ATI Medical-Surgical Final Exam Questions And Correct Detailed
Answers 2026 Edition
Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal.
A nurse is caring for a client who is to have his chest tube removed.Which fo
the following actions should the nurse take?
The nurse should instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal to maintain the
-Cover the insertion site with a hydrocolloid dressing after removal. appropriate amount of negative pressure in the chest to prevent air entry into the pleural space.
- Provide pain medication immediately after removal.
- Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal.
-Delegate removal of the chest tube to a licensed practical nurse
(LPN).
Lower the client to the floor.
A nurse is caring for a client who begins having a tonic-clonic seizure
while sitting in a chair at the bedside.Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first?
The nurse should apply the safety and risk reduction priority-setting framework.This framework assigns
-Provide oxygen.- Place the client in a side-lying
priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest safety risk to the client. When there are several risks
position.
to client safety, the one posing the greatest threat is the highest priority. The nurse should use Maslow's
- Provide privacy. hierarchy of needs,the ABC priority-setting framework, or nursing knowledge to identify which risk poses
- Lower the client to the floor. the greatest threat to the client. Therefore, if a client begins to have a seizure while sitting or standing, the
nurse should first lower the client to the floorto protect him from injury.
A nurse is teaching a client how to perform a breast self-exam (BSE). The A nontender,hard lump that is palpated in one breast
nurse should identify which of the following findings as an indication of
breast cancer?
The nurse should identify that cancerous tumors are typicallyhard,fixed,irregular in shape, and nontender
- Lumps that are mobile and tender upon palpation prior to a menstrual
to palpation. The nurse should instruct the client to notify the provider promptly if she palpates a hard,
period
nontender lump.
-Multiple round masses that are tender and found in both breasts
- Bilaterally darkened areolas
- A nontender, hard lump that is palpated in one breast
, A nurse is preparing to change the bed linens of a client who has AIDS -Gown
and is incontinent of stool. Which of the following personal protective -Gloves
equipment (PPE) should the nurse don prior to providing client care?
-Gown
-Gloves
-Mask
-Hair cover
-Goggles
Chest petechiae
A nurse is assessing a client who has a fractured left femur and is in
skeletal traction. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report to the provider?
The nurse should identify chest petechiae as an indication of fat embolism
- Ecchymosis of the thigh - Serous
syndrome. Clients who have fractures of the long bones, such as the femur, are at increased risk for
drainage at the pin site
fat emboli. Fat emboli typically occur 12 to 48 hr after the injury when fat droplets from the marrow
-Chest petechiae enter into the systemic circulation and are
- Muscle spasms in the left leg deposited in the lungs. The nurse should immediately notify the provider because the client could
progress into acute respiratory failure.
A nurse is providing teaching about antiretroviral therapy to a client who "You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule."The nurse should inform
has a new diagnosis of AIDS. Which of the following statements should the client of the need to take antiretroviral therapy exactly as prescribed and to avoid delaying
the nurse include in the teaching? or skipping any doses,which can
- "Your provider will prescribe one single antiretroviral medication at result in medication resistance.
a time."
- "You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule."
- "You should increase your intake of raw fruits and vegetables
while taking antiretroviral medications."
-"Your provider will prescribe antiretroviral therapy to kill the HIV virus."
A nurse is caring for a client who is 72 hr post operative following an Assist the client to a prone position every 4 hr.
above-the-knee amputation. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? The nurse should assist the client to a prone position for 20 to 30 min every 3 to 4hr following an
- Elevate the residual limb on a soft pillow.- Assist the client amputation because it reduces the risk of flexion contractures.
to a prone position every 4 hr.
- Reapply a bandage to the residual limb every 12 hr.
- Apply dressings to the site in a proximal-to-distal direction.
A home health nurse enters a client's home and finds used insulin Place the syringe in a puncture-proof disposal container.
syringe, without a cap, on the table. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
The nurse should place the uncapped syringe in a puncture-proof sharps disposal container or rigid
- Recap the needle on the syringe. plastic container to prevent a needlestick injury. The nurse
- Schedule a nurse to administer future injections for this client. should keep the syringe uncapped to prevent a needlestick injury while placing the cap on the
needle. The nurse should then provide client education on safety and proper disposal of syringes.
- Explain to the client that the syringe should be disposed of
in the bathroom trash can.
-Place the syringe in a puncture-proof disposal container.
Answers 2026 Edition
Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal.
A nurse is caring for a client who is to have his chest tube removed.Which fo
the following actions should the nurse take?
The nurse should instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal to maintain the
-Cover the insertion site with a hydrocolloid dressing after removal. appropriate amount of negative pressure in the chest to prevent air entry into the pleural space.
- Provide pain medication immediately after removal.
- Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal.
-Delegate removal of the chest tube to a licensed practical nurse
(LPN).
Lower the client to the floor.
A nurse is caring for a client who begins having a tonic-clonic seizure
while sitting in a chair at the bedside.Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first?
The nurse should apply the safety and risk reduction priority-setting framework.This framework assigns
-Provide oxygen.- Place the client in a side-lying
priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest safety risk to the client. When there are several risks
position.
to client safety, the one posing the greatest threat is the highest priority. The nurse should use Maslow's
- Provide privacy. hierarchy of needs,the ABC priority-setting framework, or nursing knowledge to identify which risk poses
- Lower the client to the floor. the greatest threat to the client. Therefore, if a client begins to have a seizure while sitting or standing, the
nurse should first lower the client to the floorto protect him from injury.
A nurse is teaching a client how to perform a breast self-exam (BSE). The A nontender,hard lump that is palpated in one breast
nurse should identify which of the following findings as an indication of
breast cancer?
The nurse should identify that cancerous tumors are typicallyhard,fixed,irregular in shape, and nontender
- Lumps that are mobile and tender upon palpation prior to a menstrual
to palpation. The nurse should instruct the client to notify the provider promptly if she palpates a hard,
period
nontender lump.
-Multiple round masses that are tender and found in both breasts
- Bilaterally darkened areolas
- A nontender, hard lump that is palpated in one breast
, A nurse is preparing to change the bed linens of a client who has AIDS -Gown
and is incontinent of stool. Which of the following personal protective -Gloves
equipment (PPE) should the nurse don prior to providing client care?
-Gown
-Gloves
-Mask
-Hair cover
-Goggles
Chest petechiae
A nurse is assessing a client who has a fractured left femur and is in
skeletal traction. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report to the provider?
The nurse should identify chest petechiae as an indication of fat embolism
- Ecchymosis of the thigh - Serous
syndrome. Clients who have fractures of the long bones, such as the femur, are at increased risk for
drainage at the pin site
fat emboli. Fat emboli typically occur 12 to 48 hr after the injury when fat droplets from the marrow
-Chest petechiae enter into the systemic circulation and are
- Muscle spasms in the left leg deposited in the lungs. The nurse should immediately notify the provider because the client could
progress into acute respiratory failure.
A nurse is providing teaching about antiretroviral therapy to a client who "You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule."The nurse should inform
has a new diagnosis of AIDS. Which of the following statements should the client of the need to take antiretroviral therapy exactly as prescribed and to avoid delaying
the nurse include in the teaching? or skipping any doses,which can
- "Your provider will prescribe one single antiretroviral medication at result in medication resistance.
a time."
- "You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule."
- "You should increase your intake of raw fruits and vegetables
while taking antiretroviral medications."
-"Your provider will prescribe antiretroviral therapy to kill the HIV virus."
A nurse is caring for a client who is 72 hr post operative following an Assist the client to a prone position every 4 hr.
above-the-knee amputation. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? The nurse should assist the client to a prone position for 20 to 30 min every 3 to 4hr following an
- Elevate the residual limb on a soft pillow.- Assist the client amputation because it reduces the risk of flexion contractures.
to a prone position every 4 hr.
- Reapply a bandage to the residual limb every 12 hr.
- Apply dressings to the site in a proximal-to-distal direction.
A home health nurse enters a client's home and finds used insulin Place the syringe in a puncture-proof disposal container.
syringe, without a cap, on the table. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
The nurse should place the uncapped syringe in a puncture-proof sharps disposal container or rigid
- Recap the needle on the syringe. plastic container to prevent a needlestick injury. The nurse
- Schedule a nurse to administer future injections for this client. should keep the syringe uncapped to prevent a needlestick injury while placing the cap on the
needle. The nurse should then provide client education on safety and proper disposal of syringes.
- Explain to the client that the syringe should be disposed of
in the bathroom trash can.
-Place the syringe in a puncture-proof disposal container.
