ATI PROCTORED EXAM
MEDICAL SURGICAL Q & A
I. A nurse is teaching a client who is to begin chemotherapy about a peripherally inserted
central catheter (PICC). Which of the following statement should the nurse include in the
teaching?
-We can draw blood samples from the PICC for diagnostics test
-We will replace the PICC every month
-We will change the dressing daily
-We can measure your blood pressure in either arm
II. A nurse is assessing a client who has pyelonephritis and reports flank pain. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
-Auscultate for a bruit over the costovertebral area.
-Assist the client to a sitting position
-Thump the area of tenderness directly with a closed fist
-Percuss the side of tenderness first
III. A nurse is assessing a client who has acute kidney injury failure. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider?
-Peripheral pulses 2+ bilaterally
-Creatinine 0.8 mL/dL
-Urine specific gravity 1.045
-Weight gain 1.1 kg (2.4 lb.) in 24 hr.
IV. A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is 72 hr. postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty. The client requires a PRN medication prior to ambulation. Which of the
following medications should the nurse anticipate administering?
-Naproxen
-Meperidine
-Indomethacin
-Oxycodone
V. A nurse is caring for a client who has Haemophiles influenza type B. Which of the following
types of isolation should the nurse implement?
-Droplet
, ATI PROCTORED EXAM
MEDICAL SURGICAL Q & A
-Airborne
-Protective
-Contact
VI. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of
the following finding should the nurse include as an indication the client is no longer infectious?
-Negative sputum cultures for acid-fast bacillus
-Positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold test
-Mantoux skin test revealing an induration of less than 1 mm
-Client no longer coughing up blood-tinged sputum
VII. A nurse is working in the emergency department is caring for a client who has a burn injury.
After securing the client’s airway, which of the following interventions should the nurse take
first?
-Cleanse the client’s wounds
-Administer analgesic medication
-Start an IV with a large-bore needle
-Increase the room temperature
VIII. A nurse is caring for a client who has a central venous access device and notes the tubing has
become disconnected. The client develops dyspnea and tachycardia. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
-Obtain ABG values
-Perform an ECG
-Turn the client to his left side
-Clamp the catheter
IX. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has an impaired immune system due
to chemotherapy. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
-Change your pet’s litter box daily
-Wash your perineal area two times each day with antimicrobial soap
-Change the water in your drinking glass every 4 hours
-Wash your toothbrush in the dishwasher once a month
, ATI PROCTORED EXAM
MEDICAL SURGICAL Q & A
1. A nurse is preparing to administer thrombolytic therapy to a client who had an ischemic
stroke. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?
-Start the therapy within 8 hrs. (within 6 hrs.)
-Insert an indwelling urinary catheter after therapy begins
-Monitor blood pressure every 30 minutes during infusion.
-Elevate the head of the bed between 25 and 30 degrees (to reduce ICP & promote venous
drainage, ATI page 89)
2. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of an incentive spirometer. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
-Place hands on the upper abdomen during inhalation.
-Exhale slowly through pursed lips.
-Hold breath about 3 to 5 seconds before exhaling. (ATI page 138)
-Position the mouthpiece 2.5 cm (1 in) from the mouth.
3. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hr. postoperative following a colon resection. Which
of the following findings should the nurse report to the surgeon?
-Heart rate 90/mm
-Hgb 8.2 g/dL
-Gastric ph of 3.0
-Absent bowel sounds
Recall that bowel sounds are altered in patients with obstruction; absent bowel sounds imply
total obstruction. QSEN: Safety (Book page 1143)
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the following medications
should the nurse plan to administer?
-Regular Insulin
-Furosemide
-Desmopressin
-Lithium Carbonate
Teach patients with diabetes insipidus the proper way to self-administer desmopressin orally or
by nasal spray.
Management focuses on controlling symptoms with drug therapy.
, ATI PROCTORED EXAM
MEDICAL SURGICAL Q & A
-The most preferred drug is desmopressin acetate (DDAVP), a synthetic form of
vasopressin given orally, as a sublingual “melt,” or intranasally in a metered spray. The
frequency of dosing varies with patient responses. Teach patients that each metered spray
delivers 10 mcg and those with mild DI may need only one or two doses in 24 hours.
-For more severe DI, one or two metered doses two or three times daily may be needed.
5. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking ibuprofen several times
daily for 3 years. Which of the following test should the nurse monitor?
Stool occult blood
-Urine for white blood cells
-Fasting blood glucose
-Serum calcium
MEDICAL SURGICAL Q & A
I. A nurse is teaching a client who is to begin chemotherapy about a peripherally inserted
central catheter (PICC). Which of the following statement should the nurse include in the
teaching?
-We can draw blood samples from the PICC for diagnostics test
-We will replace the PICC every month
-We will change the dressing daily
-We can measure your blood pressure in either arm
II. A nurse is assessing a client who has pyelonephritis and reports flank pain. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
-Auscultate for a bruit over the costovertebral area.
-Assist the client to a sitting position
-Thump the area of tenderness directly with a closed fist
-Percuss the side of tenderness first
III. A nurse is assessing a client who has acute kidney injury failure. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider?
-Peripheral pulses 2+ bilaterally
-Creatinine 0.8 mL/dL
-Urine specific gravity 1.045
-Weight gain 1.1 kg (2.4 lb.) in 24 hr.
IV. A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is 72 hr. postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty. The client requires a PRN medication prior to ambulation. Which of the
following medications should the nurse anticipate administering?
-Naproxen
-Meperidine
-Indomethacin
-Oxycodone
V. A nurse is caring for a client who has Haemophiles influenza type B. Which of the following
types of isolation should the nurse implement?
-Droplet
, ATI PROCTORED EXAM
MEDICAL SURGICAL Q & A
-Airborne
-Protective
-Contact
VI. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of
the following finding should the nurse include as an indication the client is no longer infectious?
-Negative sputum cultures for acid-fast bacillus
-Positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold test
-Mantoux skin test revealing an induration of less than 1 mm
-Client no longer coughing up blood-tinged sputum
VII. A nurse is working in the emergency department is caring for a client who has a burn injury.
After securing the client’s airway, which of the following interventions should the nurse take
first?
-Cleanse the client’s wounds
-Administer analgesic medication
-Start an IV with a large-bore needle
-Increase the room temperature
VIII. A nurse is caring for a client who has a central venous access device and notes the tubing has
become disconnected. The client develops dyspnea and tachycardia. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
-Obtain ABG values
-Perform an ECG
-Turn the client to his left side
-Clamp the catheter
IX. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has an impaired immune system due
to chemotherapy. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
-Change your pet’s litter box daily
-Wash your perineal area two times each day with antimicrobial soap
-Change the water in your drinking glass every 4 hours
-Wash your toothbrush in the dishwasher once a month
, ATI PROCTORED EXAM
MEDICAL SURGICAL Q & A
1. A nurse is preparing to administer thrombolytic therapy to a client who had an ischemic
stroke. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?
-Start the therapy within 8 hrs. (within 6 hrs.)
-Insert an indwelling urinary catheter after therapy begins
-Monitor blood pressure every 30 minutes during infusion.
-Elevate the head of the bed between 25 and 30 degrees (to reduce ICP & promote venous
drainage, ATI page 89)
2. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of an incentive spirometer. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
-Place hands on the upper abdomen during inhalation.
-Exhale slowly through pursed lips.
-Hold breath about 3 to 5 seconds before exhaling. (ATI page 138)
-Position the mouthpiece 2.5 cm (1 in) from the mouth.
3. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hr. postoperative following a colon resection. Which
of the following findings should the nurse report to the surgeon?
-Heart rate 90/mm
-Hgb 8.2 g/dL
-Gastric ph of 3.0
-Absent bowel sounds
Recall that bowel sounds are altered in patients with obstruction; absent bowel sounds imply
total obstruction. QSEN: Safety (Book page 1143)
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the following medications
should the nurse plan to administer?
-Regular Insulin
-Furosemide
-Desmopressin
-Lithium Carbonate
Teach patients with diabetes insipidus the proper way to self-administer desmopressin orally or
by nasal spray.
Management focuses on controlling symptoms with drug therapy.
, ATI PROCTORED EXAM
MEDICAL SURGICAL Q & A
-The most preferred drug is desmopressin acetate (DDAVP), a synthetic form of
vasopressin given orally, as a sublingual “melt,” or intranasally in a metered spray. The
frequency of dosing varies with patient responses. Teach patients that each metered spray
delivers 10 mcg and those with mild DI may need only one or two doses in 24 hours.
-For more severe DI, one or two metered doses two or three times daily may be needed.
5. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking ibuprofen several times
daily for 3 years. Which of the following test should the nurse monitor?
Stool occult blood
-Urine for white blood cells
-Fasting blood glucose
-Serum calcium
