ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B – Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales!!!! Page 1
ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN
Practice B – Rewritten Questions,
Answers, and Rationales
This document presents rewritten ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B questions in a clear study format with correct answers and
detailed rationales. The material focuses on priority nursing interventions, medication management, postoperative care, emergency
conditions, and clinical judgment used in medical-surgical nursing. This study guide helps nursing students prepare for ATI exams, NGN
clinical judgment items, and NCLEX-RN preparation. ATI Adult Medical Surgical Practice B NGN nursing case study questions medical
surgical nursing ATI exam ATI pharmacology and nursing interventions CLEX med surg practice questions ATI nursing rationales study
guide clinical judgment nursing questions ATI RN exam preparation
Question 1
A nurse is teaching a perimenopausal client who has been prescribed hormone
replacement therapy. Which adverse effects should the nurse instruct the client to
report to the provider?
Answer
Calf pain
Numbness in the arms
Severe headache
Rationale
Hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of thromboembolic events such as
deep vein thrombosis and stroke. Calf pain may indicate a blood clot, while numbness or
severe headache can signal neurologic complications.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has a closed-suction drain following a
laparotomy. Which action should the nurse perform?
Answer
Compress the drain reservoir after emptying it.
Rationale
Closed-suction drains work by negative pressure. Compressing the reservoir
re-establishes suction and promotes drainage from the surgical site.
Question 3
A client with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is receiving treatment. Which finding indicates
improvement in the client’s condition?
Answer
Blood glucose level of 272 mg/dL
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,ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B – Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales!!!! Page 2
Rationale
Clients with DKA often present with extremely high glucose levels. A reduction toward
normal levels indicates the treatment regimen is effective.
Question 4
A nurse reviews laboratory findings for a client who developed chest pain 6 hours ago.
Which result indicates myocardial infarction?
Answer
Troponin I level of 8 ng/mL
Rationale
Troponin is a cardiac biomarker released during myocardial cell damage. Significantly
elevated levels confirm myocardial infarction.
Question 5
A nurse is planning a health promotion program for African American clients. Which
condition poses the greatest risk in this population?
Answer
Hypertension
Rationale
African American populations have a higher prevalence of hypertension, which
increases the risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a client about preventing osteoporosis. Which instruction should the
nurse include?
Answer
Walk for 30 minutes four times per week.
Rationale
Weight-bearing exercises stimulate bone formation and help maintain bone density.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client who has an arterial line. Which action should the nurse
perform?
Answer
Place a pressure bag around the flush solution.
Rationale
The pressure bag maintains continuous arterial line patency by providing constant
pressure for the flush system.
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,ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B – Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales!!!! Page 3
Question 8
A nurse reviews ABG results for a client with advanced COPD. Which finding should the
nurse expect?
Answer
PaCO₂ of 56 mm Hg
Rationale
COPD leads to chronic respiratory acidosis due to carbon dioxide retention.
Question 9
A nurse provides discharge instructions after a total knee arthroplasty. Which instruction
should be included?
Answer
Flex your foot every hour while awake.
Rationale
Frequent foot movement promotes circulation and reduces the risk of deep vein
thrombosis.
Question 10
A nurse is caring for a client following a parathyroidectomy. Which action is the priority?
Answer
Keep a tracheostomy tray at the bedside.
Rationale
Postoperative neck swelling can obstruct the airway. Emergency airway equipment must
be readily available.
Question 11
A nurse evaluates the care plan for hospitalized clients. Which client requires
revision of the plan of care?
Answer
A postoperative abdominal surgery client who reports feeling something “pop” when
coughing.
Rationale
This finding may indicate wound dehiscence, which requires immediate medical
evaluation.
Question 12
A nurse observes a pacemaker artifact followed by a QRS complex on an ECG strip.
What should the nurse do?
Answer
Document that depolarization occurred.
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, ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B – Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales!!!! Page 4
Rationale
The presence of a QRS complex after the pacemaker spike indicates successful
ventricular capture.
Question 13
A nurse provides discharge teaching to a client with active tuberculosis. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
Answer
Provide sputum samples every 2–4 weeks until three consecutive cultures are negative.
Rationale
Repeated sputum testing confirms that the infection is no longer contagious.
Question 14
A client receiving a blood transfusion becomes dyspneic and develops crackles in the
lungs. What action should the nurse anticipate?
Answer
Slow the infusion rate.
Rationale
These findings suggest circulatory overload. Slowing the infusion helps prevent
worsening pulmonary edema.
Question 15
A nurse assesses a client after thyroidectomy. Which finding requires priority
attention?
Answer
Temperature 38.9°C (102°F)
Rationale
High fever may indicate thyroid storm, a life-threatening complication.
Question 16
A client has homonymous hemianopsia following a stroke. Which instruction
should the nurse provide to reduce fall risk?
Answer
Turn your head from side to side to scan the environment.
Rationale
Clients with visual field deficits must consciously scan their surroundings to detect
obstacles.
Question 17
A PACU nurse monitors a client after nephrectomy. Which change indicates possible
hemorrhage?
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN
Practice B – Rewritten Questions,
Answers, and Rationales
This document presents rewritten ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B questions in a clear study format with correct answers and
detailed rationales. The material focuses on priority nursing interventions, medication management, postoperative care, emergency
conditions, and clinical judgment used in medical-surgical nursing. This study guide helps nursing students prepare for ATI exams, NGN
clinical judgment items, and NCLEX-RN preparation. ATI Adult Medical Surgical Practice B NGN nursing case study questions medical
surgical nursing ATI exam ATI pharmacology and nursing interventions CLEX med surg practice questions ATI nursing rationales study
guide clinical judgment nursing questions ATI RN exam preparation
Question 1
A nurse is teaching a perimenopausal client who has been prescribed hormone
replacement therapy. Which adverse effects should the nurse instruct the client to
report to the provider?
Answer
Calf pain
Numbness in the arms
Severe headache
Rationale
Hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of thromboembolic events such as
deep vein thrombosis and stroke. Calf pain may indicate a blood clot, while numbness or
severe headache can signal neurologic complications.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has a closed-suction drain following a
laparotomy. Which action should the nurse perform?
Answer
Compress the drain reservoir after emptying it.
Rationale
Closed-suction drains work by negative pressure. Compressing the reservoir
re-establishes suction and promotes drainage from the surgical site.
Question 3
A client with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is receiving treatment. Which finding indicates
improvement in the client’s condition?
Answer
Blood glucose level of 272 mg/dL
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
,ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B – Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales!!!! Page 2
Rationale
Clients with DKA often present with extremely high glucose levels. A reduction toward
normal levels indicates the treatment regimen is effective.
Question 4
A nurse reviews laboratory findings for a client who developed chest pain 6 hours ago.
Which result indicates myocardial infarction?
Answer
Troponin I level of 8 ng/mL
Rationale
Troponin is a cardiac biomarker released during myocardial cell damage. Significantly
elevated levels confirm myocardial infarction.
Question 5
A nurse is planning a health promotion program for African American clients. Which
condition poses the greatest risk in this population?
Answer
Hypertension
Rationale
African American populations have a higher prevalence of hypertension, which
increases the risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a client about preventing osteoporosis. Which instruction should the
nurse include?
Answer
Walk for 30 minutes four times per week.
Rationale
Weight-bearing exercises stimulate bone formation and help maintain bone density.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client who has an arterial line. Which action should the nurse
perform?
Answer
Place a pressure bag around the flush solution.
Rationale
The pressure bag maintains continuous arterial line patency by providing constant
pressure for the flush system.
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
,ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B – Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales!!!! Page 3
Question 8
A nurse reviews ABG results for a client with advanced COPD. Which finding should the
nurse expect?
Answer
PaCO₂ of 56 mm Hg
Rationale
COPD leads to chronic respiratory acidosis due to carbon dioxide retention.
Question 9
A nurse provides discharge instructions after a total knee arthroplasty. Which instruction
should be included?
Answer
Flex your foot every hour while awake.
Rationale
Frequent foot movement promotes circulation and reduces the risk of deep vein
thrombosis.
Question 10
A nurse is caring for a client following a parathyroidectomy. Which action is the priority?
Answer
Keep a tracheostomy tray at the bedside.
Rationale
Postoperative neck swelling can obstruct the airway. Emergency airway equipment must
be readily available.
Question 11
A nurse evaluates the care plan for hospitalized clients. Which client requires
revision of the plan of care?
Answer
A postoperative abdominal surgery client who reports feeling something “pop” when
coughing.
Rationale
This finding may indicate wound dehiscence, which requires immediate medical
evaluation.
Question 12
A nurse observes a pacemaker artifact followed by a QRS complex on an ECG strip.
What should the nurse do?
Answer
Document that depolarization occurred.
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
, ATI Adult Medical Surgical NGN Practice B – Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales!!!! Page 4
Rationale
The presence of a QRS complex after the pacemaker spike indicates successful
ventricular capture.
Question 13
A nurse provides discharge teaching to a client with active tuberculosis. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
Answer
Provide sputum samples every 2–4 weeks until three consecutive cultures are negative.
Rationale
Repeated sputum testing confirms that the infection is no longer contagious.
Question 14
A client receiving a blood transfusion becomes dyspneic and develops crackles in the
lungs. What action should the nurse anticipate?
Answer
Slow the infusion rate.
Rationale
These findings suggest circulatory overload. Slowing the infusion helps prevent
worsening pulmonary edema.
Question 15
A nurse assesses a client after thyroidectomy. Which finding requires priority
attention?
Answer
Temperature 38.9°C (102°F)
Rationale
High fever may indicate thyroid storm, a life-threatening complication.
Question 16
A client has homonymous hemianopsia following a stroke. Which instruction
should the nurse provide to reduce fall risk?
Answer
Turn your head from side to side to scan the environment.
Rationale
Clients with visual field deficits must consciously scan their surroundings to detect
obstacles.
Question 17
A PACU nurse monitors a client after nephrectomy. Which change indicates possible
hemorrhage?
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
