CMS ATI Med Surge Proctored Exam 2026|
Complete Questions and Correct answers
1. A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has a femur fracture and is in skeletal
traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Ensure the client's weights are hanging freely from the bed.
B. Keep the weights resting on the floor.
C. Remove the weights during client repositioning.
D. Tie the weights to the bed frame.
Correct Answer: A. Ensure the client's weights are hanging freely from the bed.
Explanation: In skeletal traction, weights must hang freely to maintain constant pull and proper
alignment of the fracture. Weights touching the floor or bed eliminate traction effectiveness.
2. A nurse in a provider's office is reinforcing teaching with a client who has anemia and has
been taking ferrous gluconate for several weeks. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include?
A. Take this medication between meals.
B. Take this medication with milk.
C. Take this medication with antacids.
D. Take this medication right before bedtime.
Correct Answer: A. Take this medication between meals.
Explanation: Iron supplements like ferrous gluconate are best absorbed on an empty stomach
(between meals). Taking with food, milk, or antacids reduces absorption.
3. A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client who has cellulitis of the leg. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse recommend?
A. Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
,B. Apply heat packs continuously.
C. Keep the leg in a dependent position.
D. Elevate the leg below heart level.
Correct Answer: A. Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
Explanation: Daily cleansing with antibacterial soap helps reduce bacterial load on the skin
surface in cellulitis.
4. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is postoperative after having an ileostomy
established. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Avoid medications in capsule or enteric form.
B. Take all medications with meals.
C. Crush all tablets before swallowing.
D. Use only liquid medications.
Correct Answer: A. Avoid medications in capsule or enteric form.
Explanation: Ileostomy clients have faster transit time; capsules and enteric-coated medications
may not dissolve properly and can cause obstruction.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns to both lower extremities. The client is
scheduled for an escharotomy and wants to know what the procedure involves. Which of the
following statements is appropriate for the nurse to make?
A. "Large incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve circulation."
B. "The dead tissue will be completely removed."
C. "Skin grafts will be placed during the procedure."
D. "The procedure is done under local anesthesia only."
Correct Answer: A. "Large incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve circulation."
Explanation: Escharotomy involves surgical incisions through the eschar to relieve pressure and
restore circulation in circumferential burns.
6. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a possible cataract. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect the client to report?
,A. Decreased color perception
B. Sudden loss of vision
C. Severe eye pain
D. Double vision in one eye
Correct Answer: A. Decreased color perception
Explanation: Cataracts cause gradual clouding of the lens, leading to faded or yellowed color
perception.
7. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has an intestinal obstruction and is
receiving continuous gastrointestinal decompression using a nasogastric tube. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Maintain the client in Fowler's position.
B. Keep the client flat in bed.
C. Position the client in Trendelenburg.
D. Place the client in prone position.
Correct Answer: A. Maintain the client in Fowler's position.
Explanation: Fowler’s (semi-upright) position promotes drainage and reduces pressure on the
diaphragm.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the following clinical
manifestations should the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answers:
Buffalo hump
Purple striations
Moon face
Explanation: Cushing’s syndrome causes fat redistribution (buffalo hump, moon face) and
protein breakdown (purple striae).
, 9. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the oliguric phase of acute kidney injury. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Monitor intake and output hourly
B. Encourage high-protein diet
C. Increase fluid intake freely
D. Administer potassium supplements
Correct Answer: A. Monitor intake and output hourly
Explanation: Oliguria means very low urine output; strict I&O monitoring is essential to assess
kidney function and guide fluid management.
10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about an esophagogastroduodenoscopy with a client who has
upper gastric pain. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "You will remain NPO for 8 hours before the procedure."
B. "You can eat a light meal 2 hours before."
C. "You will receive general anesthesia."
D. "You can drive yourself home afterward."
Correct Answer: A. "You will remain NPO for 8 hours before the procedure."
Explanation: NPO status prevents aspiration during sedation.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who is difficult to arouse and very sleepy for several hours
following a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Which of the following descriptions should the
nurse use when documenting this finding in the medical record?
A. Postictal phase
B. Prodromal phase
C. Ictal phase
D. Aura phase
Correct Answer: A. Postictal phase
Complete Questions and Correct answers
1. A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has a femur fracture and is in skeletal
traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Ensure the client's weights are hanging freely from the bed.
B. Keep the weights resting on the floor.
C. Remove the weights during client repositioning.
D. Tie the weights to the bed frame.
Correct Answer: A. Ensure the client's weights are hanging freely from the bed.
Explanation: In skeletal traction, weights must hang freely to maintain constant pull and proper
alignment of the fracture. Weights touching the floor or bed eliminate traction effectiveness.
2. A nurse in a provider's office is reinforcing teaching with a client who has anemia and has
been taking ferrous gluconate for several weeks. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include?
A. Take this medication between meals.
B. Take this medication with milk.
C. Take this medication with antacids.
D. Take this medication right before bedtime.
Correct Answer: A. Take this medication between meals.
Explanation: Iron supplements like ferrous gluconate are best absorbed on an empty stomach
(between meals). Taking with food, milk, or antacids reduces absorption.
3. A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client who has cellulitis of the leg. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse recommend?
A. Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
,B. Apply heat packs continuously.
C. Keep the leg in a dependent position.
D. Elevate the leg below heart level.
Correct Answer: A. Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
Explanation: Daily cleansing with antibacterial soap helps reduce bacterial load on the skin
surface in cellulitis.
4. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is postoperative after having an ileostomy
established. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Avoid medications in capsule or enteric form.
B. Take all medications with meals.
C. Crush all tablets before swallowing.
D. Use only liquid medications.
Correct Answer: A. Avoid medications in capsule or enteric form.
Explanation: Ileostomy clients have faster transit time; capsules and enteric-coated medications
may not dissolve properly and can cause obstruction.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns to both lower extremities. The client is
scheduled for an escharotomy and wants to know what the procedure involves. Which of the
following statements is appropriate for the nurse to make?
A. "Large incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve circulation."
B. "The dead tissue will be completely removed."
C. "Skin grafts will be placed during the procedure."
D. "The procedure is done under local anesthesia only."
Correct Answer: A. "Large incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve circulation."
Explanation: Escharotomy involves surgical incisions through the eschar to relieve pressure and
restore circulation in circumferential burns.
6. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a possible cataract. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect the client to report?
,A. Decreased color perception
B. Sudden loss of vision
C. Severe eye pain
D. Double vision in one eye
Correct Answer: A. Decreased color perception
Explanation: Cataracts cause gradual clouding of the lens, leading to faded or yellowed color
perception.
7. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has an intestinal obstruction and is
receiving continuous gastrointestinal decompression using a nasogastric tube. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Maintain the client in Fowler's position.
B. Keep the client flat in bed.
C. Position the client in Trendelenburg.
D. Place the client in prone position.
Correct Answer: A. Maintain the client in Fowler's position.
Explanation: Fowler’s (semi-upright) position promotes drainage and reduces pressure on the
diaphragm.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the following clinical
manifestations should the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answers:
Buffalo hump
Purple striations
Moon face
Explanation: Cushing’s syndrome causes fat redistribution (buffalo hump, moon face) and
protein breakdown (purple striae).
, 9. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the oliguric phase of acute kidney injury. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Monitor intake and output hourly
B. Encourage high-protein diet
C. Increase fluid intake freely
D. Administer potassium supplements
Correct Answer: A. Monitor intake and output hourly
Explanation: Oliguria means very low urine output; strict I&O monitoring is essential to assess
kidney function and guide fluid management.
10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about an esophagogastroduodenoscopy with a client who has
upper gastric pain. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "You will remain NPO for 8 hours before the procedure."
B. "You can eat a light meal 2 hours before."
C. "You will receive general anesthesia."
D. "You can drive yourself home afterward."
Correct Answer: A. "You will remain NPO for 8 hours before the procedure."
Explanation: NPO status prevents aspiration during sedation.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who is difficult to arouse and very sleepy for several hours
following a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Which of the following descriptions should the
nurse use when documenting this finding in the medical record?
A. Postictal phase
B. Prodromal phase
C. Ictal phase
D. Aura phase
Correct Answer: A. Postictal phase
