ATI Virtual NCLEX Review 2026–2027
Comprehensive Study Guide with Practice
Questions, Detailed Rationales and Complete
NCLEX Preparation
Question 1:
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who has a new colostomy. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first in the discharge planning
process?
A) Provide written instructions about ostomy care
B) Assess the client's readiness to learn and ability to perform ostomy
care
C) Schedule a follow-up appointment with the ostomy nurse
D) Document the teaching provided in the client's chart
Correct Answer: B) Assess the client's readiness to learn and ability to
perform ostomy care
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. Before
providing any teaching, the nurse must assess the client's readiness to learn,
physical ability to perform care, and emotional readiness. Providing written
instructions (A), scheduling follow-up (C), and documentation (D) are
important but follow the assessment step.
Question 2:
A charge nurse is making client assignments for the shift. Which of the
following clients should be assigned to the most experienced nurse?
A) A client who is 2 days post-operative with an uncomplicated recovery
B) A client who is newly admitted with unstable angina
C) A client who is ambulatory and self-care
D) A client who is awaiting discharge
Correct Answer: B) A client who is newly admitted with unstable angina
,Rationale: A newly admitted client with an unstable condition (unstable
angina) requires the most experienced nurse. Post-operative day 2 (A),
ambulatory (C), and discharge-ready (D) clients can be assigned to less
experienced staff.
Question 3:
A nurse is caring for a client who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. The
client's family requests that the nurse perform CPR if the client's heart stops.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Perform CPR as requested by the family
B) Honor the DNR order and not perform CPR
C) Contact the provider for clarification
D) Ask the family to leave the room
Correct Answer: B) Honor the DNR order and not perform CPR
Rationale: A valid DNR order must be honored. The nurse should not perform
CPR even if the family requests it. The nurse should explain the DNR order to
the family and provide support. Contacting the provider (C) is not necessary if
the DNR order is valid.
Question 4:
A nurse manager is reviewing the principles of delegation with a newly
licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates an understanding of delegation?
A) "I am responsible for all tasks I delegate."
B) "I can delegate assessment to the LPN."
C) "I am not accountable for the tasks I delegate."
D) "I can delegate sterile dressing changes to the UAP."
Correct Answer: A) "I am responsible for all tasks I delegate."
Rationale: The RN retains accountability for all tasks delegated, even though
the responsibility for performing the task is transferred. Assessment (B)
cannot be delegated. Sterile dressing changes (D) cannot be delegated to
UAPs.
,Question 5:
A nurse is providing education to a client about advance directives. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A) "A living will designates someone to make decisions for me."
B) "A durable power of attorney for health care allows me to specify my
treatment wishes."
C) "A living will allows me to specify my treatment wishes."
D) "Advance directives cannot be changed once signed."
Correct Answer: C) "A living will allows me to specify my treatment
wishes."
Rationale: A living will specifies the client's treatment wishes in writing. A
durable power of attorney for healthcare designates someone to make
decisions (B). Advance directives can be changed at any time (D).
Question 6:
A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from a bed to a stretcher. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent injury?
A) Keep the bed in the lowest position
B) Use a friction-reducing slide sheet
C) Position the client flat with arms crossed
D) Ask the client to lift themselves
Correct Answer: B) Use a friction-reducing slide sheet
Rationale: Using a friction-reducing slide sheet reduces friction and prevents
skin injury during transfer. The bed should be raised to a comfortable working
height (A). The client should be positioned with arms across the chest (C) but
this is not the primary safety measure. Asking the client to lift themselves (D)
is not appropriate for all clients.
, Question 7:
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anaphylaxis after receiving a
medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Administer diphenhydramine
B) Administer epinephrine
C) Discontinue the medication
D) Apply oxygen
Correct Answer: C) Discontinue the medication
Rationale: The first action is to stop the infusion or discontinue the
medication to prevent further exposure to the allergen. Then, the nurse
should administer epinephrine (B), which is the first-line treatment for
anaphylaxis. Diphenhydramine (A) and oxygen (D) are adjunctive treatments.
Question 8:
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for restraints. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Apply restraints for 4 hours before reassessing
B) Obtain a written prescription from the provider before applying
restraints
C) Secure restraints to the bed's side rails
D) Document the client's behavior every 4 hours
Correct Answer: B) Obtain a written prescription from the provider
before applying restraints
Rationale: A written prescription is required before applying restraints,
except in emergencies. Restraints should be reassessed every 2 hours (A).
They should be secured to the bed frame, not side rails (C). Documentation
should occur every 1-2 hours (D).
Question 9:
A nurse is using the SBAR communication tool to report a client's status to the
healthcare provider. Which of the following should be included in the "B"
(Background) component?
Comprehensive Study Guide with Practice
Questions, Detailed Rationales and Complete
NCLEX Preparation
Question 1:
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who has a new colostomy. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first in the discharge planning
process?
A) Provide written instructions about ostomy care
B) Assess the client's readiness to learn and ability to perform ostomy
care
C) Schedule a follow-up appointment with the ostomy nurse
D) Document the teaching provided in the client's chart
Correct Answer: B) Assess the client's readiness to learn and ability to
perform ostomy care
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. Before
providing any teaching, the nurse must assess the client's readiness to learn,
physical ability to perform care, and emotional readiness. Providing written
instructions (A), scheduling follow-up (C), and documentation (D) are
important but follow the assessment step.
Question 2:
A charge nurse is making client assignments for the shift. Which of the
following clients should be assigned to the most experienced nurse?
A) A client who is 2 days post-operative with an uncomplicated recovery
B) A client who is newly admitted with unstable angina
C) A client who is ambulatory and self-care
D) A client who is awaiting discharge
Correct Answer: B) A client who is newly admitted with unstable angina
,Rationale: A newly admitted client with an unstable condition (unstable
angina) requires the most experienced nurse. Post-operative day 2 (A),
ambulatory (C), and discharge-ready (D) clients can be assigned to less
experienced staff.
Question 3:
A nurse is caring for a client who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. The
client's family requests that the nurse perform CPR if the client's heart stops.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Perform CPR as requested by the family
B) Honor the DNR order and not perform CPR
C) Contact the provider for clarification
D) Ask the family to leave the room
Correct Answer: B) Honor the DNR order and not perform CPR
Rationale: A valid DNR order must be honored. The nurse should not perform
CPR even if the family requests it. The nurse should explain the DNR order to
the family and provide support. Contacting the provider (C) is not necessary if
the DNR order is valid.
Question 4:
A nurse manager is reviewing the principles of delegation with a newly
licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates an understanding of delegation?
A) "I am responsible for all tasks I delegate."
B) "I can delegate assessment to the LPN."
C) "I am not accountable for the tasks I delegate."
D) "I can delegate sterile dressing changes to the UAP."
Correct Answer: A) "I am responsible for all tasks I delegate."
Rationale: The RN retains accountability for all tasks delegated, even though
the responsibility for performing the task is transferred. Assessment (B)
cannot be delegated. Sterile dressing changes (D) cannot be delegated to
UAPs.
,Question 5:
A nurse is providing education to a client about advance directives. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A) "A living will designates someone to make decisions for me."
B) "A durable power of attorney for health care allows me to specify my
treatment wishes."
C) "A living will allows me to specify my treatment wishes."
D) "Advance directives cannot be changed once signed."
Correct Answer: C) "A living will allows me to specify my treatment
wishes."
Rationale: A living will specifies the client's treatment wishes in writing. A
durable power of attorney for healthcare designates someone to make
decisions (B). Advance directives can be changed at any time (D).
Question 6:
A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from a bed to a stretcher. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent injury?
A) Keep the bed in the lowest position
B) Use a friction-reducing slide sheet
C) Position the client flat with arms crossed
D) Ask the client to lift themselves
Correct Answer: B) Use a friction-reducing slide sheet
Rationale: Using a friction-reducing slide sheet reduces friction and prevents
skin injury during transfer. The bed should be raised to a comfortable working
height (A). The client should be positioned with arms across the chest (C) but
this is not the primary safety measure. Asking the client to lift themselves (D)
is not appropriate for all clients.
, Question 7:
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing anaphylaxis after receiving a
medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Administer diphenhydramine
B) Administer epinephrine
C) Discontinue the medication
D) Apply oxygen
Correct Answer: C) Discontinue the medication
Rationale: The first action is to stop the infusion or discontinue the
medication to prevent further exposure to the allergen. Then, the nurse
should administer epinephrine (B), which is the first-line treatment for
anaphylaxis. Diphenhydramine (A) and oxygen (D) are adjunctive treatments.
Question 8:
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for restraints. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Apply restraints for 4 hours before reassessing
B) Obtain a written prescription from the provider before applying
restraints
C) Secure restraints to the bed's side rails
D) Document the client's behavior every 4 hours
Correct Answer: B) Obtain a written prescription from the provider
before applying restraints
Rationale: A written prescription is required before applying restraints,
except in emergencies. Restraints should be reassessed every 2 hours (A).
They should be secured to the bed frame, not side rails (C). Documentation
should occur every 1-2 hours (D).
Question 9:
A nurse is using the SBAR communication tool to report a client's status to the
healthcare provider. Which of the following should be included in the "B"
(Background) component?
