RN ATI COMPREHENSIVE
PREDICTOR 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS Graded A+
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has an arteriovenous fistula.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report?
• A) Thrill upon palpation
• B) Absence of a bruit
• C) Distended blood vessels
• D) Swishing sound upon auscultation
• Answer: B) Absence of a bruit.
• Rationale: A bruit (swishing sound) and thrill (vibration) are
expected findings in a functioning AV fistula. The absence of a
bruit indicates possible clotting or stenosis of the fistula, which
requires immediate reporting to prevent loss of vascular access.
2. A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has an
implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Which statement
demonstrates understanding?
• A) "I will soak in the tub rather than showering."
• B) "I will wear loose clothing around my ICD."
• C) "I will stop using my microwave oven at home because of my
ICD."
• D) "I can hold my cellphone on the same side of my body as the
ICD."
• Answer: B) "I will wear loose clothing around my ICD.".
• Rationale: Loose clothing prevents irritation over the ICD site.
Modern microwaves are shielded and do not interfere with ICDs.
Cellphones should be kept on the opposite side of the body. Tubs
should be avoided because water submersion can damage the
device.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client at 14 weeks gestation who reports
feelings of ambivalence about being pregnant. Which response
should the nurse make?
• A) "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant."
• B) "You should discuss your feelings about being pregnant with
your provider."
• C) "Have you discussed these feelings with your partner?"
• D) "When did you start having these feelings?"
• Answer: A) "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant.".
• Rationale: Ambivalence is common in the first trimester. Open-
ended questions allow the client to explore feelings without
judgment and encourage therapeutic communication.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer packed RBCs to a client. Which
IV solution is compatible for priming the tubing?
• A) Lactated Ringer's
• B) 5% Dextrose in water
• C) 0.9% Sodium chloride
• D) 0.45% Sodium chloride
• Answer: C) 0.9% Sodium chloride.
• Rationale: 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is the only
compatible solution for priming blood administration tubing.
Dextrose solutions cause RBC hemolysis; hypotonic solutions
(0.45% NaCl) can cause RBC lysis.
5. A charge nurse is discussing the use of a durable power of
attorney for health care (DPAHC) with a newly licensed nurse.
Which information should the charge nurse include?
• A) "The proxy should make health care decisions for the client
regardless of the client's ability to do so."
• B) "The proxy can make financial decisions if the need arises."
• C) "The proxy can make treatment decisions if the client is under
anesthesia."
• D) "The proxy should manage legal issues for the client."
• Answer: C) "The proxy can make treatment decisions if the client is
under anesthesia.".
, • Rationale: A health care proxy (DPAHC) designates a person to
make health care decisions when the client is unable to do so (e.g.,
under anesthesia, unconscious, or cognitively impaired). The proxy
does not manage financial or legal matters.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of depression and
is experiencing a situational crisis. Which action should the nurse
take first?
• A) Confirm the client's perception of the event.
• B) Notify the client's support system.
• C) Help the client identify personal strengths.
• D) Teach the client relaxation techniques.
• Answer: A) Confirm the client's perception of the event.
• Rationale: Assessment of the client's perception of the triggering
event is the priority first step in crisis intervention. This helps the
nurse understand the client's understanding of the situation and
guide appropriate interventions.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and is
experiencing acute mania. The nurse obtained a verbal prescription
for restraints. Which action should the nurse take?
• A) Request a renewal of the prescription every 8 hours.
• B) Check the client's peripheral pulse rate every 30 minutes.
• C) Obtain a prescription for restraint within 4 hours.
• D) Document the client's condition every 15 minutes.
• Answer: D) Document the client's condition every 15 minutes.
• Rationale: For a client in restraints, the nurse must document the
client's condition, including vital signs, behavior, and neurovascular
status, every 15 minutes. Restraint prescriptions must be renewed
every 4 hours for adults, and a face-to-face assessment must occur
within 1 hour.
8. A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is planning assignments
for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who has been sent from another
unit due to a staffing shortage. Which client should the nurse
delegate to the LPN?
, • A) A client who is 1 hour post-cardiac catheterization with bleeding
• B) A client with stable diabetes requiring insulin and foot care
• C) A client newly admitted with stroke and altered mental status
• D) A client receiving IV heparin with PTT of 98 seconds
• Answer: B) A client with stable diabetes requiring insulin and foot
care.
• Rationale: LPNs can administer insulin, perform stable wound care,
and monitor stable clients. Options A, C, and D require RN
assessment (bleeding, neurological changes, critical lab
monitoring).
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a terminal illness. The
client's partner, who has been providing care at home, reports being
exhausted and overwhelmed. Which of the following resources
should the nurse recommend?
• A) Long-term care placement
• B) Respite care
• C) Continuous skilled nursing
• D) Palliative care consultation
• Answer: B) Respite care.
• Rationale: Respite care provides temporary relief for caregivers,
allowing them to rest while ensuring the client's needs are met.
This is an appropriate resource to offer a caregiver experiencing
sleep deprivation and burnout.
10. A nurse is working on a surgical unit and is developing a care
plan for a client who has paraplegia. The client has an area of
nonblanchable erythema over his ischium. Which intervention
should the nurse include?
• A) Place the client upright on a donut-shaped cushion.
• B) Teach the client to shift his weight every 15 minutes while
sitting.
• C) Turn and reposition the client every 3 hours while in bed.
• D) Assess pressure points every 24 hours.
• Answer: B) Teach the client to shift his weight every 15 minutes
while sitting.
PREDICTOR 2026 FULL QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS Graded A+
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has an arteriovenous fistula.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report?
• A) Thrill upon palpation
• B) Absence of a bruit
• C) Distended blood vessels
• D) Swishing sound upon auscultation
• Answer: B) Absence of a bruit.
• Rationale: A bruit (swishing sound) and thrill (vibration) are
expected findings in a functioning AV fistula. The absence of a
bruit indicates possible clotting or stenosis of the fistula, which
requires immediate reporting to prevent loss of vascular access.
2. A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has an
implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Which statement
demonstrates understanding?
• A) "I will soak in the tub rather than showering."
• B) "I will wear loose clothing around my ICD."
• C) "I will stop using my microwave oven at home because of my
ICD."
• D) "I can hold my cellphone on the same side of my body as the
ICD."
• Answer: B) "I will wear loose clothing around my ICD.".
• Rationale: Loose clothing prevents irritation over the ICD site.
Modern microwaves are shielded and do not interfere with ICDs.
Cellphones should be kept on the opposite side of the body. Tubs
should be avoided because water submersion can damage the
device.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client at 14 weeks gestation who reports
feelings of ambivalence about being pregnant. Which response
should the nurse make?
• A) "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant."
• B) "You should discuss your feelings about being pregnant with
your provider."
• C) "Have you discussed these feelings with your partner?"
• D) "When did you start having these feelings?"
• Answer: A) "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant.".
• Rationale: Ambivalence is common in the first trimester. Open-
ended questions allow the client to explore feelings without
judgment and encourage therapeutic communication.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer packed RBCs to a client. Which
IV solution is compatible for priming the tubing?
• A) Lactated Ringer's
• B) 5% Dextrose in water
• C) 0.9% Sodium chloride
• D) 0.45% Sodium chloride
• Answer: C) 0.9% Sodium chloride.
• Rationale: 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is the only
compatible solution for priming blood administration tubing.
Dextrose solutions cause RBC hemolysis; hypotonic solutions
(0.45% NaCl) can cause RBC lysis.
5. A charge nurse is discussing the use of a durable power of
attorney for health care (DPAHC) with a newly licensed nurse.
Which information should the charge nurse include?
• A) "The proxy should make health care decisions for the client
regardless of the client's ability to do so."
• B) "The proxy can make financial decisions if the need arises."
• C) "The proxy can make treatment decisions if the client is under
anesthesia."
• D) "The proxy should manage legal issues for the client."
• Answer: C) "The proxy can make treatment decisions if the client is
under anesthesia.".
, • Rationale: A health care proxy (DPAHC) designates a person to
make health care decisions when the client is unable to do so (e.g.,
under anesthesia, unconscious, or cognitively impaired). The proxy
does not manage financial or legal matters.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of depression and
is experiencing a situational crisis. Which action should the nurse
take first?
• A) Confirm the client's perception of the event.
• B) Notify the client's support system.
• C) Help the client identify personal strengths.
• D) Teach the client relaxation techniques.
• Answer: A) Confirm the client's perception of the event.
• Rationale: Assessment of the client's perception of the triggering
event is the priority first step in crisis intervention. This helps the
nurse understand the client's understanding of the situation and
guide appropriate interventions.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and is
experiencing acute mania. The nurse obtained a verbal prescription
for restraints. Which action should the nurse take?
• A) Request a renewal of the prescription every 8 hours.
• B) Check the client's peripheral pulse rate every 30 minutes.
• C) Obtain a prescription for restraint within 4 hours.
• D) Document the client's condition every 15 minutes.
• Answer: D) Document the client's condition every 15 minutes.
• Rationale: For a client in restraints, the nurse must document the
client's condition, including vital signs, behavior, and neurovascular
status, every 15 minutes. Restraint prescriptions must be renewed
every 4 hours for adults, and a face-to-face assessment must occur
within 1 hour.
8. A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is planning assignments
for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who has been sent from another
unit due to a staffing shortage. Which client should the nurse
delegate to the LPN?
, • A) A client who is 1 hour post-cardiac catheterization with bleeding
• B) A client with stable diabetes requiring insulin and foot care
• C) A client newly admitted with stroke and altered mental status
• D) A client receiving IV heparin with PTT of 98 seconds
• Answer: B) A client with stable diabetes requiring insulin and foot
care.
• Rationale: LPNs can administer insulin, perform stable wound care,
and monitor stable clients. Options A, C, and D require RN
assessment (bleeding, neurological changes, critical lab
monitoring).
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a terminal illness. The
client's partner, who has been providing care at home, reports being
exhausted and overwhelmed. Which of the following resources
should the nurse recommend?
• A) Long-term care placement
• B) Respite care
• C) Continuous skilled nursing
• D) Palliative care consultation
• Answer: B) Respite care.
• Rationale: Respite care provides temporary relief for caregivers,
allowing them to rest while ensuring the client's needs are met.
This is an appropriate resource to offer a caregiver experiencing
sleep deprivation and burnout.
10. A nurse is working on a surgical unit and is developing a care
plan for a client who has paraplegia. The client has an area of
nonblanchable erythema over his ischium. Which intervention
should the nurse include?
• A) Place the client upright on a donut-shaped cushion.
• B) Teach the client to shift his weight every 15 minutes while
sitting.
• C) Turn and reposition the client every 3 hours while in bed.
• D) Assess pressure points every 24 hours.
• Answer: B) Teach the client to shift his weight every 15 minutes
while sitting.
