2026 ATI PN
COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE
PRACTICE A
(NGN-STYLE QUESTIONS & CASE SCENARIOS)
Answers with detailed Rationale
What You’ll Get:
• 150 ATI-style Practice questions
• quick review
• Printable, easy-to-study PDF
Not affiliated with ATI, VATI or NCLEX. For study purposes only.
,Question 1
A nurse is collecting data from a school-age child who has hypoglycemia. Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Dry mouth
B. Sweating
C. Thirst
D. Fruity breath
Correct Answer: B. Sweating
Rationale: Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) triggers the sympathetic nervous system,
causing sweating, tremors, tachycardia, and anxiety. Dry mouth and thirst are symptoms
of hyperglycemia. Fruity breath indicates diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of
uncontrolled diabetes, not hypoglycemia.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure with fluid volume overload.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Check for bladder distention
B. Monitor blood pressure
C. Assess deep tendon reflexes
D. Auscultate lung sounds
Correct Answer: A. Check for bladder distention
Rationale: In heart failure with fluid overload, checking for bladder distention is
important because urinary retention can worsen fluid overload. The other options are
general assessments but do not specifically address the priority concern for fluid volume
overload management.
Question 3
A school nurse is collecting data from an adolescent client who was referred by
one of their teachers. The teacher states, "I'm concerned because they seem to
be isolating themselves from their friends lately." Which of the following findings
should alert the nurse to a potential risk for suicide?
,A. Expresses confusion about sexual orientation
B. Acknowledges a sense of responsibility to family
C. Identifies positive characteristics of self
D. Affirms affiliation with a religious organization
Correct Answer: A. Expresses confusion about sexual orientation
Rationale: Adolescents questioning their sexual orientation are at increased risk for
depression and suicidal ideation due to potential social stigma, bullying, and internal
conflict. The other options (family responsibility, positive self-identification, religious
affiliation) are protective factors against suicide.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a client who recently had a right hemispheric stroke with
damage to the frontal lobe. The client's family expresses concern because the
client is often impulsive and tearful. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Explain that the client's emotional state will improve over time
B. Suggest a referral for speech therapy
C. Tell the family that respite care is available
D. Request a prescription for an antidepressant for the client
Correct Answer: A. Explain that the client's emotional state will improve over time
Rationale: Right hemisphere strokes commonly cause emotional lability, impulsivity,
and spatial-perceptual deficits. The nurse should first provide education and
reassurance to the family that these behavioral changes are expected consequences of
the stroke and often improve with recovery. This addresses their immediate anxiety
before exploring other interventions.
Question 5
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about cancer prevention. The nurse
should include that frequent consumption of which of the following foods
increases the risk for developing cancer?
A. Lamb
B. Turkey
C. Tuna
D. Chicken
, Correct Answer: A. Lamb
Rationale: Red and processed meats (including lamb) are classified as carcinogenic by
the World Health Organization and increase colorectal cancer risk. White meats (turkey,
chicken) and fish (tuna) are generally considered safer protein sources with lower
cancer association.
Question 6
A nurse is collecting a urine specimen from a female client who has diabetes
insipidus. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Urine specific gravity of 1.002 (1.005-1.030 expected)
B. Proteinuria
C. Hematuria
D. Creatinine clearance of 84 mL/min (87-107 mL/min expected)
Correct Answer: A. Urine specific gravity of 1.002 (1.005-1.030 expected)
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus is characterized by deficient antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
or kidney response to ADH, resulting in dilute urine with low specific gravity (<1.005).
The finding of 1.002 indicates extremely dilute urine, consistent with this condition.
Question 7
A nurse is assisting with planning palliative care for a client who has stage IV
cancer and is in the active stage of dying. Which of the following interventions
should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Provide intramuscular pain medication to ease the client's discomfort
B. Position the client on the left side if nausea occurs
C. Administer atropine to reduce the client's respiratory secretions
D. Encourage family members to speak in a loud tone of voice to the client
Correct Answer: C. Administer atropine to reduce the client's respiratory
secretions
Rationale: In the active dying phase, atropine or scopolamine is commonly used to
reduce "death rattle" (excessive respiratory secretions) for client comfort. Intramuscular
injections are avoided in end-of-life care due to poor circulation; subcutaneous or
transdermal routes are preferred. Loud voices are inappropriate as hearing remains
intact even when unconscious.
COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE
PRACTICE A
(NGN-STYLE QUESTIONS & CASE SCENARIOS)
Answers with detailed Rationale
What You’ll Get:
• 150 ATI-style Practice questions
• quick review
• Printable, easy-to-study PDF
Not affiliated with ATI, VATI or NCLEX. For study purposes only.
,Question 1
A nurse is collecting data from a school-age child who has hypoglycemia. Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Dry mouth
B. Sweating
C. Thirst
D. Fruity breath
Correct Answer: B. Sweating
Rationale: Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) triggers the sympathetic nervous system,
causing sweating, tremors, tachycardia, and anxiety. Dry mouth and thirst are symptoms
of hyperglycemia. Fruity breath indicates diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of
uncontrolled diabetes, not hypoglycemia.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure with fluid volume overload.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Check for bladder distention
B. Monitor blood pressure
C. Assess deep tendon reflexes
D. Auscultate lung sounds
Correct Answer: A. Check for bladder distention
Rationale: In heart failure with fluid overload, checking for bladder distention is
important because urinary retention can worsen fluid overload. The other options are
general assessments but do not specifically address the priority concern for fluid volume
overload management.
Question 3
A school nurse is collecting data from an adolescent client who was referred by
one of their teachers. The teacher states, "I'm concerned because they seem to
be isolating themselves from their friends lately." Which of the following findings
should alert the nurse to a potential risk for suicide?
,A. Expresses confusion about sexual orientation
B. Acknowledges a sense of responsibility to family
C. Identifies positive characteristics of self
D. Affirms affiliation with a religious organization
Correct Answer: A. Expresses confusion about sexual orientation
Rationale: Adolescents questioning their sexual orientation are at increased risk for
depression and suicidal ideation due to potential social stigma, bullying, and internal
conflict. The other options (family responsibility, positive self-identification, religious
affiliation) are protective factors against suicide.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a client who recently had a right hemispheric stroke with
damage to the frontal lobe. The client's family expresses concern because the
client is often impulsive and tearful. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Explain that the client's emotional state will improve over time
B. Suggest a referral for speech therapy
C. Tell the family that respite care is available
D. Request a prescription for an antidepressant for the client
Correct Answer: A. Explain that the client's emotional state will improve over time
Rationale: Right hemisphere strokes commonly cause emotional lability, impulsivity,
and spatial-perceptual deficits. The nurse should first provide education and
reassurance to the family that these behavioral changes are expected consequences of
the stroke and often improve with recovery. This addresses their immediate anxiety
before exploring other interventions.
Question 5
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about cancer prevention. The nurse
should include that frequent consumption of which of the following foods
increases the risk for developing cancer?
A. Lamb
B. Turkey
C. Tuna
D. Chicken
, Correct Answer: A. Lamb
Rationale: Red and processed meats (including lamb) are classified as carcinogenic by
the World Health Organization and increase colorectal cancer risk. White meats (turkey,
chicken) and fish (tuna) are generally considered safer protein sources with lower
cancer association.
Question 6
A nurse is collecting a urine specimen from a female client who has diabetes
insipidus. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Urine specific gravity of 1.002 (1.005-1.030 expected)
B. Proteinuria
C. Hematuria
D. Creatinine clearance of 84 mL/min (87-107 mL/min expected)
Correct Answer: A. Urine specific gravity of 1.002 (1.005-1.030 expected)
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus is characterized by deficient antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
or kidney response to ADH, resulting in dilute urine with low specific gravity (<1.005).
The finding of 1.002 indicates extremely dilute urine, consistent with this condition.
Question 7
A nurse is assisting with planning palliative care for a client who has stage IV
cancer and is in the active stage of dying. Which of the following interventions
should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Provide intramuscular pain medication to ease the client's discomfort
B. Position the client on the left side if nausea occurs
C. Administer atropine to reduce the client's respiratory secretions
D. Encourage family members to speak in a loud tone of voice to the client
Correct Answer: C. Administer atropine to reduce the client's respiratory
secretions
Rationale: In the active dying phase, atropine or scopolamine is commonly used to
reduce "death rattle" (excessive respiratory secretions) for client comfort. Intramuscular
injections are avoided in end-of-life care due to poor circulation; subcutaneous or
transdermal routes are preferred. Loud voices are inappropriate as hearing remains
intact even when unconscious.
