ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam
Prep with Actual Complete Questions and Correct
Answers with Detailed Rationales Already Graded
+ | 2026 Updated
Ace your 2026 ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam with this ultimate
study bank. Features 400 highly vetted multiple-choice questions matching real test
frameworks. Covers fluid and electrolytes, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and
perioperative nursing. Includes highlighted correct answers and simplified, active-
voice rationales for flawless active remediation. Maximize your testing strategies,
crush your NGN case studies, and confidently hit Level 2 or 3 proficiency!
, 1. A nurse checks a patient who had a thyroidectomy four hours ago. The patient has a
hoarse voice and is making a high-pitched sound when breathing. Which action should
the nurse take first?
• Call the doctor to report the normal finding.
• Give the patient a cold glass of water.
• Call the rapid response team and get a tracheostomy tray.
• Turn the patient onto their stomach to rest.
Rationale: A high-pitched breathing sound is called stridor. It means the airway is blocking up.
This is an emergency after thyroid surgery. The nurse must call for help right away and get
equipment to open the airway.
2. A nurse is looking at the monitor for a patient with a new heart attack. The monitor
shows ventricular tachycardia. The patient is awake and talking. What should the nurse
do first?
• Give the patient a shock with a defibrillator.
• Start CPR chest compressions.
• Check the patient's blood pressure and pulse.
• Administer a high dose of potassium.
Rationale: When a patient is awake and talking, they have a pulse. The nurse must check their
vital signs before doing any treatment. Defibrillation is only for patients with no pulse.
3. A patient has a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage system. The nurse sees
continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What does this mean?
• The patient's lung has fully expanded.
• There is an air leak in the system.
• The suction pressure is turned up too high.
• This is a normal finding that requires no action.
,Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber means air is leaking into the
system. The nurse needs to check the connections. Intermittent bubbling during coughing or
crying is normal, but constant bubbling is not.
4. A nurse is teaching a patient who has a new prescription for warfarin. Which food should
the nurse tell the patient to limit?
• Fresh apples and oranges.
• White bread and white rice.
• Green leafy vegetables like spinach.
• Grilled chicken breast and fish.
Rationale: Green leafy vegetables have a lot of vitamin K. Vitamin K blocks the effects of
warfarin. The patient should eat the same amount of vitamin K every day instead of sudden
large amounts.
5. A patient with a head injury has a large amount of clear fluid leaking from their nose.
What should the nurse do first?
• Put a tight gauze plug up the nose.
• Tell the patient to blow their nose hard.
• Test the fluid for glucose using a strip.
• Place the patient flat on their back.
Rationale: Clear fluid from the nose after a head injury could be cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF
contains glucose. Testing it helps confirm if it is a brain fluid leak. The nurse should never plug
the nose.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the left leg. Which
finding requires immediate action?
• The left calf is warm and red.
• The patient has sudden chest pain and short breath.
• The patient rates calf pain as a 5 out of 10.
, • The left foot has a strong pulse.
Rationale: Sudden chest pain and short breath mean the blood clot may have moved to the
lungs. This is a pulmonary embolism. It is a life-threatening emergency.
7. A patient with type 1 diabetes is sweaty, shaky, and pale. The patient is awake and can
swallow. What should the nurse do first?
• Give the patient 10 units of regular insulin.
• Give the patient 4 ounces of orange juice.
• Call the doctor to order a lab test.
• Inject glucagon into the patient's muscle.
Rationale: Sweating, shaking, and paleness are signs of low blood sugar. Since the patient can
swallow, giving a fast-acting sugar like orange juice is the fastest way to fix it.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 1 day post-op from total hip surgery. The nurse
notes the left leg is shorter than the right leg and turned outward. What should the
nurse suspect?
• The patient is healing normally.
• The patient has a deep muscle infection.
• The hip joint has dislocated.
• The patient has a new blood clot.
Rationale: A shortened leg that turns outward is a classic sign of a dislocated hip prosthesis.
The nurse should keep the patient still and notify the surgeon right away.
9. A patient is taking furosemide every day. Which laboratory result should the nurse
report to the doctor immediately?
• Sodium level of 138 mEq/L.
• Potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L.
• Calcium level of 9.2 mg/dL.
Prep with Actual Complete Questions and Correct
Answers with Detailed Rationales Already Graded
+ | 2026 Updated
Ace your 2026 ATI RN Adult Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam with this ultimate
study bank. Features 400 highly vetted multiple-choice questions matching real test
frameworks. Covers fluid and electrolytes, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and
perioperative nursing. Includes highlighted correct answers and simplified, active-
voice rationales for flawless active remediation. Maximize your testing strategies,
crush your NGN case studies, and confidently hit Level 2 or 3 proficiency!
, 1. A nurse checks a patient who had a thyroidectomy four hours ago. The patient has a
hoarse voice and is making a high-pitched sound when breathing. Which action should
the nurse take first?
• Call the doctor to report the normal finding.
• Give the patient a cold glass of water.
• Call the rapid response team and get a tracheostomy tray.
• Turn the patient onto their stomach to rest.
Rationale: A high-pitched breathing sound is called stridor. It means the airway is blocking up.
This is an emergency after thyroid surgery. The nurse must call for help right away and get
equipment to open the airway.
2. A nurse is looking at the monitor for a patient with a new heart attack. The monitor
shows ventricular tachycardia. The patient is awake and talking. What should the nurse
do first?
• Give the patient a shock with a defibrillator.
• Start CPR chest compressions.
• Check the patient's blood pressure and pulse.
• Administer a high dose of potassium.
Rationale: When a patient is awake and talking, they have a pulse. The nurse must check their
vital signs before doing any treatment. Defibrillation is only for patients with no pulse.
3. A patient has a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage system. The nurse sees
continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What does this mean?
• The patient's lung has fully expanded.
• There is an air leak in the system.
• The suction pressure is turned up too high.
• This is a normal finding that requires no action.
,Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber means air is leaking into the
system. The nurse needs to check the connections. Intermittent bubbling during coughing or
crying is normal, but constant bubbling is not.
4. A nurse is teaching a patient who has a new prescription for warfarin. Which food should
the nurse tell the patient to limit?
• Fresh apples and oranges.
• White bread and white rice.
• Green leafy vegetables like spinach.
• Grilled chicken breast and fish.
Rationale: Green leafy vegetables have a lot of vitamin K. Vitamin K blocks the effects of
warfarin. The patient should eat the same amount of vitamin K every day instead of sudden
large amounts.
5. A patient with a head injury has a large amount of clear fluid leaking from their nose.
What should the nurse do first?
• Put a tight gauze plug up the nose.
• Tell the patient to blow their nose hard.
• Test the fluid for glucose using a strip.
• Place the patient flat on their back.
Rationale: Clear fluid from the nose after a head injury could be cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF
contains glucose. Testing it helps confirm if it is a brain fluid leak. The nurse should never plug
the nose.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the left leg. Which
finding requires immediate action?
• The left calf is warm and red.
• The patient has sudden chest pain and short breath.
• The patient rates calf pain as a 5 out of 10.
, • The left foot has a strong pulse.
Rationale: Sudden chest pain and short breath mean the blood clot may have moved to the
lungs. This is a pulmonary embolism. It is a life-threatening emergency.
7. A patient with type 1 diabetes is sweaty, shaky, and pale. The patient is awake and can
swallow. What should the nurse do first?
• Give the patient 10 units of regular insulin.
• Give the patient 4 ounces of orange juice.
• Call the doctor to order a lab test.
• Inject glucagon into the patient's muscle.
Rationale: Sweating, shaking, and paleness are signs of low blood sugar. Since the patient can
swallow, giving a fast-acting sugar like orange juice is the fastest way to fix it.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 1 day post-op from total hip surgery. The nurse
notes the left leg is shorter than the right leg and turned outward. What should the
nurse suspect?
• The patient is healing normally.
• The patient has a deep muscle infection.
• The hip joint has dislocated.
• The patient has a new blood clot.
Rationale: A shortened leg that turns outward is a classic sign of a dislocated hip prosthesis.
The nurse should keep the patient still and notify the surgeon right away.
9. A patient is taking furosemide every day. Which laboratory result should the nurse
report to the doctor immediately?
• Sodium level of 138 mEq/L.
• Potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L.
• Calcium level of 9.2 mg/dL.
