ATI STANDARD- MEDICAL SURGICAL
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026
A nurse is caring for a client who is to have his chest tube removed. Which of the following actions sh
ould the nurse take?
A. Cover the insertion site with a hydrocolloid dressing after removal
B. Provide pain medication immediately after removal
C. Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal
D. Delegate removal of the chest tube to a LPN - CORRECT ANSWER -C
The nurse should instruct the patient to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal to maintain th
e appropriate amount of negative pressure in the chest to prevent air entry into the pleural space.
A nurse is caring for a client who begins having a tonic clonic seizure while sitting in a chair at the be
dside. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Provide oxygen
B. Place the client in a side lying position
C. Provide privacy
D. Lower the client to the floor - CORRECT ANSWER -D
A nurse is teaching a client how to perform a breast self exam. The nurse should identify which of the
following findings as an indication of breast cancer?
A. Lumps that are mobile and tender upon palpation prior to period
B. Multiple round masses that are tender and found in both breasts
C. Bilaterally darkened areolas
D. A nontender, hard lump that is palpated in one breast - CORRECT ANSWER -D
A nurse is preparing to change the bed linens of a client who has AIDS and is continent of stool Whic
h of the following PPE should the nurse don prior to providing client care (SATA)?
A. Gown
B. Gloves
, C. Mask
D. Hair cover
E. Goggles - CORRECT ANSWER -A B
A nurse is assessing a client who has a fractured left femur and is in skeletal traction. Which of the fol
lowing findings should the nurse report to provider?
A. Ecchymosis of the thigh
B. Serous drainage at the pin site
C. Chest petechiae
D. Muscle spasms in left leg. - CORRECT ANSWER -C
A nurse is providing teaching about antiretroviral medication therapy to a client who has a new diagn
osis of AIDS. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Your provider will prescribed one single antiretroviral medication at a time
B. You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule
C. You should increase your intake of raw fruits and veggies while taking antiretroviral meds
D. Your provider will prescribed antiretroviral therapy to kill the HIV virus - CORRECT ANSWER -B
A nurse is caring for a client who is 72 hr postoperative following an above the knee amputation. Whi
ch of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Elevate the residual limb on a soft pillow
B. Assist the client to a prone position every 4 hour.
C. Reapply a bandage to the residual limb every 12 hour
D. Apply dressings to the site in a proximal to distal direction - CORRECT ANSWER -B
The nurse should assist the client to a prone position for 20-30 min every 3-
4 hour following an amputation because it reduces the risk for flexion contractures
A home health nurse enters a clients home and finds a used insulin syringe, without a cap, on the tabl
e. Which of the following action should the nurse take?
A. Recap the needle on the syringe
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026
A nurse is caring for a client who is to have his chest tube removed. Which of the following actions sh
ould the nurse take?
A. Cover the insertion site with a hydrocolloid dressing after removal
B. Provide pain medication immediately after removal
C. Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal
D. Delegate removal of the chest tube to a LPN - CORRECT ANSWER -C
The nurse should instruct the patient to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal to maintain th
e appropriate amount of negative pressure in the chest to prevent air entry into the pleural space.
A nurse is caring for a client who begins having a tonic clonic seizure while sitting in a chair at the be
dside. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Provide oxygen
B. Place the client in a side lying position
C. Provide privacy
D. Lower the client to the floor - CORRECT ANSWER -D
A nurse is teaching a client how to perform a breast self exam. The nurse should identify which of the
following findings as an indication of breast cancer?
A. Lumps that are mobile and tender upon palpation prior to period
B. Multiple round masses that are tender and found in both breasts
C. Bilaterally darkened areolas
D. A nontender, hard lump that is palpated in one breast - CORRECT ANSWER -D
A nurse is preparing to change the bed linens of a client who has AIDS and is continent of stool Whic
h of the following PPE should the nurse don prior to providing client care (SATA)?
A. Gown
B. Gloves
, C. Mask
D. Hair cover
E. Goggles - CORRECT ANSWER -A B
A nurse is assessing a client who has a fractured left femur and is in skeletal traction. Which of the fol
lowing findings should the nurse report to provider?
A. Ecchymosis of the thigh
B. Serous drainage at the pin site
C. Chest petechiae
D. Muscle spasms in left leg. - CORRECT ANSWER -C
A nurse is providing teaching about antiretroviral medication therapy to a client who has a new diagn
osis of AIDS. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Your provider will prescribed one single antiretroviral medication at a time
B. You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule
C. You should increase your intake of raw fruits and veggies while taking antiretroviral meds
D. Your provider will prescribed antiretroviral therapy to kill the HIV virus - CORRECT ANSWER -B
A nurse is caring for a client who is 72 hr postoperative following an above the knee amputation. Whi
ch of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Elevate the residual limb on a soft pillow
B. Assist the client to a prone position every 4 hour.
C. Reapply a bandage to the residual limb every 12 hour
D. Apply dressings to the site in a proximal to distal direction - CORRECT ANSWER -B
The nurse should assist the client to a prone position for 20-30 min every 3-
4 hour following an amputation because it reduces the risk for flexion contractures
A home health nurse enters a clients home and finds a used insulin syringe, without a cap, on the tabl
e. Which of the following action should the nurse take?
A. Recap the needle on the syringe
