ATI Med-Surg Practice Exam
(PN) Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026/2027
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD). Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia
B. Barrel-shaped chest
C. Hypoactive bowel sounds
D. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
Answer: B. Barrel-shaped chest
Rationale: A barrel-shaped chest develops due to hyperinflation of
the lungs in COPD, causing increased anterior-posterior diameter.
2. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which
electrolyte imbalance should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium
excretion, placing the client at risk for hypokalemia.
,3. A nurse is teaching a client with type 2 diabetes about foot care.
Which instruction is appropriate?
A. Soak feet daily in hot water
B. Use lotion between toes
C. Inspect feet daily for injuries
D. Walk barefoot indoors to strengthen feet
Answer: C. Inspect feet daily for injuries
Rationale: Daily inspection helps prevent infections and
complications from unnoticed injuries. Lotion should be applied
only to tops and bottoms of feet, not between toes.
4. A client is experiencing hypoglycemia. Which manifestation
should the nurse expect?
A. Polyuria
B. Confusion
C. Warm, flushed skin
D. Fruity breath odor
Answer: B. Confusion
Rationale: Hypoglycemia reduces glucose to the brain, causing
confusion, irritability, and tremors. Fruity breath is associated with
hyperglycemia/diabetic ketoacidosis.
5. A client is receiving oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Increase oxygen to 6 L/min if short of breath
B. Humidify oxygen for comfort
C. Apply petroleum jelly to nostrils
D. Remove cannula during meals
,Answer: B. Humidify oxygen for comfort
Rationale: Low-flow oxygen can dry mucous membranes;
humidification prevents irritation. Petroleum jelly is flammable and
contraindicated.
6. A nurse is caring for a client post-thyroidectomy. Which
complication should be monitored immediately?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Hemorrhage and airway obstruction
C. Hypernatremia
D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: B. Hemorrhage and airway obstruction
Rationale: Post-thyroidectomy complications include bleeding and
swelling at the surgical site, which can compromise the airway.
7. A client has a prescription for morphine sulfate 4 mg IV for pain.
Which action is the priority?
A. Assess pain level
B. Check respiratory rate
C. Provide oral fluids
D. Monitor blood pressure
Answer: B. Check respiratory rate
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression. Safety requires
assessing respiratory status before administration.
8. A client reports sudden chest pain radiating to the left arm.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
B. Obtain vital signs
, C. Call the healthcare provider
D. Place the client on cardiac monitoring
Answer: D. Place the client on cardiac monitoring
Rationale: Immediate monitoring for arrhythmias is critical in acute
coronary syndrome. Administering nitroglycerin may follow based
on protocol.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection.
Which site is appropriate?
A. Ventrogluteal
B. Deltoid
C. Abdomen
D. Vastus lateralis
Answer: C. Abdomen
Rationale: The abdomen is preferred for subcutaneous injections
due to consistent fat tissue and faster absorption.
10. A client with cirrhosis develops ascites. Which assessment
finding is expected?
A. Hypotension
B. Abdominal distention
C. Bradycardia
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Answer: B. Abdominal distention
Rationale: Ascites is accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity,
causing abdominal distention.
11. A client is prescribed digoxin. Which lab value indicates toxicity
risk?
(PN) Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026/2027
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD). Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia
B. Barrel-shaped chest
C. Hypoactive bowel sounds
D. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
Answer: B. Barrel-shaped chest
Rationale: A barrel-shaped chest develops due to hyperinflation of
the lungs in COPD, causing increased anterior-posterior diameter.
2. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which
electrolyte imbalance should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium
excretion, placing the client at risk for hypokalemia.
,3. A nurse is teaching a client with type 2 diabetes about foot care.
Which instruction is appropriate?
A. Soak feet daily in hot water
B. Use lotion between toes
C. Inspect feet daily for injuries
D. Walk barefoot indoors to strengthen feet
Answer: C. Inspect feet daily for injuries
Rationale: Daily inspection helps prevent infections and
complications from unnoticed injuries. Lotion should be applied
only to tops and bottoms of feet, not between toes.
4. A client is experiencing hypoglycemia. Which manifestation
should the nurse expect?
A. Polyuria
B. Confusion
C. Warm, flushed skin
D. Fruity breath odor
Answer: B. Confusion
Rationale: Hypoglycemia reduces glucose to the brain, causing
confusion, irritability, and tremors. Fruity breath is associated with
hyperglycemia/diabetic ketoacidosis.
5. A client is receiving oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Increase oxygen to 6 L/min if short of breath
B. Humidify oxygen for comfort
C. Apply petroleum jelly to nostrils
D. Remove cannula during meals
,Answer: B. Humidify oxygen for comfort
Rationale: Low-flow oxygen can dry mucous membranes;
humidification prevents irritation. Petroleum jelly is flammable and
contraindicated.
6. A nurse is caring for a client post-thyroidectomy. Which
complication should be monitored immediately?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Hemorrhage and airway obstruction
C. Hypernatremia
D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: B. Hemorrhage and airway obstruction
Rationale: Post-thyroidectomy complications include bleeding and
swelling at the surgical site, which can compromise the airway.
7. A client has a prescription for morphine sulfate 4 mg IV for pain.
Which action is the priority?
A. Assess pain level
B. Check respiratory rate
C. Provide oral fluids
D. Monitor blood pressure
Answer: B. Check respiratory rate
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression. Safety requires
assessing respiratory status before administration.
8. A client reports sudden chest pain radiating to the left arm.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
B. Obtain vital signs
, C. Call the healthcare provider
D. Place the client on cardiac monitoring
Answer: D. Place the client on cardiac monitoring
Rationale: Immediate monitoring for arrhythmias is critical in acute
coronary syndrome. Administering nitroglycerin may follow based
on protocol.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection.
Which site is appropriate?
A. Ventrogluteal
B. Deltoid
C. Abdomen
D. Vastus lateralis
Answer: C. Abdomen
Rationale: The abdomen is preferred for subcutaneous injections
due to consistent fat tissue and faster absorption.
10. A client with cirrhosis develops ascites. Which assessment
finding is expected?
A. Hypotension
B. Abdominal distention
C. Bradycardia
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Answer: B. Abdominal distention
Rationale: Ascites is accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity,
causing abdominal distention.
11. A client is prescribed digoxin. Which lab value indicates toxicity
risk?
