ATI MED SURG PRACTICE ASSESSMENT 2026
CERTIFICATION TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED
◉ A client presents in the emergency department complaining of
palpitations and tachycardia. Blood glucose testing reveals a level of
40 mg/dL, and the client reports no usual symptoms of a low
glucose level. Which of the following conditions may the client be
experiencing? Answer: Hypoglycemia - associated autonomic failure
◉ The nurse is providing care for a client who has syndrome of
inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and is critically ill.
Which of the following lab findings requires immediate
intervention? Answer: Serum sodium 125
◉ client is being treated with chemotherapy for squamous cell
carcinomas. Which of the following methods should the nurse
anticipate for this chemotherapy? Answer: topical application
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has fluid volume excess (FVE)
due to heart failure (HF). Which of the following manifestations
should the nurse associate with FVE? Answer: Elevated B/P. ,
WEIGHT GAIN, pedal edema
,◉ A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about brain
herniation. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include as a possible treatment for brain herniation? Answer:
Hyperventilating the pt
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who is scheduled for a colposcopy
tomorrow. Which of the following statements should the nurse
include in the teaching? Answer: During this seizure and biopsy may
be performed
◉ nurse is assessing a client who has suspected acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS). The nurse should identify that which of
the following is the most common presenting manifestation of
ARDS? Answer: Dyspnea
◉ nurse is providing education to a client who has a newly
diagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Which of the following
statements should the nurse include in the teaching? Answer: An
abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dilation of the abdominal aorta
greater than 30 mm in diameter.
◉ A nurse is caring for a group of clients who have chronic illnesses.
Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as being at
the greatest risk for sepsis? Answer: Pt with cancer
,◉ A nurse wants to use evidence-based practice to provide safe and
effective wound care for a client with a rare clotting disorder. Which
of the following is the first step the nurse should take? Answer:
Posing a question
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who has arrhythmogenic
cardiomyopathy about the risk for sudden cardiac death. Which of
the following client statements indicates to the nurse an
understanding of the teaching? Answer: Cardiomyopathy does not
increase the likelihood of developing hiccups. Hiccups may occur
with pericarditis.
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer prescribed intravenous
potassium replacement supplements to a client who has a potassium
level of 2.5 mEq/L (3.5 to 5 mEq/L). Which of the following actions
should the nurse plan to include? Answer: Repeat blood serum
potassium
Cardiac monitoring
Educate client on high potassium
Urine output is a least 1m/kg/hour
◉ A nurse is providing care for a client who was in a motorcycle
crash. The client has an organ tissue donation card in their wallet.
Which of the following interventions are essential to maintain
healthy organs? Answer: Adequate perfusion, maintaining body
temp., low infection risk, adequate
, ◉ A nurse is assisting a client with ambulation several hours after a
hip replacement. Which of the following postoperative
complications is the nurse trying to prevent? Answer: venous
thromboembolism
◉ A nurse is planning care for a client with complex medical needs.
Which of the following would be an example of interprofessional
collaboration? Answer: Consult physical therapist about care
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has prostate cancer and had a
prostatectomy. Which of the following should the nurse understand
is a potential complication of prostate surgery? Answer: Erectile
dysfunction
◉ A charge nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about fluid
shifts. The newly licensed nurse asks why sodium levels are high
during dehydration. Which of the following responses should the
charge nurse provide? Answer: "Sodium moves from areas where
the concentration of solute is lower to areas where the
concentration is higher."
◉ A nurse is teaching a group of clients about risk factors for
developing peripheral artery disease. Which of the following risk
factors should the nurse include in the teaching? Answer: Body mass
of 35
CERTIFICATION TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED
◉ A client presents in the emergency department complaining of
palpitations and tachycardia. Blood glucose testing reveals a level of
40 mg/dL, and the client reports no usual symptoms of a low
glucose level. Which of the following conditions may the client be
experiencing? Answer: Hypoglycemia - associated autonomic failure
◉ The nurse is providing care for a client who has syndrome of
inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and is critically ill.
Which of the following lab findings requires immediate
intervention? Answer: Serum sodium 125
◉ client is being treated with chemotherapy for squamous cell
carcinomas. Which of the following methods should the nurse
anticipate for this chemotherapy? Answer: topical application
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has fluid volume excess (FVE)
due to heart failure (HF). Which of the following manifestations
should the nurse associate with FVE? Answer: Elevated B/P. ,
WEIGHT GAIN, pedal edema
,◉ A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about brain
herniation. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include as a possible treatment for brain herniation? Answer:
Hyperventilating the pt
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who is scheduled for a colposcopy
tomorrow. Which of the following statements should the nurse
include in the teaching? Answer: During this seizure and biopsy may
be performed
◉ nurse is assessing a client who has suspected acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS). The nurse should identify that which of
the following is the most common presenting manifestation of
ARDS? Answer: Dyspnea
◉ nurse is providing education to a client who has a newly
diagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Which of the following
statements should the nurse include in the teaching? Answer: An
abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dilation of the abdominal aorta
greater than 30 mm in diameter.
◉ A nurse is caring for a group of clients who have chronic illnesses.
Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as being at
the greatest risk for sepsis? Answer: Pt with cancer
,◉ A nurse wants to use evidence-based practice to provide safe and
effective wound care for a client with a rare clotting disorder. Which
of the following is the first step the nurse should take? Answer:
Posing a question
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who has arrhythmogenic
cardiomyopathy about the risk for sudden cardiac death. Which of
the following client statements indicates to the nurse an
understanding of the teaching? Answer: Cardiomyopathy does not
increase the likelihood of developing hiccups. Hiccups may occur
with pericarditis.
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer prescribed intravenous
potassium replacement supplements to a client who has a potassium
level of 2.5 mEq/L (3.5 to 5 mEq/L). Which of the following actions
should the nurse plan to include? Answer: Repeat blood serum
potassium
Cardiac monitoring
Educate client on high potassium
Urine output is a least 1m/kg/hour
◉ A nurse is providing care for a client who was in a motorcycle
crash. The client has an organ tissue donation card in their wallet.
Which of the following interventions are essential to maintain
healthy organs? Answer: Adequate perfusion, maintaining body
temp., low infection risk, adequate
, ◉ A nurse is assisting a client with ambulation several hours after a
hip replacement. Which of the following postoperative
complications is the nurse trying to prevent? Answer: venous
thromboembolism
◉ A nurse is planning care for a client with complex medical needs.
Which of the following would be an example of interprofessional
collaboration? Answer: Consult physical therapist about care
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has prostate cancer and had a
prostatectomy. Which of the following should the nurse understand
is a potential complication of prostate surgery? Answer: Erectile
dysfunction
◉ A charge nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about fluid
shifts. The newly licensed nurse asks why sodium levels are high
during dehydration. Which of the following responses should the
charge nurse provide? Answer: "Sodium moves from areas where
the concentration of solute is lower to areas where the
concentration is higher."
◉ A nurse is teaching a group of clients about risk factors for
developing peripheral artery disease. Which of the following risk
factors should the nurse include in the teaching? Answer: Body mass
of 35
