ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL ONLINE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
A nurse is providing postoperative teaching for a client who had a total knee arthroplasty. Which
of the following instructions should the nurse include? - ANSWER-Flex the foot every hour
when awake.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a pneumothorax and a closed-chest drainage system.
Which of the following findings is an indication of lung re-expansion? - ANSWER-Bubbling in
the water seal chamber has ceased.
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking warfarin for chronic atrial
fibrillation. Which of the following values should the nurse identify as a desired outcome for this
therapy? - ANSWER-INR 2.5
A home health nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a stage 1 pressure injury on the
greater trochanter of his left hip. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in
the teaching? - ANSWER-Change position ever hour.
A nurse is assessing a client following the completion of hemodialysis. Which of the following
findings is the nurse's priority to report to the provider? - ANSWER-Restlessness
A nurse is caring for a client who is 8 hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. The
client is unable to void on the bedpan. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- ANSWER-Scan the bladder with a portable ultrasound.
A nurse is planning a health promotional presentation for a group of African American clients at
a community center. Which of the following disorders presents the greatest risk to this group of
clients? - ANSWER-Hypertension
A nurse is caring for a client who has DKA. Which of the following findings should indicate to
the nurse that the client's condition is improving? - ANSWER-Glucose 272 mg/dL
A nurse is caring for a client following extubation of an endotracheal tube 10 min. ago. Which of
the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately? - ANSWER-Stridor
A nurse is caring for a client who had a nephrostomy tube inserted 112 hr ago. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report to the provider? - ANSWER-The client reports back
pain.
A nurse is admitting a client who has active TB. Which of the following types of transmission
precautions should the nurse initiate? - ANSWER-Airborne
, A nurse is planning care for a client who has a sealed radiation implant for cervical cancer.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? - ANSWER-
Keep a lead-lined container in the client's room.
A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy. Which of the
following findings is the nurse's priority? - ANSWER-Temperature 38.9 C
A nurse is providing discharge teaching about infection prevention to a client who has AIDS.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates understanding of the teaching? -
ANSWER-"I will no longer floss my teeth after brushing my teeth."
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has hypertension and a new prescription for
verapamil. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching? -
ANSWER-"Increase fiber intake to avoid constipation."
A nurse is providing education to a client who is at risk for osteoporosis. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include? - ANSWER-Walk for 30 min four times per week.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is perimenopausal and has a prescription for
hormone replacement therapy. For which of the following? - ANSWER-- Calf pain
- Numbness in the arm
- Intense headache
A nurse is evaluating the plan of care for four clients after 2 days of hospitalization. The nurse
should identify the need to revise the plan for which of the following clients? - ANSWER-A
client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery and reports feeling that something
"popped" when they coughed
A nurse is caring for a client who has hypothyroidism. Which of the following manifestations
should the nurse expect? - ANSWER-Constipation
A nurse is caring for a client who has cervical spinal cord injury sustained 1 month ago. Which
of the following manifestations indicates that the client is experiencing autonomic dysreflexia
(AD)? - ANSWER-Heart rate 52/min
A nurse is caring for a client who has an arterial line. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take? - ANSWER-Place a pressure bag around the flush solutions
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has osteomyelitis and a prescription for
gentamicin. Which of the following findings from the client's medical record should indicate to
the nurse the need to withhold the medication and notify the provider? - ANSWER-Serum
creatinine
A nurse is preparing to administer phenytoin 600 mg PO daily to a client. he amount available is
oral solution 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? - ANSWER-24
STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED ANSWERS
A nurse is providing postoperative teaching for a client who had a total knee arthroplasty. Which
of the following instructions should the nurse include? - ANSWER-Flex the foot every hour
when awake.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a pneumothorax and a closed-chest drainage system.
Which of the following findings is an indication of lung re-expansion? - ANSWER-Bubbling in
the water seal chamber has ceased.
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking warfarin for chronic atrial
fibrillation. Which of the following values should the nurse identify as a desired outcome for this
therapy? - ANSWER-INR 2.5
A home health nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a stage 1 pressure injury on the
greater trochanter of his left hip. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in
the teaching? - ANSWER-Change position ever hour.
A nurse is assessing a client following the completion of hemodialysis. Which of the following
findings is the nurse's priority to report to the provider? - ANSWER-Restlessness
A nurse is caring for a client who is 8 hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. The
client is unable to void on the bedpan. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- ANSWER-Scan the bladder with a portable ultrasound.
A nurse is planning a health promotional presentation for a group of African American clients at
a community center. Which of the following disorders presents the greatest risk to this group of
clients? - ANSWER-Hypertension
A nurse is caring for a client who has DKA. Which of the following findings should indicate to
the nurse that the client's condition is improving? - ANSWER-Glucose 272 mg/dL
A nurse is caring for a client following extubation of an endotracheal tube 10 min. ago. Which of
the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately? - ANSWER-Stridor
A nurse is caring for a client who had a nephrostomy tube inserted 112 hr ago. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report to the provider? - ANSWER-The client reports back
pain.
A nurse is admitting a client who has active TB. Which of the following types of transmission
precautions should the nurse initiate? - ANSWER-Airborne
, A nurse is planning care for a client who has a sealed radiation implant for cervical cancer.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? - ANSWER-
Keep a lead-lined container in the client's room.
A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy. Which of the
following findings is the nurse's priority? - ANSWER-Temperature 38.9 C
A nurse is providing discharge teaching about infection prevention to a client who has AIDS.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates understanding of the teaching? -
ANSWER-"I will no longer floss my teeth after brushing my teeth."
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has hypertension and a new prescription for
verapamil. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching? -
ANSWER-"Increase fiber intake to avoid constipation."
A nurse is providing education to a client who is at risk for osteoporosis. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include? - ANSWER-Walk for 30 min four times per week.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is perimenopausal and has a prescription for
hormone replacement therapy. For which of the following? - ANSWER-- Calf pain
- Numbness in the arm
- Intense headache
A nurse is evaluating the plan of care for four clients after 2 days of hospitalization. The nurse
should identify the need to revise the plan for which of the following clients? - ANSWER-A
client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery and reports feeling that something
"popped" when they coughed
A nurse is caring for a client who has hypothyroidism. Which of the following manifestations
should the nurse expect? - ANSWER-Constipation
A nurse is caring for a client who has cervical spinal cord injury sustained 1 month ago. Which
of the following manifestations indicates that the client is experiencing autonomic dysreflexia
(AD)? - ANSWER-Heart rate 52/min
A nurse is caring for a client who has an arterial line. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take? - ANSWER-Place a pressure bag around the flush solutions
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has osteomyelitis and a prescription for
gentamicin. Which of the following findings from the client's medical record should indicate to
the nurse the need to withhold the medication and notify the provider? - ANSWER-Serum
creatinine
A nurse is preparing to administer phenytoin 600 mg PO daily to a client. he amount available is
oral solution 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? - ANSWER-24
