ATI Capstone Adult Medical Surgical (Med-Surg) Exam
1. A nurse is teaching a client how to administer a medication using an inhaler with a spacer. Which of the follow
instructions should the nurse include
A. "Wait at least 5 minutes between puffs from the same inhaler"
B. "Breathe in rapidly when inhaling the medication"
C. "Clean the plastic inhaler cap weekly with cold water"
D. "Shake the inhaler vigorously prior to use": D .) "Shake the inhaler vigorously prior to use"
Thoroughly shake the inhaler to disperse the medication because the medication in the inhaler can separate easily 2. A
nurse is planning care for a client who is receiving mechanical ventilation. Which of the following actions should the
nurse include in the plan
A. Provide the client with a means of communication
B. Maintain the head of the client's bed in a flat position
C. Suction the client's endotracheal tube every 4 hr
D. Perform oral hygiene for the client every 8 hr: A.) Provide the client with a means of communication
Use electronic tablet computer, programmable speech generating device, alphabet board, pencil and paper, etc
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV fluid replacement therapy for dehydration. Which of the follow
laboratory results indicates effective- ness of the treatment
A. Sodium 165 mEq/L
B. Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
C. Urine specific gravity 1.020
D. Hct 62%: C Urine specific gravity 1.020 Within the expected range of 1.005-1.030
,4. A nurse is monitoring the laboratory findings for a client who is postoper- ative following a total hip arthroplas
6 hr ago. Which of the following values indicates that the client has an increased risk for bleeding
A. PT 11.5 seconds
B. aPTT 35 seconds
C. Platelets 80,000
D. RBC 4.0 million: C Platelets 80,000 platelet range is 150,000-400,000
5. A nurse is admitting a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury following a motor vehicle crash. Which of
following interventions is the nurse's priority while caring for this client
A. Change the client's position every 2 hours
B. Pad pressure points at the edges of the client's cervical collar
C. Palpate the client's abdomen for bladder distention
D. Assist the client with quad coughing: D Assist the client with quad coughing The greatest risk to a client who ha
cervical spinal cord injury is an obstructed airway; the priority is to ensure the client can clear their airway. Ap
abdominal pressure as the client coughs (quad coughing)
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. Which of the following findings indicates th
the client is experiencing transfusion-as- sociated circulatory overload
A. Nasuea
B. Hypothermia
C. Dyspnea
D. Bradycardia: C Dyspnea
,Dyspnea is an indication of possible transfusion associated circulatory overload, leading to hypertension, bounding pulses
and confusion. Dyspnea can also indicate transfusion related acute lung injury to an anaphylactic response, which also
causes wheezing, chest tightness, cyanosis, and low BP
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has lung cancer and is undergoing radiation therapy to the chest. Which of the
following indicates an adverse effect of the therapy
A. Hair loss on the scalp
B. Sweating at the treatment site
C. Altered taste sensations
D. Intolerance to cold: C Altered taste sensations
Altered taste is a result of the release of metabolites by dead cells
8. A nurse is preparing to administer a unit of packed RBCs to a client who has anemia. Which of the follow
actions should the nurse plan to take (select all that apply)
A. Obtain pre-transfusion temperature
B. Prime the IV tubing with lactated Ringer's
C. Instruct an assistive personnel to monitor the client during the transfusion
D. Verify the client's blood type with a second nurse
E. Use a 20 gauge IV needle for venous access: A, D, E A, complete assessment prior to transfusion
D, verify identification, blood compatibility, and expiration of product with second nurse
E, the nurse should use a large bore needle to transfuse the PRBCs to reduce the risk of cell hemolysis and obstruction of fl
9. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory findings for a client who is dehydrated. Which of the following BUN lev
should the nurse expect
A. 3.6 mg/dl
, B. 8 mg/dL
C. 18.7 mg/dL
D. 26 mg/dL: D 26 mg/dL
Normal range is 10-20, and elevated levels indicates renal disease, dehydration, shock, excessive protein in the diet, sep
glucocorticoid use, GI bleeding, or other conditions in which blood is reabsorbed from injured tissues 10. A nurse
reviewing ECG strips for several clients. Which of the following images should the nurse identify as atrial fibrillati
(cannot insert pictures, read description)
A. multiple irregular and variable waves at the baseline and irregular R to R intervals B. a
rate of 140-180/min
C. a tachycardia with no identifiable P wave and is determined to originate somewhere other than the ventricl
Rate between 100-280/min
D. a P wave for every QRS, rate is 60-100/min: A.) multiple irregular and variable waves at the baseline and irregula
to R intervals 11. A nurse is preparing to admit a client who has a new tracheostomy from the operating room. Wh
of the following items is the priority for the nurse to have available in the client's room upon admission
A. Obturator
B. Hydrogen peroxide
C. Sterile gloves
D. Inner cannula: A.) Obturator
The obturator can be inserted in the stoma in the even of dislodgment or decannu- lation to maintain an airway until a new
trach tube can be placed. For the first 72 hr following the insertion of a trach, dislodgement or decannulation is considered
an emergency 12. A nurse is caring for a client who had a below the knee amputation due to a traumatic injury 2
1. A nurse is teaching a client how to administer a medication using an inhaler with a spacer. Which of the follow
instructions should the nurse include
A. "Wait at least 5 minutes between puffs from the same inhaler"
B. "Breathe in rapidly when inhaling the medication"
C. "Clean the plastic inhaler cap weekly with cold water"
D. "Shake the inhaler vigorously prior to use": D .) "Shake the inhaler vigorously prior to use"
Thoroughly shake the inhaler to disperse the medication because the medication in the inhaler can separate easily 2. A
nurse is planning care for a client who is receiving mechanical ventilation. Which of the following actions should the
nurse include in the plan
A. Provide the client with a means of communication
B. Maintain the head of the client's bed in a flat position
C. Suction the client's endotracheal tube every 4 hr
D. Perform oral hygiene for the client every 8 hr: A.) Provide the client with a means of communication
Use electronic tablet computer, programmable speech generating device, alphabet board, pencil and paper, etc
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV fluid replacement therapy for dehydration. Which of the follow
laboratory results indicates effective- ness of the treatment
A. Sodium 165 mEq/L
B. Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
C. Urine specific gravity 1.020
D. Hct 62%: C Urine specific gravity 1.020 Within the expected range of 1.005-1.030
,4. A nurse is monitoring the laboratory findings for a client who is postoper- ative following a total hip arthroplas
6 hr ago. Which of the following values indicates that the client has an increased risk for bleeding
A. PT 11.5 seconds
B. aPTT 35 seconds
C. Platelets 80,000
D. RBC 4.0 million: C Platelets 80,000 platelet range is 150,000-400,000
5. A nurse is admitting a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury following a motor vehicle crash. Which of
following interventions is the nurse's priority while caring for this client
A. Change the client's position every 2 hours
B. Pad pressure points at the edges of the client's cervical collar
C. Palpate the client's abdomen for bladder distention
D. Assist the client with quad coughing: D Assist the client with quad coughing The greatest risk to a client who ha
cervical spinal cord injury is an obstructed airway; the priority is to ensure the client can clear their airway. Ap
abdominal pressure as the client coughs (quad coughing)
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. Which of the following findings indicates th
the client is experiencing transfusion-as- sociated circulatory overload
A. Nasuea
B. Hypothermia
C. Dyspnea
D. Bradycardia: C Dyspnea
,Dyspnea is an indication of possible transfusion associated circulatory overload, leading to hypertension, bounding pulses
and confusion. Dyspnea can also indicate transfusion related acute lung injury to an anaphylactic response, which also
causes wheezing, chest tightness, cyanosis, and low BP
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has lung cancer and is undergoing radiation therapy to the chest. Which of the
following indicates an adverse effect of the therapy
A. Hair loss on the scalp
B. Sweating at the treatment site
C. Altered taste sensations
D. Intolerance to cold: C Altered taste sensations
Altered taste is a result of the release of metabolites by dead cells
8. A nurse is preparing to administer a unit of packed RBCs to a client who has anemia. Which of the follow
actions should the nurse plan to take (select all that apply)
A. Obtain pre-transfusion temperature
B. Prime the IV tubing with lactated Ringer's
C. Instruct an assistive personnel to monitor the client during the transfusion
D. Verify the client's blood type with a second nurse
E. Use a 20 gauge IV needle for venous access: A, D, E A, complete assessment prior to transfusion
D, verify identification, blood compatibility, and expiration of product with second nurse
E, the nurse should use a large bore needle to transfuse the PRBCs to reduce the risk of cell hemolysis and obstruction of fl
9. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory findings for a client who is dehydrated. Which of the following BUN lev
should the nurse expect
A. 3.6 mg/dl
, B. 8 mg/dL
C. 18.7 mg/dL
D. 26 mg/dL: D 26 mg/dL
Normal range is 10-20, and elevated levels indicates renal disease, dehydration, shock, excessive protein in the diet, sep
glucocorticoid use, GI bleeding, or other conditions in which blood is reabsorbed from injured tissues 10. A nurse
reviewing ECG strips for several clients. Which of the following images should the nurse identify as atrial fibrillati
(cannot insert pictures, read description)
A. multiple irregular and variable waves at the baseline and irregular R to R intervals B. a
rate of 140-180/min
C. a tachycardia with no identifiable P wave and is determined to originate somewhere other than the ventricl
Rate between 100-280/min
D. a P wave for every QRS, rate is 60-100/min: A.) multiple irregular and variable waves at the baseline and irregula
to R intervals 11. A nurse is preparing to admit a client who has a new tracheostomy from the operating room. Wh
of the following items is the priority for the nurse to have available in the client's room upon admission
A. Obturator
B. Hydrogen peroxide
C. Sterile gloves
D. Inner cannula: A.) Obturator
The obturator can be inserted in the stoma in the even of dislodgment or decannu- lation to maintain an airway until a new
trach tube can be placed. For the first 72 hr following the insertion of a trach, dislodgement or decannulation is considered
an emergency 12. A nurse is caring for a client who had a below the knee amputation due to a traumatic injury 2
