ATI NUTRITION PROCTORED EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026 –
COMPLETE CONCEPT REVIEW & PRACTICE MATERIALS
(LATEST EDITION)
Nutrition for Nursing Practice: Foundational Concept Review (Sample)
1. A nurse is teaching a client about complete vs. incomplete proteins. Which statement by
the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "Meat and eggs are complete proteins because they contain all essential amino acids."
B. "I can combine rice and beans to make a complete protein meal."
C. "Incomplete proteins are useless for building and repairing tissue."
D. "Soybeans and quinoa are plant-based complete proteins."
✓ C. Incomplete proteins are not useless; they can be combined with other foods to provide all
essential amino acids.
2. A postoperative client has a healing wound. The nurse understands that which vitamin is
most critical for collagen synthesis?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C ✓
C. Vitamin K
D. Vitamin D
✓ B. Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a primary protein in connective tissue
and wound healing.
3. For a client with hypertension, the nurse emphasizes reducing sodium intake. Which
instruction is most specific and actionable?
A. "Try to eat less salt."
B. "Read food labels and choose products with less than 140 mg of sodium per serving." ✓
C. "Don't use your salt shaker."
D. "Avoid salty foods."
✓ B. This gives the client a clear, measurable guideline (less than 140 mg/serving indicates a
"low sodium" item per the FDA).
4. A client with dysphagia following a stroke is prescribed a mechanical soft diet. Which food
choice is most appropriate?
A. A whole apple
B. Mashed potatoes with gravy ✓
C. Mixed nuts
, D. A slice of whole-wheat toast
✓ B. Mashed potatoes are cohesive, moist, and require minimal chewing, aligning with a
mechanical soft diet to prevent aspiration.
5. The body's primary and most immediate source of energy is:
A. Protein
B. Fatty acids
C. Glucose ✓
D. Glycogen
✓ C. Glucose is the primary fuel for the brain and a major energy source for all cells, used
directly from the bloodstream.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The care plan likely includes
restriction of which nutrient to reduce the kidneys' workload?
A. Carbohydrate
B. Protein ✓
C. Vitamin C
D. Unsaturated fat
✓ B. Protein restriction (to the RDA or lower) is common in later-stage CKD to reduce the
production of nitrogenous waste products (BUN), easing the burden on failing kidneys.
7. Which finding is the most objective and reliable indicator of nutritional status in an adult
during a routine assessment?
A. Client's reported dietary recall
B. Family member's opinion of intake
C. Serum albumin level
D. Recent, unintended changes in weight ✓
✓ D. Unintended weight change over a documented period is a strong, measurable indicator of
caloric imbalance. Serum albumin is a visceral protein marker but can be affected by non-
nutritional factors like inflammation or liver disease.
8. A client asks about the role of antioxidants. The nurse's best explanation is that they:
A. "Directly build muscle mass."
B. "Prevent the oxidation and damage of cells by neutralizing free radicals." ✓
C. "Are a primary source of dietary energy."
D. "Cure chronic diseases like cancer."
✓ B. Antioxidants (e.g., vitamins C, E, beta-carotene) donate electrons to stabilize free radicals,
protecting cells from oxidative stress.
COMPLETE CONCEPT REVIEW & PRACTICE MATERIALS
(LATEST EDITION)
Nutrition for Nursing Practice: Foundational Concept Review (Sample)
1. A nurse is teaching a client about complete vs. incomplete proteins. Which statement by
the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "Meat and eggs are complete proteins because they contain all essential amino acids."
B. "I can combine rice and beans to make a complete protein meal."
C. "Incomplete proteins are useless for building and repairing tissue."
D. "Soybeans and quinoa are plant-based complete proteins."
✓ C. Incomplete proteins are not useless; they can be combined with other foods to provide all
essential amino acids.
2. A postoperative client has a healing wound. The nurse understands that which vitamin is
most critical for collagen synthesis?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C ✓
C. Vitamin K
D. Vitamin D
✓ B. Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a primary protein in connective tissue
and wound healing.
3. For a client with hypertension, the nurse emphasizes reducing sodium intake. Which
instruction is most specific and actionable?
A. "Try to eat less salt."
B. "Read food labels and choose products with less than 140 mg of sodium per serving." ✓
C. "Don't use your salt shaker."
D. "Avoid salty foods."
✓ B. This gives the client a clear, measurable guideline (less than 140 mg/serving indicates a
"low sodium" item per the FDA).
4. A client with dysphagia following a stroke is prescribed a mechanical soft diet. Which food
choice is most appropriate?
A. A whole apple
B. Mashed potatoes with gravy ✓
C. Mixed nuts
, D. A slice of whole-wheat toast
✓ B. Mashed potatoes are cohesive, moist, and require minimal chewing, aligning with a
mechanical soft diet to prevent aspiration.
5. The body's primary and most immediate source of energy is:
A. Protein
B. Fatty acids
C. Glucose ✓
D. Glycogen
✓ C. Glucose is the primary fuel for the brain and a major energy source for all cells, used
directly from the bloodstream.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The care plan likely includes
restriction of which nutrient to reduce the kidneys' workload?
A. Carbohydrate
B. Protein ✓
C. Vitamin C
D. Unsaturated fat
✓ B. Protein restriction (to the RDA or lower) is common in later-stage CKD to reduce the
production of nitrogenous waste products (BUN), easing the burden on failing kidneys.
7. Which finding is the most objective and reliable indicator of nutritional status in an adult
during a routine assessment?
A. Client's reported dietary recall
B. Family member's opinion of intake
C. Serum albumin level
D. Recent, unintended changes in weight ✓
✓ D. Unintended weight change over a documented period is a strong, measurable indicator of
caloric imbalance. Serum albumin is a visceral protein marker but can be affected by non-
nutritional factors like inflammation or liver disease.
8. A client asks about the role of antioxidants. The nurse's best explanation is that they:
A. "Directly build muscle mass."
B. "Prevent the oxidation and damage of cells by neutralizing free radicals." ✓
C. "Are a primary source of dietary energy."
D. "Cure chronic diseases like cancer."
✓ B. Antioxidants (e.g., vitamins C, E, beta-carotene) donate electrons to stabilize free radicals,
protecting cells from oxidative stress.
