1|Page
ATI MEDICAL-SURGICAL POST-ASSESSMENT
2026-2027, 100% VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE RATIONALES |
GUARANTEED FIRST-TIME PASS
Table of Contents
| Domain | Topic Area | Questions |
| 1 | Cardiovascular Disorders | 25 |
| 2 | Respiratory Disorders | 20 |
| 3 | Neurological Disorders | 20 |
| 4 | Gastrointestinal Disorders | 20 |
| 5 | Renal & Urinary Disorders | 15 |
| 6 | Endocrine Disorders | 20 |
| 7 | Hematological & Immune Disorders | 15 |
| 8 | Musculoskeletal & Integumentary | 15 |
| 9 | Infectious Diseases & Infection Control | 10 |
| 10 | Perioperative & Critical Care | 15 |
| 11 | Pain Management & Palliative Care | 10 |
| 12 | Pharmacology & Medication Administration | 15 |
| 13 | NGN/Unfolding Case Studies | 20 |
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# Section 1: Cardiovascular Disorders (25 Questions)
**Question 1.**
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who has developed
crackles in the lung bases, jugular vein distention, and peripheral edema.
Which of the following medications does the nurse anticipate
administering?
A) Metoprolol
B) Digoxin
C) Furosemide
D) Spironolactone
**Answer:** C) Furosemide
**Rationale:** Furosemide (Lasix) is a loop diuretic used to reduce
fluid volume overload in heart failure. The client's symptoms (crackles,
JVD, edema) indicate fluid overload, which is the priority to treat.
---
**Question 2.**
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with a new diagnosis
of heart failure. Which of the following statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
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A) "I will weigh myself every morning after eating breakfast."
B) "I will notify my provider if I gain more than 2-3 pounds in a week."
C) "I will limit my sodium intake to 2,000 mg per day."
D) "I will stop taking my diuretic if I feel dizzy."
**Answer:** C) "I will limit my sodium intake to 2,000 mg per day."
**Rationale:** Sodium restriction (2,000 mg or less per day) is a key
intervention for heart failure. Clients should weigh themselves daily
before breakfast, notify provider for weight gain of 2-3 lbs in 24 hours
or 5 lbs in a week, and never stop diuretics without provider guidance.
---
**Question 3.**
A nurse is assessing a client who has angina pectoris. The client reports
chest pain that he rates as 6 on a 0-10 scale. Which of the following
medications should the nurse administer first?
A) Aspirin 325 mg orally
B) Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual
C) Morphine 2 mg IV
D) Metoprolol 25 mg orally
**Answer:** B) Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual
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**Rationale:** For active chest pain, nitroglycerin sublingual is
administered first to vasodilate coronary arteries. Aspirin is given for
antiplatelet effect. Morphine is given if pain persists after nitroglycerin.
Metoprolol is a long-term medication.
---
**Question 4.**
A nurse is caring for a client following a myocardial infarction. The
client's ECG shows ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF.
Which coronary artery is most likely occluded?
A) Left anterior descending (LAD)
B) Right coronary artery (RCA)
C) Left circumflex artery (LCX)
D) Posterior descending artery (PDA)
**Answer:** B) Right coronary artery (RCA)
**Rationale:** ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF indicates an
inferior wall MI, typically caused by occlusion of the right coronary
artery. LAD occlusion causes anterior/septal MI (V1-V4). LCX
occlusion causes lateral MI (I, aVL, V5-V6).
---
ATI MEDICAL-SURGICAL POST-ASSESSMENT
2026-2027, 100% VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE RATIONALES |
GUARANTEED FIRST-TIME PASS
Table of Contents
| Domain | Topic Area | Questions |
| 1 | Cardiovascular Disorders | 25 |
| 2 | Respiratory Disorders | 20 |
| 3 | Neurological Disorders | 20 |
| 4 | Gastrointestinal Disorders | 20 |
| 5 | Renal & Urinary Disorders | 15 |
| 6 | Endocrine Disorders | 20 |
| 7 | Hematological & Immune Disorders | 15 |
| 8 | Musculoskeletal & Integumentary | 15 |
| 9 | Infectious Diseases & Infection Control | 10 |
| 10 | Perioperative & Critical Care | 15 |
| 11 | Pain Management & Palliative Care | 10 |
| 12 | Pharmacology & Medication Administration | 15 |
| 13 | NGN/Unfolding Case Studies | 20 |
,2|Page
# Section 1: Cardiovascular Disorders (25 Questions)
**Question 1.**
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who has developed
crackles in the lung bases, jugular vein distention, and peripheral edema.
Which of the following medications does the nurse anticipate
administering?
A) Metoprolol
B) Digoxin
C) Furosemide
D) Spironolactone
**Answer:** C) Furosemide
**Rationale:** Furosemide (Lasix) is a loop diuretic used to reduce
fluid volume overload in heart failure. The client's symptoms (crackles,
JVD, edema) indicate fluid overload, which is the priority to treat.
---
**Question 2.**
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with a new diagnosis
of heart failure. Which of the following statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
,3|Page
A) "I will weigh myself every morning after eating breakfast."
B) "I will notify my provider if I gain more than 2-3 pounds in a week."
C) "I will limit my sodium intake to 2,000 mg per day."
D) "I will stop taking my diuretic if I feel dizzy."
**Answer:** C) "I will limit my sodium intake to 2,000 mg per day."
**Rationale:** Sodium restriction (2,000 mg or less per day) is a key
intervention for heart failure. Clients should weigh themselves daily
before breakfast, notify provider for weight gain of 2-3 lbs in 24 hours
or 5 lbs in a week, and never stop diuretics without provider guidance.
---
**Question 3.**
A nurse is assessing a client who has angina pectoris. The client reports
chest pain that he rates as 6 on a 0-10 scale. Which of the following
medications should the nurse administer first?
A) Aspirin 325 mg orally
B) Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual
C) Morphine 2 mg IV
D) Metoprolol 25 mg orally
**Answer:** B) Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg sublingual
, 4|Page
**Rationale:** For active chest pain, nitroglycerin sublingual is
administered first to vasodilate coronary arteries. Aspirin is given for
antiplatelet effect. Morphine is given if pain persists after nitroglycerin.
Metoprolol is a long-term medication.
---
**Question 4.**
A nurse is caring for a client following a myocardial infarction. The
client's ECG shows ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF.
Which coronary artery is most likely occluded?
A) Left anterior descending (LAD)
B) Right coronary artery (RCA)
C) Left circumflex artery (LCX)
D) Posterior descending artery (PDA)
**Answer:** B) Right coronary artery (RCA)
**Rationale:** ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF indicates an
inferior wall MI, typically caused by occlusion of the right coronary
artery. LAD occlusion causes anterior/septal MI (V1-V4). LCX
occlusion causes lateral MI (I, aVL, V5-V6).
---
