ATI Med Surg Proctored Exam Practice Qs 2025 Question 1 Question: A nurse is caring for a client who experienced a traumatic head injury and has an intraventricular catheter (ventriculostomy) for ICP monitoring. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following complications related to the ventriculostomy? Options: a. Headache ✅ b. Infection c. Aphasia d. Hypertension Rationale: An intraventricular catheter (ventriculostomy) directly enters the cerebral ventricles, creating a pathway from the outside environment into the central nervous system. This places the client at high risk for infection, especially ventriculitis or meningitis. Even a small break in aseptic technique can allow microorganisms to enter the CSF. The nurse must monitor for fever, nuchal rigidity, changes in level of consciousness, photophobia, or changes in CSF appearance and strictly use aseptic technique. Headache and hypertension can occur with increased ICP in general, but they are not specific complications of the ventriculostomy device itself. Aphasia is related to specific brain area damage, not to the ventriculostomy. Question 2 Question: A nurse is providing education to a client who is to undergo an EEG the next day. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching? Options: a. “Do not wash your hair the morning of the procedure.” ✅ b. “Try and stay awake most of the night prior to the procedure.” c. “The procedure will take approximately 15 mins.” d. “You will need to lie flat for 4 hours after the procedure.” Rationale: For some EEG (electroencephalogram) studies—especially when evaluating for seizure disorders—the provider may request sleep deprivation to increase the likelihood of capturing abnormal electrical activity. Asking the client to stay awake most of the night prior stresses the brain and can provoke abnormal discharges that are visible on the EEG. The procedure itself is noninvasive and usually lasts longer than 15 minutes. Post-procedure flat bedrest is required after a lumbar puncture, not an EEG. Hair is often washed before EEG to remove oils, but the key teaching point in this question is the need to remain awake to increase the diagnostic yield.