ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam P a g e | 1
ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam Bank
1 2026 – 350 Verified Questions and Detailed
Answers WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
A nurse is assessing a client who has an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Midsternal chest pain
B. Thrill
C. Pitting edema in lower extremities
D. Lower back discomfort –
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, ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam P a g e | 2
Correct Answer :D. Lower back discomfort
A nurse is assessing the hematologic system of an older adult client. The nurse should report which of
the following findings to the provider as a possible indication of a hematologic disorder?
A. Pallor
B. Jaundice
C. Absence of hair on the legs
D. Poor nailbed capillary refill –
Correct Answer :C. Absence of hair on the legs
A nurse is monitoring the electrocardiogram of a client who has hypocalcemia. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Flattened T waves
B. Prolonged QT intervals
C. Shortened QT intervals
D. Widened QRS complexes –
Correct Answer :B. Prolonged QT intervals
A charge nurse is observing a newly licensed nurse administer an IV medication to a client who has an
implanted venous access port. Which of the following observations requires intervention by the
charge nurse?
A. A dressing is not applied to the port site after use.
B. A 22-gauge non-coring needle is used to access the port.
C. Blood return is noted prior to administering the medication.
D. A solution of 5 mL heparin 1,000 units/mL has been prepared. –
Correct Answer :D. A solution of 5 mL heparin 1,000 units/mL has been prepared.
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, ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam P a g e | 3
A nurse is preparing a client for a bone-marrow biopsy. Which of the following pieces of information
should the nurse include in preoperative teaching?
A. "You'll receive heavy sedation, so you might even sleep during the procedure."
B. "You'll have to lie on your back throughout the procedure."
C. "You'll feel a painful, pulling sensation when the doctor withdraws the marrow."
D. "Expect the procedure to take about an hour." –
Correct Answer :C. "You'll feel a painful, pulling sensation when the doctor withdraws the marrow."
A nurse is rewarming a client following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. For which of the
following complications of the rewarming process should the nurse monitor the client?
A. Acidosis
B. Infection
C. Hypertension
D. Cardiac tamponade –
Correct Answer :A. Acidosis
A nurse is transfusing a unit of B-positive fresh frozen plasma to a client whose blood type is O-
negative. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Continue to monitor for manifestations of a transfusion reaction
B. Remove the unit of plasma immediately and start an IV infusion of normal saline solution
C. Continue the transfusion and repeat the type and crossmatch
D. Prepare to administer a dose of diphenhydramine IV –
Correct Answer :B. Remove the unit of plasma immediately and start an IV infusion of normal saline
solution
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, ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam P a g e | 4
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has heart failure. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect? (Click on "Exhibit NCLEX 3" under Resources on the right-hand side
for additional information about the client)
A. BNP of 200 pg/mL
B. Bradycardia
C. Fluid restriction of 3 L per day
D. 4 g sodium diet –
Correct Answer :A. BNP of 200 pg/mL
A nurse is assessing a client who has deep-vein thrombosis in her left calf. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect to find? (Select all that apply.)
A. Hardening along the blood vessel
B. Absence of a peripheral pulse
C. Tenderness in the calf
D. Cool skin on the leg
E. Increased leg circumference –
Correct Answer :A. Hardening along the blood vessel
C. Tenderness in the calf
E. Increased leg circumference
A nurse is assessing a client who had coronary artery bypass grafts for cardiac tamponade. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Check for hypertension
B. Auscultate for loud, bounding heart sounds
C. Auscultate blood pressure for pulsus paradoxus
D. Check for a pulse deficit –
Correct Answer :C. Auscultate blood pressure for pulsus paradoxus
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ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam Bank
1 2026 – 350 Verified Questions and Detailed
Answers WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
A nurse is assessing a client who has an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Midsternal chest pain
B. Thrill
C. Pitting edema in lower extremities
D. Lower back discomfort –
P a g e 1 | 69
, ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam P a g e | 2
Correct Answer :D. Lower back discomfort
A nurse is assessing the hematologic system of an older adult client. The nurse should report which of
the following findings to the provider as a possible indication of a hematologic disorder?
A. Pallor
B. Jaundice
C. Absence of hair on the legs
D. Poor nailbed capillary refill –
Correct Answer :C. Absence of hair on the legs
A nurse is monitoring the electrocardiogram of a client who has hypocalcemia. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Flattened T waves
B. Prolonged QT intervals
C. Shortened QT intervals
D. Widened QRS complexes –
Correct Answer :B. Prolonged QT intervals
A charge nurse is observing a newly licensed nurse administer an IV medication to a client who has an
implanted venous access port. Which of the following observations requires intervention by the
charge nurse?
A. A dressing is not applied to the port site after use.
B. A 22-gauge non-coring needle is used to access the port.
C. Blood return is noted prior to administering the medication.
D. A solution of 5 mL heparin 1,000 units/mL has been prepared. –
Correct Answer :D. A solution of 5 mL heparin 1,000 units/mL has been prepared.
P a g e 2 | 69
, ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam P a g e | 3
A nurse is preparing a client for a bone-marrow biopsy. Which of the following pieces of information
should the nurse include in preoperative teaching?
A. "You'll receive heavy sedation, so you might even sleep during the procedure."
B. "You'll have to lie on your back throughout the procedure."
C. "You'll feel a painful, pulling sensation when the doctor withdraws the marrow."
D. "Expect the procedure to take about an hour." –
Correct Answer :C. "You'll feel a painful, pulling sensation when the doctor withdraws the marrow."
A nurse is rewarming a client following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. For which of the
following complications of the rewarming process should the nurse monitor the client?
A. Acidosis
B. Infection
C. Hypertension
D. Cardiac tamponade –
Correct Answer :A. Acidosis
A nurse is transfusing a unit of B-positive fresh frozen plasma to a client whose blood type is O-
negative. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Continue to monitor for manifestations of a transfusion reaction
B. Remove the unit of plasma immediately and start an IV infusion of normal saline solution
C. Continue the transfusion and repeat the type and crossmatch
D. Prepare to administer a dose of diphenhydramine IV –
Correct Answer :B. Remove the unit of plasma immediately and start an IV infusion of normal saline
solution
P a g e 3 | 69
, ATI Med Surg Respiratory Proctored Exam P a g e | 4
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has heart failure. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect? (Click on "Exhibit NCLEX 3" under Resources on the right-hand side
for additional information about the client)
A. BNP of 200 pg/mL
B. Bradycardia
C. Fluid restriction of 3 L per day
D. 4 g sodium diet –
Correct Answer :A. BNP of 200 pg/mL
A nurse is assessing a client who has deep-vein thrombosis in her left calf. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect to find? (Select all that apply.)
A. Hardening along the blood vessel
B. Absence of a peripheral pulse
C. Tenderness in the calf
D. Cool skin on the leg
E. Increased leg circumference –
Correct Answer :A. Hardening along the blood vessel
C. Tenderness in the calf
E. Increased leg circumference
A nurse is assessing a client who had coronary artery bypass grafts for cardiac tamponade. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Check for hypertension
B. Auscultate for loud, bounding heart sounds
C. Auscultate blood pressure for pulsus paradoxus
D. Check for a pulse deficit –
Correct Answer :C. Auscultate blood pressure for pulsus paradoxus
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