ATI Med-Surg Proctored Retake Exam 2025-2026 | 280
Practice Questions
SECTION A: SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY (1–20)
1. During a seizure, what is the priority nursing action?
A) Restrain the client to prevent injury
B) Place a bite block in the client's mouth
C) Position client on the floor and provide a patent airway
D) Administer IV anticonvulsant medication immediately
Answer: C) Position client on the floor and provide a patent airway
Examiner’s Note: ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) always come first. Getting the client to
the floor prevents fall injuries. Never restrain or put anything in the mouth—this causes aspiration
or dental damage. Medications are given after the seizure, not during (except for status
epilepticus).
2. A nurse is caring for a client experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A) Turn the client to the side
B) Loosen restrictive clothing
C) Place the client on the floor
D) Maintain a patent airway
Answer: D) Maintain a patent airway
Examiner’s Note: ATI loves to ask "first" or "priority." Airway is always #1. Turning to the side (A)
helps maintain that airway by allowing secretions to drain, but opening/clearing the airway is the
immediate priority.
3. During a seizure, the nurse should turn the client to which position?
A) Supine
B) Prone
,C) Side-lying
D) High Fowler's
Answer: C) Side-lying
Examiner’s Note: Side-lying (recovery position) prevents aspiration of saliva or vomit.
Supine/prone increase aspiration risk. High Fowler's is unsafe during active seizure activity.
4. A client is having a seizure. Which should the nurse do? (Select all that apply)
A) Position client on the floor
B) Place a tongue depressor in the mouth
C) Turn client to the side
D) Loosen restrictive clothing
Answer: A, C, D
Examiner’s Note: B is a classic wrong answer. Never place anything in the mouth during a
seizure—it can break teeth, cause airway obstruction, or be aspirated. Padding the environment is
key, but don't force anything into the mouth.
5. What is the rationale for turning the client to the side during a seizure?
A) To prevent aspiration
B) To improve circulation
C) To prevent self-injury
D) To reduce intracranial pressure
Answer: A) To prevent aspiration
Examiner’s Note: During a seizure, gag reflexes are depressed. Side-lying uses gravity to let
saliva/vomitus drain out, keeping the airway patent. This is a classic "why" question.
6. A nurse is providing seizure precautions for a client. Which interventions should be
included?
A) Keep the bed in the lowest position
B) Place padded side rails on the bed
C) Keep suction equipment at the bedside
D) All of the above
,Answer: D) All of the above
Examiner’s Note: Seizure precautions are a bundle: low bed, padded rails, suction, O2, and
removing clutter. All are correct.
7. During a seizure, which action is contraindicated?
A) Loosening restrictive clothing
B) Placing an object in the client's mouth
C) Turning the client to the side
D) Protecting the client from injury
Answer: B) Placing an object in the client's mouth
Examiner’s Note: Contraindicated = do NOT do. Bite blocks, tongue depressors, and fingers are
never inserted. The tongue cannot be "swallowed" during a seizure, so this is an outdated and
dangerous practice.
8. The nurse is caring for a client with a seizure disorder. What should be kept at the
bedside?
A) Oxygen and suction equipment
B) Restraints
C) Oral airway
D) Both A and C
Answer: D) Both A and C
Examiner’s Note: Suction and O2 are standard. An oral airway can be used after the seizure ends
(never during) to maintain the airway. Restraints are never used—they cause injury.
9. After a seizure, the nurse should document which of the following? (Select all that apply)
A) Duration of the seizure
B) Type of movement observed
C) Incontinence of urine or stool
D) Client's level of consciousness after the seizure
Answer: E) All of the above
Examiner’s Note: ATI focuses on objective, specific documentation. Time, movements,
incontinence, and postictal state (confusion, lethargy) are all critical for neurology assessment.
"Seizure occurred" is insufficient documentation.
, 10. A client is placed on seizure precautions. Which intervention is appropriate?
A) Keep the bed in the highest position
B) Keep the side rails up at all times
C) Keep the room dark and quiet
D) Keep the bed in the lowest position with padded side rails
Answer: D) Keep the bed in the lowest position with padded side rails
Examiner’s Note: Bed in lowest position reduces fall injury. Padded side rails prevent bruising.
Keeping rails up at all times (B) can be a restraint issue—padded rails are preferred.
11. During a seizure, the nurse should time which of the following?
A) The seizure activity
B) The postictal period
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B
Answer: C) Both A and B
Examiner’s Note: Document duration of active seizure and duration of postictal state. Seizures
lasting >5 minutes = status epilepticus emergency. Timing is a nursing responsibility.
12. A client is experiencing a seizure. The nurse should prioritize which of the following?
A) Airway management
B) Medication administration
C) Documentation
D) Calling the healthcare provider
Answer: A) Airway management
Examiner’s Note: Priority is always ABC. Documentation and calls come after the seizure is over
and the client is stable. Don't leave the client to call for help—use the call bell.
13. Which of the following is a postictal manifestation the nurse should assess for?
A) Confusion
B) Lethargy
C) Headache
D) All of the above
Practice Questions
SECTION A: SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY (1–20)
1. During a seizure, what is the priority nursing action?
A) Restrain the client to prevent injury
B) Place a bite block in the client's mouth
C) Position client on the floor and provide a patent airway
D) Administer IV anticonvulsant medication immediately
Answer: C) Position client on the floor and provide a patent airway
Examiner’s Note: ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) always come first. Getting the client to
the floor prevents fall injuries. Never restrain or put anything in the mouth—this causes aspiration
or dental damage. Medications are given after the seizure, not during (except for status
epilepticus).
2. A nurse is caring for a client experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A) Turn the client to the side
B) Loosen restrictive clothing
C) Place the client on the floor
D) Maintain a patent airway
Answer: D) Maintain a patent airway
Examiner’s Note: ATI loves to ask "first" or "priority." Airway is always #1. Turning to the side (A)
helps maintain that airway by allowing secretions to drain, but opening/clearing the airway is the
immediate priority.
3. During a seizure, the nurse should turn the client to which position?
A) Supine
B) Prone
,C) Side-lying
D) High Fowler's
Answer: C) Side-lying
Examiner’s Note: Side-lying (recovery position) prevents aspiration of saliva or vomit.
Supine/prone increase aspiration risk. High Fowler's is unsafe during active seizure activity.
4. A client is having a seizure. Which should the nurse do? (Select all that apply)
A) Position client on the floor
B) Place a tongue depressor in the mouth
C) Turn client to the side
D) Loosen restrictive clothing
Answer: A, C, D
Examiner’s Note: B is a classic wrong answer. Never place anything in the mouth during a
seizure—it can break teeth, cause airway obstruction, or be aspirated. Padding the environment is
key, but don't force anything into the mouth.
5. What is the rationale for turning the client to the side during a seizure?
A) To prevent aspiration
B) To improve circulation
C) To prevent self-injury
D) To reduce intracranial pressure
Answer: A) To prevent aspiration
Examiner’s Note: During a seizure, gag reflexes are depressed. Side-lying uses gravity to let
saliva/vomitus drain out, keeping the airway patent. This is a classic "why" question.
6. A nurse is providing seizure precautions for a client. Which interventions should be
included?
A) Keep the bed in the lowest position
B) Place padded side rails on the bed
C) Keep suction equipment at the bedside
D) All of the above
,Answer: D) All of the above
Examiner’s Note: Seizure precautions are a bundle: low bed, padded rails, suction, O2, and
removing clutter. All are correct.
7. During a seizure, which action is contraindicated?
A) Loosening restrictive clothing
B) Placing an object in the client's mouth
C) Turning the client to the side
D) Protecting the client from injury
Answer: B) Placing an object in the client's mouth
Examiner’s Note: Contraindicated = do NOT do. Bite blocks, tongue depressors, and fingers are
never inserted. The tongue cannot be "swallowed" during a seizure, so this is an outdated and
dangerous practice.
8. The nurse is caring for a client with a seizure disorder. What should be kept at the
bedside?
A) Oxygen and suction equipment
B) Restraints
C) Oral airway
D) Both A and C
Answer: D) Both A and C
Examiner’s Note: Suction and O2 are standard. An oral airway can be used after the seizure ends
(never during) to maintain the airway. Restraints are never used—they cause injury.
9. After a seizure, the nurse should document which of the following? (Select all that apply)
A) Duration of the seizure
B) Type of movement observed
C) Incontinence of urine or stool
D) Client's level of consciousness after the seizure
Answer: E) All of the above
Examiner’s Note: ATI focuses on objective, specific documentation. Time, movements,
incontinence, and postictal state (confusion, lethargy) are all critical for neurology assessment.
"Seizure occurred" is insufficient documentation.
, 10. A client is placed on seizure precautions. Which intervention is appropriate?
A) Keep the bed in the highest position
B) Keep the side rails up at all times
C) Keep the room dark and quiet
D) Keep the bed in the lowest position with padded side rails
Answer: D) Keep the bed in the lowest position with padded side rails
Examiner’s Note: Bed in lowest position reduces fall injury. Padded side rails prevent bruising.
Keeping rails up at all times (B) can be a restraint issue—padded rails are preferred.
11. During a seizure, the nurse should time which of the following?
A) The seizure activity
B) The postictal period
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B
Answer: C) Both A and B
Examiner’s Note: Document duration of active seizure and duration of postictal state. Seizures
lasting >5 minutes = status epilepticus emergency. Timing is a nursing responsibility.
12. A client is experiencing a seizure. The nurse should prioritize which of the following?
A) Airway management
B) Medication administration
C) Documentation
D) Calling the healthcare provider
Answer: A) Airway management
Examiner’s Note: Priority is always ABC. Documentation and calls come after the seizure is over
and the client is stable. Don't leave the client to call for help—use the call bell.
13. Which of the following is a postictal manifestation the nurse should assess for?
A) Confusion
B) Lethargy
C) Headache
D) All of the above
