ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor 2026: Complete Practice
Exam with Rationales
ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026
PRACTICE SET QUESTIONS
Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–20: Fundamentals & Basic Care
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a tuberculin skin test (PPD) . Which action is
correct?
• A. Administer the injection intradermally on the volar forearm
• B. Administer the injection subcutaneously in the upper arm
• C. Massage the site after injection
• D. Read the result in 24 hours
Answer: A
Rationale: PPD is given intradermally (0.1 mL) on the volar forearm. A wheal (610
mm) should form. Do not massage (C). Read in 48-72 hours (D).
2. A nurse is caring for a client with restraints . Which action is correct?
• A. Apply restraints to the movable bed rail
• B. Remove the restraint every 2 hours for range of motion
• C. Tie the restraint with a quick-release knot to the bed frame
• D. Use restraints as a first-line intervention for agitation
,ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
Answer: C
Rationale: Tie restraints with a quick-release knot to the bed frame (not side rail,
A). Remove every 2 hours (B) for ROM, toileting, and hydration. Restraints are a
last resort (D).
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion of packed red blood cells
to a client. Which IV solution is compatible with PRBCs?
• A. Lactated Ringer's
• B. 5% Dextrose in water (D5W)
• C. 0.9% Normal saline
• D. 0.45% Normal saline (half-normal)
Answer: C
Rationale: Only 0.9% normal saline is compatible with PRBCs. Lactated Ringer's
(A) contains calcium, which can cause clotting. Dextrose solutions (B) can cause
hemolysis. Half-normal saline (D) is hypotonic and can cause hemolysis.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's pain using the PQRST method. What does the "P"
stand for?
• A. Position
• B. Provocation/Palliation
• C. Pulse
• D. Pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: PQRST: P = Provocation/Palliation (what makes it better or worse), Q =
Quality, R = Region/Radiation, S = Severity, T = Timing.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with a new below-knee amputation. Which
intervention is most important to prevent knee flexion contracture?
,ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
• A. Elevate the residual limb on a pillow
• B. Position the client prone for 15-30 minutes several times per day
• C. Keep the client supine with the hip flexed
• D. Apply a warm compress to the stump
Answer: B
Rationale: Prone positioning helps prevent hip and knee flexion contractures.
Elevating the residual limb on a pillow (A) promotes flexion contracture. Keep the
limb extended (not flexed, C).
6. A nurse is providing tracheostomy care . Which action is correct?
• A. Change the tracheostomy ties daily
• B. Secure new ties before removing old ties
• C. Cut a 4x4 gauze to fit around the stoma
• D. Use cotton balls to clean around the stoma
Answer: B
Rationale: Secure new ties before removing old ties to prevent accidental
decannulation. Change ties when soiled or wet (A). Do not cut gauze (C) — lint
can enter airway. Use sterile gauze, not cotton balls (D) (lint risk).
7. A nurse is assessing a client's oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry. Which
factor can cause a falsely low reading?
• A. Bright nail polish (especially blue, green, black)
• B. Warm hands
• C. Adequate perfusion
• D. Normal hemoglobin
, ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
Answer: A
Rationale: Bright nail polish (especially blue, green, black) can cause falsely low
SpO2 readings. Remove polish or place probe sideways. Cold hands (not warm, B)
also cause false lows.
8. A nurse is providing post-mortem care before family viewing. Which action is
appropriate?
• A. Remove all tubes and lines
• B. Place the body in a flat supine position
• C. Close the eyes and place dentures in the mouth
• D. Label the body only after family leaves
Answer: C
Rationale: Close eyes (moisten cotton balls if needed), insert dentures to
maintain facial shape. Tubes may be left in place for family viewing (A). Elevate
head to prevent discoloration (B). Label the body before family leaves (D).
9. A nurse is caring for a client with a foley catheter . Which action is correct
when obtaining a urine specimen?
• A. Collect urine from the drainage bag
• B. Clamp the tubing, cleanse the port, and aspirate with a sterile syringe
• C. Disconnect the catheter from the drainage tubing
• D. Use the same port for multiple collections without cleaning
ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor 2026: Complete Practice
Exam with Rationales
ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026
PRACTICE SET QUESTIONS
Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–20: Fundamentals & Basic Care
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a tuberculin skin test (PPD) . Which action is
correct?
• A. Administer the injection intradermally on the volar forearm
• B. Administer the injection subcutaneously in the upper arm
• C. Massage the site after injection
• D. Read the result in 24 hours
Answer: A
Rationale: PPD is given intradermally (0.1 mL) on the volar forearm. A wheal (610
mm) should form. Do not massage (C). Read in 48-72 hours (D).
2. A nurse is caring for a client with restraints . Which action is correct?
• A. Apply restraints to the movable bed rail
• B. Remove the restraint every 2 hours for range of motion
• C. Tie the restraint with a quick-release knot to the bed frame
• D. Use restraints as a first-line intervention for agitation
,ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
Answer: C
Rationale: Tie restraints with a quick-release knot to the bed frame (not side rail,
A). Remove every 2 hours (B) for ROM, toileting, and hydration. Restraints are a
last resort (D).
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion of packed red blood cells
to a client. Which IV solution is compatible with PRBCs?
• A. Lactated Ringer's
• B. 5% Dextrose in water (D5W)
• C. 0.9% Normal saline
• D. 0.45% Normal saline (half-normal)
Answer: C
Rationale: Only 0.9% normal saline is compatible with PRBCs. Lactated Ringer's
(A) contains calcium, which can cause clotting. Dextrose solutions (B) can cause
hemolysis. Half-normal saline (D) is hypotonic and can cause hemolysis.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's pain using the PQRST method. What does the "P"
stand for?
• A. Position
• B. Provocation/Palliation
• C. Pulse
• D. Pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: PQRST: P = Provocation/Palliation (what makes it better or worse), Q =
Quality, R = Region/Radiation, S = Severity, T = Timing.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with a new below-knee amputation. Which
intervention is most important to prevent knee flexion contracture?
,ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
• A. Elevate the residual limb on a pillow
• B. Position the client prone for 15-30 minutes several times per day
• C. Keep the client supine with the hip flexed
• D. Apply a warm compress to the stump
Answer: B
Rationale: Prone positioning helps prevent hip and knee flexion contractures.
Elevating the residual limb on a pillow (A) promotes flexion contracture. Keep the
limb extended (not flexed, C).
6. A nurse is providing tracheostomy care . Which action is correct?
• A. Change the tracheostomy ties daily
• B. Secure new ties before removing old ties
• C. Cut a 4x4 gauze to fit around the stoma
• D. Use cotton balls to clean around the stoma
Answer: B
Rationale: Secure new ties before removing old ties to prevent accidental
decannulation. Change ties when soiled or wet (A). Do not cut gauze (C) — lint
can enter airway. Use sterile gauze, not cotton balls (D) (lint risk).
7. A nurse is assessing a client's oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry. Which
factor can cause a falsely low reading?
• A. Bright nail polish (especially blue, green, black)
• B. Warm hands
• C. Adequate perfusion
• D. Normal hemoglobin
, ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
Answer: A
Rationale: Bright nail polish (especially blue, green, black) can cause falsely low
SpO2 readings. Remove polish or place probe sideways. Cold hands (not warm, B)
also cause false lows.
8. A nurse is providing post-mortem care before family viewing. Which action is
appropriate?
• A. Remove all tubes and lines
• B. Place the body in a flat supine position
• C. Close the eyes and place dentures in the mouth
• D. Label the body only after family leaves
Answer: C
Rationale: Close eyes (moisten cotton balls if needed), insert dentures to
maintain facial shape. Tubes may be left in place for family viewing (A). Elevate
head to prevent discoloration (B). Label the body before family leaves (D).
9. A nurse is caring for a client with a foley catheter . Which action is correct
when obtaining a urine specimen?
• A. Collect urine from the drainage bag
• B. Clamp the tubing, cleanse the port, and aspirate with a sterile syringe
• C. Disconnect the catheter from the drainage tubing
• D. Use the same port for multiple collections without cleaning
