ATI Med Surge Proctored Exam 2026, RN
2026 Adult Medical Surgical ATI Proctored
Questions &Answers .
INTRODUCTION
Preparing for the ATI Med Surg Proctored Exam 2026 can feel overwhelming, but targeted
practice with 200 questions that include bolded correct answers and italic rationales makes all
the difference. This comprehensive guide is designed to mirror the actual exam’s difficulty,
content distribution, and clinical judgment focus. Each question is followed immediately
by its answer in bold and a detailed, easy-to-scan rationale in italics – so you not only
know what’s right but why. Whether you’re reviewing fluid and electrolyte imbalances,
endocrine disorders, perioperative care, or cardiac emergencies, this set of 200 questions
(presented here as Part 1: Questions 1–50, Part 2: 51–100, and continuing through 200)
gives you the repetition and reasoning needed to pass with confidence.
ATI Med-Surg Practice Exam
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hr postoperative following a colon
resection. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the surgeon?
Answer: b. Hgb 8.2 g/dL
*Rationale: Normal hemoglobin levels are approximately 13-18 g/dL for males and 12-
16 g/dL for females. A level of 8.2 g/dL is significantly low and may indicate
postoperative hemorrhage, which requires immediate reporting to the surgeon.*
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the following
medications should the nurse plan to administer?
Answer: c. Desmopressin
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus is characterized by a deficiency of antidiuretic
hormone (ADH), leading to excessive urination and thirst. Desmopressin is a
synthetic form of ADH used to replace the deficient hormone and control
symptoms.
, 3. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking ibuprofen
several times daily for 3 years. Which of the following tests should the nurse
monitor?
Answer: a. Stool for occult blood
Rationale: Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Long-term
use can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. The nurse should monitor the client's stool
for occult blood to detect this adverse effect.
4. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a female client who asks about
acupuncture as treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Which
of the following laboratory results should the nurse identify as a contraindication
to receiving acupuncture?
Answer: d. Absolute neutrophil count 500/mm³
*Rationale: Acupuncture involves inserting needles into the skin. An absolute neutrophil
count of 500/mm³ indicates severe neutropenia, placing the client at high risk for
infection. Acupuncture is contraindicated in this situation due to the risk of introducing
infection.*
5. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
mellitus. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an
understanding of the teaching about insulin administration?
Answer: a. "I should inject air into the vial before drawing up insulin."
Rationale: Injecting air into the vial before drawing up insulin prevents a vacuum
from forming, making it easier to withdraw the medication.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a traumatic head injury and an
intraventricular catheter (Ventriculostomy) for ICP monitoring. The nurse should
monitor for which complication?
Answer: b. Infection
Rationale: Monitor for infection and use strict asepsis to avoid life-threatening
meningitis related to the invasive catheter.
7. A nurse is providing education to a client who is to undergo an EEG the next
day. Which information should the nurse include?
Answer: b. "Try and stay awake most of the night prior to the procedure."
Rationale: Sleep deprivation is used to provide cranial stress and increase the
possibility of abnormal electrical activity on the EEG tracing.
, 8. A nurse is caring for a client who is postprocedural following a lumbar puncture
and reports a throbbing headache when sitting upright. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take? (Select All That Apply)
Answer: b. Assist the client into a supine position; d. Encourage the client to
increase PO fluid intake
Rationale: Lying supine reduces CSF pressure at the puncture site. Increasing fluid
intake (e.g., caffeinated beverages) helps replace CSF and relieve the headache.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has continuous bladder irrigation following a
TURP. Which finding should be reported to the provider?
Answer: c. Viscous urinary output with clots
Rationale: Urine that is bright red with clots is an indication of arterial bleeding,
which requires immediate intervention.
10. A nurse is monitoring the ECG of a client who has hypocalcemia. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
Answer: b. Prolonged QT intervals
Rationale: Hypocalcemia prolongs the QT interval on an ECG due to the
electrolyte's role in cardiac depolarization and repolarization.
11. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has heart failure and is on digoxin.
Which of the following outcomes from the medication should the nurse expect?
Answer: c. Decreased shortness of breath
Rationale: Digoxin increases the contractility of the heart, which decreases
pulmonary congestion and improves symptoms of heart failure like shortness of
breath.
12. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus (SLE) and is to begin taking methylprednisolone orally. Which
statement should the nurse include?
Answer: a. Limit contact with large groups of people.
Rationale: Glucocorticoids like methylprednisolone cause immunosuppression. The
client should limit contact with sources of possible infection, such as large groups
of people.
13. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hr postoperative following a colon
resection. Which finding should the nurse report to the surgeon?
2026 Adult Medical Surgical ATI Proctored
Questions &Answers .
INTRODUCTION
Preparing for the ATI Med Surg Proctored Exam 2026 can feel overwhelming, but targeted
practice with 200 questions that include bolded correct answers and italic rationales makes all
the difference. This comprehensive guide is designed to mirror the actual exam’s difficulty,
content distribution, and clinical judgment focus. Each question is followed immediately
by its answer in bold and a detailed, easy-to-scan rationale in italics – so you not only
know what’s right but why. Whether you’re reviewing fluid and electrolyte imbalances,
endocrine disorders, perioperative care, or cardiac emergencies, this set of 200 questions
(presented here as Part 1: Questions 1–50, Part 2: 51–100, and continuing through 200)
gives you the repetition and reasoning needed to pass with confidence.
ATI Med-Surg Practice Exam
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hr postoperative following a colon
resection. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the surgeon?
Answer: b. Hgb 8.2 g/dL
*Rationale: Normal hemoglobin levels are approximately 13-18 g/dL for males and 12-
16 g/dL for females. A level of 8.2 g/dL is significantly low and may indicate
postoperative hemorrhage, which requires immediate reporting to the surgeon.*
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the following
medications should the nurse plan to administer?
Answer: c. Desmopressin
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus is characterized by a deficiency of antidiuretic
hormone (ADH), leading to excessive urination and thirst. Desmopressin is a
synthetic form of ADH used to replace the deficient hormone and control
symptoms.
, 3. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking ibuprofen
several times daily for 3 years. Which of the following tests should the nurse
monitor?
Answer: a. Stool for occult blood
Rationale: Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Long-term
use can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. The nurse should monitor the client's stool
for occult blood to detect this adverse effect.
4. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a female client who asks about
acupuncture as treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Which
of the following laboratory results should the nurse identify as a contraindication
to receiving acupuncture?
Answer: d. Absolute neutrophil count 500/mm³
*Rationale: Acupuncture involves inserting needles into the skin. An absolute neutrophil
count of 500/mm³ indicates severe neutropenia, placing the client at high risk for
infection. Acupuncture is contraindicated in this situation due to the risk of introducing
infection.*
5. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
mellitus. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an
understanding of the teaching about insulin administration?
Answer: a. "I should inject air into the vial before drawing up insulin."
Rationale: Injecting air into the vial before drawing up insulin prevents a vacuum
from forming, making it easier to withdraw the medication.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a traumatic head injury and an
intraventricular catheter (Ventriculostomy) for ICP monitoring. The nurse should
monitor for which complication?
Answer: b. Infection
Rationale: Monitor for infection and use strict asepsis to avoid life-threatening
meningitis related to the invasive catheter.
7. A nurse is providing education to a client who is to undergo an EEG the next
day. Which information should the nurse include?
Answer: b. "Try and stay awake most of the night prior to the procedure."
Rationale: Sleep deprivation is used to provide cranial stress and increase the
possibility of abnormal electrical activity on the EEG tracing.
, 8. A nurse is caring for a client who is postprocedural following a lumbar puncture
and reports a throbbing headache when sitting upright. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take? (Select All That Apply)
Answer: b. Assist the client into a supine position; d. Encourage the client to
increase PO fluid intake
Rationale: Lying supine reduces CSF pressure at the puncture site. Increasing fluid
intake (e.g., caffeinated beverages) helps replace CSF and relieve the headache.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has continuous bladder irrigation following a
TURP. Which finding should be reported to the provider?
Answer: c. Viscous urinary output with clots
Rationale: Urine that is bright red with clots is an indication of arterial bleeding,
which requires immediate intervention.
10. A nurse is monitoring the ECG of a client who has hypocalcemia. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
Answer: b. Prolonged QT intervals
Rationale: Hypocalcemia prolongs the QT interval on an ECG due to the
electrolyte's role in cardiac depolarization and repolarization.
11. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has heart failure and is on digoxin.
Which of the following outcomes from the medication should the nurse expect?
Answer: c. Decreased shortness of breath
Rationale: Digoxin increases the contractility of the heart, which decreases
pulmonary congestion and improves symptoms of heart failure like shortness of
breath.
12. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus (SLE) and is to begin taking methylprednisolone orally. Which
statement should the nurse include?
Answer: a. Limit contact with large groups of people.
Rationale: Glucocorticoids like methylprednisolone cause immunosuppression. The
client should limit contact with sources of possible infection, such as large groups
of people.
13. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hr postoperative following a colon
resection. Which finding should the nurse report to the surgeon?
