RN ATI Capstone Content Review: Medical-Surgical Pre-Assessment
Assignment
Directions: Please copy and paste the questions below into a document to insert your answers. When you
finish, please copy and paste the questions and your answers into a message to me using the classroom
message system.
This assignment will assist you in reviewing some of the med-surg topics and strengthen your overall
knowledge base before you take the Medical-Surgical Assessment. Please send me your answers so that I can
provide you with any needed feedback BEFORE you take your Medical-Surgical Assessment. PLEASE DO
NOT copy/paste your answers from the ATI review module/your textbooks/other sources. Reading the content
and putting it into your own words is KEY to understanding and increasing your overall knowledge base. The
ATI review books are 'review books' they are meant to be a refresher, resource, and supplement to your nursing
education - feel free to use your school textbooks for additional information when reviewing and completing
assignments as well.
1. What are the manifestations of hypokalemia? Hyperkalemia?
Hypokalemia ⟶ » Muscle weakness, cramping
» Fatigue
» Nausea
» Vomiting
» Irritability
» Confusion
» Decreased bowel motility
» Paresthesia
» Dysrhythmias
» Flat and/or inverted T
waves (ECG)
Hyperkalemia⟶ » Peaked T-waves (ECG)
» Ventricular dysrhythmias
» Muscle Twitching (early)
» Paresthesia (early
» Ascending muscle weakness (late)
» Increased bowel motility
2. What is diabetes insipidus (DI)? What happens with the Na level and the total body water with
DI? How is DI treated?
Diabetes Insipidus: ⟶ ⟶ ⟶ ⟶ A deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH or
vasopressin) due to a disorder of the posterior
pituitary gland that results in the inability of the
kidneys to conserve water appropriately. D.I. is
caused by head trauma, tumor, surgery, radiation,
CNS infections, malignant tumors, or failure of
the renal tubules. The underlying cause of DI
, lOMoARcPSD|3920845
ATI Medsurg Pre-Assessment Questions
should be identified and treated.
Na level and total body of water during DI: ⟶ ⟶ ⟶ » Decreased urine specific gravity
» Decreased urine osmolality
» Hypernatremia
» Increased serum osmolality
3. What are the expected abnormal lab values associated with the following endocrine
disorders: Diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, and hypothyroidism?
Endocrine Disorder Expected Abnormal Lab Value
Diabetes Mellitus ⟶ Decreased urine specific gravity
⟶ Decreased urine osmolality
⟶ Hypernatremia
⟶ Increased Serum Osmolality
⟶Increased urine output
⟶Hemoconcentration
Cushing’s disease ⟶ Hyperglycemia
⟶ Hypernatremia
⟶ Hypokalemia
⟶Hypocalcemia
⟶ Elevated triglycerides
⟶ Immunosuppression (look at CBC’s and WBC’s)
⟶ Increased plasma cortisol levels
Addison’s disease ⟶ Hypotension
⟶ Hypoglycemia
⟶ Hyponatremia
⟶ Hyperkalemia
⟶ Hypercalcemia
⟶ altered mental health (depression, lability)
Hypothyroidism ⟶Hyperlipidemia
⟶Anemia
⟶ Low serum T4 and T3
⟶ Elevated TSH
Assignment
Directions: Please copy and paste the questions below into a document to insert your answers. When you
finish, please copy and paste the questions and your answers into a message to me using the classroom
message system.
This assignment will assist you in reviewing some of the med-surg topics and strengthen your overall
knowledge base before you take the Medical-Surgical Assessment. Please send me your answers so that I can
provide you with any needed feedback BEFORE you take your Medical-Surgical Assessment. PLEASE DO
NOT copy/paste your answers from the ATI review module/your textbooks/other sources. Reading the content
and putting it into your own words is KEY to understanding and increasing your overall knowledge base. The
ATI review books are 'review books' they are meant to be a refresher, resource, and supplement to your nursing
education - feel free to use your school textbooks for additional information when reviewing and completing
assignments as well.
1. What are the manifestations of hypokalemia? Hyperkalemia?
Hypokalemia ⟶ » Muscle weakness, cramping
» Fatigue
» Nausea
» Vomiting
» Irritability
» Confusion
» Decreased bowel motility
» Paresthesia
» Dysrhythmias
» Flat and/or inverted T
waves (ECG)
Hyperkalemia⟶ » Peaked T-waves (ECG)
» Ventricular dysrhythmias
» Muscle Twitching (early)
» Paresthesia (early
» Ascending muscle weakness (late)
» Increased bowel motility
2. What is diabetes insipidus (DI)? What happens with the Na level and the total body water with
DI? How is DI treated?
Diabetes Insipidus: ⟶ ⟶ ⟶ ⟶ A deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH or
vasopressin) due to a disorder of the posterior
pituitary gland that results in the inability of the
kidneys to conserve water appropriately. D.I. is
caused by head trauma, tumor, surgery, radiation,
CNS infections, malignant tumors, or failure of
the renal tubules. The underlying cause of DI
, lOMoARcPSD|3920845
ATI Medsurg Pre-Assessment Questions
should be identified and treated.
Na level and total body of water during DI: ⟶ ⟶ ⟶ » Decreased urine specific gravity
» Decreased urine osmolality
» Hypernatremia
» Increased serum osmolality
3. What are the expected abnormal lab values associated with the following endocrine
disorders: Diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, and hypothyroidism?
Endocrine Disorder Expected Abnormal Lab Value
Diabetes Mellitus ⟶ Decreased urine specific gravity
⟶ Decreased urine osmolality
⟶ Hypernatremia
⟶ Increased Serum Osmolality
⟶Increased urine output
⟶Hemoconcentration
Cushing’s disease ⟶ Hyperglycemia
⟶ Hypernatremia
⟶ Hypokalemia
⟶Hypocalcemia
⟶ Elevated triglycerides
⟶ Immunosuppression (look at CBC’s and WBC’s)
⟶ Increased plasma cortisol levels
Addison’s disease ⟶ Hypotension
⟶ Hypoglycemia
⟶ Hyponatremia
⟶ Hyperkalemia
⟶ Hypercalcemia
⟶ altered mental health (depression, lability)
Hypothyroidism ⟶Hyperlipidemia
⟶Anemia
⟶ Low serum T4 and T3
⟶ Elevated TSH
