ATI NCLEX MEDICAL SURGICAL EXAMINATION
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ 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. Answer: 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. Answer: Platelets 80,000
**Normal 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. Answer: Assist 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
circulatory overload. Answer: 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. Answer: Altered taste, **due to 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). Answer: *Obtain pre-transfusion temperature
**Verify the client's blood type with a second nurse
***Use a 20 gauge IV needle for venous access
◉ A nurse is reviewing the laboratory findings for a client who is
dehydrated. Which of the following BUN levels should the nurse expect.
Answer: 26 mg/dL
**Normal range is 10-20.
, Elevated levels indicate renal disease, dehydration, shock, excessive
protein in the diet, sepsis, glucocorticoid use, GI bleeding, or other
conditions in which blood is reabsorbed from injured tissues
--
A low BUN level can indicate malnutrition, malabsorption, liver disease,
fluid overload, or nephrotic syndrome
◉ A nurse is reviewing ECG strips for several clients. Which of the
following images should the nurse identify as A-Fib. Answer: Multiple
irregular and variable waves at the baseline and irregular R to R
intervals
◉ A nurse is preparing to admit a client who has a new tracheostomy
from the operating room. Which of the following items is the priority for
the nurse to have available in the client's room upon admission. Answer:
Obturator
**The obturator can be inserted in the stoma in the event of dislodgment
or decannulation to maintain an airway until a new trach tube can be
placed. For the first 72 hr following the insertion of a trach,
dislodgement or decannulation is considered an emergency
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who had a below the knee amputation
due to a traumatic injury 2 days ago. Which of the following statements
should the nurse use to assess how the client is coping with this change
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ 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. Answer: 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. Answer: Platelets 80,000
**Normal 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. Answer: Assist 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
circulatory overload. Answer: 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. Answer: Altered taste, **due to 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). Answer: *Obtain pre-transfusion temperature
**Verify the client's blood type with a second nurse
***Use a 20 gauge IV needle for venous access
◉ A nurse is reviewing the laboratory findings for a client who is
dehydrated. Which of the following BUN levels should the nurse expect.
Answer: 26 mg/dL
**Normal range is 10-20.
, Elevated levels indicate renal disease, dehydration, shock, excessive
protein in the diet, sepsis, glucocorticoid use, GI bleeding, or other
conditions in which blood is reabsorbed from injured tissues
--
A low BUN level can indicate malnutrition, malabsorption, liver disease,
fluid overload, or nephrotic syndrome
◉ A nurse is reviewing ECG strips for several clients. Which of the
following images should the nurse identify as A-Fib. Answer: Multiple
irregular and variable waves at the baseline and irregular R to R
intervals
◉ A nurse is preparing to admit a client who has a new tracheostomy
from the operating room. Which of the following items is the priority for
the nurse to have available in the client's room upon admission. Answer:
Obturator
**The obturator can be inserted in the stoma in the event of dislodgment
or decannulation to maintain an airway until a new trach tube can be
placed. For the first 72 hr following the insertion of a trach,
dislodgement or decannulation is considered an emergency
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who had a below the knee amputation
due to a traumatic injury 2 days ago. Which of the following statements
should the nurse use to assess how the client is coping with this change
