ATI MEDICAL-SURGICAL FINAL QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
A nurse is caring for a client who is to have his chest tube removed. Which fo the following action
s should the nurse take?
- Cover the insertion site with a hydrocolloid dressing after removal.
- Provide pain medication immediately after removal.
- Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal.
- Delegate removal of the chest tube to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). - CORRECT ANSWER -
Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal.
The nurse should instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal to maintain
the appropriate amount of negative pressure in the chest to prevent air entry into the pleural spac
e.
A nurse is caring for a client who begins having a tonic-
clonic seizure while sitting in a chair at the bedside. Which of the following actions should the nur
se take first?
- Provide oxygen.
- Place the client in a side-lying position.
- Provide privacy.
- Lower the client to the floor. - CORRECT ANSWER -Lower the client to the floor.
The nurse should apply the safety and risk reduction priority-
setting framework. This framework assigns priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest saf
ety risk to the client. When there are several risks to client safety, the one posing the greatest thr
eat is the highest priority. The nurse should use Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the ABC priority-
setting framework, or nursing knowledge to identify which risk poses the greatest threat to the clie
nt. Therefore, if a client begins to have a seizure while sitting or standing, the nurse should first lo
wer the client to the floor to protect him from injury.
A nurse is teaching a client how to perform a breast self-
exam (BSE). The nurse should identify which of the following findings as an indication of breast ca
ncer?
,- Lumps that are mobile and tender upon palpation prior to a menstrual period
- Multiple round masses that are tender and found in both breasts
- Bilaterally darkened areolas
- A nontender, hard lump that is palpated in one breast - CORRECT ANSWER -
A nontender, hard lump that is palpated in one breast
The nurse should identify that cancerous tumors are typically hard, fixed, irregular in shape, and n
ontender to palpation. The nurse should instruct the client to notify the provider promptly if she p
alpates a hard, nontender lump.
A nurse is preparing to change the bed linens of a client who has AIDS and is incontinent of stool.
Which of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse don prior to providi
ng client care?
- Gown
- Gloves
- Mask
- Hair cover
- Goggles - CORRECT ANSWER -- Gown
- Gloves
A nurse is assessing a client who has a fractured left femur and is in skeletal traction. Which of th
e following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
- Ecchymosis of the thigh
- Serous drainage at the pin site
- Chest petechiae
- Muscle spasms in the left leg - CORRECT ANSWER -Chest petechiae
The nurse should identify chest petechiae as an indication of fat embolism syndrome. Clients who
have fractures of the long bones, such as the femur, are at increased risk for fat emboli. Fat embol
i typically occur 12 to 48 hr after the injury when fat droplets from the marrow enter into the syst
emic circulation and are deposited in the lungs. The nurse should immediately notify the provider
because the client could progress into acute respiratory failure.
, A nurse is providing teaching about antiretroviral therapy to a client who has a new diagnosis of A
IDS. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
- "Your provider will prescribe one single antiretroviral medication at a time."
- "You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule."
-
"You should increase your intake of raw fruits and vegetables while taking antiretroviral medicatio
ns."
- "Your provider will prescribe antiretroviral therapy to kill the HIV virus." - CORRECT ANSWER -
"You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule."
The nurse should inform the client of the need to take antiretroviral therapy exactly as prescribed
and to avoid delaying or skipping any doses, which can result in medication resistance.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 72 hr post operative following an above-the-
knee amputation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- Elevate the residual limb on a soft pillow.
- Assist the client to a prone position every 4 hr.
- Reapply a bandage to the residual limb every 12 hr.
- Apply dressings to the site in a proximal-to-distal direction. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Assist the client to a prone position every 4 hr.
The nurse should assist the client to a prone position for 20 to 30 min every 3 to 4 hr following a
n amputation because it reduces the risk of flexion contractures.
A home health nurse enters a client's home and finds used insulin syringe, without a cap, on the t
able. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- Recap the needle on the syringe.
- Schedule a nurse to administer future injections for this client.
- Explain to the client that the syringe should be disposed of in the bathroom trash can.
- Place the syringe in a puncture-proof disposal container. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Place the syringe in a puncture-proof disposal container.
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
A nurse is caring for a client who is to have his chest tube removed. Which fo the following action
s should the nurse take?
- Cover the insertion site with a hydrocolloid dressing after removal.
- Provide pain medication immediately after removal.
- Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal.
- Delegate removal of the chest tube to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). - CORRECT ANSWER -
Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal.
The nurse should instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver during removal to maintain
the appropriate amount of negative pressure in the chest to prevent air entry into the pleural spac
e.
A nurse is caring for a client who begins having a tonic-
clonic seizure while sitting in a chair at the bedside. Which of the following actions should the nur
se take first?
- Provide oxygen.
- Place the client in a side-lying position.
- Provide privacy.
- Lower the client to the floor. - CORRECT ANSWER -Lower the client to the floor.
The nurse should apply the safety and risk reduction priority-
setting framework. This framework assigns priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest saf
ety risk to the client. When there are several risks to client safety, the one posing the greatest thr
eat is the highest priority. The nurse should use Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the ABC priority-
setting framework, or nursing knowledge to identify which risk poses the greatest threat to the clie
nt. Therefore, if a client begins to have a seizure while sitting or standing, the nurse should first lo
wer the client to the floor to protect him from injury.
A nurse is teaching a client how to perform a breast self-
exam (BSE). The nurse should identify which of the following findings as an indication of breast ca
ncer?
,- Lumps that are mobile and tender upon palpation prior to a menstrual period
- Multiple round masses that are tender and found in both breasts
- Bilaterally darkened areolas
- A nontender, hard lump that is palpated in one breast - CORRECT ANSWER -
A nontender, hard lump that is palpated in one breast
The nurse should identify that cancerous tumors are typically hard, fixed, irregular in shape, and n
ontender to palpation. The nurse should instruct the client to notify the provider promptly if she p
alpates a hard, nontender lump.
A nurse is preparing to change the bed linens of a client who has AIDS and is incontinent of stool.
Which of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse don prior to providi
ng client care?
- Gown
- Gloves
- Mask
- Hair cover
- Goggles - CORRECT ANSWER -- Gown
- Gloves
A nurse is assessing a client who has a fractured left femur and is in skeletal traction. Which of th
e following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
- Ecchymosis of the thigh
- Serous drainage at the pin site
- Chest petechiae
- Muscle spasms in the left leg - CORRECT ANSWER -Chest petechiae
The nurse should identify chest petechiae as an indication of fat embolism syndrome. Clients who
have fractures of the long bones, such as the femur, are at increased risk for fat emboli. Fat embol
i typically occur 12 to 48 hr after the injury when fat droplets from the marrow enter into the syst
emic circulation and are deposited in the lungs. The nurse should immediately notify the provider
because the client could progress into acute respiratory failure.
, A nurse is providing teaching about antiretroviral therapy to a client who has a new diagnosis of A
IDS. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
- "Your provider will prescribe one single antiretroviral medication at a time."
- "You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule."
-
"You should increase your intake of raw fruits and vegetables while taking antiretroviral medicatio
ns."
- "Your provider will prescribe antiretroviral therapy to kill the HIV virus." - CORRECT ANSWER -
"You should take antiretroviral medications on a routine schedule."
The nurse should inform the client of the need to take antiretroviral therapy exactly as prescribed
and to avoid delaying or skipping any doses, which can result in medication resistance.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 72 hr post operative following an above-the-
knee amputation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- Elevate the residual limb on a soft pillow.
- Assist the client to a prone position every 4 hr.
- Reapply a bandage to the residual limb every 12 hr.
- Apply dressings to the site in a proximal-to-distal direction. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Assist the client to a prone position every 4 hr.
The nurse should assist the client to a prone position for 20 to 30 min every 3 to 4 hr following a
n amputation because it reduces the risk of flexion contractures.
A home health nurse enters a client's home and finds used insulin syringe, without a cap, on the t
able. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- Recap the needle on the syringe.
- Schedule a nurse to administer future injections for this client.
- Explain to the client that the syringe should be disposed of in the bathroom trash can.
- Place the syringe in a puncture-proof disposal container. - CORRECT ANSWER -
Place the syringe in a puncture-proof disposal container.
