ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR FORM A EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |
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CORE DOMAINS
• Management of Care
• Safety and Infection Control
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Basic Care and Comfort
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
• Reduction of Risk Potential
• Physiological Adaptation
INTRODUCTION
The ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor Form A Exam is a critical evaluative tool designed to determine a student's readiness for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. This
comprehensive assessment measures a broad spectrum of nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and the ability to apply the nursing process across diverse patient populations.
The exam utilizes multiple-choice questions and complex clinical scenarios to evaluate the candidate's proficiency in safety, physiological integrity, and professional ethics. By
emphasizing real-world application and prioritized decision-making, this exam ensures that the future registered nurse possesses the essential skills required for safe, effective,
and evidence-based clinical practice.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hours postoperative following a cholecystectomy. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the
provider?
A. Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. Absent bowel sounds in all four quadrants
C. Redness and warmth around the incision site
D. Rigid, board-like abdomen
🟢 Correct answer D
🔴 RATIONALE: A rigid, board-like abdomen is a classic sign of peritonitis, which can occur if there is an internal leak or hemorrhage after surgery. This is a life-threatening
complication and takes priority over expected postoperative findings like pain or temporary absence of bowel sounds.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Monitor the client's potassium level
B. Check the client's apical pulse for 60 seconds
C. Administer the medication with a full glass of water
D. Evaluate the client for signs of visual disturbances
🟢 Correct answer B
,🔴 RATIONALE: Digoxin is an inotropic medication that slows the heart rate. The nurse must assess the apical pulse for one full minute to ensure it is within a safe range
(typically >60 bpm) before administration to prevent bradycardia.
3. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage system. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Fluctuations in the water-seal chamber during respiration
B. Persistent bubbling in the water-seal chamber
C. 50 mL of serosanguineous drainage in the collection chamber over 4 hours
D. Presence of subcutaneous emphysema near the insertion site
🟢 Correct answer B
🔴 RATIONALE: Persistent bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak within the system or from the client's lung. Occasional tidaling (fluctuation) is normal, but
continuous bubbling requires immediate intervention.
4. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for lithium carbonate to treat bipolar disorder. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Limit sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach
C. Maintain a consistent fluid intake of 2 to 3 liters per day
D. Discontinue the medication if hand tremors occur
🟢 Correct answer C
🔴 RATIONALE: Lithium is a salt, and stable fluid and sodium levels are required to prevent toxicity. Decreased fluid intake or low sodium can lead to lithium retention and toxic
levels in the blood.
5. A nurse is caring for a client in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. Which of the following snacks should the nurse provide?
A. A bowl of vegetable soup
B. Sliced apples and peanut butter
C. Spaghetti and meatballs
D. A fruit salad with yogurt
🟢 Correct answer B
🔴 RATIONALE: Clients in a manic phase often have high energy and cannot sit down to eat. "Finger foods" that are high in protein and calories, like apples and peanut butter,
allow the client to eat while moving.
6. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. I should swallow the pill with a sip of water
B. I will take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to three doses if chest pain persists
C. I will store the tablets in a clear plastic container on my bedside table
D. I should expect the medication to cause a drop in my heart rate
🟢 Correct answer B
🔴 RATIONALE: For chest pain, the protocol is one tablet every 5 minutes for a maximum of three doses. If pain is not relieved after the first dose, the client should call 911.
Sublingual pills must be dissolved under the tongue, not swallowed.
, 7. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hours postpartum. The nurse notes that the fundus is shifted to the right and is two fingerbreadths above the umbilicus. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Massage the fundus vigorously
B. Administer oxytocin intramuscularly
C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void
D. Notify the provider of a possible hemorrhage
🟢 Correct answer C
🔴 RATIONALE: A fundus that is displaced upward and to the right is usually caused by a distended bladder. Having the client empty their bladder allows the uterus to contract
and return to the midline position.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Insert a padded tongue blade into the client's mouth
B. Restrain the client's arms and legs
C. Place the client in a side-lying position
D. Monitor the duration of the seizure
🟢 Correct answer C
🔴 RATIONALE: The priority during a seizure is maintaining a patent airway and preventing aspiration. Placing the client on their side allows secretions to drain and keeps the
tongue from obstructing the airway.
9. A nurse is caring for a client with a prescription for a clear liquid diet. Which of the following items should the nurse offer?
A. Vanilla pudding
B. Apple juice
C. Orange juice with pulp
D. Low-fat yogurt
🟢 Correct answer B
🔴 RATIONALE: Clear liquids are those that are transparent and liquid at room temperature. Apple juice and fat-free broth qualify, whereas pudding, yogurt, and pulpy juices
are considered full liquids.
10. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results for a client receiving heparin via continuous IV infusion. Which of the following results should the nurse report to the provider?
A. aPTT of 70 seconds
B. INR of 1.1
C. Platelet count of 90,000/mm³
D. Hemoglobin of 14 g/dL
🟢 Correct answer C
🔴 RATIONALE: A platelet count below 100,000/mm³ while on heparin can indicate Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT), a serious immune-mediated reaction that
requires immediate cessation of heparin.
11. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new permanent pacemaker. Which of the following should the nurse include?
A. Avoid using a microwave oven in the home
B. Keep the arm on the affected side raised above the head for 48 hours
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
• Management of Care
• Safety and Infection Control
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Basic Care and Comfort
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
• Reduction of Risk Potential
• Physiological Adaptation
INTRODUCTION
The ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor Form A Exam is a critical evaluative tool designed to determine a student's readiness for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. This
comprehensive assessment measures a broad spectrum of nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and the ability to apply the nursing process across diverse patient populations.
The exam utilizes multiple-choice questions and complex clinical scenarios to evaluate the candidate's proficiency in safety, physiological integrity, and professional ethics. By
emphasizing real-world application and prioritized decision-making, this exam ensures that the future registered nurse possesses the essential skills required for safe, effective,
and evidence-based clinical practice.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hours postoperative following a cholecystectomy. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the
provider?
A. Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. Absent bowel sounds in all four quadrants
C. Redness and warmth around the incision site
D. Rigid, board-like abdomen
🟢 Correct answer D
🔴 RATIONALE: A rigid, board-like abdomen is a classic sign of peritonitis, which can occur if there is an internal leak or hemorrhage after surgery. This is a life-threatening
complication and takes priority over expected postoperative findings like pain or temporary absence of bowel sounds.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Monitor the client's potassium level
B. Check the client's apical pulse for 60 seconds
C. Administer the medication with a full glass of water
D. Evaluate the client for signs of visual disturbances
🟢 Correct answer B
,🔴 RATIONALE: Digoxin is an inotropic medication that slows the heart rate. The nurse must assess the apical pulse for one full minute to ensure it is within a safe range
(typically >60 bpm) before administration to prevent bradycardia.
3. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage system. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Fluctuations in the water-seal chamber during respiration
B. Persistent bubbling in the water-seal chamber
C. 50 mL of serosanguineous drainage in the collection chamber over 4 hours
D. Presence of subcutaneous emphysema near the insertion site
🟢 Correct answer B
🔴 RATIONALE: Persistent bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak within the system or from the client's lung. Occasional tidaling (fluctuation) is normal, but
continuous bubbling requires immediate intervention.
4. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for lithium carbonate to treat bipolar disorder. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Limit sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach
C. Maintain a consistent fluid intake of 2 to 3 liters per day
D. Discontinue the medication if hand tremors occur
🟢 Correct answer C
🔴 RATIONALE: Lithium is a salt, and stable fluid and sodium levels are required to prevent toxicity. Decreased fluid intake or low sodium can lead to lithium retention and toxic
levels in the blood.
5. A nurse is caring for a client in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. Which of the following snacks should the nurse provide?
A. A bowl of vegetable soup
B. Sliced apples and peanut butter
C. Spaghetti and meatballs
D. A fruit salad with yogurt
🟢 Correct answer B
🔴 RATIONALE: Clients in a manic phase often have high energy and cannot sit down to eat. "Finger foods" that are high in protein and calories, like apples and peanut butter,
allow the client to eat while moving.
6. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. I should swallow the pill with a sip of water
B. I will take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to three doses if chest pain persists
C. I will store the tablets in a clear plastic container on my bedside table
D. I should expect the medication to cause a drop in my heart rate
🟢 Correct answer B
🔴 RATIONALE: For chest pain, the protocol is one tablet every 5 minutes for a maximum of three doses. If pain is not relieved after the first dose, the client should call 911.
Sublingual pills must be dissolved under the tongue, not swallowed.
, 7. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hours postpartum. The nurse notes that the fundus is shifted to the right and is two fingerbreadths above the umbilicus. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Massage the fundus vigorously
B. Administer oxytocin intramuscularly
C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void
D. Notify the provider of a possible hemorrhage
🟢 Correct answer C
🔴 RATIONALE: A fundus that is displaced upward and to the right is usually caused by a distended bladder. Having the client empty their bladder allows the uterus to contract
and return to the midline position.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Insert a padded tongue blade into the client's mouth
B. Restrain the client's arms and legs
C. Place the client in a side-lying position
D. Monitor the duration of the seizure
🟢 Correct answer C
🔴 RATIONALE: The priority during a seizure is maintaining a patent airway and preventing aspiration. Placing the client on their side allows secretions to drain and keeps the
tongue from obstructing the airway.
9. A nurse is caring for a client with a prescription for a clear liquid diet. Which of the following items should the nurse offer?
A. Vanilla pudding
B. Apple juice
C. Orange juice with pulp
D. Low-fat yogurt
🟢 Correct answer B
🔴 RATIONALE: Clear liquids are those that are transparent and liquid at room temperature. Apple juice and fat-free broth qualify, whereas pudding, yogurt, and pulpy juices
are considered full liquids.
10. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results for a client receiving heparin via continuous IV infusion. Which of the following results should the nurse report to the provider?
A. aPTT of 70 seconds
B. INR of 1.1
C. Platelet count of 90,000/mm³
D. Hemoglobin of 14 g/dL
🟢 Correct answer C
🔴 RATIONALE: A platelet count below 100,000/mm³ while on heparin can indicate Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT), a serious immune-mediated reaction that
requires immediate cessation of heparin.
11. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new permanent pacemaker. Which of the following should the nurse include?
A. Avoid using a microwave oven in the home
B. Keep the arm on the affected side raised above the head for 48 hours
