ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE PRACTICE A 100
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES PLUS
ANSWER KEY 2026-2027 Q&A GUARANTEED A+
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. When caring for a child, a nurse plans to use nonpharmacological interventions
to enhance the effectiveness of pain medication. Which of the following strategies
incorporates visualization techniques to help decrease the child's discomfort?
A. Using a weighted blanket for comfort.
B. Applying a cold pack to the affected area.
C. Playing the child's favorite music.
D. Blowing bubbles with liquid soap to "blow the hurt away."
Rationale: This technique uses visualization and distraction by encouraging the
child to imagine "blowing the hurt away" with the bubbles. This combines deep
breathing (physiological benefit) with imagery (psychological benefit) to reduce
pain perception.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is immediately postoperative following a total
vaginal hysterectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Assess the client's pain level.
B. Check the perineal pad for bleeding.
C. Encourage deep breathing and coughing.
D. Measure the client's vital signs.
Rationale: Using the airway, breathing, circulation (ABC) and safety priority
,frameworks, the nurse should first obtain baseline vital signs to detect
hemorrhage, shock, or respiratory complications. This provides essential data for
comparison and identifies immediate life threats.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a leg cast and is returning a demonstration
on the proper use of crutches while climbing stairs. What is the correct order of
steps the client should follow when going up the stairs?
A. Place body weight on the crutches, stand in the tripod position, place the
unaffected leg on the stair, move the affected leg and the crutches up to the stair.
B. Place the unaffected leg on the stair, stand in the tripod position, place body
weight on the crutches, move the affected leg and the crutches up to the stair.
C. Move the affected leg and the crutches up to the stair, stand in the tripod
position, place body weight on the crutches, place the unaffected leg on the stair.
D. Stand in the tripod position, place body weight on the crutches, place the
unaffected leg on the stair, move the affected leg and the crutches up to the
stair.
Rationale: The correct sequence is: 1) Stand in the tripod position (crutches
slightly forward and to the sides, forming a tripod base), 2) Place body weight
on the crutches, 3) Place the unaffected leg on the stair ("Good leg goes to
heaven"), 4) Move the affected leg and the crutches up to the stair ("Bad leg
goes to hell") .
4. A nurse is assessing for correct placement of a client's NG feeding tube prior to
administering a bolus feeding. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. Inject 30 mL of air and auscultate over the epigastrium.
B. Place the end of the tube in water and observe for bubbling.
C. Obtain a chest x-ray.
D. Aspirate contents from the tube and verify the pH level.
Rationale: Gastric pH is the most reliable bedside method for verifying NG tube
placement (pH ≤ 5.5 indicates gastric placement). While chest x-ray is the gold
standard for initial placement confirmation, pH testing is appropriate for
ongoing verification before feedings. The air insufflation method is no longer
recommended due to unreliability.
,5. A nurse is admitting a client to the mental health unit following a suicide
attempt. The client states, "My family does not care whether I live or die." Which
of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "Your family visited you in the emergency department."
B. "I'm sure your family cares about you."
C. "You should talk to your family about this."
D. "How does this make you feel?"
Rationale: This therapeutic communication technique uses an open-ended
question to encourage the client to express emotions and explore their
perceptions. It validates the client's feelings without being defensive or
dismissive. Avoid arguing with the client's perceptions or offering false
reassurance.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has fluid volume overload. Which of the
following tasks should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?
A. Assess the client's lung sounds.
B. Administer diuretic medication.
C. Evaluate the client's edema.
D. Measure the client's daily weight.
Rationale: Measuring daily weight is an appropriate task to delegate to AP. It
provides objective data about fluid status (1 kg weight gain ≈ 1 L fluid retention).
Assessment tasks (lung sounds, edema evaluation) and medication
administration require nursing judgment and cannot be delegated.
7. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following clients should the
nurse attend to first?
A. A client who requests pain medication.
B. A client who needs discharge teaching.
C. A client who wants to ambulate to the bathroom.
D. A client who is anxious and attempting to pull out an IV line.
Rationale: Using the safety/risk reduction priority framework, the nurse should
first attend to the client at immediate risk for injury. Pulling out an IV line can
cause bleeding, air embolism, or loss of venous access for critical medications.
This requires immediate intervention to prevent harm.
, 8. A nurse is providing discharge teaching about the use of car seats to the
guardian of a newborn. Which of the following statements by one of the guardians
indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should place the car seat in the front seat for easy access."
B. "I can add a padded insert for my baby's comfort."
C. "I should position the car seat at a 45-degree angle facing forward."
D. "I should ensure that the harness is snug around my baby's body."
Rationale: A snug harness (unable to pinch excess webbing at the shoulders)
prevents the newborn from being ejected or injured during a collision. The car
seat should be in the rear seat, rear-facing, at the appropriate angle (30-45
degrees), without aftermarket inserts that haven't been crash-tested.
9. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a toddler who has hemophilia A.
Which of the following aPTT values should the nurse expect?
A. 25 seconds.
B. 32 seconds.
C. 45 seconds.
D. 60 seconds.
Rationale: Hemophilia A is a deficiency of Factor VIII, which affects the intrinsic
pathway of coagulation. This results in a prolonged aPTT (normal: 30-40
seconds). A value of 45 seconds indicates prolonged clotting time consistent with
hemophilia. The other values are within or below normal range.
10. A nurse manager is planning to make changes to the current scheduling system
on the unit. To facilitate the staff's acceptance of this change, which of the
following actions should the nurse manager take first?
A. Implement the new schedule on a trial basis.
B. Ask for staff volunteers to create the new schedule.
C. Announce the new schedule at the next staff meeting.
D. Provide information about scheduling issues to the staff.
Rationale: The first step in change management is communication and
education. Providing information about why change is needed (scheduling
issues) helps staff understand the rationale and reduces resistance. This follows
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES PLUS
ANSWER KEY 2026-2027 Q&A GUARANTEED A+
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. When caring for a child, a nurse plans to use nonpharmacological interventions
to enhance the effectiveness of pain medication. Which of the following strategies
incorporates visualization techniques to help decrease the child's discomfort?
A. Using a weighted blanket for comfort.
B. Applying a cold pack to the affected area.
C. Playing the child's favorite music.
D. Blowing bubbles with liquid soap to "blow the hurt away."
Rationale: This technique uses visualization and distraction by encouraging the
child to imagine "blowing the hurt away" with the bubbles. This combines deep
breathing (physiological benefit) with imagery (psychological benefit) to reduce
pain perception.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is immediately postoperative following a total
vaginal hysterectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Assess the client's pain level.
B. Check the perineal pad for bleeding.
C. Encourage deep breathing and coughing.
D. Measure the client's vital signs.
Rationale: Using the airway, breathing, circulation (ABC) and safety priority
,frameworks, the nurse should first obtain baseline vital signs to detect
hemorrhage, shock, or respiratory complications. This provides essential data for
comparison and identifies immediate life threats.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a leg cast and is returning a demonstration
on the proper use of crutches while climbing stairs. What is the correct order of
steps the client should follow when going up the stairs?
A. Place body weight on the crutches, stand in the tripod position, place the
unaffected leg on the stair, move the affected leg and the crutches up to the stair.
B. Place the unaffected leg on the stair, stand in the tripod position, place body
weight on the crutches, move the affected leg and the crutches up to the stair.
C. Move the affected leg and the crutches up to the stair, stand in the tripod
position, place body weight on the crutches, place the unaffected leg on the stair.
D. Stand in the tripod position, place body weight on the crutches, place the
unaffected leg on the stair, move the affected leg and the crutches up to the
stair.
Rationale: The correct sequence is: 1) Stand in the tripod position (crutches
slightly forward and to the sides, forming a tripod base), 2) Place body weight
on the crutches, 3) Place the unaffected leg on the stair ("Good leg goes to
heaven"), 4) Move the affected leg and the crutches up to the stair ("Bad leg
goes to hell") .
4. A nurse is assessing for correct placement of a client's NG feeding tube prior to
administering a bolus feeding. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. Inject 30 mL of air and auscultate over the epigastrium.
B. Place the end of the tube in water and observe for bubbling.
C. Obtain a chest x-ray.
D. Aspirate contents from the tube and verify the pH level.
Rationale: Gastric pH is the most reliable bedside method for verifying NG tube
placement (pH ≤ 5.5 indicates gastric placement). While chest x-ray is the gold
standard for initial placement confirmation, pH testing is appropriate for
ongoing verification before feedings. The air insufflation method is no longer
recommended due to unreliability.
,5. A nurse is admitting a client to the mental health unit following a suicide
attempt. The client states, "My family does not care whether I live or die." Which
of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "Your family visited you in the emergency department."
B. "I'm sure your family cares about you."
C. "You should talk to your family about this."
D. "How does this make you feel?"
Rationale: This therapeutic communication technique uses an open-ended
question to encourage the client to express emotions and explore their
perceptions. It validates the client's feelings without being defensive or
dismissive. Avoid arguing with the client's perceptions or offering false
reassurance.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has fluid volume overload. Which of the
following tasks should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?
A. Assess the client's lung sounds.
B. Administer diuretic medication.
C. Evaluate the client's edema.
D. Measure the client's daily weight.
Rationale: Measuring daily weight is an appropriate task to delegate to AP. It
provides objective data about fluid status (1 kg weight gain ≈ 1 L fluid retention).
Assessment tasks (lung sounds, edema evaluation) and medication
administration require nursing judgment and cannot be delegated.
7. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following clients should the
nurse attend to first?
A. A client who requests pain medication.
B. A client who needs discharge teaching.
C. A client who wants to ambulate to the bathroom.
D. A client who is anxious and attempting to pull out an IV line.
Rationale: Using the safety/risk reduction priority framework, the nurse should
first attend to the client at immediate risk for injury. Pulling out an IV line can
cause bleeding, air embolism, or loss of venous access for critical medications.
This requires immediate intervention to prevent harm.
, 8. A nurse is providing discharge teaching about the use of car seats to the
guardian of a newborn. Which of the following statements by one of the guardians
indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should place the car seat in the front seat for easy access."
B. "I can add a padded insert for my baby's comfort."
C. "I should position the car seat at a 45-degree angle facing forward."
D. "I should ensure that the harness is snug around my baby's body."
Rationale: A snug harness (unable to pinch excess webbing at the shoulders)
prevents the newborn from being ejected or injured during a collision. The car
seat should be in the rear seat, rear-facing, at the appropriate angle (30-45
degrees), without aftermarket inserts that haven't been crash-tested.
9. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a toddler who has hemophilia A.
Which of the following aPTT values should the nurse expect?
A. 25 seconds.
B. 32 seconds.
C. 45 seconds.
D. 60 seconds.
Rationale: Hemophilia A is a deficiency of Factor VIII, which affects the intrinsic
pathway of coagulation. This results in a prolonged aPTT (normal: 30-40
seconds). A value of 45 seconds indicates prolonged clotting time consistent with
hemophilia. The other values are within or below normal range.
10. A nurse manager is planning to make changes to the current scheduling system
on the unit. To facilitate the staff's acceptance of this change, which of the
following actions should the nurse manager take first?
A. Implement the new schedule on a trial basis.
B. Ask for staff volunteers to create the new schedule.
C. Announce the new schedule at the next staff meeting.
D. Provide information about scheduling issues to the staff.
Rationale: The first step in change management is communication and
education. Providing information about why change is needed (scheduling
issues) helps staff understand the rationale and reduces resistance. This follows
