Latest ATI
Comprehensive Exit
RETAKE Exam
2026/2027 All Fully
Covered/ 100% Verified
GRADED A+
, 1.
A nurse is caring for a client admitted with an acute exacerbation of asthma. The client is using
accessory muscles, has audible wheezing, and reports chest tightness. Which physiological
change is primarily responsible for the client’s increased work of breathing?
A. Decreased lung compliance
B. Increased airway resistance
C. Reduced hemoglobin concentration
D. Decreased alveolar surface area
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
During an asthma exacerbation, bronchoconstriction, mucosal edema, and increased mucus
production significantly narrow the airways. This narrowing increases airway resistance, making
it much harder for air to move in and out of the lungs. As resistance rises, the client must expend
more energy to ventilate, leading to accessory muscle use, fatigue, and worsening dyspnea. The
problem is airflow obstruction rather than loss of lung tissue or oxygen-carrying capacity.
2.
A nurse is caring for a client with chronic systolic heart failure. The client reports worsening
fatigue and shortness of breath with minimal activity. Which underlying cardiac change best
explains these symptoms?
A. Reduced ventricular preload
B. Decreased myocardial contractility
C. Increased systemic vascular resistance
D. Increased circulating blood volume
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Systolic heart failure is characterized by impaired ventricular contraction. Reduced myocardial
contractility decreases stroke volume and cardiac output, limiting oxygen delivery to tissues
during activity. As a result, even mild exertion leads to fatigue and dyspnea because the heart
cannot meet metabolic demands.
3.
A nurse is caring for a client with advanced liver cirrhosis who develops widespread edema.
Which mechanism most directly contributes to this finding?
A. Increased aldosterone secretion
B. Portal vein obstruction
,C. Decreased albumin synthesis
D. Increased lymphatic drainage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The liver is responsible for synthesizing albumin, a protein that maintains oncotic pressure
within blood vessels. In cirrhosis, albumin production declines, reducing oncotic pressure and
allowing fluid to shift from the intravascular space into interstitial tissues, resulting in
generalized edema.
4.
A nurse is caring for a client with acute kidney injury. The nurse notes rising potassium levels.
Why does impaired kidney function cause hyperkalemia?
A. Potassium shifts into cells
B. Decreased renal potassium excretion
C. Increased dietary potassium absorption
D. Reduced aldosterone release
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Healthy kidneys regulate potassium balance by excreting excess potassium in the urine. When
kidney function declines, potassium excretion is reduced, allowing potassium to accumulate in
the bloodstream and increasing the risk for dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias.
5.
A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns covering 40% of total body surface area. Why is
this client at high risk for hypovolemic shock during the first 24 hours?
A. Decreased red blood cell production
B. Massive fluid shifts into interstitial spaces
C. Reduced cardiac contractility
D. Increased urine output
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Severe burns cause capillary permeability to increase dramatically. Plasma leaks from the
intravascular space into interstitial tissues, leading to significant intravascular volume depletion.
This fluid loss places the client at high risk for hypovolemic shock if aggressive fluid
resuscitation is not initiated.
, 6.
A nurse is caring for a client with metabolic acidosis. Which cellular process contributes most to
this condition?
A. Increased aerobic metabolism
B. Excess hydrogen ion accumulation
C. Reduced carbon dioxide production
D. Increased bicarbonate synthesis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Metabolic acidosis results when excess hydrogen ions accumulate in the blood due to conditions
such as renal failure, lactic acidosis, or ketoacidosis. The increased acid load lowers blood pH
and disrupts normal cellular function.
7.
A nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who reports increasing
dyspnea during activities of daily living. Which long-term physiological change most contributes
to this symptom?
A. Loss of alveolar elasticity
B. Increased red blood cell production
C. Thickened alveolar membranes
D. Decreased respiratory drive
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
COPD causes destruction of alveolar walls and loss of elastic recoil. Without normal elasticity,
air becomes trapped during exhalation, reducing ventilation efficiency and increasing the effort
required to breathe during activity.
8.
A nurse is caring for a client with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which metabolic change leads to the
development of metabolic acidosis?
A. Increased insulin secretion
B. Breakdown of fatty acids into ketones
C. Decreased glucose production
D. Increased renal bicarbonate reabsorption
Correct Answer: B
Comprehensive Exit
RETAKE Exam
2026/2027 All Fully
Covered/ 100% Verified
GRADED A+
, 1.
A nurse is caring for a client admitted with an acute exacerbation of asthma. The client is using
accessory muscles, has audible wheezing, and reports chest tightness. Which physiological
change is primarily responsible for the client’s increased work of breathing?
A. Decreased lung compliance
B. Increased airway resistance
C. Reduced hemoglobin concentration
D. Decreased alveolar surface area
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
During an asthma exacerbation, bronchoconstriction, mucosal edema, and increased mucus
production significantly narrow the airways. This narrowing increases airway resistance, making
it much harder for air to move in and out of the lungs. As resistance rises, the client must expend
more energy to ventilate, leading to accessory muscle use, fatigue, and worsening dyspnea. The
problem is airflow obstruction rather than loss of lung tissue or oxygen-carrying capacity.
2.
A nurse is caring for a client with chronic systolic heart failure. The client reports worsening
fatigue and shortness of breath with minimal activity. Which underlying cardiac change best
explains these symptoms?
A. Reduced ventricular preload
B. Decreased myocardial contractility
C. Increased systemic vascular resistance
D. Increased circulating blood volume
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Systolic heart failure is characterized by impaired ventricular contraction. Reduced myocardial
contractility decreases stroke volume and cardiac output, limiting oxygen delivery to tissues
during activity. As a result, even mild exertion leads to fatigue and dyspnea because the heart
cannot meet metabolic demands.
3.
A nurse is caring for a client with advanced liver cirrhosis who develops widespread edema.
Which mechanism most directly contributes to this finding?
A. Increased aldosterone secretion
B. Portal vein obstruction
,C. Decreased albumin synthesis
D. Increased lymphatic drainage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The liver is responsible for synthesizing albumin, a protein that maintains oncotic pressure
within blood vessels. In cirrhosis, albumin production declines, reducing oncotic pressure and
allowing fluid to shift from the intravascular space into interstitial tissues, resulting in
generalized edema.
4.
A nurse is caring for a client with acute kidney injury. The nurse notes rising potassium levels.
Why does impaired kidney function cause hyperkalemia?
A. Potassium shifts into cells
B. Decreased renal potassium excretion
C. Increased dietary potassium absorption
D. Reduced aldosterone release
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Healthy kidneys regulate potassium balance by excreting excess potassium in the urine. When
kidney function declines, potassium excretion is reduced, allowing potassium to accumulate in
the bloodstream and increasing the risk for dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias.
5.
A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns covering 40% of total body surface area. Why is
this client at high risk for hypovolemic shock during the first 24 hours?
A. Decreased red blood cell production
B. Massive fluid shifts into interstitial spaces
C. Reduced cardiac contractility
D. Increased urine output
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Severe burns cause capillary permeability to increase dramatically. Plasma leaks from the
intravascular space into interstitial tissues, leading to significant intravascular volume depletion.
This fluid loss places the client at high risk for hypovolemic shock if aggressive fluid
resuscitation is not initiated.
, 6.
A nurse is caring for a client with metabolic acidosis. Which cellular process contributes most to
this condition?
A. Increased aerobic metabolism
B. Excess hydrogen ion accumulation
C. Reduced carbon dioxide production
D. Increased bicarbonate synthesis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Metabolic acidosis results when excess hydrogen ions accumulate in the blood due to conditions
such as renal failure, lactic acidosis, or ketoacidosis. The increased acid load lowers blood pH
and disrupts normal cellular function.
7.
A nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who reports increasing
dyspnea during activities of daily living. Which long-term physiological change most contributes
to this symptom?
A. Loss of alveolar elasticity
B. Increased red blood cell production
C. Thickened alveolar membranes
D. Decreased respiratory drive
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
COPD causes destruction of alveolar walls and loss of elastic recoil. Without normal elasticity,
air becomes trapped during exhalation, reducing ventilation efficiency and increasing the effort
required to breathe during activity.
8.
A nurse is caring for a client with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which metabolic change leads to the
development of metabolic acidosis?
A. Increased insulin secretion
B. Breakdown of fatty acids into ketones
C. Decreased glucose production
D. Increased renal bicarbonate reabsorption
Correct Answer: B
