ATI PN Adult Medical-Surgical Online Practice 2023 (A & B)
A plain-language guide to ATI's PN/VN Adult Medical-Surgical Online Practice assessments (Forms A and B) — what they are, how they differ from the proctored exam, and where to find full-length practice for whichever content-mastery series your program uses.
What “Online Practice A” and “B” actually mean
“Online Practice” is ATI's name for its untimed, lower-stakes practice assessments — as opposed to the proctored exam, which is timed, closed-book, and typically counts toward your grade. Adult Medical-Surgical Online Practice comes in two parallel forms, Form A and Form B, so you (or your cohort) can take two different question sets covering the same content areas without repeating questions.
What's covered
Both forms cover the same broad Medical-Surgical content areas: cardiovascular & respiratory care, endocrine & metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal & renal care, musculoskeletal & neurological care, and perioperative & wound care, all scoped to what a PN/VN performs and reports rather than independently manages. Programs often assign Form A as a first pass and Form B later in the term, or use one as a pre-test and the other as a post-test.
2023 vs. 2026: which series are you seeing?
ATI runs two active content-mastery series: an earlier series many programs still reference as “2023,” and a newer 2026 series that adds Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) item types like case studies and extended multiple response. Online Practice A and B update alongside whichever series your program is currently assigned — check your ATI account or ask your instructor if you're not sure which one you're seeing.
Going beyond Online Practice A & B
Online Practice is a good first pass, but it's short and untimed, so it won't tell you how you'd perform under real exam conditions. A full-length, timed practice run — matched to your program's actual series — is the closer dress rehearsal. We publish separate 94-question exams for the 2023 series and the 2026 series, each with a full answer key and rationales.
Sample Medical-Surgical practice questions
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism increases metabolic rate, producing weight loss, tachycardia, heat intolerance, and often tremors — the opposite pattern seen in hypothyroidism.
Rationale: Blood pressure measurements, IV insertions, and venipunctures should never be performed on the arm with an AV fistula, since this can damage the access or compromise circulation. Checking for a thrill and bruit is appropriate and expected.
Rationale: Pain unrelieved by medication along with numbness and tingling are early signs of compartment syndrome, a medical emergency that requires immediate RN and provider notification. The LPN/LVN should not independently adjust the cast or medication timing.
Online Practice A & B — frequently asked questions
What is ATI PN/VN Adult Medical-Surgical Online Practice A and B?
ATI Adult Medical-Surgical Online Practice comes as two parallel forms, A and B, each a shorter, untimed, open-book-style set of questions with feedback provided as you go. This differs from the proctored exam, which is timed, closed-book, and used as a scored assessment for your program.
Are Online Practice A and B the same as this site's practice questions?
No. Online Practice A and B are ATI's own untimed practice assessments, delivered inside your ATI account. This site is independent and offers original practice questions written to the same content areas — it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a reproduction of ATI's proprietary content.
How do I know if I need the 2023 or 2026 version?
Check your course syllabus or ask your instructor which content-mastery series your program uses. If you're not sure, our 2023 exam and 2026 exam pages both describe their content outline so you can compare against what you're seeing in your ATI account.
Why do Online Practice A and B feel easier than the proctored exam?
Online Practice A and B are meant as low-stakes, open-book practice you can take more than once, so ATI intentionally keeps them shorter and less exam-like. A full-length, timed practice run — like our 94-question exams — more closely mirrors the actual proctored testing experience.