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RN Nutrition ATI – Practice Questions NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST-
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1–10: Malnutrition & Labs
1. A 72-year-old male reports unintentional weight loss of 15 lbs over 2 months. Labs reveal
albumin 2.8 g/dL and prealbumin 12 mg/dL. What type of malnutrition is most likely?
Answer: Chronic protein deficit
Rationale: Albumin reflects long-term protein status; low levels indicate chronic malnutrition.
2. What intervention helps this patient improve nutritional intake?
Answer: Small, frequent meals
Rationale: Smaller meals prevent overwhelming appetite and increase total caloric intake.
3. Which lab reflects short-term protein status?
Answer: Prealbumin
Rationale: Prealbumin is sensitive to recent dietary intake changes.
4. A 68-year-old female with chewing difficulty and poor intake should be placed on which diet?
Answer: Mechanical soft diet
Rationale: Soft or pureed foods reduce chewing effort and prevent choking.
5. A malnourished patient presents with edema. What is the nurse’s first action?
Answer: Assess protein intake
Rationale: Low albumin contributes to edema; dietary assessment is essential.
6. Which lab indicates chronic malnutrition?
Answer: Albumin 2.9 g/dL
Rationale: Albumin reflects long-term protein stores, unlike prealbumin which is short-term.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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7. Intervention for an underweight patient:
Answer: High-calorie, nutrient-dense foods
Rationale: Provides additional calories and nutrients for weight restoration.
8. A patient refuses meals due to taste fatigue. Appropriate action:
Answer: Offer variety and involve dietitian
Rationale: Variety and professional guidance improve adherence and intake.
9. Malnourished patient with nausea. Best intervention:
Answer: Small, frequent meals
Rationale: Reduces nausea while ensuring adequate nutrition.
10. Best method to track nutritional progress:
Answer: Daily weight
Rationale: Daily weights monitor fluid and nutritional status effectively.
11–20: Enteral & Parenteral Nutrition
11. NG tube feeding patient has a residual of 250 mL. First action?
Answer: Hold feeding and notify provider
Rationale: High residuals indicate intolerance; feeding continuation increases aspiration risk.
12. TPN patient has blood glucose 210 mg/dL. Priority action?
Answer: Notify provider and monitor glucose
Rationale: TPN contains dextrose; hyperglycemia requires monitoring and adjustment.
13. NG feeding patient develops diarrhea. Most likely cause?
Answer: Rapid infusion rate
Rationale: Too fast feeding overwhelms the GI tract, causing diarrhea.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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14. Patient on enteral feeding has K+ 3.0 mEq/L and muscle weakness. Nursing action?
Answer: Notify provider and start potassium replacement
Rationale: Hypokalemia can cause arrhythmias and neuromuscular complications.
15. How can aspiration be prevented during tube feeding?
Answer: Elevate HOB 30–45°
Rationale: Upright positioning reduces risk of aspiration.
16. Essential lab to monitor during TPN:
Answer: Glucose
Rationale: TPN is high in dextrose; glucose monitoring prevents hyperglycemia complications.
17. NG tube feeding patient develops abdominal distension and nausea. Action?
Answer: Hold feeding and notify provider
Rationale: Signs indicate feeding intolerance; assessment is required.
18. NG feeding patient reports cramping. Likely cause?
Answer: High infusion rate
Rationale: Rapid feeding can cause GI discomfort and diarrhea.
19. TPN via central line: nursing priority?
Answer: Monitor for infection
Rationale: Central lines are at high risk for bloodstream infections.
20. Enteral feeding patient vomits. First action?
Answer: Hold feeding and assess
Rationale: Vomiting indicates intolerance or aspiration risk.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 4|Page
21–30: Electrolytes & Vitamins
21. K+ 2.8 mEq/L with muscle weakness. Action?
Answer: Notify provider and replace potassium
Rationale: Hypokalemia can cause cardiac and neuromuscular complications.
22. Hyperkalemia signs?
Answer: Arrhythmias and muscle weakness
Rationale: High potassium affects cardiac conduction and muscles.
23. Vitamin D deficiency signs:
Answer: Rickets and bone pain
Rationale: Vitamin D deficiency impairs calcium absorption and bone mineralization.
24. Vitamin K deficiency signs:
Answer: Easy bruising and bleeding
Rationale: Vitamin K is needed for clotting factor synthesis.
25. Iron-deficiency anemia labs:
Answer: Low hemoglobin, low MCV
Rationale: Microcytic anemia is typical of iron deficiency.
26. Best dietary source of calcium:
Answer: Milk
Rationale: Dairy products are high in calcium, supporting bone health.
27. CKD patient should restrict:
Answer: Potassium
Rationale: CKD patients retain potassium; high intake can cause arrhythmias.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
RN Nutrition ATI – Practice Questions NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST-
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1–10: Malnutrition & Labs
1. A 72-year-old male reports unintentional weight loss of 15 lbs over 2 months. Labs reveal
albumin 2.8 g/dL and prealbumin 12 mg/dL. What type of malnutrition is most likely?
Answer: Chronic protein deficit
Rationale: Albumin reflects long-term protein status; low levels indicate chronic malnutrition.
2. What intervention helps this patient improve nutritional intake?
Answer: Small, frequent meals
Rationale: Smaller meals prevent overwhelming appetite and increase total caloric intake.
3. Which lab reflects short-term protein status?
Answer: Prealbumin
Rationale: Prealbumin is sensitive to recent dietary intake changes.
4. A 68-year-old female with chewing difficulty and poor intake should be placed on which diet?
Answer: Mechanical soft diet
Rationale: Soft or pureed foods reduce chewing effort and prevent choking.
5. A malnourished patient presents with edema. What is the nurse’s first action?
Answer: Assess protein intake
Rationale: Low albumin contributes to edema; dietary assessment is essential.
6. Which lab indicates chronic malnutrition?
Answer: Albumin 2.9 g/dL
Rationale: Albumin reflects long-term protein stores, unlike prealbumin which is short-term.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,2|Page
7. Intervention for an underweight patient:
Answer: High-calorie, nutrient-dense foods
Rationale: Provides additional calories and nutrients for weight restoration.
8. A patient refuses meals due to taste fatigue. Appropriate action:
Answer: Offer variety and involve dietitian
Rationale: Variety and professional guidance improve adherence and intake.
9. Malnourished patient with nausea. Best intervention:
Answer: Small, frequent meals
Rationale: Reduces nausea while ensuring adequate nutrition.
10. Best method to track nutritional progress:
Answer: Daily weight
Rationale: Daily weights monitor fluid and nutritional status effectively.
11–20: Enteral & Parenteral Nutrition
11. NG tube feeding patient has a residual of 250 mL. First action?
Answer: Hold feeding and notify provider
Rationale: High residuals indicate intolerance; feeding continuation increases aspiration risk.
12. TPN patient has blood glucose 210 mg/dL. Priority action?
Answer: Notify provider and monitor glucose
Rationale: TPN contains dextrose; hyperglycemia requires monitoring and adjustment.
13. NG feeding patient develops diarrhea. Most likely cause?
Answer: Rapid infusion rate
Rationale: Too fast feeding overwhelms the GI tract, causing diarrhea.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,3|Page
14. Patient on enteral feeding has K+ 3.0 mEq/L and muscle weakness. Nursing action?
Answer: Notify provider and start potassium replacement
Rationale: Hypokalemia can cause arrhythmias and neuromuscular complications.
15. How can aspiration be prevented during tube feeding?
Answer: Elevate HOB 30–45°
Rationale: Upright positioning reduces risk of aspiration.
16. Essential lab to monitor during TPN:
Answer: Glucose
Rationale: TPN is high in dextrose; glucose monitoring prevents hyperglycemia complications.
17. NG tube feeding patient develops abdominal distension and nausea. Action?
Answer: Hold feeding and notify provider
Rationale: Signs indicate feeding intolerance; assessment is required.
18. NG feeding patient reports cramping. Likely cause?
Answer: High infusion rate
Rationale: Rapid feeding can cause GI discomfort and diarrhea.
19. TPN via central line: nursing priority?
Answer: Monitor for infection
Rationale: Central lines are at high risk for bloodstream infections.
20. Enteral feeding patient vomits. First action?
Answer: Hold feeding and assess
Rationale: Vomiting indicates intolerance or aspiration risk.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 4|Page
21–30: Electrolytes & Vitamins
21. K+ 2.8 mEq/L with muscle weakness. Action?
Answer: Notify provider and replace potassium
Rationale: Hypokalemia can cause cardiac and neuromuscular complications.
22. Hyperkalemia signs?
Answer: Arrhythmias and muscle weakness
Rationale: High potassium affects cardiac conduction and muscles.
23. Vitamin D deficiency signs:
Answer: Rickets and bone pain
Rationale: Vitamin D deficiency impairs calcium absorption and bone mineralization.
24. Vitamin K deficiency signs:
Answer: Easy bruising and bleeding
Rationale: Vitamin K is needed for clotting factor synthesis.
25. Iron-deficiency anemia labs:
Answer: Low hemoglobin, low MCV
Rationale: Microcytic anemia is typical of iron deficiency.
26. Best dietary source of calcium:
Answer: Milk
Rationale: Dairy products are high in calcium, supporting bone health.
27. CKD patient should restrict:
Answer: Potassium
Rationale: CKD patients retain potassium; high intake can cause arrhythmias.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
