ATI RN
foundations of nursing practice questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A patient is experiencing oliguria. Which actionshould the nurse performfirst?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Assess for bladder distention. Oliguria indicates decreased urine output, which could be due to urinary retention. Assessing for bladder distention helps identify the underlying cause. Requesting diuretics (B) without assessing first is premature. Increasing IV fluid rate (C) may worsen the situation if there is urinary retention. Encouraging caffeinated beverages (D) is not appropriate as they can worsen dehydration.
Question 2 of 9
The nurse is admitting an oncology patient to the unit prior to surgery. The nurse reads in the electronic health record that the patient has just finished radiation therapy. With knowledge of the consequent health risks, the nurse should prioritize assessments related to what health problem?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Impaired wound healing. Radiation therapy can lead to damage to the skin and blood vessels, affecting wound healing. The nurse should prioritize assessing the patient's skin integrity and any signs of impaired wound healing to prevent complications post-surgery. A: Cognitive deficits - While radiation therapy can impact cognitive function in some cases, it is not the most immediate concern related to surgery post-radiation therapy. C: Cardiac tamponade - Although radiation therapy can increase the risk of heart-related issues, such as pericarditis, cardiac tamponade is a rare and acute complication that is not the most likely immediate concern post-radiation therapy. D: Tumor lysis syndrome - This syndrome is more commonly seen in patients undergoing chemotherapy rather than radiation therapy. It is not typically a concern immediately post-radiation therapy.
Question 3 of 9
A patient who has been experiencing numerous episodes of unexplained headaches and vomiting has subsequently been referred for testing to rule out a brain tumor. What characteristic of the patients vomiting is most consistent with a brain tumor?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: The patient's vomiting is unrelated to food intake. In the context of a brain tumor, vomiting that is not related to food intake can indicate increased intracranial pressure affecting the brain's vomiting center. This is known as projectile vomiting. A: Vomiting accompanied by epistaxis (nosebleeds) is more indicative of other conditions like hypertension or nasal issues, not necessarily specific to a brain tumor. B: Vomiting not relieving nausea can be seen in various conditions affecting the gastrointestinal system, not specifically brain tumors. D: Blood-tinged emesis can suggest gastrointestinal bleeding or other issues, but it's not a specific characteristic of vomiting associated with brain tumors.
Question 4 of 9
The nurse asks a patient where the pain is, andthe patient responds by pointing to the area of pain. Which form of communication did the patient use?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Nonverbal. The patient used nonverbal communication by pointing to the area of pain, which is a form of expressing information without words. This choice is correct because pointing is a nonverbal gesture that conveys a specific message. Verbal communication (A) involves spoken or written words, which were not used in this scenario. Intonation (C) refers to the rise and fall of the voice in speech, which was not demonstrated by the patient. Vocabulary (D) is the range of words known or used by a person, but the patient did not use words to communicate in this situation. In summary, the patient used nonverbal communication through pointing, making choice B the correct answer.
Question 5 of 9
A nurse works at a hospital that uses equity-focusedquality improvement. Which strategy is the hospital using?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Reduce disparities. In equity-focused quality improvement, the primary goal is to address and reduce disparities in healthcare outcomes and access. By focusing on reducing disparities, the hospital ensures that all patients receive equitable care regardless of their background. Documenting staff satisfaction (A) is important but not directly related to equity-focused improvement. Focusing on the family (B) is essential for patient-centered care but doesn't specifically address equity. Implementing change on a grand scale (C) may not necessarily target disparities directly. Therefore, reducing disparities aligns best with equity-focused quality improvement principles.
Question 6 of 9
A nurse is charting. Which information is criticalfor the nurse to document?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because documenting medication administration is critical for patient safety and continuity of care. By documenting the pain medication received, the nurse ensures accurate medication tracking and prevents errors. Choice A is incorrect as it lacks specific, objective information. Choice B is irrelevant to patient care. Choice D is inappropriate and violates patient confidentiality.
Question 7 of 9
A patient who is scheduled for an open prostatectomy is concerned about the potential effects of the surgery on his sexual function. What aspect of prostate surgery should inform the nurses response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step 1: Prostate surgery can damage nerves responsible for erectile function. Step 2: Nerve damage can lead to erectile dysfunction post-prostatectomy. Step 3: Choice B correctly states that all prostatectomies carry a risk of nerve damage and consequent erectile dysfunction, aligning with the potential impact of surgery on sexual function. Step 4: Other choices lack accuracy: A incorrectly attributes erectile dysfunction solely to hormonal changes, C falsely suggests temporary nature of dysfunction, and D wrongly claims no risk of dysfunction due to modern techniques.
Question 8 of 9
A patient taking magnesium sulfate has a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute. In addition to discontinuing the medication, which action should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer calcium gluconate. Magnesium sulfate can cause respiratory depression, leading to a low respiratory rate. Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity, as it antagonizes the effects of magnesium on the neuromuscular junction. Administering calcium gluconate helps reverse the respiratory depression caused by magnesium sulfate. Increasing IV fluids (Choice A) is not directly related to treating respiratory depression. Vigorously stimulating the patient (Choice C) can exacerbate respiratory depression. Instructing the patient to take deep breaths (Choice D) may not be effective in addressing the underlying cause of respiratory depression due to magnesium sulfate toxicity.
Question 9 of 9
A patient is exploring treatment options after being diagnosed with age-related cataracts that affect her vision. What treatment is most likely to be used in this patients care?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Surgical intervention. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in the eye, which can lead to vision impairment. Surgery is the most common and effective treatment for cataracts, involving the removal of the cloudy lens and replacement with an artificial one. Antioxidant supplements (Choice A) may help prevent cataracts but are not a treatment for existing ones. Eyeglasses or magnifying lenses (Choice B) can help with vision correction but do not address the cataracts themselves. Corticosteroid eye drops (Choice C) are used for treating inflammation in the eye, not cataracts. Therefore, surgical intervention is the most appropriate treatment option for age-related cataracts.