ATI PN Comprehensive Exit Exam 2026 –
NGN Format | 180 Authentic Questions with
100% Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | A+ Graded
Q1: A nurse in a pediatric unit is preparing to insert an IV catheter for a 7-year-old
child. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Use a mummy restraint to hold the child during the catheter insertion
B. Tell the child they will feel discomfort during the catheter insertion
C. Require the parents to leave the room during the procedure
D. Postpone the procedure until the child falls asleep
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Tell the child they will feel discomfort during the catheter
insertion
Rationale: Being honest with a child about potential discomfort builds trust and
reduces anxiety. Using restraints should be a last resort, parents should be allowed
to stay to provide comfort, and postponing does not address the need for the
procedure.
Q2: A nurse manager is providing an in-service on hand hygiene to assistive
personnel. Which of the following information should the nurse manager include in
the in-service?
A. Hand sanitizer is always more effective than soap and water
B. Remove rings when washing hands with soap and water
C. Hand hygiene is only necessary after contact with bodily fluids
D. Gloves eliminate the need for hand hygiene
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Remove rings when washing hands with soap and water
,Rationale: Rings can harbor bacteria and reduce the effectiveness of handwashing.
Proper hand hygiene requires removing jewelry to ensure thorough cleaning of all
skin surfaces.
Q3: A nurse is preparing to administer a client's morning medications. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take to verify the client's identity?
A. Ask the client to state their room number
B. Scan the facility identification band
C. Verify the client's identity with a family member
D. Check the name on the door of the room
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Scan the facility identification band
Rationale: Scanning the identification band provides positive identification using
two identifiers (name and medical record number). This is consistent with National
Patient Safety Goals for medication administration.
Q4: A nurse is assisting with a client's fall risk assessment. Which finding places
the client at highest risk for falling?
A. Age over 70
B. History of previous falls
C. Taking one antihypertensive medication
D. Wearing eyeglasses
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. History of previous falls
Rationale: A history of falls is the strongest predictor of future falls. Previous falls
increase risk due to underlying factors that may still be present (mobility issues,
balance problems, or environmental hazards).
Q5: A nurse is reviewing a client's electronic medical record and finds that an
assistive personnel recorded the client's temperature as 35.3°C (95.5°F) 2 hours
earlier. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
,A. Document the finding in the chart
B. Check the client's temperature
C. Notify the provider immediately
D. Place a warm blanket on the client
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Check the client's temperature
Rationale: The nurse should first verify the finding by reassessing the client's
temperature before taking further action. A temperature of 35.3°C (95.5°F)
indicates hypothermia and requires verification to ensure accuracy.
Q6: A nurse is receiving change-of-shift report for four clients. Which of the
following clients should the nurse see first?
A. A client with diabetes mellitus whose morning glucose is 185 mg/dL
B. A client whose urinary output was 100 mL for the past 12 hours
C. A client scheduled for physical therapy in one hour
D. A client requesting pain medication for a headache
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. A client whose urinary output was 100 mL for the past 12
hours
Rationale: Urine output of less than 30 mL/hour (or less than 360 mL in 12 hours)
indicates oliguria and possible acute kidney injury. This finding requires immediate
assessment and intervention.
Q7: A nurse is caring for a client who is 16 hours postoperative following a total
hip arthroplasty. The client reports numbness, pain, and tingling in the affected leg.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the provider immediately
B. Compare capillary refill in toes bilaterally
C. Apply ice to the surgical site
D. Elevate the affected leg on two pillows
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Compare capillary refill in toes bilaterally
, Rationale: Assessment of neurovascular status (capillary refill, pulses, sensation,
movement, color, temperature) is the priority to evaluate for compartment
syndrome or neurovascular compromise. This must be assessed before other
interventions.
Q8: A nurse is caring for a client following a bronchoscopy procedure. Which of
the following actions should the nurse perform first?
A. Encourage deep breathing exercises
B. Offer the client ice chips
C. Check for gag reflex
D. Monitor oxygen saturation
Correct ,,answer,,,: C. Check for gag reflex
Rationale: The gag reflex must be present before allowing the client to take oral
fluids or food to prevent aspiration. This is the priority action following a
bronchoscopy procedure due to the topical anesthetic used on the airway.
Q9: While administering a medication to a client, a nurse notices a frayed
electrical cord connecting the client's continuous passive motion machine to the
electrical outlet. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Continue using the machine as it still functions
B. Wrap the frayed area with electrical tape
C. Remove the device from the client's room
D. Notify the biomedical engineering department
Correct ,,answer,,,: C. Remove the device from the client's room
Rationale: A frayed electrical cord creates an immediate fire and electrical shock
hazard. The device should be removed from the client's room immediately to
ensure safety.
NGN Format | 180 Authentic Questions with
100% Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | A+ Graded
Q1: A nurse in a pediatric unit is preparing to insert an IV catheter for a 7-year-old
child. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Use a mummy restraint to hold the child during the catheter insertion
B. Tell the child they will feel discomfort during the catheter insertion
C. Require the parents to leave the room during the procedure
D. Postpone the procedure until the child falls asleep
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Tell the child they will feel discomfort during the catheter
insertion
Rationale: Being honest with a child about potential discomfort builds trust and
reduces anxiety. Using restraints should be a last resort, parents should be allowed
to stay to provide comfort, and postponing does not address the need for the
procedure.
Q2: A nurse manager is providing an in-service on hand hygiene to assistive
personnel. Which of the following information should the nurse manager include in
the in-service?
A. Hand sanitizer is always more effective than soap and water
B. Remove rings when washing hands with soap and water
C. Hand hygiene is only necessary after contact with bodily fluids
D. Gloves eliminate the need for hand hygiene
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Remove rings when washing hands with soap and water
,Rationale: Rings can harbor bacteria and reduce the effectiveness of handwashing.
Proper hand hygiene requires removing jewelry to ensure thorough cleaning of all
skin surfaces.
Q3: A nurse is preparing to administer a client's morning medications. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take to verify the client's identity?
A. Ask the client to state their room number
B. Scan the facility identification band
C. Verify the client's identity with a family member
D. Check the name on the door of the room
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Scan the facility identification band
Rationale: Scanning the identification band provides positive identification using
two identifiers (name and medical record number). This is consistent with National
Patient Safety Goals for medication administration.
Q4: A nurse is assisting with a client's fall risk assessment. Which finding places
the client at highest risk for falling?
A. Age over 70
B. History of previous falls
C. Taking one antihypertensive medication
D. Wearing eyeglasses
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. History of previous falls
Rationale: A history of falls is the strongest predictor of future falls. Previous falls
increase risk due to underlying factors that may still be present (mobility issues,
balance problems, or environmental hazards).
Q5: A nurse is reviewing a client's electronic medical record and finds that an
assistive personnel recorded the client's temperature as 35.3°C (95.5°F) 2 hours
earlier. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
,A. Document the finding in the chart
B. Check the client's temperature
C. Notify the provider immediately
D. Place a warm blanket on the client
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Check the client's temperature
Rationale: The nurse should first verify the finding by reassessing the client's
temperature before taking further action. A temperature of 35.3°C (95.5°F)
indicates hypothermia and requires verification to ensure accuracy.
Q6: A nurse is receiving change-of-shift report for four clients. Which of the
following clients should the nurse see first?
A. A client with diabetes mellitus whose morning glucose is 185 mg/dL
B. A client whose urinary output was 100 mL for the past 12 hours
C. A client scheduled for physical therapy in one hour
D. A client requesting pain medication for a headache
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. A client whose urinary output was 100 mL for the past 12
hours
Rationale: Urine output of less than 30 mL/hour (or less than 360 mL in 12 hours)
indicates oliguria and possible acute kidney injury. This finding requires immediate
assessment and intervention.
Q7: A nurse is caring for a client who is 16 hours postoperative following a total
hip arthroplasty. The client reports numbness, pain, and tingling in the affected leg.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the provider immediately
B. Compare capillary refill in toes bilaterally
C. Apply ice to the surgical site
D. Elevate the affected leg on two pillows
Correct ,,answer,,,: B. Compare capillary refill in toes bilaterally
, Rationale: Assessment of neurovascular status (capillary refill, pulses, sensation,
movement, color, temperature) is the priority to evaluate for compartment
syndrome or neurovascular compromise. This must be assessed before other
interventions.
Q8: A nurse is caring for a client following a bronchoscopy procedure. Which of
the following actions should the nurse perform first?
A. Encourage deep breathing exercises
B. Offer the client ice chips
C. Check for gag reflex
D. Monitor oxygen saturation
Correct ,,answer,,,: C. Check for gag reflex
Rationale: The gag reflex must be present before allowing the client to take oral
fluids or food to prevent aspiration. This is the priority action following a
bronchoscopy procedure due to the topical anesthetic used on the airway.
Q9: While administering a medication to a client, a nurse notices a frayed
electrical cord connecting the client's continuous passive motion machine to the
electrical outlet. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Continue using the machine as it still functions
B. Wrap the frayed area with electrical tape
C. Remove the device from the client's room
D. Notify the biomedical engineering department
Correct ,,answer,,,: C. Remove the device from the client's room
Rationale: A frayed electrical cord creates an immediate fire and electrical shock
hazard. The device should be removed from the client's room immediately to
ensure safety.
