Page 1 of 49
med-surg ATI EXAM 1 GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025-2026 VERIFIED
A nurse is preparing to insert an IV catheter into a client's arm prior to
initiating IV fluid therapy. Which of the following interventions should the
nurse implement to prevent infection?
Apply transparent dressing over the IV insertion site and securement device.
Shave excess hair from around the IV insertion site.
Cleanse the site with hydrogen peroxide before IV catheter insertion.
Palpate the site carefully just before inserting the IV catheter.
Correct Answer:
Apply transparent dressing over the IV insertion site and securement device.
Transparent dressing prevents infection by protecting the IV site.
Incorrect Answer:
Shave excess hair from around the IV insertion site.
Shaving can increase the risk for microabrasions and infection.
Cleanse the site with hydrogen peroxide before IV catheter insertion.
The nurse should use chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine, per facility protocol, as the
cleansing agent for IV catheter insertion.
Palpate the site carefully just before inserting the IV catheter.
Unless nurses use sterile technique, they should not palpate the site after cleansing,
because this can introduce micro-organisms and lead to infection.
A nurse is teaching a client and their family how to care for the client's
tracheostomy at home. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include in the teaching?
Remove the outer cannula cautiously for routine cleaning.
Use tracheostomy covers when outdoors.
, Page 2 of 49
Use sterile technique when performing tracheostomy care at home.
Cleanse irritated skin with full-strength hydrogen peroxide.
Correct Answer:
Use tracheostomy covers when outdoors.
Tracheostomy covers protect the client's airway from cold air, dust, and other
airborne particles.
Incorrect Answer:
Remove the outer cannula cautiously for routine cleaning.
The outer cannula stabilizes the airway; therefore, the client should never remove it
for cleaning.
Use sterile technique when performing tracheostomy care at home.
In the home environment, medical asepsis with clean technique is appropriate.
Cleanse irritated skin with full-strength hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin; therefore, the nurse should instruct the client
and family to use 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation to cleanse the site and prevent
further irritation.
A nurse is caring for a client who has terminal liver cancer. Which of the
following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the client
is experiencing spiritual distress?
"What could I have done to deserve this illness?"
"I blame medical science for not curing me."
"Where is my daughter at a time like this?"
"Will I ever begin to feel in charge of my life again?"
Correct Answer:
"What could I have done to deserve this illness?"
The client's terminal illness might prompt the client to review their life and question
its meaning. A manifestation of the client's spiritual distress is asking why this illness
is happening to them.
Incorrect Answer:
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"I blame medical science for not curing me."
The basis of medicine is science, not spirituality. This statement does not reflect the
client's conflict with spiritual beliefs.
"Where is my daughter at a time like this?"
This statement reflects conflict in family relationships, not with the client's spiritual
beliefs.
"Will I ever begin to feel in charge of my life again?"
This statement reflects the client's feelings of powerlessness but does not indicate a
conflict of a spiritual nature.
A nurse is performing a skin assessment for a client who expresses concern
about skin cancer. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as
a potential indication of a skin malignancy?
A lesion with uniform pigmentation
New appearance of petechiae
A mole with an asymmetrical appearance
The presence of a papule
Correct Answer:
A mole with an asymmetrical appearance
An uneven or asymmetrical shape is a potential indication of a skin malignancy. This
is manifested when part of a lesion or mole looks different from the other part.
Incorrect Answer:
A lesion with uniform pigmentation
Variations in pigmentation are a possible indication of a skin malignancy. A lesion
with uniform pigmentation is not an expected indication of a skin malignancy.
New appearance of petechiae
Petechiae are capillaries that have burst under the skin and appear as small spots
on the skin. Although they can be indications of other conditions, petechiae are not
an expected indication of a skin malignancy.
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The presence of a papule
Papules are solid elevations that are palpable in the skin and are less than 1 cm
(0.39 in) in size. They are not an expected indication of a skin malignancy.
A nurse is planning teaching for a client who has a new diagnosis of type 1
diabetes mellitus about insulin self-administration. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
Encourage the client to include a support person in the teaching.
Schedule a series of teaching sessions.
Provide written directions for the client to use.
Determine the client's learning style.
Correct Answer:
Determine the client's learning style.
Using the nursing process, the first action the nurse should take is to assess the
client's learning style.
Incorrect Answer:
Encourage the client to include a support person in the teaching.
The nurse should encourage the client to include a support person in the teaching to
provide support. However, this is not the first action the nurse should take.
Schedule a series of teaching sessions.
The nurse should schedule a series of teaching sessions to reinforce learning.
However, this is not the first action the nurse should take.
Provide written directions for the client to use.
The nurse should provide written directions for future reference. However, this is not
the first action the nurse should take.
A nurse in a medical-surgical unit is caring for six clients.
Complete the following sentence by using the list of options.
The first client the nurse should assess is _____ followed by _____.
med-surg ATI EXAM 1 GRADED A+ QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025-2026 VERIFIED
A nurse is preparing to insert an IV catheter into a client's arm prior to
initiating IV fluid therapy. Which of the following interventions should the
nurse implement to prevent infection?
Apply transparent dressing over the IV insertion site and securement device.
Shave excess hair from around the IV insertion site.
Cleanse the site with hydrogen peroxide before IV catheter insertion.
Palpate the site carefully just before inserting the IV catheter.
Correct Answer:
Apply transparent dressing over the IV insertion site and securement device.
Transparent dressing prevents infection by protecting the IV site.
Incorrect Answer:
Shave excess hair from around the IV insertion site.
Shaving can increase the risk for microabrasions and infection.
Cleanse the site with hydrogen peroxide before IV catheter insertion.
The nurse should use chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine, per facility protocol, as the
cleansing agent for IV catheter insertion.
Palpate the site carefully just before inserting the IV catheter.
Unless nurses use sterile technique, they should not palpate the site after cleansing,
because this can introduce micro-organisms and lead to infection.
A nurse is teaching a client and their family how to care for the client's
tracheostomy at home. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include in the teaching?
Remove the outer cannula cautiously for routine cleaning.
Use tracheostomy covers when outdoors.
, Page 2 of 49
Use sterile technique when performing tracheostomy care at home.
Cleanse irritated skin with full-strength hydrogen peroxide.
Correct Answer:
Use tracheostomy covers when outdoors.
Tracheostomy covers protect the client's airway from cold air, dust, and other
airborne particles.
Incorrect Answer:
Remove the outer cannula cautiously for routine cleaning.
The outer cannula stabilizes the airway; therefore, the client should never remove it
for cleaning.
Use sterile technique when performing tracheostomy care at home.
In the home environment, medical asepsis with clean technique is appropriate.
Cleanse irritated skin with full-strength hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin; therefore, the nurse should instruct the client
and family to use 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation to cleanse the site and prevent
further irritation.
A nurse is caring for a client who has terminal liver cancer. Which of the
following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the client
is experiencing spiritual distress?
"What could I have done to deserve this illness?"
"I blame medical science for not curing me."
"Where is my daughter at a time like this?"
"Will I ever begin to feel in charge of my life again?"
Correct Answer:
"What could I have done to deserve this illness?"
The client's terminal illness might prompt the client to review their life and question
its meaning. A manifestation of the client's spiritual distress is asking why this illness
is happening to them.
Incorrect Answer:
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"I blame medical science for not curing me."
The basis of medicine is science, not spirituality. This statement does not reflect the
client's conflict with spiritual beliefs.
"Where is my daughter at a time like this?"
This statement reflects conflict in family relationships, not with the client's spiritual
beliefs.
"Will I ever begin to feel in charge of my life again?"
This statement reflects the client's feelings of powerlessness but does not indicate a
conflict of a spiritual nature.
A nurse is performing a skin assessment for a client who expresses concern
about skin cancer. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as
a potential indication of a skin malignancy?
A lesion with uniform pigmentation
New appearance of petechiae
A mole with an asymmetrical appearance
The presence of a papule
Correct Answer:
A mole with an asymmetrical appearance
An uneven or asymmetrical shape is a potential indication of a skin malignancy. This
is manifested when part of a lesion or mole looks different from the other part.
Incorrect Answer:
A lesion with uniform pigmentation
Variations in pigmentation are a possible indication of a skin malignancy. A lesion
with uniform pigmentation is not an expected indication of a skin malignancy.
New appearance of petechiae
Petechiae are capillaries that have burst under the skin and appear as small spots
on the skin. Although they can be indications of other conditions, petechiae are not
an expected indication of a skin malignancy.
, Page 4 of 49
The presence of a papule
Papules are solid elevations that are palpable in the skin and are less than 1 cm
(0.39 in) in size. They are not an expected indication of a skin malignancy.
A nurse is planning teaching for a client who has a new diagnosis of type 1
diabetes mellitus about insulin self-administration. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
Encourage the client to include a support person in the teaching.
Schedule a series of teaching sessions.
Provide written directions for the client to use.
Determine the client's learning style.
Correct Answer:
Determine the client's learning style.
Using the nursing process, the first action the nurse should take is to assess the
client's learning style.
Incorrect Answer:
Encourage the client to include a support person in the teaching.
The nurse should encourage the client to include a support person in the teaching to
provide support. However, this is not the first action the nurse should take.
Schedule a series of teaching sessions.
The nurse should schedule a series of teaching sessions to reinforce learning.
However, this is not the first action the nurse should take.
Provide written directions for the client to use.
The nurse should provide written directions for future reference. However, this is not
the first action the nurse should take.
A nurse in a medical-surgical unit is caring for six clients.
Complete the following sentence by using the list of options.
The first client the nurse should assess is _____ followed by _____.
