ATI RN
Medical Surgical ATI Proctored Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse walks into a client's room and finds the client lying still and silent on the floor. The nurse should first
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the context of the Medical Surgical ATI Proctored Exam, the correct initial action when finding a client lying still and silent on the floor is to first establish that the client is unresponsive (Option C). This step is crucial as it helps the nurse quickly determine the client's level of consciousness and responsiveness, which are critical indicators of the client's condition and potential need for immediate intervention. Assessing the client's airway (Option A) is important in situations where the client is unresponsive and there are concerns about airway patency. However, in this scenario, confirming the client's responsiveness takes precedence to initiate appropriate interventions promptly. Calling for help (Option B) is an essential step, but before doing so, the nurse needs to ascertain the client's responsiveness to provide clear and accurate information to the healthcare team when requesting assistance. Checking if anyone saw the client fall (Option D) is a secondary concern compared to assessing the client's immediate condition. While obtaining information about the event is important for understanding the context, it is not the nurse's primary action when encountering an unresponsive client on the floor. In an educational context, understanding the prioritization of actions in emergency situations is fundamental for nurses to deliver effective and timely care. This question reinforces the significance of quickly assessing a client's responsiveness before proceeding with further interventions or seeking assistance, emphasizing the critical role of rapid assessment and decision-making in nursing practice.
Question 2 of 5
Allison Lynn, 20, is a student in a health sciences class and asks you to further explain the reason for lack of insulin in Type I Diabetes. You state that the most accepted theory is that:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Type I diabetes is the definition of that disease process that occurs when no insulin is produced, so there is no insulin to get to the cell level. Some Type II diabetes occurs because of insulin resistance. No insulin is being produced. This is one pathophysiological cause of Type II diabetes. Pancreatitis does cause irregular release of insulin, but not all people with pancreatitis develop Type I diabetes An autoimmune process is the most accepted theory of the root cause of Type I diabetes. The body produces an antibody which attacks and destroys the beta cells, leading to a lack of insulin.
Question 3 of 5
A 27-year-old male client develops malignant hyperthermia during a herniorrhaphy; his temperature is 105.4 degrees F. The client has had no previous health problems other than hypertension. A nurse orienting in the OR says, 'I thought only people with brain tumors had this problem.' Which of the following answers explains malignant hyperthermia?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Epinephrine is a hormone employed in the fight-or-flight stress response. It does not contribute to malignant hyperthermia. Stimulation of the sympathetic adrenal medullary mechanism helps the body cope with stress. It does not contribute to malignant hyperthermia. Catecholamine release is one of the physiological effects of stress. It does not contribute to malignant hyperthermia. Malignant hyperthermia is an inherited disorder of muscle metabolism that increases intracellular calcium, which causes generalized muscle rigidity, fever, tachycardia, and tachypnea.
Question 4 of 5
A client is considering laser abdominal surgery and asks the nurse if there is any advantage in having this type of surgery. The nurse's response should be based upon the knowledge that laser surgery:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A lower postoperative infection rate has been documented as a result of laser therapy versus routine surgery. Clients who choose laser surgery will still need preoperative sedation to facilitate anxiety reduction. Operating time may actually increase in some laser surgeries. The client who chooses laser surgery must still be observed for postoperative complications.
Question 5 of 5
After a thyroidectomy, a female client is returned to the unit from the recovery room. A major complication after a thyroidectomy is:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Respiratory obstruction due to edema of the glottis, bilateral laryngeal nerve damage, or tracheal compression from hemorrhage is a major complication after a thyroidectomy. Hypocalcemia and tetany from accidental removal of one or more parathyroid glands are major complications; not hypercalcemia. Fistula formation is not a major complication associated with a thyroidectomy. Fistula formation is a major complication with a laryngectomy. Myxedema is hypothyroidism occurring in adults. It is not a complication of a thyroidectomy. A thyroidectomy client tends to develop thyroid storm from an excess of the thyroid hormones released during surgery.