ATI PHARMACOLOGY
PROCTORED Exam Study Guide:
GRADED A+. Questions and
Verified Answers. Latest 2026
Update
1. The nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The patient has
been assigned a physical status classification by the American Society of
Anesthesiologists of ASA III. Which assessment will support this classification?
a. Normal, healthy patient
b. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions
c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker
d. Moribund patient not expected to survive without the operation
ANS: C
An ASA III rating is a patient with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly
controlled hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy
patient with no major illnesses or conditions. ASA II is a patient with mild systemic
disease. ASA V is a moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the
operation and includes patients with ruptured abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or
massive trauma.
2. The patient has presented to the ambulatory surgery center to have a
colonoscopy. The patient is scheduled to receive moderate sedation (conscious
,sedation) during the procedure. How will the nurse interpret this information?
a. The procedure results in loss of sensation in an area of the body.
b. The procedure requires a depressed level of consciousness.
c. The procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis.
d. The procedure necessitates the patient to be immobile.
ANS: B
Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) is used routinely for procedures that do
not require complete anesthesia but rather a depressed level of consciousness.
Not all patients who are treated on an outpatient basis receive moderate
sedation. Regional anesthesia such as local anesthesia provides loss of sensation
in an area of the body. General anesthesia is used for patients who need to be
immobile and to not remember the surgical procedure.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit who has
undergone a left total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia provider has indicated
that the patient received a left femoral peripheral nerve block. Which
assessment will be an expected finding for this patient?
a. Sensation decreased in the left leg
b. Patient report of pain in the left foot
c. Pulse decreased at the left posterior tibia
d. Left toes cool to touch and slightly cyanotic
ANS: A
Induction of regional anesthesia results in loss of sensation in an area of the body
—in this case, the left leg. The peripheral nerve block influences the portions of
sensory pathways that are anesthetized in the targeted area of the body.
Decreased pulse, toes cool to touch, and cyanosis are indications of decreased
blood flow and are not expected findings. Reports of pain in the left foot may
indicate that the block is not working or is subsiding and is not an expected finding
in the immediate postoperative period.
4. The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which goal is a priority
, for assessing the patient before surgery?
a. Plan for care after the procedure.
b. Establish a patient’s baseline of normal function.
c. Educate the patient and family about the procedure.
d. Gather appropriate equipment for the patient’s needs.
ANS: B
The goal of the preoperative assessment is to identify a patient’s normal
preoperative function and the presence of any risks to recognize, prevent, and
minimize possible postoperative complications. Gathering appropriate equipment,
planning care, and educating the patient and family are all important interventions
that must be provided for the surgical patient; they are part of the nursing process
but are not the priority reason/goal for completing an assessment of the surgical
patient.
5. The nurse is completing a medication history for the surgical patient in
preadmission testing. Which medication should the nurse instruct the patient to
hold (discontinue) in preparation for surgery according to protocol?
a. Warfarin
b. Vitamin C
PROCTORED Exam Study Guide:
GRADED A+. Questions and
Verified Answers. Latest 2026
Update
1. The nurse is caring for a patient in preadmission testing. The patient has
been assigned a physical status classification by the American Society of
Anesthesiologists of ASA III. Which assessment will support this classification?
a. Normal, healthy patient
b. Denial of any major illnesses or conditions
c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker
d. Moribund patient not expected to survive without the operation
ANS: C
An ASA III rating is a patient with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly
controlled hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy
patient with no major illnesses or conditions. ASA II is a patient with mild systemic
disease. ASA V is a moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the
operation and includes patients with ruptured abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or
massive trauma.
2. The patient has presented to the ambulatory surgery center to have a
colonoscopy. The patient is scheduled to receive moderate sedation (conscious
,sedation) during the procedure. How will the nurse interpret this information?
a. The procedure results in loss of sensation in an area of the body.
b. The procedure requires a depressed level of consciousness.
c. The procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis.
d. The procedure necessitates the patient to be immobile.
ANS: B
Moderate sedation (conscious sedation) is used routinely for procedures that do
not require complete anesthesia but rather a depressed level of consciousness.
Not all patients who are treated on an outpatient basis receive moderate
sedation. Regional anesthesia such as local anesthesia provides loss of sensation
in an area of the body. General anesthesia is used for patients who need to be
immobile and to not remember the surgical procedure.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient in the postanesthesia care unit who has
undergone a left total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia provider has indicated
that the patient received a left femoral peripheral nerve block. Which
assessment will be an expected finding for this patient?
a. Sensation decreased in the left leg
b. Patient report of pain in the left foot
c. Pulse decreased at the left posterior tibia
d. Left toes cool to touch and slightly cyanotic
ANS: A
Induction of regional anesthesia results in loss of sensation in an area of the body
—in this case, the left leg. The peripheral nerve block influences the portions of
sensory pathways that are anesthetized in the targeted area of the body.
Decreased pulse, toes cool to touch, and cyanosis are indications of decreased
blood flow and are not expected findings. Reports of pain in the left foot may
indicate that the block is not working or is subsiding and is not an expected finding
in the immediate postoperative period.
4. The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which goal is a priority
, for assessing the patient before surgery?
a. Plan for care after the procedure.
b. Establish a patient’s baseline of normal function.
c. Educate the patient and family about the procedure.
d. Gather appropriate equipment for the patient’s needs.
ANS: B
The goal of the preoperative assessment is to identify a patient’s normal
preoperative function and the presence of any risks to recognize, prevent, and
minimize possible postoperative complications. Gathering appropriate equipment,
planning care, and educating the patient and family are all important interventions
that must be provided for the surgical patient; they are part of the nursing process
but are not the priority reason/goal for completing an assessment of the surgical
patient.
5. The nurse is completing a medication history for the surgical patient in
preadmission testing. Which medication should the nurse instruct the patient to
hold (discontinue) in preparation for surgery according to protocol?
a. Warfarin
b. Vitamin C
