ATI RN NUTRITION
PROCTORED EXAM
| COMPLETE TEST
BANK |
MCQUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND
DETAILED
RATIONALES |
LATEST 2025/2026
,DOMAIN 1: NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT & BASICS
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client's nutritional status. Which of the following
laboratory values is the best indicator of protein status?
A) Hemoglobin
B) Albumin
C) Platelet count
D) White blood cell count
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct (B): Albumin is a protein synthesized by the liver and is the most
abundant protein in plasma. Low serum albumin (normal 3.5-5.0 g/dL)
indicates protein malnutrition. Albumin has a long half-life (about 20 days), so
it reflects long-term protein status rather than acute changes. Prealbumin
(half-life 2-3 days) is a more sensitive indicator of acute protein malnutrition.
Incorrect (A): Hemoglobin reflects iron status and oxygen-carrying
capacity, not protein status.
Incorrect (C): Platelet count reflects bone marrow function and clotting
ability, not protein status.
Incorrect (D): White blood cell count reflects immune status and infection,
not protein status.
StudyTip: "Albumin = protein status (long-term) → Prealbumin = short-term
protein status."
,Question 2
A nurse is calculating the body mass index (BMI) of a client who weighs 70 kg
and is 1.75 m tall. What is the client's BMI?
A) 18.5 kg/m²
B) 20.0 kg/m²
C) 22.9 kg/m²
D) 25.0 kg/m²
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Correct (C): BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in
meters squared. Calculation: 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 70 ÷ 3.0625 = 22.86 kg/m²,
which rounds to 22.9 kg/m². Normal BMI range is 18.5-24.9 kg/m².
Overweight is 25-29.9 kg/m². Obesity is ≥30 kg/m². Underweight is <18.5
kg/m².
Incorrect (A): 18.5 is the lower limit of normal BMI; this calculation yields a
higher result.
Incorrect (B): 20.0 is within normal range but is not the correct calculation
result.
Incorrect (D): 25.0 is the threshold for overweight; this client's BMI is
within normal range.
StudyTip: "BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². Normal 18.5-24.9."
Question 3
A nurse is teaching a client about dietary sources of complete protein. Which
of the following foods should the nurse include?
A) Lentils
B) Brown rice
C) Eggs
D) Peanut butter
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Correct (C): Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids that
the body cannot synthesize. Animal sources (eggs, meat, poultry, fish, dairy,
soy) are complete proteins. Eggs are considered the gold standard for protein
quality. Incomplete proteins (plant sources) lack one or more essential amino
acids.
Incorrect (A): Lentils are a plant-based protein but are incomplete (missing
methionine).
Incorrect (B): Brown rice is an incomplete protein (missing lysine).
Incorrect (D): Peanut butter is an incomplete protein (missing methionine).
StudyTip: "Complete proteins = animal sources + soy. Incomplete proteins =
most plant sources."
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a client for signs of vitamin C deficiency (scurvy). Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A) Night blindness
B) Bleeding gums and poor wound healing
C) Peripheral neuropathy
D) Bone pain and fractures
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct (B): Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for collagen synthesis.
Deficiency causes scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums, loose teeth, poor
wound healing, petechiae, ecchymosis, and perifollicular hemorrhages. Risk
factors include poor dietary intake (lack of fruits and vegetables), smoking
(increases vitamin C requirements), and alcoholism.
Incorrect (A): Night blindness is a sign of vitamin A deficiency.
PROCTORED EXAM
| COMPLETE TEST
BANK |
MCQUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND
DETAILED
RATIONALES |
LATEST 2025/2026
,DOMAIN 1: NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT & BASICS
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client's nutritional status. Which of the following
laboratory values is the best indicator of protein status?
A) Hemoglobin
B) Albumin
C) Platelet count
D) White blood cell count
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct (B): Albumin is a protein synthesized by the liver and is the most
abundant protein in plasma. Low serum albumin (normal 3.5-5.0 g/dL)
indicates protein malnutrition. Albumin has a long half-life (about 20 days), so
it reflects long-term protein status rather than acute changes. Prealbumin
(half-life 2-3 days) is a more sensitive indicator of acute protein malnutrition.
Incorrect (A): Hemoglobin reflects iron status and oxygen-carrying
capacity, not protein status.
Incorrect (C): Platelet count reflects bone marrow function and clotting
ability, not protein status.
Incorrect (D): White blood cell count reflects immune status and infection,
not protein status.
StudyTip: "Albumin = protein status (long-term) → Prealbumin = short-term
protein status."
,Question 2
A nurse is calculating the body mass index (BMI) of a client who weighs 70 kg
and is 1.75 m tall. What is the client's BMI?
A) 18.5 kg/m²
B) 20.0 kg/m²
C) 22.9 kg/m²
D) 25.0 kg/m²
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Correct (C): BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in
meters squared. Calculation: 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 70 ÷ 3.0625 = 22.86 kg/m²,
which rounds to 22.9 kg/m². Normal BMI range is 18.5-24.9 kg/m².
Overweight is 25-29.9 kg/m². Obesity is ≥30 kg/m². Underweight is <18.5
kg/m².
Incorrect (A): 18.5 is the lower limit of normal BMI; this calculation yields a
higher result.
Incorrect (B): 20.0 is within normal range but is not the correct calculation
result.
Incorrect (D): 25.0 is the threshold for overweight; this client's BMI is
within normal range.
StudyTip: "BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². Normal 18.5-24.9."
Question 3
A nurse is teaching a client about dietary sources of complete protein. Which
of the following foods should the nurse include?
A) Lentils
B) Brown rice
C) Eggs
D) Peanut butter
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Correct (C): Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids that
the body cannot synthesize. Animal sources (eggs, meat, poultry, fish, dairy,
soy) are complete proteins. Eggs are considered the gold standard for protein
quality. Incomplete proteins (plant sources) lack one or more essential amino
acids.
Incorrect (A): Lentils are a plant-based protein but are incomplete (missing
methionine).
Incorrect (B): Brown rice is an incomplete protein (missing lysine).
Incorrect (D): Peanut butter is an incomplete protein (missing methionine).
StudyTip: "Complete proteins = animal sources + soy. Incomplete proteins =
most plant sources."
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a client for signs of vitamin C deficiency (scurvy). Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A) Night blindness
B) Bleeding gums and poor wound healing
C) Peripheral neuropathy
D) Bone pain and fractures
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct (B): Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for collagen synthesis.
Deficiency causes scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums, loose teeth, poor
wound healing, petechiae, ecchymosis, and perifollicular hemorrhages. Risk
factors include poor dietary intake (lack of fruits and vegetables), smoking
(increases vitamin C requirements), and alcoholism.
Incorrect (A): Night blindness is a sign of vitamin A deficiency.
