PN ATI ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL ACTUAL EXAM –
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
Question 1 of 90:
A nurse is assisting with the plan of care for an older adult client who has a new prescription for
transdermal clonidine. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the plan
of care?
- A) Inform the client of the adverse effect of diarrhea.
- B) Monitor the client for weight loss.
- C) Advise the client about increased dry mouth.
- D) Check the client for increased hypopigmentation under the patch.
Answer: C) Advise the client about increased dry mouth.
Rationale: Dry mouth is a common side effect of clonidine, and the nurse should inform the
client of this.
Question 2 of 90:
A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client who has a new prescription for
furosemide. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
- A) "You should increase your intake of potassium-rich foods."
- B) "Avoid foods high in magnesium."
- C) "Take this medication on an empty stomach."
- D) "You should reduce your fluid intake while on this medication."
Answer: A) "You should increase your intake of potassium-rich foods."
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can lead to potassium loss, so clients should
increase their intake of potassium-rich foods.
Question 3 of 90:
A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is receiving digoxin for heart failure. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
,- A) "Take your pulse before taking this medication."
- B) "Increase your intake of salt."
- C) "Take the medication with food to reduce nausea."
- D) "You can skip the medication if you feel fine."
Answer: A) "Take your pulse before taking this medication."
Rationale: Clients taking digoxin should check their pulse and withhold the medication if their
pulse is less than 60 beats per minute.
Question 4 of 90:
A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes mellitus and a new prescription for insulin
glargine. Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide?
- A) "Administer this medication 30 minutes before meals."
- B) "Shake the vial before drawing up the insulin."
- C) "This insulin has no peak time."
- D) "Mix this insulin with your regular insulin."
Answer: C) "This insulin has no peak time."
Rationale: Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin that does not have a peak and provides steady
insulin levels.
Question 5 of 90:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for metoprolol. Which of
the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
- A) "Check your blood pressure daily."
- B) "This medication will help prevent blood clots."
- C) "Avoid taking this medication with meals."
- D) "You should stop taking this medication if you feel dizzy."
Answer: A) "Check your blood pressure daily."
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker used to manage hypertension, and clients should monitor
their blood pressure regularly.
,Question 6 of 90:
A nurse is assisting in the plan of care for a client who has hypothyroidism and is starting
levothyroxine. Which of the following should the nurse include?
- A) "You may experience insomnia while on this medication."
- B) "Take this medication with food."
- C) "You can expect your heart rate to decrease."
- D) "This medication can cause weight gain."
Answer: A) "You may experience insomnia while on this medication."
Rationale: Levothyroxine can increase metabolism, which may cause symptoms like insomnia
and nervousness.
Question 7 of 90:
A nurse is assisting with the discharge teaching of a client who has been prescribed warfarin.
Which of the following information should the nurse include?
- A) "You should eat a consistent amount of foods high in vitamin K."
- B) "Take aspirin to reduce headaches."
- C) "You will not need frequent blood tests."
- D) "You can stop taking this medication once your blood pressure stabilizes."
Answer: A) "You should eat a consistent amount of foods high in vitamin K."
Rationale: Vitamin K can affect the action of warfarin, so the client should maintain a consistent
intake of vitamin K.
Question 8 of 90:
A nurse is caring for a client with hypertension who is starting on lisinopril. Which of the
following side effects should the nurse instruct the client to report immediately?
- A) Persistent cough
- B) Frequent headaches
- C) Dizziness
- D) Swelling of the lips or face
Answer: D) Swelling of the lips or face
, Rationale: Swelling of the lips or face could indicate angioedema, a serious side effect of ACE
inhibitors like lisinopril.
Question 9 of 90:
A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed nitroglycerin sublingual tablets for angina.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide?
- A) "Take this medication every morning to prevent chest pain."
- B) "Take the tablet with a glass of water."
- C) "If chest pain persists after the first tablet, call emergency services."
- D) "Store the tablets in a clear plastic container."
Answer: C) "If chest pain persists after the first tablet, call emergency services."
Rationale: If chest pain continues after taking nitroglycerin, the client may be having a heart
attack and should seek emergency help.
Question 10 of 90:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for prednisone. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include?
- A) "Take this medication with food."
- B) "Discontinue this medication if you gain weight."
- C) "Limit your intake of dairy products."
- D) "You can stop this medication abruptly if you feel better."
Answer: A) "Take this medication with food."
Rationale: Prednisone can cause gastric irritation, and taking it with food helps reduce this side
effect.
Question 11 of 90:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for atorvastatin. Which of the
following information should the nurse include?
- A) "Notify your provider if you experience muscle pain."
- B) "Increase your intake of grapefruit juice."
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
Question 1 of 90:
A nurse is assisting with the plan of care for an older adult client who has a new prescription for
transdermal clonidine. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the plan
of care?
- A) Inform the client of the adverse effect of diarrhea.
- B) Monitor the client for weight loss.
- C) Advise the client about increased dry mouth.
- D) Check the client for increased hypopigmentation under the patch.
Answer: C) Advise the client about increased dry mouth.
Rationale: Dry mouth is a common side effect of clonidine, and the nurse should inform the
client of this.
Question 2 of 90:
A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client who has a new prescription for
furosemide. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
- A) "You should increase your intake of potassium-rich foods."
- B) "Avoid foods high in magnesium."
- C) "Take this medication on an empty stomach."
- D) "You should reduce your fluid intake while on this medication."
Answer: A) "You should increase your intake of potassium-rich foods."
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can lead to potassium loss, so clients should
increase their intake of potassium-rich foods.
Question 3 of 90:
A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is receiving digoxin for heart failure. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
,- A) "Take your pulse before taking this medication."
- B) "Increase your intake of salt."
- C) "Take the medication with food to reduce nausea."
- D) "You can skip the medication if you feel fine."
Answer: A) "Take your pulse before taking this medication."
Rationale: Clients taking digoxin should check their pulse and withhold the medication if their
pulse is less than 60 beats per minute.
Question 4 of 90:
A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes mellitus and a new prescription for insulin
glargine. Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide?
- A) "Administer this medication 30 minutes before meals."
- B) "Shake the vial before drawing up the insulin."
- C) "This insulin has no peak time."
- D) "Mix this insulin with your regular insulin."
Answer: C) "This insulin has no peak time."
Rationale: Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin that does not have a peak and provides steady
insulin levels.
Question 5 of 90:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for metoprolol. Which of
the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
- A) "Check your blood pressure daily."
- B) "This medication will help prevent blood clots."
- C) "Avoid taking this medication with meals."
- D) "You should stop taking this medication if you feel dizzy."
Answer: A) "Check your blood pressure daily."
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker used to manage hypertension, and clients should monitor
their blood pressure regularly.
,Question 6 of 90:
A nurse is assisting in the plan of care for a client who has hypothyroidism and is starting
levothyroxine. Which of the following should the nurse include?
- A) "You may experience insomnia while on this medication."
- B) "Take this medication with food."
- C) "You can expect your heart rate to decrease."
- D) "This medication can cause weight gain."
Answer: A) "You may experience insomnia while on this medication."
Rationale: Levothyroxine can increase metabolism, which may cause symptoms like insomnia
and nervousness.
Question 7 of 90:
A nurse is assisting with the discharge teaching of a client who has been prescribed warfarin.
Which of the following information should the nurse include?
- A) "You should eat a consistent amount of foods high in vitamin K."
- B) "Take aspirin to reduce headaches."
- C) "You will not need frequent blood tests."
- D) "You can stop taking this medication once your blood pressure stabilizes."
Answer: A) "You should eat a consistent amount of foods high in vitamin K."
Rationale: Vitamin K can affect the action of warfarin, so the client should maintain a consistent
intake of vitamin K.
Question 8 of 90:
A nurse is caring for a client with hypertension who is starting on lisinopril. Which of the
following side effects should the nurse instruct the client to report immediately?
- A) Persistent cough
- B) Frequent headaches
- C) Dizziness
- D) Swelling of the lips or face
Answer: D) Swelling of the lips or face
, Rationale: Swelling of the lips or face could indicate angioedema, a serious side effect of ACE
inhibitors like lisinopril.
Question 9 of 90:
A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed nitroglycerin sublingual tablets for angina.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide?
- A) "Take this medication every morning to prevent chest pain."
- B) "Take the tablet with a glass of water."
- C) "If chest pain persists after the first tablet, call emergency services."
- D) "Store the tablets in a clear plastic container."
Answer: C) "If chest pain persists after the first tablet, call emergency services."
Rationale: If chest pain continues after taking nitroglycerin, the client may be having a heart
attack and should seek emergency help.
Question 10 of 90:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for prednisone. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include?
- A) "Take this medication with food."
- B) "Discontinue this medication if you gain weight."
- C) "Limit your intake of dairy products."
- D) "You can stop this medication abruptly if you feel better."
Answer: A) "Take this medication with food."
Rationale: Prednisone can cause gastric irritation, and taking it with food helps reduce this side
effect.
Question 11 of 90:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for atorvastatin. Which of the
following information should the nurse include?
- A) "Notify your provider if you experience muscle pain."
- B) "Increase your intake of grapefruit juice."
