ATI Med Surg CMS Proctored Exam
Questions And Answers Practice
Questions with Solutions Newest 2026-
2027 | Already Graded A+
1. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following findings is the earliest indicator
of ARDS?
a. decreased cardiac output
b. refractory hypoxemia
c. decreased pulmonary artery wedge pressure
d. metabolic alkalosis
o ANSWER✔-b. refractory hypoxemia
2. A nurse is caring for a client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
Which of the following interventions is the priority?
a. maintain the head of bed flat
b. suction the airway every 2 hours
c. administer hypotonic IV fluids
d. keep the head midline and elevated 30 degrees
o ANSWER✔-d. keep the head midline and elevated 30 degrees
3. A nurse is monitoring a client receiving a blood transfusion. Which of the
following findings indicates a hemolytic transfusion reaction?
a. urticaria and pruritus
b. low back pain and dark urine
c. fever and chills
d. wheezing and dyspnea
o ANSWER✔-b. low back pain and dark urine
4. A nurse is assessing a client with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
, a. Kussmaul respirations
b. blood glucose 120 mg/dL
c. pH 7.45
d. slow, shallow respirations
o ANSWER✔-a. Kussmaul respirations
5. A nurse is planning care for a client with acute kidney injury (AKI) in the
oliguric phase. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include?
a. restrict fluid intake to 500 mL plus previous day's output
b. encourage high-protein diet
c. administer potassium supplements
d. increase sodium intake
o ANSWER✔-a. restrict fluid intake to 500 mL plus previous day's
output
6. A nurse is assessing a client with Addison's disease. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
a. hyperpigmentation
b. hypertension
c. hypernatremia
d. weight gain
o ANSWER✔-a. hyperpigmentation
7. A nurse is caring for a client following a thyroidectomy. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report immediately?
a. hoarseness
b. tingling around the mouth
c. pain with swallowing
d. temperature 37.5°C (99.5°F)
o ANSWER✔-b. tingling around the mouth
8. A nurse is administering alteplase to a client with acute ischemic stroke.
Which of the following is a contraindication to this therapy?
a. blood pressure 150/90 mm Hg
b. onset of symptoms 2 hours ago
, c. recent intracranial surgery within 3 months
d. blood glucose 110 mg/dL
o ANSWER✔-c. recent intracranial surgery within 3 months
9. A nurse is assessing a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Which of the following findings indicates right ventricular failure
(cor pulmonale)?
a. peripheral edema
b. crackles in the lungs
c. chest pain
d. orthopnea
o ANSWER✔-a. peripheral edema
10.A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube following a pneumothorax.
Which of the following findings requires immediate intervention?
a. continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
b. gentle fluctuation in the water seal chamber with respiration
c. drainage of 50 mL in the first hour
d. tidaling in the suction control chamber
o ANSWER✔-a. continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
11.A nurse is assessing a client with meningitis. Which of the following
findings is a positive Kernig's sign?
a. neck stiffness when chin is brought to chest
b. pain and resistance when the leg is extended with the hip flexed
c. flexion of the hips and knees when the neck is flexed
d. asymmetric pupil response to light
o ANSWER✔-b. pain and resistance when the leg is extended with
the hip flexed
12.A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with heart failure. Which
of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
a. "I should weigh myself once a week."
b. "I will limit my sodium intake to 2 grams per day."
c. "I should stop taking my diuretic if I feel dizzy."
d. "I will drink at least 3 liters of fluid daily."
, o ANSWER✔-b. "I will limit my sodium intake to 2 grams per day."
13.A nurse is caring for a client with status epilepticus. Which of the following
medications should the nurse anticipate administering first?
a. phenytoin IV
b. lorazepam IV
c. valproic acid PO
d. levetiracetam IV
o ANSWER✔-b. lorazepam IV
14.A nurse is assessing a client with acute pancreatitis. Which of the following
laboratory findings should the nurse expect?
a. elevated serum calcium
b. elevated blood glucose
c. decreased serum amylase
d. decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
o ANSWER✔-b. elevated blood glucose
15.A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client with diabetes insipidus.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
a. hypothermia
b. urine specific gravity 1.001
c. elevated blood pressure
d. BUN 15 mg/dL
o ANSWER✔-b. urine specific gravity 1.001
16.A nurse is planning care for a client with pulmonary embolism. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include?
a. initiate a continuous IV heparin infusion
b. instruct the client to massage the lower extremities
c. position the client on the left side
d. measure vital signs every 4 hours
o ANSWER✔-a. initiate a continuous IV heparin infusion
17.A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client recovering from a sickle
cell crisis. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
a. avoid extremely hot or cold temperatures
Questions And Answers Practice
Questions with Solutions Newest 2026-
2027 | Already Graded A+
1. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following findings is the earliest indicator
of ARDS?
a. decreased cardiac output
b. refractory hypoxemia
c. decreased pulmonary artery wedge pressure
d. metabolic alkalosis
o ANSWER✔-b. refractory hypoxemia
2. A nurse is caring for a client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
Which of the following interventions is the priority?
a. maintain the head of bed flat
b. suction the airway every 2 hours
c. administer hypotonic IV fluids
d. keep the head midline and elevated 30 degrees
o ANSWER✔-d. keep the head midline and elevated 30 degrees
3. A nurse is monitoring a client receiving a blood transfusion. Which of the
following findings indicates a hemolytic transfusion reaction?
a. urticaria and pruritus
b. low back pain and dark urine
c. fever and chills
d. wheezing and dyspnea
o ANSWER✔-b. low back pain and dark urine
4. A nurse is assessing a client with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
, a. Kussmaul respirations
b. blood glucose 120 mg/dL
c. pH 7.45
d. slow, shallow respirations
o ANSWER✔-a. Kussmaul respirations
5. A nurse is planning care for a client with acute kidney injury (AKI) in the
oliguric phase. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include?
a. restrict fluid intake to 500 mL plus previous day's output
b. encourage high-protein diet
c. administer potassium supplements
d. increase sodium intake
o ANSWER✔-a. restrict fluid intake to 500 mL plus previous day's
output
6. A nurse is assessing a client with Addison's disease. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
a. hyperpigmentation
b. hypertension
c. hypernatremia
d. weight gain
o ANSWER✔-a. hyperpigmentation
7. A nurse is caring for a client following a thyroidectomy. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report immediately?
a. hoarseness
b. tingling around the mouth
c. pain with swallowing
d. temperature 37.5°C (99.5°F)
o ANSWER✔-b. tingling around the mouth
8. A nurse is administering alteplase to a client with acute ischemic stroke.
Which of the following is a contraindication to this therapy?
a. blood pressure 150/90 mm Hg
b. onset of symptoms 2 hours ago
, c. recent intracranial surgery within 3 months
d. blood glucose 110 mg/dL
o ANSWER✔-c. recent intracranial surgery within 3 months
9. A nurse is assessing a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Which of the following findings indicates right ventricular failure
(cor pulmonale)?
a. peripheral edema
b. crackles in the lungs
c. chest pain
d. orthopnea
o ANSWER✔-a. peripheral edema
10.A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube following a pneumothorax.
Which of the following findings requires immediate intervention?
a. continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
b. gentle fluctuation in the water seal chamber with respiration
c. drainage of 50 mL in the first hour
d. tidaling in the suction control chamber
o ANSWER✔-a. continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
11.A nurse is assessing a client with meningitis. Which of the following
findings is a positive Kernig's sign?
a. neck stiffness when chin is brought to chest
b. pain and resistance when the leg is extended with the hip flexed
c. flexion of the hips and knees when the neck is flexed
d. asymmetric pupil response to light
o ANSWER✔-b. pain and resistance when the leg is extended with
the hip flexed
12.A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with heart failure. Which
of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
a. "I should weigh myself once a week."
b. "I will limit my sodium intake to 2 grams per day."
c. "I should stop taking my diuretic if I feel dizzy."
d. "I will drink at least 3 liters of fluid daily."
, o ANSWER✔-b. "I will limit my sodium intake to 2 grams per day."
13.A nurse is caring for a client with status epilepticus. Which of the following
medications should the nurse anticipate administering first?
a. phenytoin IV
b. lorazepam IV
c. valproic acid PO
d. levetiracetam IV
o ANSWER✔-b. lorazepam IV
14.A nurse is assessing a client with acute pancreatitis. Which of the following
laboratory findings should the nurse expect?
a. elevated serum calcium
b. elevated blood glucose
c. decreased serum amylase
d. decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
o ANSWER✔-b. elevated blood glucose
15.A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client with diabetes insipidus.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
a. hypothermia
b. urine specific gravity 1.001
c. elevated blood pressure
d. BUN 15 mg/dL
o ANSWER✔-b. urine specific gravity 1.001
16.A nurse is planning care for a client with pulmonary embolism. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include?
a. initiate a continuous IV heparin infusion
b. instruct the client to massage the lower extremities
c. position the client on the left side
d. measure vital signs every 4 hours
o ANSWER✔-a. initiate a continuous IV heparin infusion
17.A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client recovering from a sickle
cell crisis. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
a. avoid extremely hot or cold temperatures
