ATI Med Surg Review Questions and
Answers(Rated A+)
A nurse is preparing an in-service presentation about the management of myocardial
infarction (MI). Death following MI is often a result of which of the following
complications?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Dysrhythmias
C. Heart failure
D. Pulmonary edema - ANSWER-Correct Answer: B.
Dysrhythmias
According to evidence-based practice, dysrhythmias (specifically ventricular fibrillation)
are the most common cause of death following MI. Therefore, nurses should monitor
clients' ECGs carefully for dysrhythmias and report and treat them immediately
A nurse is preparing to care for a client who is in balanced skeletal traction to stabilize a
femur fracture. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the client's
plan of care?
A. Offering the client a diet high in fluid and fiber
B. Encouraging active range of motion of the affected leg
C. Removing the weights prior to repositioning the client
D. Inspecting pin sites every 24 hr for drainage - ANSWER-Correct Answer: A.
Offering the client a diet high in fluid and fiber
A client who is immobile is at risk of constipation. The nurse should encourage a diet
high in fluid and fiber to promote gastrointestinal function.
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has bleeding
esophageal varices. The nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the following
medications?
A. Famotidine
B. Esomeprazole
C. Vasopressin
D. Omeprazole - ANSWER-Correct Answer: C.
Vasopressin
Vasopressin constricts the splanchnic bed and decreases portal pressure. Vasopressin
also constricts the distal esophageal and proximal gastric veins, which reduces inflow
into the portal system and is used to treat bleeding varices.
A nurse is teaching a client who has iron-deficiency anemia. The nurse should
encourage the client to increase consumption of which of the following foods?
A. Beef liver
,B. Oranges
C. Turnips
D. Whole milk - ANSWER-Correct Answer: A.
Beef liver
The nurse should encourage the client to increase her consumption of iron-rich foods,
including meat, fish, and poultry. A 3 oz serving of beef liver contains 4.17 mg of iron.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postoperative following a below-the-knee
amputation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Place the client on a soft mattress
B. Rewrap the residual limb with a bandage 3 times per day
C. Assist the client into a prone position for 20 min every 8 hr daily
D. Turn the client every 4 hr while in bed - ANSWER-Correct Answer: B.
Rewrap the residual limb with a bandage 3 times per day
The nurse should rewrap the client's residual limb with a pressure bandage 3 times
daily. This keeps the bandage taught, which ensures the residual limb will shrink.
Rewrapping the bandage also allows the nurse to check the skin for redness or skin
breakdown.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who had a pulmonary embolism.
Which of the following statements indicates that the client understands the information?
A. "I'll expect a little leg swelling since I won't be that active for a while."
B. "I'll see the doctor every week to change my vena cava filter."
C. "I'll call the doctor if I see any blood in my urine or stool."
D. "I'll have to take the blood thinner for a few more days." - ANSWER-Correct Answer:
C.
"I'll call the doctor if I see any blood in my urine or stool."
Bleeding precautions are essential for clients who had a pulmonary embolism because
they take an anticoagulant. They should report any signs of bleeding immediately.
A nurse is assessing a client who has an exacerbation of herpes zoster. Which of the
following manifestations of the client's skin should the nurse expect?
A. Confluent, honey-colored, crusted lesions
B. A large, tender nodule located on a hair follicle
C. Unilateral, localized, nodular skin lesions
D. A fluid-filled vesicular rash in the genital region - ANSWER-Correct Answer: C.
Unilateral, localized, nodular skin lesions
Herpes zoster, or shingles, results from the reactivation of a dormant varicella virus. It is
the acute, unilateral inflammation of the dorsal root ganglion. The infection typically
develops in adults and produces localized vesicular lesions confined to a dermatome. It
produces localized, nodular skin lesions.
, A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client with colorectal cancer who is
scheduled to undergo colostomy placement with a perineal wound. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "Not having any more rectal pain will be a relief."
B. "I will need to sit on a rubber donut when I am in the chair."
C. "I can have only liquids for 2 days before the surgery."
D. "The colostomy will start working about 7 days after the surgery." - ANSWER-Correct
Answer: C.
"I can have only liquids for 2 days before the surgery."
The client should consume a full or clear liquid diet for 24 to 48 hours before the surgery
to decrease bulk. The client should consume a low-residue diet for several days prior to
surgery to decrease peristalsis.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new permanent
pacemaker. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding
of the teaching?
A. "I should check my heart rate at the same time each day."
B. "I don't have to take my antihypertensive medications now that I have a pacemaker."
C. "I should keep a pressure dressing over the generator until the incision is healed."
D. "I cannot stand in front of our new microwave oven when it is on." - ANSWER-
Correct Answer: A.
"I should check my heart rate at the same time each day."
The nurse should instruct the client to check the heart rate at the same time each day
and to document the rate in a log for reporting to the provider.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory findings of a client who has chronic kidney disease.
The client reports significant persistent nausea and muscle weakness. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypomagnesemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyperkalemia - ANSWER-Correct Answer: D.
Hyperkalemia
A client who has chronic kidney disease can have hyperkalemia, which is a potassium
level greater than 5.0 mEq/L. The expected reference range for potassium is 3.5 to 5.0
mEq/L. Other manifestations of hyperkalemia can include palpitations, dysrhythmias,
nausea, and muscle weakness.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has aplastic anemia. Which of
the following statements indicates that the client understands the instructions?
A. "I need to stay active to prevent blood clots in my legs."
B. "If I have a bad headache, I can take aspirin to get rid of it."
C. "I should eliminate uncooked foods from my diet for now."
Answers(Rated A+)
A nurse is preparing an in-service presentation about the management of myocardial
infarction (MI). Death following MI is often a result of which of the following
complications?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Dysrhythmias
C. Heart failure
D. Pulmonary edema - ANSWER-Correct Answer: B.
Dysrhythmias
According to evidence-based practice, dysrhythmias (specifically ventricular fibrillation)
are the most common cause of death following MI. Therefore, nurses should monitor
clients' ECGs carefully for dysrhythmias and report and treat them immediately
A nurse is preparing to care for a client who is in balanced skeletal traction to stabilize a
femur fracture. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the client's
plan of care?
A. Offering the client a diet high in fluid and fiber
B. Encouraging active range of motion of the affected leg
C. Removing the weights prior to repositioning the client
D. Inspecting pin sites every 24 hr for drainage - ANSWER-Correct Answer: A.
Offering the client a diet high in fluid and fiber
A client who is immobile is at risk of constipation. The nurse should encourage a diet
high in fluid and fiber to promote gastrointestinal function.
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has bleeding
esophageal varices. The nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the following
medications?
A. Famotidine
B. Esomeprazole
C. Vasopressin
D. Omeprazole - ANSWER-Correct Answer: C.
Vasopressin
Vasopressin constricts the splanchnic bed and decreases portal pressure. Vasopressin
also constricts the distal esophageal and proximal gastric veins, which reduces inflow
into the portal system and is used to treat bleeding varices.
A nurse is teaching a client who has iron-deficiency anemia. The nurse should
encourage the client to increase consumption of which of the following foods?
A. Beef liver
,B. Oranges
C. Turnips
D. Whole milk - ANSWER-Correct Answer: A.
Beef liver
The nurse should encourage the client to increase her consumption of iron-rich foods,
including meat, fish, and poultry. A 3 oz serving of beef liver contains 4.17 mg of iron.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postoperative following a below-the-knee
amputation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Place the client on a soft mattress
B. Rewrap the residual limb with a bandage 3 times per day
C. Assist the client into a prone position for 20 min every 8 hr daily
D. Turn the client every 4 hr while in bed - ANSWER-Correct Answer: B.
Rewrap the residual limb with a bandage 3 times per day
The nurse should rewrap the client's residual limb with a pressure bandage 3 times
daily. This keeps the bandage taught, which ensures the residual limb will shrink.
Rewrapping the bandage also allows the nurse to check the skin for redness or skin
breakdown.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who had a pulmonary embolism.
Which of the following statements indicates that the client understands the information?
A. "I'll expect a little leg swelling since I won't be that active for a while."
B. "I'll see the doctor every week to change my vena cava filter."
C. "I'll call the doctor if I see any blood in my urine or stool."
D. "I'll have to take the blood thinner for a few more days." - ANSWER-Correct Answer:
C.
"I'll call the doctor if I see any blood in my urine or stool."
Bleeding precautions are essential for clients who had a pulmonary embolism because
they take an anticoagulant. They should report any signs of bleeding immediately.
A nurse is assessing a client who has an exacerbation of herpes zoster. Which of the
following manifestations of the client's skin should the nurse expect?
A. Confluent, honey-colored, crusted lesions
B. A large, tender nodule located on a hair follicle
C. Unilateral, localized, nodular skin lesions
D. A fluid-filled vesicular rash in the genital region - ANSWER-Correct Answer: C.
Unilateral, localized, nodular skin lesions
Herpes zoster, or shingles, results from the reactivation of a dormant varicella virus. It is
the acute, unilateral inflammation of the dorsal root ganglion. The infection typically
develops in adults and produces localized vesicular lesions confined to a dermatome. It
produces localized, nodular skin lesions.
, A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client with colorectal cancer who is
scheduled to undergo colostomy placement with a perineal wound. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "Not having any more rectal pain will be a relief."
B. "I will need to sit on a rubber donut when I am in the chair."
C. "I can have only liquids for 2 days before the surgery."
D. "The colostomy will start working about 7 days after the surgery." - ANSWER-Correct
Answer: C.
"I can have only liquids for 2 days before the surgery."
The client should consume a full or clear liquid diet for 24 to 48 hours before the surgery
to decrease bulk. The client should consume a low-residue diet for several days prior to
surgery to decrease peristalsis.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new permanent
pacemaker. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding
of the teaching?
A. "I should check my heart rate at the same time each day."
B. "I don't have to take my antihypertensive medications now that I have a pacemaker."
C. "I should keep a pressure dressing over the generator until the incision is healed."
D. "I cannot stand in front of our new microwave oven when it is on." - ANSWER-
Correct Answer: A.
"I should check my heart rate at the same time each day."
The nurse should instruct the client to check the heart rate at the same time each day
and to document the rate in a log for reporting to the provider.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory findings of a client who has chronic kidney disease.
The client reports significant persistent nausea and muscle weakness. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypomagnesemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyperkalemia - ANSWER-Correct Answer: D.
Hyperkalemia
A client who has chronic kidney disease can have hyperkalemia, which is a potassium
level greater than 5.0 mEq/L. The expected reference range for potassium is 3.5 to 5.0
mEq/L. Other manifestations of hyperkalemia can include palpitations, dysrhythmias,
nausea, and muscle weakness.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has aplastic anemia. Which of
the following statements indicates that the client understands the instructions?
A. "I need to stay active to prevent blood clots in my legs."
B. "If I have a bad headache, I can take aspirin to get rid of it."
C. "I should eliminate uncooked foods from my diet for now."
