ATI Med Surge: Cardio and Hematology Practice Exam, Actual
Questions And Answers With Rationale| Latest Version Test
2026.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to an adult female client who has infective
endocarditis about how to prevent recurrence. Which of the following statements by
the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
"I will ask my provider to change my contraception to an IUD"
"I will notify my doctor before I have dental procedures"
"I will avoid using antiseptic mouthwash for oral care"
"I will wear a mask when I go out in public"
"I will notify my doctor before I have dental procedures"
Rationale: The nurse should inform the client of ways to decrease the risk of
recurrence of infective endocarditis. The client should notify the provider prior to
invasive or dental procedures due to the need for prophylactic antibiotic therapy to
reduce the risk of a streptococcal infection.
A nurse is caring for a client who had a MI 5 days ago. The client has a sudden
onset of SOB and begins coughing frothy, pink sputum. The nurse auscultates loud,
bubbly sounds on inspiration. Which of the following adventitious breath sounds
should the nurse document?
Coarse crackles
Wheezes
Rhonci
Friction rub
Coarse crackles
Rationale: A client who had a recent myocardial infarction is at risk for left-sided
heart failure. Crackles are breath sounds caused by movement of air through
airways partially or intermittently occluded with fluid and are associated with heart
,failure and frothy sputum. Crackling sounds are heard at the end of inspiration and
are not cleared by coughing.
A nurse is assessing a client who has right-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
Decreased cap refill
Dyspnea
Orthopnea
Dependent edema
Dependent edema
Rationale: Blood return from the venous system to the right atrium is impaired by
a weakened right heart. The subsequent systemic venous backup leads to the
development of dependent edema.
A nurse is assessing the hematologic system of an older adult client. The nurse
should report which of the following findings to the provider as a possible indication
of a hematologic disorder?
Pallor
Jaundice
Absence of hair on the legs
Poor nail bed cap refill
Absence of hair on legs
Rationale: A progressive loss of hair is common with aging. However, thinning or
absence of hair on the extremities indicates poor arterial circulation to that area.
The nurse should look for further indications of arterial insufficiency and report
these findings to the provider.
,A nurse observes tachycardia, dyspnea, a cough, and distended neck veins in a
client who is receiving a transfusion of packed red blood cells (RBCs). Which of the
following interventions should the nurse use to prevent these manifestations with
the client's next transfusion?
"Warm the unit of blood to room temperature before administering it"
"Administer acetaminophen prior to the blood transfusion"
"Give an antihistamine prior to the transfusion"
"Use a transfusion pump to regulate and maintain the transfusion at a slower rate"
"Use a transfusion pump to regulate and maintain the transfusion at a slower rate"
Rationale: These are manifestations of a hypervolemic reaction due to circulatory
overload, which likely occurs when blood transfusion is too rapid for the client's
size or status. To prevent this problem with future transfusions, the nurse should
use a transfusion pump to regulate the transfusion at a slower rate.
A nurse is teaching a client who has iron-deficiency anemia. The nurse should
encourage the client to increase her consumption of which of the following foods?
"Lentils"
"Avocados"
"Cabbage"
"Broccoli"
Lentils
Rationale: The nurse should encourage the client to increase her consumption of
iron-rich foods, including meat, fish, poultry, and dried beans and peas. A 1-cup
serving of lentils contains 3.6mg of iron.
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following vein ligation and
stripping for varicose veins. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
"Position the client supine with his legs elevated when in bed"
, "Encourage the client to ambulate for 15 min every hour while awake for the first 24
hr"
"Tell the client to sit with his legs dependent after ambulating"
"Instruct the client to wear knee-length socks for 2 weeks after surgery"
"Position the client supine with his legs elevated when in bed"
Rationale: The nurse should elevate the client's legs above his heart to promote
venous return by gravity. During discharge teaching, the nurse should reinforce the
importance of periodic positioning of the legs above the heart.
A nurse is completing an assessment for a client who has a history of unstable
angina. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
"Chest pain is relieved soon after resting"
"Nitroglycerin relieves chest pain"
Physical exertion does not precipitate chest pain"
"Chest pain lasts for longer than 15 min"
"Chest pain lasts for longer than 15 min"
Rationale: A client who has unstable angina will have chest pain lasting longer
than 15 minutes. This is due to reduced blood flow in a coronary artery from
atherosclerotic plaque and thrombus formation causing partial arterial obstruction
or from an artery spasm.
A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
"Pitting peripheral edema"
"Crackles in the lung bases"
"Jugular vein distention"
"Hepatomegaly"
"Crackles in the lung bases"
Questions And Answers With Rationale| Latest Version Test
2026.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to an adult female client who has infective
endocarditis about how to prevent recurrence. Which of the following statements by
the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
"I will ask my provider to change my contraception to an IUD"
"I will notify my doctor before I have dental procedures"
"I will avoid using antiseptic mouthwash for oral care"
"I will wear a mask when I go out in public"
"I will notify my doctor before I have dental procedures"
Rationale: The nurse should inform the client of ways to decrease the risk of
recurrence of infective endocarditis. The client should notify the provider prior to
invasive or dental procedures due to the need for prophylactic antibiotic therapy to
reduce the risk of a streptococcal infection.
A nurse is caring for a client who had a MI 5 days ago. The client has a sudden
onset of SOB and begins coughing frothy, pink sputum. The nurse auscultates loud,
bubbly sounds on inspiration. Which of the following adventitious breath sounds
should the nurse document?
Coarse crackles
Wheezes
Rhonci
Friction rub
Coarse crackles
Rationale: A client who had a recent myocardial infarction is at risk for left-sided
heart failure. Crackles are breath sounds caused by movement of air through
airways partially or intermittently occluded with fluid and are associated with heart
,failure and frothy sputum. Crackling sounds are heard at the end of inspiration and
are not cleared by coughing.
A nurse is assessing a client who has right-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
Decreased cap refill
Dyspnea
Orthopnea
Dependent edema
Dependent edema
Rationale: Blood return from the venous system to the right atrium is impaired by
a weakened right heart. The subsequent systemic venous backup leads to the
development of dependent edema.
A nurse is assessing the hematologic system of an older adult client. The nurse
should report which of the following findings to the provider as a possible indication
of a hematologic disorder?
Pallor
Jaundice
Absence of hair on the legs
Poor nail bed cap refill
Absence of hair on legs
Rationale: A progressive loss of hair is common with aging. However, thinning or
absence of hair on the extremities indicates poor arterial circulation to that area.
The nurse should look for further indications of arterial insufficiency and report
these findings to the provider.
,A nurse observes tachycardia, dyspnea, a cough, and distended neck veins in a
client who is receiving a transfusion of packed red blood cells (RBCs). Which of the
following interventions should the nurse use to prevent these manifestations with
the client's next transfusion?
"Warm the unit of blood to room temperature before administering it"
"Administer acetaminophen prior to the blood transfusion"
"Give an antihistamine prior to the transfusion"
"Use a transfusion pump to regulate and maintain the transfusion at a slower rate"
"Use a transfusion pump to regulate and maintain the transfusion at a slower rate"
Rationale: These are manifestations of a hypervolemic reaction due to circulatory
overload, which likely occurs when blood transfusion is too rapid for the client's
size or status. To prevent this problem with future transfusions, the nurse should
use a transfusion pump to regulate the transfusion at a slower rate.
A nurse is teaching a client who has iron-deficiency anemia. The nurse should
encourage the client to increase her consumption of which of the following foods?
"Lentils"
"Avocados"
"Cabbage"
"Broccoli"
Lentils
Rationale: The nurse should encourage the client to increase her consumption of
iron-rich foods, including meat, fish, poultry, and dried beans and peas. A 1-cup
serving of lentils contains 3.6mg of iron.
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following vein ligation and
stripping for varicose veins. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
"Position the client supine with his legs elevated when in bed"
, "Encourage the client to ambulate for 15 min every hour while awake for the first 24
hr"
"Tell the client to sit with his legs dependent after ambulating"
"Instruct the client to wear knee-length socks for 2 weeks after surgery"
"Position the client supine with his legs elevated when in bed"
Rationale: The nurse should elevate the client's legs above his heart to promote
venous return by gravity. During discharge teaching, the nurse should reinforce the
importance of periodic positioning of the legs above the heart.
A nurse is completing an assessment for a client who has a history of unstable
angina. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
"Chest pain is relieved soon after resting"
"Nitroglycerin relieves chest pain"
Physical exertion does not precipitate chest pain"
"Chest pain lasts for longer than 15 min"
"Chest pain lasts for longer than 15 min"
Rationale: A client who has unstable angina will have chest pain lasting longer
than 15 minutes. This is due to reduced blood flow in a coronary artery from
atherosclerotic plaque and thrombus formation causing partial arterial obstruction
or from an artery spasm.
A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
"Pitting peripheral edema"
"Crackles in the lung bases"
"Jugular vein distention"
"Hepatomegaly"
"Crackles in the lung bases"
