ATI RN Comprehensive Exit Exam With
Questions And Well Verified Answers
Actual Exam!!! 2026
A nurse is caring for a client who has acute pulmonary edema. Which finding should the
nurse expect?
A. Pink, frothy sputum
B. Dry cough only
C. Bradycardia
D. Increased urine output
Correct Answer: A. Pink, frothy sputum
Rationale: Pulmonary edema can cause severe dyspnea and pink, frothy sputum due to fluid
accumulation in the alveoli.
A nurse is caring for a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which assessment finding
should the nurse expect?
A. Crackles in the lungs
B. Enlarged liver only
C. Dependent edema only
D. Ascites without respiratory findings
Correct Answer: A. Crackles in the lungs
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, which can produce crackles,
dyspnea, orthopnea, and pulmonary edema.
A nurse is assessing a client who has right-sided heart failure. Which finding should the nurse
expect?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Pulmonary crackles as the only finding
C. Hemoptysis
D. Severe cough without edema
Correct Answer: A. Peripheral edema
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion, resulting in peripheral
edema, jugular venous distention, hepatomegaly, and ascites.
A nurse is caring for a client who has atrial fibrillation. Which complication is the client at
increased risk for?
,A. Thromboembolic stroke
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Pneumothorax
D. Appendicitis
Correct Answer: A. Thromboembolic stroke
Rationale: Ineffective atrial contraction in atrial fibrillation can cause blood stasis and
thrombus formation, increasing the risk of embolic stroke.
A nurse is assessing a client who has a myocardial infarction. Which finding requires
immediate attention?
A. New ST-segment changes
B. Mild fatigue
C. Decreased appetite
D. Mild anxiety
Correct Answer: A. New ST-segment changes
Rationale: New ischemic ECG changes can indicate ongoing myocardial injury and require
prompt evaluation and treatment.
A nurse is caring for a client receiving furosemide. Which laboratory value should the nurse
monitor closely?
A. Potassium
B. Hemoglobin A1c
C. Bilirubin
D. Platelet count only
Correct Answer: A. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss, increasing the risk for
hypokalemia and dysrhythmias.
A nurse is teaching a client who takes spironolactone. Which food should the client avoid
consuming in excessive amounts?
A. Bananas
B. White rice
C. Apples
D. Bread
Correct Answer: A. Bananas
Rationale: Spironolactone is potassium-sparing. Excessive intake of potassium-rich foods can
contribute to hyperkalemia.
,A nurse is assessing a client who has hypovolemic shock. Which finding is expected?
A. Cool, clammy skin
B. Bounding pulse
C. Hypertension
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: A. Cool, clammy skin
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock activates sympathetic vasoconstriction, resulting in cool, pale,
clammy skin, tachycardia, and hypotension.
A nurse is caring for a client who has an acute asthma exacerbation. Which finding is most
concerning?
A. Silent chest
B. Mild wheezing
C. Respiratory rate of 20/min
D. Mild anxiety
Correct Answer: A. Silent chest
Rationale: A silent chest can indicate severely reduced airflow and impending respiratory
failure during a severe asthma exacerbation.
A nurse is teaching a client about using a peak flow meter. Which action is appropriate?
A. Blow forcefully into the device after taking a deep breath.
B. Use it only after becoming severely short of breath.
C. Exhale slowly for several minutes.
D. Use it while lying flat.
Correct Answer: A. Blow forcefully into the device after taking a deep breath.
Rationale: Peak expiratory flow is measured by taking a deep breath and then exhaling
forcefully and rapidly into the device.
A nurse is caring for a client who has bacterial pneumonia. Which finding indicates
improvement?
A. Decreased respiratory rate
B. Increasing oxygen requirement
C. Worsening crackles
D. Increasing temperature
Correct Answer: A. Decreased respiratory rate
Rationale: A decreasing respiratory rate, improving oxygenation, and reduced respiratory
distress can indicate improvement in pneumonia.
, A nurse is caring for a client who has a pneumothorax. Which finding should the nurse
expect?
A. Unilateral absent or decreased breath sounds
B. Bilateral crackles
C. Increased bowel sounds
D. Bradycardia only
Correct Answer: A. Unilateral absent or decreased breath sounds
Rationale: Air in the pleural space can cause partial or complete lung collapse, resulting in
decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side.
A nurse is caring for a client who has COPD. Which instruction should the nurse provide
about pursed-lip breathing?
A. Inhale through the nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips.
B. Inhale and exhale rapidly through the mouth.
C. Hold the breath for 30 seconds after every inhalation.
D. Breathe only through the mouth.
Correct Answer: A. Inhale through the nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips.
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing prolongs exhalation and can help prevent airway collapse and
improve ventilation.
A nurse is caring for a client receiving oxygen therapy. Which finding indicates possible
oxygen toxicity with prolonged high-concentration therapy?
A. Nonproductive cough and chest discomfort
B. Increased appetite
C. Bradycardia only
D. Increased urine output
Correct Answer: A. Nonproductive cough and chest discomfort
Rationale: Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of oxygen can cause pulmonary irritation
and oxygen toxicity.
A nurse is assessing a client with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which finding should the nurse
expect?
A. Kussmaul respirations
B. Severe bradycardia
C. Decreased thirst
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: A. Kussmaul respirations
Questions And Well Verified Answers
Actual Exam!!! 2026
A nurse is caring for a client who has acute pulmonary edema. Which finding should the
nurse expect?
A. Pink, frothy sputum
B. Dry cough only
C. Bradycardia
D. Increased urine output
Correct Answer: A. Pink, frothy sputum
Rationale: Pulmonary edema can cause severe dyspnea and pink, frothy sputum due to fluid
accumulation in the alveoli.
A nurse is caring for a client who has left-sided heart failure. Which assessment finding
should the nurse expect?
A. Crackles in the lungs
B. Enlarged liver only
C. Dependent edema only
D. Ascites without respiratory findings
Correct Answer: A. Crackles in the lungs
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, which can produce crackles,
dyspnea, orthopnea, and pulmonary edema.
A nurse is assessing a client who has right-sided heart failure. Which finding should the nurse
expect?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Pulmonary crackles as the only finding
C. Hemoptysis
D. Severe cough without edema
Correct Answer: A. Peripheral edema
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion, resulting in peripheral
edema, jugular venous distention, hepatomegaly, and ascites.
A nurse is caring for a client who has atrial fibrillation. Which complication is the client at
increased risk for?
,A. Thromboembolic stroke
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Pneumothorax
D. Appendicitis
Correct Answer: A. Thromboembolic stroke
Rationale: Ineffective atrial contraction in atrial fibrillation can cause blood stasis and
thrombus formation, increasing the risk of embolic stroke.
A nurse is assessing a client who has a myocardial infarction. Which finding requires
immediate attention?
A. New ST-segment changes
B. Mild fatigue
C. Decreased appetite
D. Mild anxiety
Correct Answer: A. New ST-segment changes
Rationale: New ischemic ECG changes can indicate ongoing myocardial injury and require
prompt evaluation and treatment.
A nurse is caring for a client receiving furosemide. Which laboratory value should the nurse
monitor closely?
A. Potassium
B. Hemoglobin A1c
C. Bilirubin
D. Platelet count only
Correct Answer: A. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss, increasing the risk for
hypokalemia and dysrhythmias.
A nurse is teaching a client who takes spironolactone. Which food should the client avoid
consuming in excessive amounts?
A. Bananas
B. White rice
C. Apples
D. Bread
Correct Answer: A. Bananas
Rationale: Spironolactone is potassium-sparing. Excessive intake of potassium-rich foods can
contribute to hyperkalemia.
,A nurse is assessing a client who has hypovolemic shock. Which finding is expected?
A. Cool, clammy skin
B. Bounding pulse
C. Hypertension
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: A. Cool, clammy skin
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock activates sympathetic vasoconstriction, resulting in cool, pale,
clammy skin, tachycardia, and hypotension.
A nurse is caring for a client who has an acute asthma exacerbation. Which finding is most
concerning?
A. Silent chest
B. Mild wheezing
C. Respiratory rate of 20/min
D. Mild anxiety
Correct Answer: A. Silent chest
Rationale: A silent chest can indicate severely reduced airflow and impending respiratory
failure during a severe asthma exacerbation.
A nurse is teaching a client about using a peak flow meter. Which action is appropriate?
A. Blow forcefully into the device after taking a deep breath.
B. Use it only after becoming severely short of breath.
C. Exhale slowly for several minutes.
D. Use it while lying flat.
Correct Answer: A. Blow forcefully into the device after taking a deep breath.
Rationale: Peak expiratory flow is measured by taking a deep breath and then exhaling
forcefully and rapidly into the device.
A nurse is caring for a client who has bacterial pneumonia. Which finding indicates
improvement?
A. Decreased respiratory rate
B. Increasing oxygen requirement
C. Worsening crackles
D. Increasing temperature
Correct Answer: A. Decreased respiratory rate
Rationale: A decreasing respiratory rate, improving oxygenation, and reduced respiratory
distress can indicate improvement in pneumonia.
, A nurse is caring for a client who has a pneumothorax. Which finding should the nurse
expect?
A. Unilateral absent or decreased breath sounds
B. Bilateral crackles
C. Increased bowel sounds
D. Bradycardia only
Correct Answer: A. Unilateral absent or decreased breath sounds
Rationale: Air in the pleural space can cause partial or complete lung collapse, resulting in
decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side.
A nurse is caring for a client who has COPD. Which instruction should the nurse provide
about pursed-lip breathing?
A. Inhale through the nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips.
B. Inhale and exhale rapidly through the mouth.
C. Hold the breath for 30 seconds after every inhalation.
D. Breathe only through the mouth.
Correct Answer: A. Inhale through the nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips.
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing prolongs exhalation and can help prevent airway collapse and
improve ventilation.
A nurse is caring for a client receiving oxygen therapy. Which finding indicates possible
oxygen toxicity with prolonged high-concentration therapy?
A. Nonproductive cough and chest discomfort
B. Increased appetite
C. Bradycardia only
D. Increased urine output
Correct Answer: A. Nonproductive cough and chest discomfort
Rationale: Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of oxygen can cause pulmonary irritation
and oxygen toxicity.
A nurse is assessing a client with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which finding should the nurse
expect?
A. Kussmaul respirations
B. Severe bradycardia
C. Decreased thirst
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: A. Kussmaul respirations
