ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR PRACTICE TEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027..
CORE DOMAINS
* Medical-Surgical Nursing
* Pharmacology and Parenteral Therapies
* Fundamentals of Nursing
* Mental Health Nursing
* Maternal-Newborn Nursing
* Nursing Care of Children
* Leadership and Management
* Community Health Nursing
INTRODUCTION
*The ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor is a high-stakes assessment designed to evaluate the readiness of nursing students for the NCLEX-
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving intravenous potassium chloride. The nurse notes the IV site is cool, swollen, and pale.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Apply a warm compress to the site.
B. Stop the infusion.
C. Increase the rate of IV flow.
D. Elevate the extremity.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: The clinical presentation of coolness, swelling, and pallor indicates infiltration. The nurse must stop the infusion immediately
to prevent further tissue damage from the potassium chloride.
A client with type 1 diabetes mellitus is found unresponsive, diaphoretic, and tachycardic. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Administer subcutaneous insulin.
B. Provide a glass of orange juice.
,C. Administer glucagon via injection.
D. Check the client's blood glucose level.
🟢D
🔴 RATIONALE: Assessment is the priority. Although the symptoms suggest hypoglycemia, the nurse must confirm the blood glucose level
before initiating specific interventions like glucagon or complex carbohydrates, unless the facility protocol dictates immediate treatment for
presumed hypoglycemia.
Which finding in a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires immediate intervention by the nurse?
A. Use of accessory muscles for breathing.
B. Productive cough with clear sputum.
C. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute.
D. Oxygen saturation of 88% on 2L nasal cannula.
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: The use of accessory muscles indicates significant respiratory distress and increased work of breathing. While other
findings are common in COPD, respiratory distress requires immediate stabilization.
A nurse is prioritizing care for four clients. Which client should the nurse see first?
A. A client requesting pain medication for a headache.
B. A client with a new onset of sudden confusion.
C. A client scheduled for discharge teaching.
D. A client with a stable postoperative abdominal dressing.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Sudden confusion is a change in neurological status that could indicate hypoxia, hypoglycemia, or an acute stroke, making
this client the highest priority for assessment.
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Place a tongue blade in the mouth.
B. Restrain the client's extremities.
C. Turn the client to a side-lying position.
D. Suction the airway.
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: Patient safety is the priority during a seizure. Turning the client to a side-lying position helps prevent aspiration and keeps
the airway clear. Inserting objects into the mouth is contraindicated.
Which statement by a new nurse indicates an understanding of HIPAA regulations?
A. I can look up my friend's chart to see how they are doing.
B. I will discuss patient cases in the cafeteria during my break.
C. I will only share protected health information with authorized personnel involved in the patient's care.
D. I will leave the patient's computer terminal open if I am just walking away for a minute.
, 🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: HIPAA mandates that health information only be shared with those directly involved in the patient's care to maintain privacy
and confidentiality.
A client is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor for effectiveness?
A. Platelet count.
B. Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR).
C. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT).
D. Hemoglobin and hematocrit.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Warfarin is monitored via PT and INR levels to ensure the therapeutic range is achieved and to prevent excessive bleeding.
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which assessment finding requires the nurse to withhold the
medication?
A. Apical heart rate of 52 beats per minute.
B. Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg.
C. Potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L.
D. Peripheral edema.
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: Digoxin slows the heart rate. Withholding the medication is standard practice when the heart rate is below 60 beats per
minute in an adult to prevent symptomatic bradycardia.
A client in the third trimester of pregnancy reports shortness of breath when lying flat. What is the nurse's best recommendation?
A. Increase physical activity.
B. Lie in a side-lying position.
C. Decrease fluid intake.
D. Elevate the feet on a high stool.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Side-lying relieves pressure from the gravid uterus on the inferior vena cava, improving venous return and reducing
dyspnea.
A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The nurse notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What does this
suggest?
A. The system is functioning normally.
B. There is an air leak in the system.
C. The lung has fully re-expanded.
D. The suction is set too low.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Intermittent bubbling in the water-seal chamber is normal, but continuous bubbling indicates an air leak between the patient
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027..
CORE DOMAINS
* Medical-Surgical Nursing
* Pharmacology and Parenteral Therapies
* Fundamentals of Nursing
* Mental Health Nursing
* Maternal-Newborn Nursing
* Nursing Care of Children
* Leadership and Management
* Community Health Nursing
INTRODUCTION
*The ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor is a high-stakes assessment designed to evaluate the readiness of nursing students for the NCLEX-
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving intravenous potassium chloride. The nurse notes the IV site is cool, swollen, and pale.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Apply a warm compress to the site.
B. Stop the infusion.
C. Increase the rate of IV flow.
D. Elevate the extremity.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: The clinical presentation of coolness, swelling, and pallor indicates infiltration. The nurse must stop the infusion immediately
to prevent further tissue damage from the potassium chloride.
A client with type 1 diabetes mellitus is found unresponsive, diaphoretic, and tachycardic. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Administer subcutaneous insulin.
B. Provide a glass of orange juice.
,C. Administer glucagon via injection.
D. Check the client's blood glucose level.
🟢D
🔴 RATIONALE: Assessment is the priority. Although the symptoms suggest hypoglycemia, the nurse must confirm the blood glucose level
before initiating specific interventions like glucagon or complex carbohydrates, unless the facility protocol dictates immediate treatment for
presumed hypoglycemia.
Which finding in a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires immediate intervention by the nurse?
A. Use of accessory muscles for breathing.
B. Productive cough with clear sputum.
C. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute.
D. Oxygen saturation of 88% on 2L nasal cannula.
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: The use of accessory muscles indicates significant respiratory distress and increased work of breathing. While other
findings are common in COPD, respiratory distress requires immediate stabilization.
A nurse is prioritizing care for four clients. Which client should the nurse see first?
A. A client requesting pain medication for a headache.
B. A client with a new onset of sudden confusion.
C. A client scheduled for discharge teaching.
D. A client with a stable postoperative abdominal dressing.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Sudden confusion is a change in neurological status that could indicate hypoxia, hypoglycemia, or an acute stroke, making
this client the highest priority for assessment.
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Place a tongue blade in the mouth.
B. Restrain the client's extremities.
C. Turn the client to a side-lying position.
D. Suction the airway.
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: Patient safety is the priority during a seizure. Turning the client to a side-lying position helps prevent aspiration and keeps
the airway clear. Inserting objects into the mouth is contraindicated.
Which statement by a new nurse indicates an understanding of HIPAA regulations?
A. I can look up my friend's chart to see how they are doing.
B. I will discuss patient cases in the cafeteria during my break.
C. I will only share protected health information with authorized personnel involved in the patient's care.
D. I will leave the patient's computer terminal open if I am just walking away for a minute.
, 🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: HIPAA mandates that health information only be shared with those directly involved in the patient's care to maintain privacy
and confidentiality.
A client is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor for effectiveness?
A. Platelet count.
B. Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR).
C. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT).
D. Hemoglobin and hematocrit.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Warfarin is monitored via PT and INR levels to ensure the therapeutic range is achieved and to prevent excessive bleeding.
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which assessment finding requires the nurse to withhold the
medication?
A. Apical heart rate of 52 beats per minute.
B. Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg.
C. Potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L.
D. Peripheral edema.
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: Digoxin slows the heart rate. Withholding the medication is standard practice when the heart rate is below 60 beats per
minute in an adult to prevent symptomatic bradycardia.
A client in the third trimester of pregnancy reports shortness of breath when lying flat. What is the nurse's best recommendation?
A. Increase physical activity.
B. Lie in a side-lying position.
C. Decrease fluid intake.
D. Elevate the feet on a high stool.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Side-lying relieves pressure from the gravid uterus on the inferior vena cava, improving venous return and reducing
dyspnea.
A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The nurse notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What does this
suggest?
A. The system is functioning normally.
B. There is an air leak in the system.
C. The lung has fully re-expanded.
D. The suction is set too low.
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Intermittent bubbling in the water-seal chamber is normal, but continuous bubbling indicates an air leak between the patient
