ATI RN MEDSURG 2025/2026 PROCTORED
EXAM questions and answers with rationales
1 A nurse is assessing a client who is 12hr postoperative following a colon resection.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the surgeon?
a. Heart rate 90/min
b. Absent bowel sounds → normal findings after major bowel surgery; takes
several days to return to normal.
c. Hgb 8.2 g/dl
d. Gastric pH of 3.0
Rationale: Normal Hgb is 13-18M g/dl, 12-16 g/dl. This may indicate a possible hemorrhaging.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the following
medications should the nurse plan to administer?
a. Desmopressin
b. Regular insulin
c. Furosemide
d. Lithium carbonate
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus has decreased ADH. Administer Desmopressin/Vasopressin
increase ADH and keeps pt. on urinating
3. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking ibuprofen several
times daily for 3 years. Which of the following test should the nurse monitor? a.
Fasting blood glucose
b. Stool for occult blood
c. Urine for white blood cells
d. Serum calcium
Rationale:ATI Pharm 16. Pg. 485 Ibuprofen (NSAIDs) monitor for GI bleed (bloody, tarry stools,
abd pain).
1
, 4. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first (Click on the “Exhibit” button for additional information
about the client. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.)
a. Obtain a sputum sample for culture
b. Prepare the client for a chest x-ray
c. Initiate airborne precautions
d. Administer ondansertron.
Rationale: No idea what the Exhibit is all about; wont be able to answer it.
5. A nurse is contacting the provider for a client who has cancer and is experiencing
breakthrough pain. Which of the following prescriptions should
the nurse anticipate?
a. Transmucosal fentanyl
b. Intramuscular meperidine
c. Oral acetaminophen
d. Intravenous
dexamethasone Rationale:ATI
pg. 27
6. A nurse is admitting a client who reports chest pain and has been placed on a telemetry
monitor. Which of the following should the nurse analyze to determine whether the
client is experiencing a myocardial infarction?
a. PR interval
b. QRS duration
c. T wave
d. ST segment
Rationale: ST elevation indicates MI. ST depression indicates ischemia
, 7. A nurse is teaching a client who has ovarian cancer about skin care following radiation
treatment. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
a. Pat the skin on the radiation site to dry it
b. Apply OTC moisturizer to the radiation site
c. Cover the radiation site loosely with a gauze wrap before dressing
d. Use a soft washcloth to clean the area around
the radiation site Rationale: pg. 584. Dry the area thoroughly
using patting motions.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. The nurse observes
that the client has bounding peripheral pulses, hypertension, and distended jugular
veins. The nurse should anticipate administering which of the following prescribed
medications?
a. Diphenhydramine
b. Acetaminophen
c. Pantoprazole
d. Furosemide
Rationale: S/S may indicate fluid retention or heart failure. It is important to administer
diuretics to prevent cardiovascular/respiratory distress.
9. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate IV for the treatment
of hypomagnesemia. Which of the following findings indicates effectiveness of the
medication?
a. Lungs clear
b. Apical pulse 82/min
c. Hyperactive bowel sounds
d. Blood pressure 90/50 mm Hg
Rationale: ATI p. 494: s/s of hypomagnesemia consist of hypoactive bowel sounds, constipation,
paralytic ileus. So effectiveness would indicate opposite of this
3
EXAM questions and answers with rationales
1 A nurse is assessing a client who is 12hr postoperative following a colon resection.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the surgeon?
a. Heart rate 90/min
b. Absent bowel sounds → normal findings after major bowel surgery; takes
several days to return to normal.
c. Hgb 8.2 g/dl
d. Gastric pH of 3.0
Rationale: Normal Hgb is 13-18M g/dl, 12-16 g/dl. This may indicate a possible hemorrhaging.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetes insipidus. Which of the following
medications should the nurse plan to administer?
a. Desmopressin
b. Regular insulin
c. Furosemide
d. Lithium carbonate
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus has decreased ADH. Administer Desmopressin/Vasopressin
increase ADH and keeps pt. on urinating
3. A nurse is admitting a client who has arthritic pain and reports taking ibuprofen several
times daily for 3 years. Which of the following test should the nurse monitor? a.
Fasting blood glucose
b. Stool for occult blood
c. Urine for white blood cells
d. Serum calcium
Rationale:ATI Pharm 16. Pg. 485 Ibuprofen (NSAIDs) monitor for GI bleed (bloody, tarry stools,
abd pain).
1
, 4. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first (Click on the “Exhibit” button for additional information
about the client. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.)
a. Obtain a sputum sample for culture
b. Prepare the client for a chest x-ray
c. Initiate airborne precautions
d. Administer ondansertron.
Rationale: No idea what the Exhibit is all about; wont be able to answer it.
5. A nurse is contacting the provider for a client who has cancer and is experiencing
breakthrough pain. Which of the following prescriptions should
the nurse anticipate?
a. Transmucosal fentanyl
b. Intramuscular meperidine
c. Oral acetaminophen
d. Intravenous
dexamethasone Rationale:ATI
pg. 27
6. A nurse is admitting a client who reports chest pain and has been placed on a telemetry
monitor. Which of the following should the nurse analyze to determine whether the
client is experiencing a myocardial infarction?
a. PR interval
b. QRS duration
c. T wave
d. ST segment
Rationale: ST elevation indicates MI. ST depression indicates ischemia
, 7. A nurse is teaching a client who has ovarian cancer about skin care following radiation
treatment. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
a. Pat the skin on the radiation site to dry it
b. Apply OTC moisturizer to the radiation site
c. Cover the radiation site loosely with a gauze wrap before dressing
d. Use a soft washcloth to clean the area around
the radiation site Rationale: pg. 584. Dry the area thoroughly
using patting motions.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a blood transfusion. The nurse observes
that the client has bounding peripheral pulses, hypertension, and distended jugular
veins. The nurse should anticipate administering which of the following prescribed
medications?
a. Diphenhydramine
b. Acetaminophen
c. Pantoprazole
d. Furosemide
Rationale: S/S may indicate fluid retention or heart failure. It is important to administer
diuretics to prevent cardiovascular/respiratory distress.
9. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate IV for the treatment
of hypomagnesemia. Which of the following findings indicates effectiveness of the
medication?
a. Lungs clear
b. Apical pulse 82/min
c. Hyperactive bowel sounds
d. Blood pressure 90/50 mm Hg
Rationale: ATI p. 494: s/s of hypomagnesemia consist of hypoactive bowel sounds, constipation,
paralytic ileus. So effectiveness would indicate opposite of this
3
