ATI RN
ATI Fundamentals Proctored Exam 2024
1. A patient is admitted to the hospital with complaints of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain. Which of the following would immediately alert the healthcare provider that the patient has bleeding from the GI tract?
- A. Complete blood count
- B. Guaiac test
- C. Vital signs
- D. Abdominal girth
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A positive guaiac test is used to detect the presence of occult (hidden) blood in the stool, suggesting bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. It is a rapid screening test that can provide immediate information to the healthcare provider about possible gastrointestinal bleeding in patients presenting with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain.
2. Which of the following techniques involves the sense of sight?
- A. Inspection
- B. Palpation
- C. Percussion
- D. Auscultation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is Inspection (Choice A). Inspection is a technique that involves observing the patient using the sense of sight. During inspection, a healthcare provider visually examines the patient for any abnormalities, changes, or specific signs that may help in diagnosing a condition. Palpation (Choice B) involves using the sense of touch to feel for abnormalities. Percussion (Choice C) involves tapping the body to produce sounds that can help identify the underlying structures. Auscultation (Choice D) involves listening to sounds produced by the body, typically using a stethoscope. Therefore, in this context, the technique that specifically involves the sense of sight is Inspection.
3. A healthcare professional is assessing a client who has experienced a left-hemispheric stroke. Which of the following is an expected finding?
- A. Impulse control difficulty
- B. Poor judgement
- C. Inability to recognize familiar objects
- D. Loss of depth perception
Correct answer: Inability to recognize familiar objects
Rationale: Patients who have experienced a left-hemispheric stroke may exhibit symptoms of agnosia, which is the inability to recognize familiar objects or people. This occurs due to damage to the right hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for visual and spatial perception. Impulse control difficulty, poor judgment, and loss of depth perception are not typically associated with left-hemispheric strokes.
4. A healthcare provider is reviewing the laboratory report of a client who has been taking lithium carbonate for the past 12 months. The provider notes a lithium level of 0.8 mEq/L. Which of the following orders from the provider should the healthcare provider expect?
- A. Withhold the next dose
- B. Increase the dosage
- C. Discontinue the medication
- D. Administer the medication
Correct answer: Administer the medication
Rationale: A lithium level of 0.8 mEq/L falls within the therapeutic range for maintaining the drug's effectiveness while minimizing toxicity. Therefore, the appropriate action would be to continue administering the medication as prescribed by the healthcare provider to maintain the therapeutic effect for the client.
5. A client with fibromyalgia requests pain medication. Which of the following medications should the nurse administer?
- A. Pregabalin
- B. Lorazepam
- C. Colchicine
- D. Codeine
Correct answer: Pregabalin
Rationale: Pregabalin is commonly used to manage pain associated with fibromyalgia. It works by reducing the number of pain signals sent out by damaged nerves. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine used for anxiety, not pain management. Colchicine is primarily used for gout treatment, and codeine, while an analgesic, is not typically the first-line choice for fibromyalgia pain due to its potential for side effects and misuse.