RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A || COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
RN CAPSTONE COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT - 2026/2027 EDITION A
RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A
COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS || GRADED A+ PASS
Aligned with the ATI Capstone Comprehensive Assessment Blueprint, the NCLEX-RN Test Plan, and
Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Standards (2026/2027 Edition)
Examination Format 150 multiple-choice items; four options (A-D) with one best answer per item
8 sections mapped to the ATI Capstone blueprint categories, from Management of Care
Content Sections
through Physiological Adaptation
20% recall / 50% application / 30% analysis, including prioritization, clinical reasoning,
Cognitive Levels
and NCLEX-style items
25 priority-setting items, 20 pharmacology items, and 15 delegation and assignment
Special Emphasis
items
Every item includes the correct answer marked in place plus a detailed rationale
Answer Key
referencing ATI Capstone curriculum and NCLEX-RN standards
Self-assessment and examination preparation for RN Capstone proctored comprehensive
Intended Use
assessment candidates
Candidate Instructions
Read each clinical scenario carefully and select the single best answer from the four options provided. Every
item has exactly one correct answer, which is marked in place immediately after the options and is followed by
a rationale explaining why the correct option is right and why the remaining options reflect common nursing
errors, prioritization traps, scope-of-practice violations, or pharmacological pitfalls. Work through the sections
in order and monitor your pace, allowing roughly one to two minutes per item to simulate testing conditions.
NCLEX-style items consistently reward applying the nursing process: assess before you act, follow the ABC
and Maslow priority frameworks, choose the least restrictive intervention, delegate only stable and predictable
tasks to UAP, and treat airway, breathing, and circulation threats as immediate emergencies. Score your
examination, review every rationale, and revisit the corresponding ATI Capstone content for any item
answered incorrectly.
Comprehensive Capstone Assessment - Aligned with ATI Capstone Blueprint and NCLEX-RN Test Plan (2026/2027 Edition) 1
,RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A || COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Section 1: Management of Care (Questions 1-20)
Q1. The nurse on a medical-surgical unit receives reports on four assigned clients at the start of the
shift. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client 2 days postoperative following an appendectomy who requests medication for
incisional pain rated 6 on a 0 to 10 scale
B. A client with new-onset atrial fibrillation, a heart rate of 142/min, and reports of dizziness
[CORRECT]
C. A client with community-acquired pneumonia who is due for the next scheduled oral
antibiotic dose
D. A client awaiting discharge who asks for help completing post-discharge teaching paperwork
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: New-onset rapid atrial fibrillation with dizziness suggests an unstable cardiac rhythm with
compromised cardiac output, which threatens circulation and takes precedence under the ABC priority
framework emphasized throughout the ATI Capstone curriculum and the NCLEX-RN test plan. The
postoperative client, the antibiotic client, and the discharge client are stable with predictable outcomes and can
be assessed after the unstable client is evaluated.
Q2. The charge nurse is determining which tasks may be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP) on a postoperative unit. Which task is appropriate to delegate to UAP?
A. Teaching a client how to perform incentive spirometry correctly
B. Assessing a client's surgical incision for early signs of infection
C. Ambulating a stable postoperative client in the hallway according to the established plan of
care [CORRECT]
D. Evaluating a client's response to the first dose of an oral analgesic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI Capstone delegation guidelines allow UAP to perform routine, noninvasive tasks with
predictable outcomes and established plans, such as ambulating a stable client with clear direction. Teaching,
assessment, and evaluation require nursing judgment and accountability, so the remaining options exceed
UAP scope of practice even though they may appear routine.
Comprehensive Capstone Assessment - Aligned with ATI Capstone Blueprint and NCLEX-RN Test Plan (2026/2027 Edition) 2
,RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A || COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Q3. A client scheduled for a colon resection has signed the consent form but tells the nurse, 'I am not
sure exactly what they are going to do to me.' Which action should the nurse take?
A. Explain the surgical technique in detail so the client can sign with full confidence
B. Document that the client appeared anxious about the planned procedure
C. Ask the client to read the consent form again and sign a second copy
D. Notify the provider that the client requires further explanation of the procedure before
surgery [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Informed consent requires the provider who will perform the procedure to explain its nature,
benefits, risks, and alternatives; the nurse's role is to witness the signature and advocate when understanding is
incomplete. ATI Capstone legal-ethical content directs the nurse to notify the provider rather than explain the
procedure personally, and surgery must not proceed on an uninformed consent.
Q4. An unconscious adult client is admitted after a motor-vehicle crash. The client's adult daughter
presents a valid durable power of attorney for health care naming her as the health care surrogate.
Which action should the nurse take?
A. Contact the hospital attorney before allowing the daughter to make any decisions
B. Allow the daughter, as the designated surrogate, to make health care decisions on the client's
behalf [CORRECT]
C. Wait until the client regains consciousness to obtain informed consent for treatment
D. Allow the client's spouse to make decisions because spouses always hold legal priority
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A durable power of attorney for health care legally designates a surrogate whose authority takes
effect when the client lacks capacity, so the named daughter may consent to and refuse treatment. ATI
Capstone advance-directive content confirms no attorney review is required, delaying care could harm the
client, and a spouse does not automatically override a validly executed designation.
Q5. A charge nurse is making assignments for the oncoming shift with one RN, one LPN, and two
UAP. Which client is most appropriate to assign to the LPN?
A. A client with a stable, previously verified NG tube who needs scheduled enteral feeding
administration [CORRECT]
B. A client 1 hour postoperative following coronary artery bypass grafting who requires
frequent assessment
C. A client newly admitted with chest pain who requires ongoing cardiac assessment
D. A client with an unstable cardiac rhythm who is receiving a continuous vasoactive infusion
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: LPNs may care for clients who are stable with predictable outcomes and may perform tasks such
as administering routine feedings through a tube that has already been verified and marked. Clients who are
freshly postoperative, newly admitted with chest pain, or hemodynamically unstable require the continuous
assessment and judgment of an RN under ATI and NCLEX delegation rules.
Comprehensive Capstone Assessment - Aligned with ATI Capstone Blueprint and NCLEX-RN Test Plan (2026/2027 Edition) 3
, RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A || COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Q6. During shift handoff the nurse uses SBAR communication. Which statement by the nurse
represents the 'A' component of SBAR?
A. Mr. Lopez is a 68-year-old admitted with community-acquired pneumonia
B. He was admitted two days ago after three days of fever and productive cough
C. I recommend that we obtain a repeat arterial blood gas and evaluate for increased respiratory
support
D. His oxygen saturation dropped to 88 percent on 2 L of nasal cannula within the past hour
[CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In SBAR, Assessment is the nurse's appraisal of the client's current condition, including newly
identified abnormal findings such as the recent oxygen desaturation. The demographic statement and
admission history are Background information, and the recommendation belongs in the 'R' component,
consistent with TeamSTEPPS and ATI handoff communication standards.
Q7. A client falls while ambulating to the bathroom. After the client is safely back in bed and
assessed, which documentation practice is correct?
A. Note in the medical record that an incident report was completed for the fall
B. Document the objective facts of the event and assessment findings in the chart, and file the
incident report separately per facility policy [CORRECT]
C. Record a statement that the client was not injured because of the nurse's quick actions
D. Wait until the end of the shift to document so the client's condition can be fully evaluated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The medical record must contain only objective, factual documentation of what occurred and the
client's condition, while the incident report is a separate risk-management document that is never referenced
in the chart. Conclusory statements and delayed charting violate ATI documentation standards and increase
institutional liability.
Q8. A UAP tells the nurse that a client became dizzy and pale while being transferred to a chair.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Instruct the UAP to return the client to bed and obtain orthostatic blood pressures
B. Notify the provider of a suspected syncopal episode
C. Assess the client directly, including vital signs, level of consciousness, and immediate safety
[CORRECT]
D. Review the client's morning medication administration record for antihypertensive agents
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Direct assessment by the RN is the first priority whenever a client shows signs of hemodynamic
change, because assessment data drive every subsequent decision and UAP observations cannot substitute for
RN assessment. Delegating readings, notifying the provider, and reviewing medications are appropriate
follow-up actions after the client is evaluated, per the nursing process sequence taught in ATI Capstone
content.
Comprehensive Capstone Assessment - Aligned with ATI Capstone Blueprint and NCLEX-RN Test Plan (2026/2027 Edition) 4
RN CAPSTONE COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT - 2026/2027 EDITION A
RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A
COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS || GRADED A+ PASS
Aligned with the ATI Capstone Comprehensive Assessment Blueprint, the NCLEX-RN Test Plan, and
Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Standards (2026/2027 Edition)
Examination Format 150 multiple-choice items; four options (A-D) with one best answer per item
8 sections mapped to the ATI Capstone blueprint categories, from Management of Care
Content Sections
through Physiological Adaptation
20% recall / 50% application / 30% analysis, including prioritization, clinical reasoning,
Cognitive Levels
and NCLEX-style items
25 priority-setting items, 20 pharmacology items, and 15 delegation and assignment
Special Emphasis
items
Every item includes the correct answer marked in place plus a detailed rationale
Answer Key
referencing ATI Capstone curriculum and NCLEX-RN standards
Self-assessment and examination preparation for RN Capstone proctored comprehensive
Intended Use
assessment candidates
Candidate Instructions
Read each clinical scenario carefully and select the single best answer from the four options provided. Every
item has exactly one correct answer, which is marked in place immediately after the options and is followed by
a rationale explaining why the correct option is right and why the remaining options reflect common nursing
errors, prioritization traps, scope-of-practice violations, or pharmacological pitfalls. Work through the sections
in order and monitor your pace, allowing roughly one to two minutes per item to simulate testing conditions.
NCLEX-style items consistently reward applying the nursing process: assess before you act, follow the ABC
and Maslow priority frameworks, choose the least restrictive intervention, delegate only stable and predictable
tasks to UAP, and treat airway, breathing, and circulation threats as immediate emergencies. Score your
examination, review every rationale, and revisit the corresponding ATI Capstone content for any item
answered incorrectly.
Comprehensive Capstone Assessment - Aligned with ATI Capstone Blueprint and NCLEX-RN Test Plan (2026/2027 Edition) 1
,RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A || COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Section 1: Management of Care (Questions 1-20)
Q1. The nurse on a medical-surgical unit receives reports on four assigned clients at the start of the
shift. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client 2 days postoperative following an appendectomy who requests medication for
incisional pain rated 6 on a 0 to 10 scale
B. A client with new-onset atrial fibrillation, a heart rate of 142/min, and reports of dizziness
[CORRECT]
C. A client with community-acquired pneumonia who is due for the next scheduled oral
antibiotic dose
D. A client awaiting discharge who asks for help completing post-discharge teaching paperwork
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: New-onset rapid atrial fibrillation with dizziness suggests an unstable cardiac rhythm with
compromised cardiac output, which threatens circulation and takes precedence under the ABC priority
framework emphasized throughout the ATI Capstone curriculum and the NCLEX-RN test plan. The
postoperative client, the antibiotic client, and the discharge client are stable with predictable outcomes and can
be assessed after the unstable client is evaluated.
Q2. The charge nurse is determining which tasks may be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP) on a postoperative unit. Which task is appropriate to delegate to UAP?
A. Teaching a client how to perform incentive spirometry correctly
B. Assessing a client's surgical incision for early signs of infection
C. Ambulating a stable postoperative client in the hallway according to the established plan of
care [CORRECT]
D. Evaluating a client's response to the first dose of an oral analgesic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI Capstone delegation guidelines allow UAP to perform routine, noninvasive tasks with
predictable outcomes and established plans, such as ambulating a stable client with clear direction. Teaching,
assessment, and evaluation require nursing judgment and accountability, so the remaining options exceed
UAP scope of practice even though they may appear routine.
Comprehensive Capstone Assessment - Aligned with ATI Capstone Blueprint and NCLEX-RN Test Plan (2026/2027 Edition) 2
,RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A || COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Q3. A client scheduled for a colon resection has signed the consent form but tells the nurse, 'I am not
sure exactly what they are going to do to me.' Which action should the nurse take?
A. Explain the surgical technique in detail so the client can sign with full confidence
B. Document that the client appeared anxious about the planned procedure
C. Ask the client to read the consent form again and sign a second copy
D. Notify the provider that the client requires further explanation of the procedure before
surgery [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Informed consent requires the provider who will perform the procedure to explain its nature,
benefits, risks, and alternatives; the nurse's role is to witness the signature and advocate when understanding is
incomplete. ATI Capstone legal-ethical content directs the nurse to notify the provider rather than explain the
procedure personally, and surgery must not proceed on an uninformed consent.
Q4. An unconscious adult client is admitted after a motor-vehicle crash. The client's adult daughter
presents a valid durable power of attorney for health care naming her as the health care surrogate.
Which action should the nurse take?
A. Contact the hospital attorney before allowing the daughter to make any decisions
B. Allow the daughter, as the designated surrogate, to make health care decisions on the client's
behalf [CORRECT]
C. Wait until the client regains consciousness to obtain informed consent for treatment
D. Allow the client's spouse to make decisions because spouses always hold legal priority
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A durable power of attorney for health care legally designates a surrogate whose authority takes
effect when the client lacks capacity, so the named daughter may consent to and refuse treatment. ATI
Capstone advance-directive content confirms no attorney review is required, delaying care could harm the
client, and a spouse does not automatically override a validly executed designation.
Q5. A charge nurse is making assignments for the oncoming shift with one RN, one LPN, and two
UAP. Which client is most appropriate to assign to the LPN?
A. A client with a stable, previously verified NG tube who needs scheduled enteral feeding
administration [CORRECT]
B. A client 1 hour postoperative following coronary artery bypass grafting who requires
frequent assessment
C. A client newly admitted with chest pain who requires ongoing cardiac assessment
D. A client with an unstable cardiac rhythm who is receiving a continuous vasoactive infusion
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: LPNs may care for clients who are stable with predictable outcomes and may perform tasks such
as administering routine feedings through a tube that has already been verified and marked. Clients who are
freshly postoperative, newly admitted with chest pain, or hemodynamically unstable require the continuous
assessment and judgment of an RN under ATI and NCLEX delegation rules.
Comprehensive Capstone Assessment - Aligned with ATI Capstone Blueprint and NCLEX-RN Test Plan (2026/2027 Edition) 3
, RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT 2026/2027 A || COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Q6. During shift handoff the nurse uses SBAR communication. Which statement by the nurse
represents the 'A' component of SBAR?
A. Mr. Lopez is a 68-year-old admitted with community-acquired pneumonia
B. He was admitted two days ago after three days of fever and productive cough
C. I recommend that we obtain a repeat arterial blood gas and evaluate for increased respiratory
support
D. His oxygen saturation dropped to 88 percent on 2 L of nasal cannula within the past hour
[CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In SBAR, Assessment is the nurse's appraisal of the client's current condition, including newly
identified abnormal findings such as the recent oxygen desaturation. The demographic statement and
admission history are Background information, and the recommendation belongs in the 'R' component,
consistent with TeamSTEPPS and ATI handoff communication standards.
Q7. A client falls while ambulating to the bathroom. After the client is safely back in bed and
assessed, which documentation practice is correct?
A. Note in the medical record that an incident report was completed for the fall
B. Document the objective facts of the event and assessment findings in the chart, and file the
incident report separately per facility policy [CORRECT]
C. Record a statement that the client was not injured because of the nurse's quick actions
D. Wait until the end of the shift to document so the client's condition can be fully evaluated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The medical record must contain only objective, factual documentation of what occurred and the
client's condition, while the incident report is a separate risk-management document that is never referenced
in the chart. Conclusory statements and delayed charting violate ATI documentation standards and increase
institutional liability.
Q8. A UAP tells the nurse that a client became dizzy and pale while being transferred to a chair.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Instruct the UAP to return the client to bed and obtain orthostatic blood pressures
B. Notify the provider of a suspected syncopal episode
C. Assess the client directly, including vital signs, level of consciousness, and immediate safety
[CORRECT]
D. Review the client's morning medication administration record for antihypertensive agents
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Direct assessment by the RN is the first priority whenever a client shows signs of hemodynamic
change, because assessment data drive every subsequent decision and UAP observations cannot substitute for
RN assessment. Delegating readings, notifying the provider, and reviewing medications are appropriate
follow-up actions after the client is evaluated, per the nursing process sequence taught in ATI Capstone
content.
Comprehensive Capstone Assessment - Aligned with ATI Capstone Blueprint and NCLEX-RN Test Plan (2026/2027 Edition) 4
