ATI Comprehensive Predictor Questions
and Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
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1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing hypovolemic
shock. Which finding should the nurse expect?
a. Bounding peripheral pulses
b. Warm, flushed skin
c. Tachycardia with weak peripheral pulses
d. Bradycardia with hypertension
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock results from inadequate circulating blood
volume. The body compensates by increasing heart rate and peripheral
vasoconstriction, producing tachycardia, weak pulses, cool skin, and
decreased blood pressure.
, 2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for digoxin.
Which finding requires the nurse to withhold the medication and
notify the provider?
a. Apical pulse of 88/min
b. Blood pressure of 128/76 mm Hg
c. Apical pulse of 54/min
d. Respiratory rate of 18/min
Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia because it slows conduction
through the atrioventricular node. The nurse should generally withhold
digoxin when the adult apical pulse is below 60/min and notify the
provider.
3. A nurse is teaching a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus about
insulin administration. Which instruction should the nurse
include?
a. Inject insulin into the same site each time.
b. Massage the injection site after administration.
c. Rotate injection sites within the same anatomical region.
d. Inject insulin through clothing to reduce discomfort.
Rationale: Rotating sites within the same anatomical region helps
maintain predictable insulin absorption while reducing the risk of
,lipodystrophy. Repeated injections into the same exact location can
cause tissue changes and alter absorption.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure. Which finding
indicates worsening fluid retention?
a. Weight loss of 1 kg (2.2 lb) in 24 hr
b. Increased urine output
c. Weight gain of 2 kg (4.4 lb) in 2 days
d. Decreased peripheral edema
Rationale: Rapid weight gain is a sensitive indicator of fluid retention in
clients with heart failure. A gain of approximately 2 kg (4.4 lb) over a
short period can indicate worsening heart failure and should be
reported.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia. Which finding is
the priority?
a. Temperature of 38.2°C (100.8°F)
b. Productive cough
c. Fatigue
d. Oxygen saturation of 86% on room air
, Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 86% indicates significant hypoxemia.
Using the ABC priority framework, impaired oxygenation takes
precedence over fever, cough, and fatigue.
6. A nurse is administering potassium chloride IV to a client who has
hypokalemia. Which action is appropriate?
a. Administer the medication by IV push.
b. Add potassium chloride to a hanging IV bag without checking the
prescription.
c. Use an infusion pump to administer the prescribed diluted
potassium.
d. Administer undiluted potassium through a peripheral IV.
Rationale: IV potassium must be diluted and administered at a
controlled rate, typically using an infusion pump. IV push administration
can cause fatal cardiac dysrhythmias and is contraindicated.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube connected to a
water-seal drainage system. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
a. Tidaling in the water-seal chamber
b. Small amount of drainage in the collection chamber
c. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
d. Mild discomfort at the insertion site
and Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing hypovolemic
shock. Which finding should the nurse expect?
a. Bounding peripheral pulses
b. Warm, flushed skin
c. Tachycardia with weak peripheral pulses
d. Bradycardia with hypertension
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock results from inadequate circulating blood
volume. The body compensates by increasing heart rate and peripheral
vasoconstriction, producing tachycardia, weak pulses, cool skin, and
decreased blood pressure.
, 2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for digoxin.
Which finding requires the nurse to withhold the medication and
notify the provider?
a. Apical pulse of 88/min
b. Blood pressure of 128/76 mm Hg
c. Apical pulse of 54/min
d. Respiratory rate of 18/min
Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia because it slows conduction
through the atrioventricular node. The nurse should generally withhold
digoxin when the adult apical pulse is below 60/min and notify the
provider.
3. A nurse is teaching a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus about
insulin administration. Which instruction should the nurse
include?
a. Inject insulin into the same site each time.
b. Massage the injection site after administration.
c. Rotate injection sites within the same anatomical region.
d. Inject insulin through clothing to reduce discomfort.
Rationale: Rotating sites within the same anatomical region helps
maintain predictable insulin absorption while reducing the risk of
,lipodystrophy. Repeated injections into the same exact location can
cause tissue changes and alter absorption.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure. Which finding
indicates worsening fluid retention?
a. Weight loss of 1 kg (2.2 lb) in 24 hr
b. Increased urine output
c. Weight gain of 2 kg (4.4 lb) in 2 days
d. Decreased peripheral edema
Rationale: Rapid weight gain is a sensitive indicator of fluid retention in
clients with heart failure. A gain of approximately 2 kg (4.4 lb) over a
short period can indicate worsening heart failure and should be
reported.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia. Which finding is
the priority?
a. Temperature of 38.2°C (100.8°F)
b. Productive cough
c. Fatigue
d. Oxygen saturation of 86% on room air
, Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 86% indicates significant hypoxemia.
Using the ABC priority framework, impaired oxygenation takes
precedence over fever, cough, and fatigue.
6. A nurse is administering potassium chloride IV to a client who has
hypokalemia. Which action is appropriate?
a. Administer the medication by IV push.
b. Add potassium chloride to a hanging IV bag without checking the
prescription.
c. Use an infusion pump to administer the prescribed diluted
potassium.
d. Administer undiluted potassium through a peripheral IV.
Rationale: IV potassium must be diluted and administered at a
controlled rate, typically using an infusion pump. IV push administration
can cause fatal cardiac dysrhythmias and is contraindicated.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube connected to a
water-seal drainage system. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
a. Tidaling in the water-seal chamber
b. Small amount of drainage in the collection chamber
c. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
d. Mild discomfort at the insertion site
