ATI NCLEX MEDICAL SURGICAL ACTUAL
EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ A nurse is planning care for a client who is receiving mechanical
ventilation. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in
the plan
A. Provide the client with a means of communication
B. Maintain the head of the client's bed in a flat position
C. Suction the client's endotracheal tube every 4 hr
D. Perform oral hygiene for the client every 8 hr. Answer: A.) Provide
the client with a means of communication
Use electronic tablet computer, programmable speech generating device,
alphabet board, pencil and paper, etc
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV fluid replacement
therapy for dehydration. Which of the following laboratory results
indicates effectiveness of the treatment
A. Sodium 165 mEq/L
,B. Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
C. Urine specific gravity 1.020
D. Hct 62%. Answer: C Urine specific gravity 1.020
Within the expected range of 1.005-1.030
◉ A nurse is monitoring the laboratory findings for a client who is
postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty 6 hr ago. Which of the
following values indicates that the client has an increased risk for
bleeding
A. PT 11.5 seconds
B. aPTT 35 seconds
C. Platelets 80,000
D. RBC 4.0 million. Answer: C Platelets 80,000
platelet range is 150,000-400,000
◉ A nurse is admitting a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury
following a motor vehicle crash. Which of the following interventions is
the nurse's priority while caring for this client
A. Change the client's position every 2 hours
B. Pad pressure points at the edges of the client's cervical collar
C. Palpate the client's abdomen for bladder distention
,D. Assist the client with quad coughing. Answer: D Assist the client with
quad coughing
The greatest risk to a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury is an
obstructed airway; the priority is to ensure the client can clear their
airway. Apply abdominal pressure as the client coughs (quad coughing)
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion.
Which of the following findings indicates that the client is experiencing
transfusion-associated circulatory overload
A. Nasuea
B. Hypothermia
C. Dyspnea
D. Bradycardia. Answer: C Dyspnea
Dyspnea is an indication of possible transfusion associated circulatory
overload, leading to hypertension, bounding pulses, and confusion.
Dyspnea can also indicate transfusion related acute lung injury to an
anaphylactic response, which also causes wheezing, chest tightness,
cyanosis, and low BP
◉ A nurse is assessing a client who has lung cancer and is undergoing
radiation therapy to the chest. Which of the following indicates an
adverse effect of the therapy
A. Hair loss on the scalp
, B. Sweating at the treatment site
C. Altered taste sensations
D. Intolerance to cold. Answer: C Altered taste sensations
Altered taste is a result of the release of metabolites by dead cells
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer a unit of packed RBCs to a client
who has anemia. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to
take (select all that apply)
A. Obtain pre-transfusion temperature
B. Prime the IV tubing with lactated Ringer's
C. Instruct an assistive personnel to monitor the client during the
transfusion
D. Verify the client's blood type with a second nurse
E. Use a 20 gauge IV needle for venous access. Answer: A, D, E
A, complete assessment prior to transfusion
D, verify identification, blood compatibility, and expiration of product
with second nurse
E, the nurse should use a large bore needle to transfuse the PRBCs to
reduce the risk of cell hemolysis and obstruction of flow
EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ A nurse is planning care for a client who is receiving mechanical
ventilation. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in
the plan
A. Provide the client with a means of communication
B. Maintain the head of the client's bed in a flat position
C. Suction the client's endotracheal tube every 4 hr
D. Perform oral hygiene for the client every 8 hr. Answer: A.) Provide
the client with a means of communication
Use electronic tablet computer, programmable speech generating device,
alphabet board, pencil and paper, etc
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV fluid replacement
therapy for dehydration. Which of the following laboratory results
indicates effectiveness of the treatment
A. Sodium 165 mEq/L
,B. Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
C. Urine specific gravity 1.020
D. Hct 62%. Answer: C Urine specific gravity 1.020
Within the expected range of 1.005-1.030
◉ A nurse is monitoring the laboratory findings for a client who is
postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty 6 hr ago. Which of the
following values indicates that the client has an increased risk for
bleeding
A. PT 11.5 seconds
B. aPTT 35 seconds
C. Platelets 80,000
D. RBC 4.0 million. Answer: C Platelets 80,000
platelet range is 150,000-400,000
◉ A nurse is admitting a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury
following a motor vehicle crash. Which of the following interventions is
the nurse's priority while caring for this client
A. Change the client's position every 2 hours
B. Pad pressure points at the edges of the client's cervical collar
C. Palpate the client's abdomen for bladder distention
,D. Assist the client with quad coughing. Answer: D Assist the client with
quad coughing
The greatest risk to a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury is an
obstructed airway; the priority is to ensure the client can clear their
airway. Apply abdominal pressure as the client coughs (quad coughing)
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion.
Which of the following findings indicates that the client is experiencing
transfusion-associated circulatory overload
A. Nasuea
B. Hypothermia
C. Dyspnea
D. Bradycardia. Answer: C Dyspnea
Dyspnea is an indication of possible transfusion associated circulatory
overload, leading to hypertension, bounding pulses, and confusion.
Dyspnea can also indicate transfusion related acute lung injury to an
anaphylactic response, which also causes wheezing, chest tightness,
cyanosis, and low BP
◉ A nurse is assessing a client who has lung cancer and is undergoing
radiation therapy to the chest. Which of the following indicates an
adverse effect of the therapy
A. Hair loss on the scalp
, B. Sweating at the treatment site
C. Altered taste sensations
D. Intolerance to cold. Answer: C Altered taste sensations
Altered taste is a result of the release of metabolites by dead cells
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer a unit of packed RBCs to a client
who has anemia. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to
take (select all that apply)
A. Obtain pre-transfusion temperature
B. Prime the IV tubing with lactated Ringer's
C. Instruct an assistive personnel to monitor the client during the
transfusion
D. Verify the client's blood type with a second nurse
E. Use a 20 gauge IV needle for venous access. Answer: A, D, E
A, complete assessment prior to transfusion
D, verify identification, blood compatibility, and expiration of product
with second nurse
E, the nurse should use a large bore needle to transfuse the PRBCs to
reduce the risk of cell hemolysis and obstruction of flow
