ATI Proctored Exam Medical Surgical
FormA
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.
-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
,Assess for drug-related blood loss such as that caused by NSAIDs by checking
the stool for gross or occult blood. Older white women are the most likely to
experience GI bleeding as a result of taking these medications. (Book page
324)
6. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first? (Click on the “Exhibit” button for additional information about
the client. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.)
-Obtain a sputum sample for culture.
-Prepare the client for a chest x-ray.
-Initiate airborne precautions (question sounds like a respiratory issue)
-Administer ondansetron.
7. A nurse is contacting the provider of a client who has cancer and is experiencing
breakthrough pain. Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse anticipate?
-Intravenous dexamethasone
-Transmucosal fentanyl
-Oral acetaminophen- not strong enough
-Intramuscular meperidine
Fentanyl is a lipophilic (readily absorbed in fatty tissue) opioid and, as such, has
a fast onset and short duration of action. It is recommended opioid for patients
with end-organ failure because it has no clinically relevant metabolites. It also
produces fewer hemodynamic adverse effects than other opioids; therefore, it is
often preferred in patients who are hemodynamically unstable such as the
critically ill. (Book page 59)
8. A nurse is admitting a client who reports chest pain and has been placed on a telemetry
monitor. Which of the following should the nurse analyze to determine whether the client
is experiencing a myocardial infarction?
-QRS duration
-ST segment
-T-wave
PR interval
, Examine the ST segment. The normal ST segment begins at the isoelectric line.
ST elevation or depression is significant if displacement is 1 mm (one small
box) or more above or below the line and is seen in two or more leads. ST
elevation may indicate problems such as myocardial infarction, pericarditis,
and hyperkalemia. ST depression is associated with hypokalemia, myocardial
infarction, or ventricular hypertrophy. (Book page 670)
9. A nurse is teaching a client who has ovarian cancer about skin care following radiation
treatment. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
-Apply over the counter moisturizer to the radiation site
-Cover the radiation site loosely with a gauze wrap before dressing
-Use a soft washcloth to clean the area around the radiation site
-Pat the skin on the radiation site to dry it. (Book page 390)
Skin Protection During Radiation Therapy
• Wash the irradiated area gently each day with either water or a mild soap and water
as prescribed by your radiation therapy team.
FormA
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.
-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
,Assess for drug-related blood loss such as that caused by NSAIDs by checking
the stool for gross or occult blood. Older white women are the most likely to
experience GI bleeding as a result of taking these medications. (Book page
324)
6. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first? (Click on the “Exhibit” button for additional information about
the client. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.)
-Obtain a sputum sample for culture.
-Prepare the client for a chest x-ray.
-Initiate airborne precautions (question sounds like a respiratory issue)
-Administer ondansetron.
7. A nurse is contacting the provider of a client who has cancer and is experiencing
breakthrough pain. Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse anticipate?
-Intravenous dexamethasone
-Transmucosal fentanyl
-Oral acetaminophen- not strong enough
-Intramuscular meperidine
Fentanyl is a lipophilic (readily absorbed in fatty tissue) opioid and, as such, has
a fast onset and short duration of action. It is recommended opioid for patients
with end-organ failure because it has no clinically relevant metabolites. It also
produces fewer hemodynamic adverse effects than other opioids; therefore, it is
often preferred in patients who are hemodynamically unstable such as the
critically ill. (Book page 59)
8. A nurse is admitting a client who reports chest pain and has been placed on a telemetry
monitor. Which of the following should the nurse analyze to determine whether the client
is experiencing a myocardial infarction?
-QRS duration
-ST segment
-T-wave
PR interval
, Examine the ST segment. The normal ST segment begins at the isoelectric line.
ST elevation or depression is significant if displacement is 1 mm (one small
box) or more above or below the line and is seen in two or more leads. ST
elevation may indicate problems such as myocardial infarction, pericarditis,
and hyperkalemia. ST depression is associated with hypokalemia, myocardial
infarction, or ventricular hypertrophy. (Book page 670)
9. A nurse is teaching a client who has ovarian cancer about skin care following radiation
treatment. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
-Apply over the counter moisturizer to the radiation site
-Cover the radiation site loosely with a gauze wrap before dressing
-Use a soft washcloth to clean the area around the radiation site
-Pat the skin on the radiation site to dry it. (Book page 390)
Skin Protection During Radiation Therapy
• Wash the irradiated area gently each day with either water or a mild soap and water
as prescribed by your radiation therapy team.
