelled.
b. bronchial openings are still more fully open after a night's rest.
c. appetite will be stimulated for a meal after fluid is expelled.
d. the empty stomach reduces gagging. - Correct Answer :ANS: A
Morning postural drainage can expel the fluids collected overnight. After a postural drainage,
the patient is tired and may not want to eat at all. The empty stomach prevents excessive
vomiting but not gagging.
