Medical Surgical ATI Proctored Exam Key Questions & Answers |
1
Questions and Answers | Latest Update
MEDICAL SURGICAL ATI PROCTORED EXAM 2024 COVERING
100 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WELL EXPAINED
FREE DOWNLOAD 100% TOPSCORE
1. A patient with heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 3 kg in 2 days. What is the
priority nursing action?
A. Notify the provider
B. Encourage increased fluid intake
C. Restrict sodium intake
D. Schedule daily weights
Answer: A. Notify the provider
Rationale: Rapid weight gain indicates fluid retention, which can worsen heart failure.
Immediate provider notification is required.
2. A patient with COPD has an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. What is the first action?
A. Give high-flow oxygen at 6 L/min
B. Assess respiratory rate and effort
C. Call the provider immediately
D. Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
Answer: B. Assess respiratory rate and effort
Rationale: Assess the patient’s respiratory status before giving supplemental oxygen to
determine severity.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in a patient with vomiting and NG suction?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Vomiting and NG suction cause loss of potassium, leading to hypokalemia.
,2
4. A patient receiving heparin develops a platelet count of 50,000/mm³. What is the priority
action?
A. Continue therapy and monitor
B. Hold heparin and notify provider
C. Increase heparin dose
D. Give vitamin K
Answer: B. Hold heparin and notify provider
Rationale: Low platelets indicate possible heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Stop heparin
immediately.
5. Which nursing action is priority for a post-op patient with new confusion and restlessness?
A. Offer fluids
B. Check vital signs and oxygen saturation
C. Give pain medication
D. Reorient the patient
Answer: B. Check vital signs and oxygen saturation
Rationale: Confusion may indicate hypoxia, hypotension, or infection; assess vital signs first.
6. A patient with type 1 diabetes has blood glucose 350 mg/dL and fruity breath. Which
condition is likely?
A. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: C. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Rationale: High glucose with fruity breath indicates ketone production, consistent with DKA.
7. A patient with chronic kidney disease has potassium 6.2 mEq/L. What is the priority action?
A. Encourage high-potassium foods
B. Notify provider immediately
C. Restrict sodium intake
D. Administer IV fluids only
,3
Answer: B. Notify provider immediately
Rationale: Hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening arrhythmias; urgent intervention is
required.
8. Which intervention is priority for a patient with suspected stroke?
A. Perform full neurological assessment
B. Initiate oxygen therapy
C. Notify provider immediately
D. Start IV fluids
Answer: C. Notify provider immediately
Rationale: Early intervention is critical in stroke to reduce brain damage.
9. A patient on furosemide develops leg cramps and muscle weakness. Which lab is likely
abnormal?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss, leading to muscle
cramps and weakness.
10. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min. Which assessment
finding requires immediate action?
A. Respiratory rate 18/min
B. Oxygen saturation 88%
C. Speaking in full sentences
D. Mild dyspnea
Answer: B. Oxygen saturation 88%
Rationale: Oxygen saturation below 90% requires intervention to prevent hypoxia.
11. Which is a priority for a post-op patient with sudden abdominal distention and absent
bowel sounds?
, 4
A. Encourage ambulation
B. Notify the provider
C. Give laxative
D. Offer oral fluids
Answer: B. Notify the provider
Rationale: Sudden distention and absent bowel sounds may indicate ileus or obstruction.
12. A patient receiving morphine reports RR of 8/min. What is the priority action?
A. Administer naloxone as ordered
B. Encourage deep breathing
C. Monitor for another 30 minutes
D. Give pain medication
Answer: A. Administer naloxone as ordered
Rationale: Respiratory depression is a life-threatening side effect of opioids.
13. Which is a common sign of fluid overload?
A. Hypotension
B. Crackles in lungs
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Flat neck veins
Answer: B. Crackles in lungs
Rationale: Pulmonary crackles indicate fluid accumulation in alveoli.
14. Which nursing action is priority for a patient with a newly inserted chest tube with
bubbling in the water seal chamber?
A. Clamp the tube
B. Notify the provider
C. Monitor drainage and bubbling
D. Strip the tubing
Answer: C. Monitor drainage and bubbling
Rationale: Intermittent bubbling is expected initially; continuous vigorous bubbling may indicate
an air leak.
1
Questions and Answers | Latest Update
MEDICAL SURGICAL ATI PROCTORED EXAM 2024 COVERING
100 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WELL EXPAINED
FREE DOWNLOAD 100% TOPSCORE
1. A patient with heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 3 kg in 2 days. What is the
priority nursing action?
A. Notify the provider
B. Encourage increased fluid intake
C. Restrict sodium intake
D. Schedule daily weights
Answer: A. Notify the provider
Rationale: Rapid weight gain indicates fluid retention, which can worsen heart failure.
Immediate provider notification is required.
2. A patient with COPD has an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. What is the first action?
A. Give high-flow oxygen at 6 L/min
B. Assess respiratory rate and effort
C. Call the provider immediately
D. Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
Answer: B. Assess respiratory rate and effort
Rationale: Assess the patient’s respiratory status before giving supplemental oxygen to
determine severity.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely in a patient with vomiting and NG suction?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Vomiting and NG suction cause loss of potassium, leading to hypokalemia.
,2
4. A patient receiving heparin develops a platelet count of 50,000/mm³. What is the priority
action?
A. Continue therapy and monitor
B. Hold heparin and notify provider
C. Increase heparin dose
D. Give vitamin K
Answer: B. Hold heparin and notify provider
Rationale: Low platelets indicate possible heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Stop heparin
immediately.
5. Which nursing action is priority for a post-op patient with new confusion and restlessness?
A. Offer fluids
B. Check vital signs and oxygen saturation
C. Give pain medication
D. Reorient the patient
Answer: B. Check vital signs and oxygen saturation
Rationale: Confusion may indicate hypoxia, hypotension, or infection; assess vital signs first.
6. A patient with type 1 diabetes has blood glucose 350 mg/dL and fruity breath. Which
condition is likely?
A. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: C. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Rationale: High glucose with fruity breath indicates ketone production, consistent with DKA.
7. A patient with chronic kidney disease has potassium 6.2 mEq/L. What is the priority action?
A. Encourage high-potassium foods
B. Notify provider immediately
C. Restrict sodium intake
D. Administer IV fluids only
,3
Answer: B. Notify provider immediately
Rationale: Hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening arrhythmias; urgent intervention is
required.
8. Which intervention is priority for a patient with suspected stroke?
A. Perform full neurological assessment
B. Initiate oxygen therapy
C. Notify provider immediately
D. Start IV fluids
Answer: C. Notify provider immediately
Rationale: Early intervention is critical in stroke to reduce brain damage.
9. A patient on furosemide develops leg cramps and muscle weakness. Which lab is likely
abnormal?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss, leading to muscle
cramps and weakness.
10. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min. Which assessment
finding requires immediate action?
A. Respiratory rate 18/min
B. Oxygen saturation 88%
C. Speaking in full sentences
D. Mild dyspnea
Answer: B. Oxygen saturation 88%
Rationale: Oxygen saturation below 90% requires intervention to prevent hypoxia.
11. Which is a priority for a post-op patient with sudden abdominal distention and absent
bowel sounds?
, 4
A. Encourage ambulation
B. Notify the provider
C. Give laxative
D. Offer oral fluids
Answer: B. Notify the provider
Rationale: Sudden distention and absent bowel sounds may indicate ileus or obstruction.
12. A patient receiving morphine reports RR of 8/min. What is the priority action?
A. Administer naloxone as ordered
B. Encourage deep breathing
C. Monitor for another 30 minutes
D. Give pain medication
Answer: A. Administer naloxone as ordered
Rationale: Respiratory depression is a life-threatening side effect of opioids.
13. Which is a common sign of fluid overload?
A. Hypotension
B. Crackles in lungs
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Flat neck veins
Answer: B. Crackles in lungs
Rationale: Pulmonary crackles indicate fluid accumulation in alveoli.
14. Which nursing action is priority for a patient with a newly inserted chest tube with
bubbling in the water seal chamber?
A. Clamp the tube
B. Notify the provider
C. Monitor drainage and bubbling
D. Strip the tubing
Answer: C. Monitor drainage and bubbling
Rationale: Intermittent bubbling is expected initially; continuous vigorous bubbling may indicate
an air leak.
