ATI MED SURG Actual Exam 3 (2025) comprehensive questions and verified answers (
detailed & elaborated) 2025-2026 TEST
ATI Med Surg
A nurse is caring for client who is experiencing supraventricular tachycardia.
Upon assessing the client, the nurse observes the following findings: heart
rate 200/min, blood pressure 78/40 mm Hg, and respiratory rate 30/min. Which
of the following actions should then nurse take?
a. Defibrillate the client's heart.
b. Perform synchronized cardioversion.
c. Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
d. Administer lidocaine IV bolus.
b. Perform synchronized cardioversion.
The nurse should perform synchronized cardioversion for a client who has
supraventricular tachycardia.
What rhythms are shockable? (defibrillation)
ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycarida
What dysrhythmia are amiodarone and lidocaine indicated for?
ventricular arrhythmias
The nurse should initiate CPR for a client who what?
is pulseless or not breathing
A nurse is preparing a client who has supraventricular tachycardia for elective
cardioversion. Which of the following medications should the nurse instruct
the client to withhold for 48 hr prior to cardioversion?
A. Enoxaparin
B. Metformin
C. Diazepam
D. Digoxin
D. digoxin
Cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin, are withheld prior to cardioversion. These
medications can increase ventricular irritability and put the client at risk for ventricular
fibrillation after the synchronized countershock of cardioversion
,_______ are usually given prior to cardioversion to reduce anxiety and
minimize discomfort with the procedure.
Sedatives like diazepam
Metformin is held before what kind of procedures? Example? Why?
Ones that involve contrast dye like cardiac catheterization, in order to prevent kidney
damage.
__________ prevent blood clots that can be released into the circulatory
system after cardioversion.
Anticoagulants like enoxaparin
What kind of drugs are withheld prior to cardioversion?
cardiac glycosides like digoxin
exopthalmosis
condition produced by hyperthyroidism in which the eyeballs protrude beyond their
normal protective orbit because of swelling in the tissues behind them
entropion
the inversion of the edge of an eyelid
ectropion
the eversion of the edge of an eyelid
ptosis
drooping
A nurse is caring for a client who has emphysema and is receiving mechanical
ventilation. The client appears anxious and restless, and the high-pressure
alarm is sounding. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain ABGs.
B. Administer propofol to the client.
C. Instruct the client to allow the machine to breathe for them.
D. Disconnect the machine and manually ventilate the client.
C. Instruct the client to allow the machine to breathe for them. When providing client
care, the nurse should first use the least restrictive intervention. Therefore, the first
action the nurse should take is to provide verbal instructions and emotional support
to help the client relax and allow the ventilator to work. Clients can exhibit anxiety
and restlessness when trying to "fight the ventilator."
A nurse is caring for a client who has a potassium level of 3. Which of the
following assessment findings should the nurse expect?
,A. Positive Trousseau's sign
B. 4+ deep tendon reflexes
C. Deep respirations
D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
Deep tendon reflexes are used to monitor what electrolyte level?
magnesium
What kind of respirations occur with hypokalemia and why?
shallow respirations due to respiratory muscle weakness
Trosseau's sign evaluates for what electrolyte imbalances?
hypocalcelmia and hypomagnesemia
What is hypokalemia's effect on the GI system?
It decreases smooth muscle contraction leading to decreased peristalsis and
hypoactive bowel sounds.
Deep tendon reflexes in hypomagnesemia
increased e.g. 4+
Deep tendon reflexes in hypermagnesemia
decreased e.g. absent or 1+
What should be done if you are performing a cardiac assessment on a client
and you hear a murmur?
Listen with the client on their left side so it can be heard more clearly
A nurse is conducting an admission history for a client who is to undergo a CT
scan with an IV contrast agent. The nurse should identify that which of the
following findings requires further assessment?
A. History of asthma
B. Appendectomy 1 year ago
C. Penicillin allergy
D. Total knee arthroplasty 6 months ago
A. History of asthma
A client who has a history of asthma has a greater risk of reacting to the contrast dye
used during the procedure. Other conditions that can result in a reaction to contrast
media include allergies to foods, such as shellfish, eggs, milk, and chocolate.
, What are conditions that may cause a reaction to contrast media? Patients
with these conditions require further screening before a procedure with IV
contrast.
history of asthma and allergies to shellfish, eggs, milk, and chocolate
What drugs would warrant further screening for increased risk of renal
damage in someone getting a procedure with IV contrast?
aminoglycosides, NSAIDs, metformin
Patients with what conditions have an increased risk for renal damage from a
procedure with IV contrast?
history of diabetes mellitus, renal impairment, or heart failure
A nurse is an ED is reviewing the provider's prescriptions for a client who
sustained a rattlesnake bite to the lower leg. Which of the following
prescriptions should the nurse expect?
A. Apply ice to the clients puncture wounds
B. Initiate corticosteroid therapy for the client
C. Keep the client's leg above heart level
D. Administer an opioid analgesic to the client
D. Administer an opioid analgesic to the client
Expect an opioid analgesic to promote comfort in someone with a rattlesnake bite.
What critter should you apply ice to the bite of and why?
a black widow spider bite in order to reduce the action of the neurotoxin
If a patient gets bitten by a snack, what level should the extremity be
maintained at?
at the level of the heart, not above or below it
What should the nurse plan to administer for a bee or wasp sting?
corticosteroids and antihistamines
A nurse is caring for a client who is 12 hr post op following a total hip
arthroplasty. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Maintain adduction of the client's legs.
b. Encourage range of motion of the hip up to a 120° angle.
c. Place a pillow between the client's legs.
d. Keep the client's hip internally rotated.
c. Place a pillow between the client's legs
detailed & elaborated) 2025-2026 TEST
ATI Med Surg
A nurse is caring for client who is experiencing supraventricular tachycardia.
Upon assessing the client, the nurse observes the following findings: heart
rate 200/min, blood pressure 78/40 mm Hg, and respiratory rate 30/min. Which
of the following actions should then nurse take?
a. Defibrillate the client's heart.
b. Perform synchronized cardioversion.
c. Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
d. Administer lidocaine IV bolus.
b. Perform synchronized cardioversion.
The nurse should perform synchronized cardioversion for a client who has
supraventricular tachycardia.
What rhythms are shockable? (defibrillation)
ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycarida
What dysrhythmia are amiodarone and lidocaine indicated for?
ventricular arrhythmias
The nurse should initiate CPR for a client who what?
is pulseless or not breathing
A nurse is preparing a client who has supraventricular tachycardia for elective
cardioversion. Which of the following medications should the nurse instruct
the client to withhold for 48 hr prior to cardioversion?
A. Enoxaparin
B. Metformin
C. Diazepam
D. Digoxin
D. digoxin
Cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin, are withheld prior to cardioversion. These
medications can increase ventricular irritability and put the client at risk for ventricular
fibrillation after the synchronized countershock of cardioversion
,_______ are usually given prior to cardioversion to reduce anxiety and
minimize discomfort with the procedure.
Sedatives like diazepam
Metformin is held before what kind of procedures? Example? Why?
Ones that involve contrast dye like cardiac catheterization, in order to prevent kidney
damage.
__________ prevent blood clots that can be released into the circulatory
system after cardioversion.
Anticoagulants like enoxaparin
What kind of drugs are withheld prior to cardioversion?
cardiac glycosides like digoxin
exopthalmosis
condition produced by hyperthyroidism in which the eyeballs protrude beyond their
normal protective orbit because of swelling in the tissues behind them
entropion
the inversion of the edge of an eyelid
ectropion
the eversion of the edge of an eyelid
ptosis
drooping
A nurse is caring for a client who has emphysema and is receiving mechanical
ventilation. The client appears anxious and restless, and the high-pressure
alarm is sounding. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain ABGs.
B. Administer propofol to the client.
C. Instruct the client to allow the machine to breathe for them.
D. Disconnect the machine and manually ventilate the client.
C. Instruct the client to allow the machine to breathe for them. When providing client
care, the nurse should first use the least restrictive intervention. Therefore, the first
action the nurse should take is to provide verbal instructions and emotional support
to help the client relax and allow the ventilator to work. Clients can exhibit anxiety
and restlessness when trying to "fight the ventilator."
A nurse is caring for a client who has a potassium level of 3. Which of the
following assessment findings should the nurse expect?
,A. Positive Trousseau's sign
B. 4+ deep tendon reflexes
C. Deep respirations
D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
Deep tendon reflexes are used to monitor what electrolyte level?
magnesium
What kind of respirations occur with hypokalemia and why?
shallow respirations due to respiratory muscle weakness
Trosseau's sign evaluates for what electrolyte imbalances?
hypocalcelmia and hypomagnesemia
What is hypokalemia's effect on the GI system?
It decreases smooth muscle contraction leading to decreased peristalsis and
hypoactive bowel sounds.
Deep tendon reflexes in hypomagnesemia
increased e.g. 4+
Deep tendon reflexes in hypermagnesemia
decreased e.g. absent or 1+
What should be done if you are performing a cardiac assessment on a client
and you hear a murmur?
Listen with the client on their left side so it can be heard more clearly
A nurse is conducting an admission history for a client who is to undergo a CT
scan with an IV contrast agent. The nurse should identify that which of the
following findings requires further assessment?
A. History of asthma
B. Appendectomy 1 year ago
C. Penicillin allergy
D. Total knee arthroplasty 6 months ago
A. History of asthma
A client who has a history of asthma has a greater risk of reacting to the contrast dye
used during the procedure. Other conditions that can result in a reaction to contrast
media include allergies to foods, such as shellfish, eggs, milk, and chocolate.
, What are conditions that may cause a reaction to contrast media? Patients
with these conditions require further screening before a procedure with IV
contrast.
history of asthma and allergies to shellfish, eggs, milk, and chocolate
What drugs would warrant further screening for increased risk of renal
damage in someone getting a procedure with IV contrast?
aminoglycosides, NSAIDs, metformin
Patients with what conditions have an increased risk for renal damage from a
procedure with IV contrast?
history of diabetes mellitus, renal impairment, or heart failure
A nurse is an ED is reviewing the provider's prescriptions for a client who
sustained a rattlesnake bite to the lower leg. Which of the following
prescriptions should the nurse expect?
A. Apply ice to the clients puncture wounds
B. Initiate corticosteroid therapy for the client
C. Keep the client's leg above heart level
D. Administer an opioid analgesic to the client
D. Administer an opioid analgesic to the client
Expect an opioid analgesic to promote comfort in someone with a rattlesnake bite.
What critter should you apply ice to the bite of and why?
a black widow spider bite in order to reduce the action of the neurotoxin
If a patient gets bitten by a snack, what level should the extremity be
maintained at?
at the level of the heart, not above or below it
What should the nurse plan to administer for a bee or wasp sting?
corticosteroids and antihistamines
A nurse is caring for a client who is 12 hr post op following a total hip
arthroplasty. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Maintain adduction of the client's legs.
b. Encourage range of motion of the hip up to a 120° angle.
c. Place a pillow between the client's legs.
d. Keep the client's hip internally rotated.
c. Place a pillow between the client's legs
