ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR
Master Review & Verified Question Bank (Forms A, B, C)
Source: Verified NCLEX-RN / ATI Assessment Questions & Answers Format: Complete Verified Study & Reference Document
1. HIGH-YIELD NCLEX/ATI TEST-TAKING FRAMEWORK
Core Clinical Judgment & Prioritization Rules:
• Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABCs): Unstable airway, dyspnea, acute respiratory distress, or severe hemorrhage always
takes precedence over stable chronic conditions.
• Acute vs. Chronic: New-onset acute symptoms (e.g., sudden onset tachypnea in hip fracture = PE risk, acute swallowing
changes = bleeding/aspiration) override expected chronic symptoms.
• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Physiological needs (oxygenation, fluid balance, nutrition, safety) must be met before
psychosocial or self-esteem needs.
• Assessment First (Unless Emergency Intervention is Required): Validate discrepancies (e.g., checking IV order against
prescription) before taking action or stopping treatments.
2. MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
Cardiovascular & Hematology
Q1. A nurse is caring for a client following a cardiac catheterization through the left groin. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? PRIORITY
Correct Answer: Monitor the dorsalis pedis pulse every 15 minutes.
Rationale: Frequent neurovascular checks (pulses, color, temperature, capillary refill) distal to the arterial insertion site are
essential to assess for thrombosis, arterial occlusion, or hematoma formation.
Q2. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is to undergo a cardiac catheterization. Which of the
following findings is expected during the procedure?
Correct Answer: Sensation of skin warmth or flushing.
Rationale: Injection of contrast dye into the coronary arteries frequently causes a transient warm, flushing sensation
throughout the body.
Q3. A nurse is assessing a client's pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). The nurse should recognize
that an elevated PAWP indicates which of the following complications?
Correct Answer: Left ventricular failure (or fluid overload).
Rationale: PAWP measures left atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Elevated readings (>12 mmHg) reflect left
ventricular failure or hypervolemia.
ATI RN Comprehensive Form A, B, C Study Guide Page 1 of 12
, Q4. A nurse is assessing the heart sounds of a client who has acute pericarditis. Which of the following
clinical manifestations is an expected finding for this client?
Correct Answer: Scratchy, high-pitched sound upon chest auscultation (Pericardial Friction Rub).
Rationale: Inflammation of the pericardial sac creates a classic scratchy, high-pitched friction rub heard best at the left lower
sternal border during expiration with the client leaning forward.
Q5. A nurse is assessing a client telemetry strip. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to
the provider immediately? PRIORITY
Correct Answer: ST segment elevations.
Rationale: ST elevation indicates acute myocardial injury (STEMI) requiring immediate revascularization therapy to prevent
tissue necrosis.
Q6. A nurse is auscultating heart sounds of an adult client experiencing dyspnea. The nurse hears a soft,
turbulent sound between beats at the left midclavicular line in the fifth intercostal space. Which of the
following is an appropriate documentation of the findings?
Correct Answer: Murmur at the mitral area.
Rationale: The 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line is the mitral area (apex). A turbulent, blowing or swooshing sound
represents a heart murmur.
Q7. A nurse is caring for an adult client who has chronic anemia and is scheduled to receive a transfusion of
1 unit of packed RBCs. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: Flush the blood administration tubing with 0.9% sodium chloride prior to the transfusion.
Rationale: Only 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is compatible with blood products. Dextrose solutions or lactated
Ringer's cause hemolysis or clotting.
Respiratory, Gastrointestinal & Endocrine Systems
Q8. A nurse is assessing a client following an ischemic stroke. Which of the following findings is the priority
for the nurse to report to the provider? PRIORITY
Correct Answer: The client coughs after swallowing (or exhibits facial drooping/dysphagia).
Rationale: Coughing after swallowing indicates impaired airway protection and dysphagia, placing the client at high risk for
aspiration pneumonia. Keep NPO until speech therapy evaluation.
Q9. A nurse is caring for a client who has end-stage liver disease and is undergoing a paracentesis. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure?
Correct Answer: Compare the client's current weight with preprocedure weight (and measure abdominal
girth).
Rationale: Paracentesis removes excess ascitic fluid. Decreased weight and abdominal circumference confirm fluid removal
and therapeutic effect. Instruct client to empty bladder prior to procedure.
ATI RN Comprehensive Form A, B, C Study Guide Page 2 of 12
Master Review & Verified Question Bank (Forms A, B, C)
Source: Verified NCLEX-RN / ATI Assessment Questions & Answers Format: Complete Verified Study & Reference Document
1. HIGH-YIELD NCLEX/ATI TEST-TAKING FRAMEWORK
Core Clinical Judgment & Prioritization Rules:
• Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABCs): Unstable airway, dyspnea, acute respiratory distress, or severe hemorrhage always
takes precedence over stable chronic conditions.
• Acute vs. Chronic: New-onset acute symptoms (e.g., sudden onset tachypnea in hip fracture = PE risk, acute swallowing
changes = bleeding/aspiration) override expected chronic symptoms.
• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Physiological needs (oxygenation, fluid balance, nutrition, safety) must be met before
psychosocial or self-esteem needs.
• Assessment First (Unless Emergency Intervention is Required): Validate discrepancies (e.g., checking IV order against
prescription) before taking action or stopping treatments.
2. MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
Cardiovascular & Hematology
Q1. A nurse is caring for a client following a cardiac catheterization through the left groin. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? PRIORITY
Correct Answer: Monitor the dorsalis pedis pulse every 15 minutes.
Rationale: Frequent neurovascular checks (pulses, color, temperature, capillary refill) distal to the arterial insertion site are
essential to assess for thrombosis, arterial occlusion, or hematoma formation.
Q2. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is to undergo a cardiac catheterization. Which of the
following findings is expected during the procedure?
Correct Answer: Sensation of skin warmth or flushing.
Rationale: Injection of contrast dye into the coronary arteries frequently causes a transient warm, flushing sensation
throughout the body.
Q3. A nurse is assessing a client's pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). The nurse should recognize
that an elevated PAWP indicates which of the following complications?
Correct Answer: Left ventricular failure (or fluid overload).
Rationale: PAWP measures left atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Elevated readings (>12 mmHg) reflect left
ventricular failure or hypervolemia.
ATI RN Comprehensive Form A, B, C Study Guide Page 1 of 12
, Q4. A nurse is assessing the heart sounds of a client who has acute pericarditis. Which of the following
clinical manifestations is an expected finding for this client?
Correct Answer: Scratchy, high-pitched sound upon chest auscultation (Pericardial Friction Rub).
Rationale: Inflammation of the pericardial sac creates a classic scratchy, high-pitched friction rub heard best at the left lower
sternal border during expiration with the client leaning forward.
Q5. A nurse is assessing a client telemetry strip. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to
the provider immediately? PRIORITY
Correct Answer: ST segment elevations.
Rationale: ST elevation indicates acute myocardial injury (STEMI) requiring immediate revascularization therapy to prevent
tissue necrosis.
Q6. A nurse is auscultating heart sounds of an adult client experiencing dyspnea. The nurse hears a soft,
turbulent sound between beats at the left midclavicular line in the fifth intercostal space. Which of the
following is an appropriate documentation of the findings?
Correct Answer: Murmur at the mitral area.
Rationale: The 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line is the mitral area (apex). A turbulent, blowing or swooshing sound
represents a heart murmur.
Q7. A nurse is caring for an adult client who has chronic anemia and is scheduled to receive a transfusion of
1 unit of packed RBCs. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: Flush the blood administration tubing with 0.9% sodium chloride prior to the transfusion.
Rationale: Only 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is compatible with blood products. Dextrose solutions or lactated
Ringer's cause hemolysis or clotting.
Respiratory, Gastrointestinal & Endocrine Systems
Q8. A nurse is assessing a client following an ischemic stroke. Which of the following findings is the priority
for the nurse to report to the provider? PRIORITY
Correct Answer: The client coughs after swallowing (or exhibits facial drooping/dysphagia).
Rationale: Coughing after swallowing indicates impaired airway protection and dysphagia, placing the client at high risk for
aspiration pneumonia. Keep NPO until speech therapy evaluation.
Q9. A nurse is caring for a client who has end-stage liver disease and is undergoing a paracentesis. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure?
Correct Answer: Compare the client's current weight with preprocedure weight (and measure abdominal
girth).
Rationale: Paracentesis removes excess ascitic fluid. Decreased weight and abdominal circumference confirm fluid removal
and therapeutic effect. Instruct client to empty bladder prior to procedure.
ATI RN Comprehensive Form A, B, C Study Guide Page 2 of 12
