ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING EXAMS
(SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS) 2023
1. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted to the hospital
with respiratory distress. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize? a. Administering
a bronchodilator medication b. Administering a diuretic medication c. Administering an
antibiotic medication d. Administering oxygen therapy
Answer: d. Administering oxygen therapy
2. A client with a history of coronary artery disease complains of chest pain. The nurse should
assess the client for which signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction? a. Hypertension
and tachycardia b. Bradycardia and hypotension c. Shortness of breath and wheezing d.
Diaphoresis and nausea
Answer: d. Diaphoresis and nausea
3. The nurse is caring for a client with type 2 diabetes who is prescribed insulin glargine. The
nurse should instruct the client to take which action? a. Inject the medication
subcutaneously in the abdomen b. Inject the medication subcutaneously in the thigh c.
Inject the medication intramuscularly in the deltoid d. Inject the medication intravenously
in the arm
Answer: a. Inject the medication subcutaneously in the abdomen
4. A client with a history of stroke is admitted to the hospital with left-sided weakness. Which
nursing intervention is the highest priority? a. Turning the client every 2 hours b.
Encouraging the client to ambulate c. Providing range-of-motion exercises to the affected
limb d. Monitoring the client's neurological status
Answer: d. Monitoring the client's neurological status
5. A client with a history of peptic ulcer disease is prescribed omeprazole. The nurse should
instruct the client to take which action? a. Take the medication on an empty stomach b.
Take the medication with food c. Take the medication with a full glass of water d. Take
the medication with an antacid
Answer: b. Take the medication with food
6. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which electrolyte imbalance
should the nurse monitor for in this client? a. Hyperkalemia b. Hypokalemia c. Hyponatremia
d. Hypernatremia
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, ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING EXAMS
(SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS) 2023
Answer: b. Hypokalemia
7. A client with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is prescribed nothing by mouth
(NPO) status. Which action should the nurse take to prevent aspiration? a.
Encourage the client to cough and deep breathe frequently b. Place the client in
the Trendelenburg position c. Administer nasogastric suction as ordered d. Provide
frequent oral care
Answer: c. Administer nasogastric suction as ordered
8. The nurse is caring for a client with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which
intervention should the nurse prioritize? a. Administering anticoagulant therapy as
ordered b. Administering analgesic medication as ordered c. Encouraging
ambulation as tolerated d. Applying warm compresses to the affected extremity
Answer: a. Administering anticoagulant therapy as ordered
9. A client with cirrhosis is prescribed lactulose. Which therapeutic outcome should
the nurse expect from this medication? a. Increased serum potassium levels b.
Decreased serum ammonia levels c. Increased serum bilirubin levels d. Decreased
serum albumin levels
Answer: b. Decreased serum ammonia levels
10. A client with hypertension is prescribed amlodipine. Which side effect should the
nurse monitor for in this client? a. Bradycardia b. Hypotension c. Hyperkalemia d.
Peripheral edema
Answer: d. Peripheral edema
11. The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of sepsis. Which laboratory value
should the nurse monitor to assess for organ dysfunction? a. Serum potassium
levels b. Serum bilirubin levels c. Blood glucose levels d. White blood cell count
Answer: b. Serum bilirubin levels
12. A client with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
prescribed ipratropium bromide. Which action should the nurse take before
administering this medication? a. Assess the client's oxygen saturation levels b.
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(SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS) 2023
1. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted to the hospital
with respiratory distress. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize? a. Administering
a bronchodilator medication b. Administering a diuretic medication c. Administering an
antibiotic medication d. Administering oxygen therapy
Answer: d. Administering oxygen therapy
2. A client with a history of coronary artery disease complains of chest pain. The nurse should
assess the client for which signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction? a. Hypertension
and tachycardia b. Bradycardia and hypotension c. Shortness of breath and wheezing d.
Diaphoresis and nausea
Answer: d. Diaphoresis and nausea
3. The nurse is caring for a client with type 2 diabetes who is prescribed insulin glargine. The
nurse should instruct the client to take which action? a. Inject the medication
subcutaneously in the abdomen b. Inject the medication subcutaneously in the thigh c.
Inject the medication intramuscularly in the deltoid d. Inject the medication intravenously
in the arm
Answer: a. Inject the medication subcutaneously in the abdomen
4. A client with a history of stroke is admitted to the hospital with left-sided weakness. Which
nursing intervention is the highest priority? a. Turning the client every 2 hours b.
Encouraging the client to ambulate c. Providing range-of-motion exercises to the affected
limb d. Monitoring the client's neurological status
Answer: d. Monitoring the client's neurological status
5. A client with a history of peptic ulcer disease is prescribed omeprazole. The nurse should
instruct the client to take which action? a. Take the medication on an empty stomach b.
Take the medication with food c. Take the medication with a full glass of water d. Take
the medication with an antacid
Answer: b. Take the medication with food
6. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which electrolyte imbalance
should the nurse monitor for in this client? a. Hyperkalemia b. Hypokalemia c. Hyponatremia
d. Hypernatremia
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, ATI RN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING EXAMS
(SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS) 2023
Answer: b. Hypokalemia
7. A client with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is prescribed nothing by mouth
(NPO) status. Which action should the nurse take to prevent aspiration? a.
Encourage the client to cough and deep breathe frequently b. Place the client in
the Trendelenburg position c. Administer nasogastric suction as ordered d. Provide
frequent oral care
Answer: c. Administer nasogastric suction as ordered
8. The nurse is caring for a client with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which
intervention should the nurse prioritize? a. Administering anticoagulant therapy as
ordered b. Administering analgesic medication as ordered c. Encouraging
ambulation as tolerated d. Applying warm compresses to the affected extremity
Answer: a. Administering anticoagulant therapy as ordered
9. A client with cirrhosis is prescribed lactulose. Which therapeutic outcome should
the nurse expect from this medication? a. Increased serum potassium levels b.
Decreased serum ammonia levels c. Increased serum bilirubin levels d. Decreased
serum albumin levels
Answer: b. Decreased serum ammonia levels
10. A client with hypertension is prescribed amlodipine. Which side effect should the
nurse monitor for in this client? a. Bradycardia b. Hypotension c. Hyperkalemia d.
Peripheral edema
Answer: d. Peripheral edema
11. The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of sepsis. Which laboratory value
should the nurse monitor to assess for organ dysfunction? a. Serum potassium
levels b. Serum bilirubin levels c. Blood glucose levels d. White blood cell count
Answer: b. Serum bilirubin levels
12. A client with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
prescribed ipratropium bromide. Which action should the nurse take before
administering this medication? a. Assess the client's oxygen saturation levels b.
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