ATI COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR GREEN LIGHT EXAM
2026/2027
Forms A, B, C & Retakes | 150 Questions with Verified
Answers & Italicized Rationales
SECTION 1: PRIORITIZATION & CLINICAL JUDGMENT (Questions
1-25)
Question 1: A nurse in an emergency department is assessing four clients. Which
client should the nurse assess first?
A) A client with COPD and oxygen saturation of 88% on room air
B) A client with chest pain who reports pain 4/10 and is waiting for an ECG
C) A client with abdominal pain and a temperature of 38.3°C (100.9°F)
D) A client with a leg fracture who is asking for pain medication
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A client with SpO₂ of 88% is hypoxemic and requires immediate intervention to
prevent respiratory failure. The ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework guides
prioritization; oxygenation is a breathing priority before chest pain evaluation or other
stable clients .
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous enteral
feedings. Which action should the nurse take to reduce the risk of aspiration?
A) Place the client in a supine position
B) Check residual volume every 4 hours
C) Flush the tube with 50 mL of water every 2 hours
D) Replace the feeding bag every 24 hours
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Regular assessment of gastric residual volume is essential to monitor for gastric
intolerance and reduce the risk of aspiration. The head of the bed should be maintained at
30-45 degrees. Residual volumes greater than 250-500 mL may indicate delayed gastric
emptying and require holding the feeding .
Question 3: A charge nurse is teaching newly licensed nurses about the correct use
of restraints. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A) Place a belt restraint on a school-age child who has seizures
B) Secure wrist restraints to the bed rails for an adolescent
C) Apply elbow immobilizers for an infant receiving cleft lip repair
D) Keep the side rails of a toddler's crib elevated
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Elbow immobilizers prevent infants from touching surgical sites (cleft lip/palate
repair). Restraints should never be secured to bed rails (risk of entrapment); belt restraints
are contraindicated for seizure clients; side rails elevated on cribs is standard but not a
restraint .
Question 4: A nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted to the hospital.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent a fall? (Select all
that apply)
A) Place the bed in the lowest position
B) Raise all four side rails
C) Keep the room dark at night
D) Place the call light within reach
E) Use restraints while the client is in bed
Correct Answer: A, D
,Rationale: Low bed position reduces injury risk if the client falls. The call light should be
within reach. Side rails should not all be raised (this can be considered a restraint); the
room should have adequate lighting; restraints are a last resort [citation:5, 7].
Question 5: A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hours postoperative following
abdominal cholecystectomy. Which finding is the priority to report to the
provider?
A) Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
B) Drainage of 20 mL of bile-stained fluid on the dressing
C) Persistent rigid, board-like abdomen
D) Absence of bowel sounds in all four quadrants
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A rigid, board-like abdomen is a classic sign of peritonitis, a life-threatening
complication of abdominal surgery. While pain and absent bowel sounds are expected
post-op, a rigid abdomen indicates a medical emergency requiring immediate
intervention .
Question 6: A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which client should
the nurse see first?
A) A client with a new prescription for enoxaparin who needs teaching
B) A client with type 1 diabetes who has a blood glucose of 55 mg/dL
C) A client with hypertension who requests a refill of lisinopril
D) A client with osteoarthritis who requests PRN acetaminophen
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoglycemia (blood glucose 55 mg/dL) is a life-threatening emergency
requiring immediate treatment. This client must be seen before any stable or routine
requests .
, Question 7: A nurse is performing medication reconciliation for a newly admitted
client. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Compare a list of common medications to actual prescriptions
B) Compare the prescription to the allergy history
C) Compare medication label to provider's prescription on three occasions
D) Compare the client's home medications to admission prescriptions
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Medication reconciliation involves comparing home medications to admission
prescriptions to identify discrepancies, prevent errors, and ensure continuity of care .
Question 8: A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has a
tension pneumothorax. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A) Paradoxical chest movement
B) Bilateral crackles
C) Asymmetry of the chest
D) Blood-tinged sputum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Paradoxical chest movement is a key manifestation of tension pneumothorax,
where the affected side moves inward during inspiration and outward during expiration.
This indicates severe respiratory compromise requiring immediate needle decompression.
Question 9: A charge nurse is making shift assignments. Which client should be
assigned to a float nurse from a postpartum unit?
A) A client with new-onset atrial fibrillation
B) A client requiring wound care for a stage 3 pressure ulcer
C) A client with a central line receiving TPN
D) A client with stable vital signs awaiting discharge
Correct Answer: D
2026/2027
Forms A, B, C & Retakes | 150 Questions with Verified
Answers & Italicized Rationales
SECTION 1: PRIORITIZATION & CLINICAL JUDGMENT (Questions
1-25)
Question 1: A nurse in an emergency department is assessing four clients. Which
client should the nurse assess first?
A) A client with COPD and oxygen saturation of 88% on room air
B) A client with chest pain who reports pain 4/10 and is waiting for an ECG
C) A client with abdominal pain and a temperature of 38.3°C (100.9°F)
D) A client with a leg fracture who is asking for pain medication
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A client with SpO₂ of 88% is hypoxemic and requires immediate intervention to
prevent respiratory failure. The ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework guides
prioritization; oxygenation is a breathing priority before chest pain evaluation or other
stable clients .
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous enteral
feedings. Which action should the nurse take to reduce the risk of aspiration?
A) Place the client in a supine position
B) Check residual volume every 4 hours
C) Flush the tube with 50 mL of water every 2 hours
D) Replace the feeding bag every 24 hours
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Regular assessment of gastric residual volume is essential to monitor for gastric
intolerance and reduce the risk of aspiration. The head of the bed should be maintained at
30-45 degrees. Residual volumes greater than 250-500 mL may indicate delayed gastric
emptying and require holding the feeding .
Question 3: A charge nurse is teaching newly licensed nurses about the correct use
of restraints. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A) Place a belt restraint on a school-age child who has seizures
B) Secure wrist restraints to the bed rails for an adolescent
C) Apply elbow immobilizers for an infant receiving cleft lip repair
D) Keep the side rails of a toddler's crib elevated
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Elbow immobilizers prevent infants from touching surgical sites (cleft lip/palate
repair). Restraints should never be secured to bed rails (risk of entrapment); belt restraints
are contraindicated for seizure clients; side rails elevated on cribs is standard but not a
restraint .
Question 4: A nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted to the hospital.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent a fall? (Select all
that apply)
A) Place the bed in the lowest position
B) Raise all four side rails
C) Keep the room dark at night
D) Place the call light within reach
E) Use restraints while the client is in bed
Correct Answer: A, D
,Rationale: Low bed position reduces injury risk if the client falls. The call light should be
within reach. Side rails should not all be raised (this can be considered a restraint); the
room should have adequate lighting; restraints are a last resort [citation:5, 7].
Question 5: A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hours postoperative following
abdominal cholecystectomy. Which finding is the priority to report to the
provider?
A) Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
B) Drainage of 20 mL of bile-stained fluid on the dressing
C) Persistent rigid, board-like abdomen
D) Absence of bowel sounds in all four quadrants
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A rigid, board-like abdomen is a classic sign of peritonitis, a life-threatening
complication of abdominal surgery. While pain and absent bowel sounds are expected
post-op, a rigid abdomen indicates a medical emergency requiring immediate
intervention .
Question 6: A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which client should
the nurse see first?
A) A client with a new prescription for enoxaparin who needs teaching
B) A client with type 1 diabetes who has a blood glucose of 55 mg/dL
C) A client with hypertension who requests a refill of lisinopril
D) A client with osteoarthritis who requests PRN acetaminophen
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoglycemia (blood glucose 55 mg/dL) is a life-threatening emergency
requiring immediate treatment. This client must be seen before any stable or routine
requests .
, Question 7: A nurse is performing medication reconciliation for a newly admitted
client. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Compare a list of common medications to actual prescriptions
B) Compare the prescription to the allergy history
C) Compare medication label to provider's prescription on three occasions
D) Compare the client's home medications to admission prescriptions
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Medication reconciliation involves comparing home medications to admission
prescriptions to identify discrepancies, prevent errors, and ensure continuity of care .
Question 8: A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has a
tension pneumothorax. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A) Paradoxical chest movement
B) Bilateral crackles
C) Asymmetry of the chest
D) Blood-tinged sputum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Paradoxical chest movement is a key manifestation of tension pneumothorax,
where the affected side moves inward during inspiration and outward during expiration.
This indicates severe respiratory compromise requiring immediate needle decompression.
Question 9: A charge nurse is making shift assignments. Which client should be
assigned to a float nurse from a postpartum unit?
A) A client with new-onset atrial fibrillation
B) A client requiring wound care for a stage 3 pressure ulcer
C) A client with a central line receiving TPN
D) A client with stable vital signs awaiting discharge
Correct Answer: D
