ATI RN
Medical Surgical ATI Proctored Exam Questions
Question 1 of 9
While caring for a client who was injured in a motor-vehicle crash and reports dyspnea and severe pain, a nurse in the emergency department notes that the client's chest moves inward during inspiration and bulges out during expiration. The nurse should identify this finding as which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Flail chest. Flail chest occurs when a segment of the rib cage is detached from the rest of the chest wall, causing paradoxical chest movement. In this case, the inward movement during inspiration and outward bulging during expiration are classic signs of flail chest, as the detached segment moves in the opposite direction of the rest of the chest wall. Atelectasis (choice A) refers to collapsed lung tissue, not paradoxical chest movement. Hemothorax (choice C) is the accumulation of blood in the pleural space, which does not cause paradoxical chest movement. Pneumothorax (choice D) is the presence of air in the pleural space, which can cause chest pain and dyspnea but does not result in paradoxical chest movement.
Question 2 of 9
How would the nurse describe the techniques used in energy medicine?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Energy medicine encompasses techniques like Reiki and acupuncture, targeting energy fields for healing purposes.
Question 3 of 9
Which action should you delegate to the nursing assistant for the client with diabetic ketoacidosis? (Choose all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Checking fingerstick glucose and recording intake/output are routine tasks that can be delegated to a nursing assistant. Assessing fluid imbalance and checking vital signs frequently require more skilled nursing judgment.
Question 4 of 9
What do you tell patients is the most important risk factor for lung cancer when you are teaching about lung cancer prevention?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for the majority of cases worldwide.
Question 5 of 9
During an admission assessment of a client with COPD and emphysema complaining of a frequent productive cough and shortness of breath, what assessment finding should the nurse anticipate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest. In COPD and emphysema, the lungs lose their elasticity, causing the chest to become barrel-shaped with an increased anteroposterior diameter. This occurs due to hyperinflation of the lungs. This finding is known as "barrel chest" and is a classic sign of advanced COPD. A: Respiratory alkalosis is not typically associated with COPD and emphysema. C: An oxygen saturation level of 96% is within the normal range and does not specifically relate to the assessment findings in COPD and emphysema. D: Petechiae on the chest are not typically associated with COPD and emphysema; they may be indicative of other conditions such as bleeding disorders.
Question 6 of 9
Match the following types of pain in the left column with a category of pain from the upper right column and an example of the source of the pain from the lower right column.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Pain felt along the distribution of peripheral nerve(s) from nerve damage
Question 7 of 9
Systolic hypertension and stroke are due to:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: As people age, arteries lose elasticity and become stiffer, leading to increased systolic blood pressure and higher risk of stroke.
Question 8 of 9
What are the criteria for diagnosing systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Dehydration results from fluid loss exceeding intake, causing symptoms like dry mucous membranes, poor skin turgor, and hypotension.
Question 9 of 9
You are caring for a patient with Sophaged cancer. Which task could be delegated to the nursing assistant?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Oral hygiene is a basic care task that can be safely performed by a nursing assistant, while the other options require more advanced clinical judgment.