ATI Adult Medical-Surgical Proctored
Assessment Exam (2026 Standard
Edition) Questions Answers and Verified
Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure.
Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular vein distention
C. Crackles in both lung bases
D. Ascites
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion,
leading to crackles, dyspnea, and reduced oxygenation.
Question 2
A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
receiving oxygen therapy. Which action is appropriate?
,A. Administer oxygen at 10 L/min by nonrebreather mask.
B. Titrate oxygen to maintain the prescribed oxygen
saturation.
C. Encourage oxygen saturation above 100%.
D. Discontinue oxygen when the client reports improvement.
Rationale: Oxygen therapy should be adjusted to maintain the
provider-prescribed oxygen saturation while avoiding
unnecessary hyperoxia.
Question 3
Which laboratory value should the nurse report immediately for
a client receiving warfarin?
A. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
B. Platelets 240,000/mm³
C. INR 5.2
D. WBC 7,500/mm³
Rationale: An INR of 5.2 indicates excessive anticoagulation and
significantly increases bleeding risk.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing hypoglycemia. Which
intervention should be performed first if the client is conscious?
,A. Administer insulin.
B. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate.
C. Restrict oral fluids.
D. Encourage exercise.
Rationale: Conscious clients with hypoglycemia require rapid
administration of glucose to restore normal blood glucose
levels.
Question 5
Which finding is expected after administration of furosemide?
A. Elevated potassium level
B. Increased edema
C. Increased urine output
D. Bradycardia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes diuresis
and reduces excess fluid volume.
Question 6
A client with a new ileostomy should be instructed that normal
stool characteristics include:
A. Hard and formed stool
B. Bloody stool
, C. Liquid to semi-liquid stool
D. Clay-colored stool
Rationale: Ileostomy output is normally liquid because it
bypasses the colon where water is absorbed.
Question 7
Which assessment finding suggests deep vein thrombosis?
A. Bilateral leg swelling
B. Unilateral calf warmth and swelling
C. Cool lower extremity
D. Absent pedal pulses in both feet
Rationale: Unilateral swelling, warmth, and tenderness are
common manifestations of deep vein thrombosis.
Question 8
Which intervention is the priority for a client experiencing an
acute asthma attack?
A. Encourage fluid restriction.
B. Place the client flat in bed.
C. Administer a rapid-acting bronchodilator.
D. Delay medication until chest x-ray results are available.
Assessment Exam (2026 Standard
Edition) Questions Answers and Verified
Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure.
Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular vein distention
C. Crackles in both lung bases
D. Ascites
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion,
leading to crackles, dyspnea, and reduced oxygenation.
Question 2
A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
receiving oxygen therapy. Which action is appropriate?
,A. Administer oxygen at 10 L/min by nonrebreather mask.
B. Titrate oxygen to maintain the prescribed oxygen
saturation.
C. Encourage oxygen saturation above 100%.
D. Discontinue oxygen when the client reports improvement.
Rationale: Oxygen therapy should be adjusted to maintain the
provider-prescribed oxygen saturation while avoiding
unnecessary hyperoxia.
Question 3
Which laboratory value should the nurse report immediately for
a client receiving warfarin?
A. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
B. Platelets 240,000/mm³
C. INR 5.2
D. WBC 7,500/mm³
Rationale: An INR of 5.2 indicates excessive anticoagulation and
significantly increases bleeding risk.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing hypoglycemia. Which
intervention should be performed first if the client is conscious?
,A. Administer insulin.
B. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate.
C. Restrict oral fluids.
D. Encourage exercise.
Rationale: Conscious clients with hypoglycemia require rapid
administration of glucose to restore normal blood glucose
levels.
Question 5
Which finding is expected after administration of furosemide?
A. Elevated potassium level
B. Increased edema
C. Increased urine output
D. Bradycardia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes diuresis
and reduces excess fluid volume.
Question 6
A client with a new ileostomy should be instructed that normal
stool characteristics include:
A. Hard and formed stool
B. Bloody stool
, C. Liquid to semi-liquid stool
D. Clay-colored stool
Rationale: Ileostomy output is normally liquid because it
bypasses the colon where water is absorbed.
Question 7
Which assessment finding suggests deep vein thrombosis?
A. Bilateral leg swelling
B. Unilateral calf warmth and swelling
C. Cool lower extremity
D. Absent pedal pulses in both feet
Rationale: Unilateral swelling, warmth, and tenderness are
common manifestations of deep vein thrombosis.
Question 8
Which intervention is the priority for a client experiencing an
acute asthma attack?
A. Encourage fluid restriction.
B. Place the client flat in bed.
C. Administer a rapid-acting bronchodilator.
D. Delay medication until chest x-ray results are available.
