2026 ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL (MED-SURG) NGN
LATEST EXAM 2026 WITH 100 SCREENSHOT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWER
2026 ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL-SURGICAL
100-Question NGN-Style Practice Examination
Level: RN / Adult Medical-Surgical
Format: Original practice questions
Recommended time: 120 minutes
Items: 100
Focus: Clinical judgment, prioritization, safety, pharmacology,
assessment, interventions, and evaluation
Directions
Read each question carefully. For multiple-response items, select all
answers that apply. For ordered-response items, place the actions in the
most appropriate sequence.
Important: This is an original educational practice examination. It is not
an ATI-proctored examination or reproduction of ATI proprietary
content.
QUESTIONS 1–70
STAND-ALONE RN-STYLE ITEMS
1. Heart Failure
A nurse is assessing a client with left-sided heart failure. Which finding
requires the most immediate attention?
,A. 2+ ankle edema
B. Orthopnea
C. Pink, frothy sputum
D. Weight gain of 1 kg over 3 days
2. COPD
A client with COPD is receiving oxygen. Which finding should the nurse
report immediately?
A. Oxygen saturation of 90%
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. Increasing somnolence and difficulty arousing
D. Barrel-shaped chest
3. Pneumonia
A client with pneumonia has a temperature of 39.1°C (102.4°F),
respiratory rate 28/min, and oxygen saturation 88% on room air. Which
intervention has the highest priority?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Apply oxygen as prescribed
C. Obtain a sputum specimen after antibiotics are started
D. Encourage ambulation
4. Pulmonary Embolism
,A postoperative client suddenly reports pleuritic chest pain and
shortness of breath. The heart rate is 124/min. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Assist the client to ambulate
B. Apply oxygen and rapidly assess respiratory status
C. Encourage coughing
D. Offer an oral analgesic
5. Asthma
Which assessment finding indicates worsening airway obstruction in a
client having an acute asthma exacerbation?
A. Loud expiratory wheezing
B. Productive cough
C. Diminishing breath sounds with increasing respiratory effort
D. Respiratory rate of 20/min
6. Pneumothorax
A client has a chest tube connected to a drainage system. Which finding
requires immediate follow-up?
A. Tidaling in the water-seal chamber
B. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
C. Small amount of serous drainage
D. Mild incisional discomfort
, 7. Tracheostomy
Which action is appropriate when performing routine tracheostomy
care?
A. Use the same catheter for repeated suction passes
B. Limit suctioning to the shortest effective time
C. Instill sterile saline routinely before every suction pass
D. Suction continuously while withdrawing the catheter
8. Mechanical Ventilation
A ventilated client suddenly has an increased peak airway pressure.
Which problem should the nurse assess for first?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Airway obstruction or decreased lung compliance
C. Dehydration only
D. Urinary retention
9. Tuberculosis
Which precaution is appropriate for a client with suspected active
pulmonary tuberculosis?
A. Contact
B. Droplet
C. Airborne
D. Protective environment
LATEST EXAM 2026 WITH 100 SCREENSHOT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWER
2026 ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL-SURGICAL
100-Question NGN-Style Practice Examination
Level: RN / Adult Medical-Surgical
Format: Original practice questions
Recommended time: 120 minutes
Items: 100
Focus: Clinical judgment, prioritization, safety, pharmacology,
assessment, interventions, and evaluation
Directions
Read each question carefully. For multiple-response items, select all
answers that apply. For ordered-response items, place the actions in the
most appropriate sequence.
Important: This is an original educational practice examination. It is not
an ATI-proctored examination or reproduction of ATI proprietary
content.
QUESTIONS 1–70
STAND-ALONE RN-STYLE ITEMS
1. Heart Failure
A nurse is assessing a client with left-sided heart failure. Which finding
requires the most immediate attention?
,A. 2+ ankle edema
B. Orthopnea
C. Pink, frothy sputum
D. Weight gain of 1 kg over 3 days
2. COPD
A client with COPD is receiving oxygen. Which finding should the nurse
report immediately?
A. Oxygen saturation of 90%
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. Increasing somnolence and difficulty arousing
D. Barrel-shaped chest
3. Pneumonia
A client with pneumonia has a temperature of 39.1°C (102.4°F),
respiratory rate 28/min, and oxygen saturation 88% on room air. Which
intervention has the highest priority?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Apply oxygen as prescribed
C. Obtain a sputum specimen after antibiotics are started
D. Encourage ambulation
4. Pulmonary Embolism
,A postoperative client suddenly reports pleuritic chest pain and
shortness of breath. The heart rate is 124/min. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Assist the client to ambulate
B. Apply oxygen and rapidly assess respiratory status
C. Encourage coughing
D. Offer an oral analgesic
5. Asthma
Which assessment finding indicates worsening airway obstruction in a
client having an acute asthma exacerbation?
A. Loud expiratory wheezing
B. Productive cough
C. Diminishing breath sounds with increasing respiratory effort
D. Respiratory rate of 20/min
6. Pneumothorax
A client has a chest tube connected to a drainage system. Which finding
requires immediate follow-up?
A. Tidaling in the water-seal chamber
B. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
C. Small amount of serous drainage
D. Mild incisional discomfort
, 7. Tracheostomy
Which action is appropriate when performing routine tracheostomy
care?
A. Use the same catheter for repeated suction passes
B. Limit suctioning to the shortest effective time
C. Instill sterile saline routinely before every suction pass
D. Suction continuously while withdrawing the catheter
8. Mechanical Ventilation
A ventilated client suddenly has an increased peak airway pressure.
Which problem should the nurse assess for first?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Airway obstruction or decreased lung compliance
C. Dehydration only
D. Urinary retention
9. Tuberculosis
Which precaution is appropriate for a client with suspected active
pulmonary tuberculosis?
A. Contact
B. Droplet
C. Airborne
D. Protective environment
