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Adult Medical Surgical Nursing Assessment
(2026/ 2027 Update) | Q/A | Grade A|
(Verified Answers) - RN VATI Review
Subject: Adult Medical Surgical Nursing Assessment
Source: RN VATI Review Document
Format: Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has atopic dermatitis and a
prescription for triamcinolone ointment. The nurse should assess the
client to monitor for which of the following adverse effects?
Answer: Thinning of the skin.
Rationale: Topical glucocorticoids like triamcinolone can cause skin
atrophy, hypopigmentation, and hypertrichosis. Thinning of the skin is a
common adverse effect.
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2. A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure.
Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a
manifestation of left-sided heart failure?
Answer: Frothy sputum.
Rationale: Pink-tinged frothy sputum indicates pulmonary edema, a key
manifestation of left-sided heart failure due to fluid backing up into the
lungs.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anxiety as well
as numbness and tingling of the lips and fingers. The client's ABGs are:
pH 7.48, PCO2 30 mm Hg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L, PaO2 85 mm Hg. Which of
the following acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the
client is experiencing?
Answer: Respiratory alkalosis.
Rationale: Elevated pH and decreased PCO2 indicate alveolar
hyperventilation, leading to respiratory alkalosis, often associated with
anxiety.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing's syndrome.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Answer: Osteoporosis.
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Rationale: Cushing's syndrome causes increased cortisol, leading to bone
mineral loss and thinning, resulting in osteoporosis.
5. A nurse is inspecting the skin of a client who has basal cell
carcinoma. The nurse should identify which of the following lesion
characteristics on the client's skin?
Answer: A pearly, waxy nodule.
Rationale: Basal cell carcinoma typically presents as a nodular lesion with
well-defined borders and a pearly or waxy appearance, often due to sun
exposure.
6. A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who
is overusing prescribed diuretics and has a sodium level of 127
mEq/L. Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse
expect?
Answer: Low urine specific gravity.
Rationale: Hyponatremia from diuretic overuse leads to increased water
excretion, diluting urine and lowering specific gravity.
7. A home health nurse is assisting a client with planning care for
a family member who has Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following
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instructions should the nurse include?
Answer: Remove clutter from rooms and hallways.
Rationale: Reducing clutter minimizes fall risks and environmental
hazards for clients with Alzheimer's, especially as mobility and seizure
risks increase.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has developed acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as a manifestation of this syndrome?
Answer: Refractory hypoxemia.
Rationale: ARDS is characterized by hypoxemia that does not improve with
oxygen therapy, along with extensive pulmonary edema.
9. An emergency room nurse is assessing a client who has asthma
and difficulty breathing. Which of the following findings should
indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing status
asthmaticus?
Answer: Use of accessory muscles.
Rationale: Status asthmaticus involves severe airflow obstruction, leading
to labored breathing and use of accessory muscles to facilitate respiration.
Adult Medical Surgical Nursing Assessment
(2026/ 2027 Update) | Q/A | Grade A|
(Verified Answers) - RN VATI Review
Subject: Adult Medical Surgical Nursing Assessment
Source: RN VATI Review Document
Format: Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has atopic dermatitis and a
prescription for triamcinolone ointment. The nurse should assess the
client to monitor for which of the following adverse effects?
Answer: Thinning of the skin.
Rationale: Topical glucocorticoids like triamcinolone can cause skin
atrophy, hypopigmentation, and hypertrichosis. Thinning of the skin is a
common adverse effect.
, 2|Page
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided heart failure.
Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a
manifestation of left-sided heart failure?
Answer: Frothy sputum.
Rationale: Pink-tinged frothy sputum indicates pulmonary edema, a key
manifestation of left-sided heart failure due to fluid backing up into the
lungs.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anxiety as well
as numbness and tingling of the lips and fingers. The client's ABGs are:
pH 7.48, PCO2 30 mm Hg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L, PaO2 85 mm Hg. Which of
the following acid-base imbalances should the nurse identify that the
client is experiencing?
Answer: Respiratory alkalosis.
Rationale: Elevated pH and decreased PCO2 indicate alveolar
hyperventilation, leading to respiratory alkalosis, often associated with
anxiety.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing's syndrome.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Answer: Osteoporosis.
, 3|Page
Rationale: Cushing's syndrome causes increased cortisol, leading to bone
mineral loss and thinning, resulting in osteoporosis.
5. A nurse is inspecting the skin of a client who has basal cell
carcinoma. The nurse should identify which of the following lesion
characteristics on the client's skin?
Answer: A pearly, waxy nodule.
Rationale: Basal cell carcinoma typically presents as a nodular lesion with
well-defined borders and a pearly or waxy appearance, often due to sun
exposure.
6. A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who
is overusing prescribed diuretics and has a sodium level of 127
mEq/L. Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse
expect?
Answer: Low urine specific gravity.
Rationale: Hyponatremia from diuretic overuse leads to increased water
excretion, diluting urine and lowering specific gravity.
7. A home health nurse is assisting a client with planning care for
a family member who has Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following
, 4|Page
instructions should the nurse include?
Answer: Remove clutter from rooms and hallways.
Rationale: Reducing clutter minimizes fall risks and environmental
hazards for clients with Alzheimer's, especially as mobility and seizure
risks increase.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has developed acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as a manifestation of this syndrome?
Answer: Refractory hypoxemia.
Rationale: ARDS is characterized by hypoxemia that does not improve with
oxygen therapy, along with extensive pulmonary edema.
9. An emergency room nurse is assessing a client who has asthma
and difficulty breathing. Which of the following findings should
indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing status
asthmaticus?
Answer: Use of accessory muscles.
Rationale: Status asthmaticus involves severe airflow obstruction, leading
to labored breathing and use of accessory muscles to facilitate respiration.
