ATI COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2024 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
Question 1:
An older client with a history of heart failure is admitted with influenza and
requests assistance to sit up in bed to eat lunch. The nurse observes the unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP) wearing a gown and gloves to assist the client.Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Review the need for the UAP to wear a face mask while in close contact with the
client.
B. Remind the UAP to apply a fitted respirator mask before entering the client's
room.
C. Assign the UAP to provide care for another client and assume full care of the client.
D. Instruct the UAP to notify the nurse of any changes in the client's respiratory status.
Question 2:
A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube with a water seal drainage
system.
Upon assessment, the nurse notes tidaling in the water seal.
Which of the following is an explanation for the tidaling?
A. The lung has re-expanded.
B. There is a loop of tubing below the drainage system.
C. The system is working properly.
D. The tubing is partially obstructed by clots.
Question 3:
A charge nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about medication administration.
Which of the following information should the charge nurse include?
A. Avoid preparing medications for more than two clients at one time.B. Inform clients
about the action of each medication prior to administration.C. Read medication
labels at least two times prior to administration.D. Complete an incident report if a
client vomits after taking a medication
,Question 4:
A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who reports ingesting thirty
diazepam tablets 20 minutes ago.
The client is lethargic and has a respiratory rate of 10/min.
After securing the client's airway and initiating an IV, which of the following actions should the
nurse take next?
A. Evaluate the client for further suicidal behavior.
B. Administer flumazenil to the client.
C. Monitor the client's IV site for thrombophlebitis.
D. Initiate seizure precautions for the client.
Question 5:
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who has a new prescription for
haloperidol.
Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse instruct the client to report to the
provider?
A. Weight gain.
B. Dry mouth.
C. Shuffling gait.
D. Sedation.
Question 6;
A nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has cystic fibrosis.
Which of the following actions should the nurse instruct the client to take prior to
initiating postural drainage?
A. Eat a meal.
B. Take pancrelipase.
C. Use an albuterol inhaler.
D. Complete oral hygiene.
Question 7:
A nurse is preparing an in-service for a group of nurses about malpractice issues in nursing.
Which of the following examples should the nurse include in the teaching as an example of
malpractice?
A. Administering potassium via IV bolus.
B. Leaving a nasogastric tube clamped after administering oral medication.
C. Placing a yellow bracelet on a client who is at risk for falls.
,D. Documenting communication with a provider in the progress notes of the client's
medical record.
Question 8:
A nurse is performing a neurological examination on a client as part of a complete physical
assessment.
The nurse should identify that cranial nerve XI is intact when the client performs which of the
following actions?
A. Sticks his tongue out.
B. Frowns symmetrically.
C. Identifies a sour taste.
D. Shrugs his shoulders.
Question 9:
A nurse is planning care for a client who is receiving continuous enteral tube
feedings through an open system.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Maintain bed elevation at 20 degrees.
B. Flush the tubing with 30 mL of water every 4 hr.
C. Check for gastric residual every 12 hr.
D. Place enough formula in the container to last 18 hr.
Question 10:
A nurse is working with a client who has an anxiety disorder and is in the orientation phase of
the therapeutic relationship.
Which of the following statements should the nurse make during this phase?
A. "We should establish our roles in the initial session."
B. "Let me show you simple relaxation exercises to manage stress."
C. "Let's talk about how you can change your response to stress."
D. "We should discuss resources to implement in your daily life."
Question 11
A nurse is caring for a child who has cystic fibrosis and requires postural drainage.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Perform the procedure twice each day.
B. Hold the hand flat to perform percussions on the child.
, C. Administer a bronchodilator after the procedure.
D. Perform the procedure prior to meals.
Question 12:
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a newborn whose mother tested positive for
heroin during pregnancy. The newborn is experiencing neonatal abstinence
syndrome. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan?
A. Maintain eye contact with the newborn during feedings.
B. Swaddle the newborn with his legs extended.
C. Minimize noise in the newborn's environment.
D. Administer naloxone to the newborn
Question 13:
A nurse is admitting a client to a medical-surgical unit. When performing
medication reconciliation for the client, which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Include any adverse effects of the medications the client might develop.
B. Exclude nutritional supplements from the list of medications the client reports.
C. Encourage the client to make his own list after he returns to his home.
D. Compare new prescriptions with the list of medications the client reports.
Question 14:
A school nurse is teaching a parent about absence seizures. Which of the following
information should the nurse include?
A. "The child usually has an aura prior to onset."
B. "This type of seizure can be mistaken for daydreaming."
C. "This type of seizure lasts 30 to 60 seconds."
D. "This type of seizure has a gradual onset."
Question 15:
A nurse is planning care for an older adult client who has dementia. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Reinforce orientation to time, place, and person.
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
Question 1:
An older client with a history of heart failure is admitted with influenza and
requests assistance to sit up in bed to eat lunch. The nurse observes the unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP) wearing a gown and gloves to assist the client.Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Review the need for the UAP to wear a face mask while in close contact with the
client.
B. Remind the UAP to apply a fitted respirator mask before entering the client's
room.
C. Assign the UAP to provide care for another client and assume full care of the client.
D. Instruct the UAP to notify the nurse of any changes in the client's respiratory status.
Question 2:
A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube with a water seal drainage
system.
Upon assessment, the nurse notes tidaling in the water seal.
Which of the following is an explanation for the tidaling?
A. The lung has re-expanded.
B. There is a loop of tubing below the drainage system.
C. The system is working properly.
D. The tubing is partially obstructed by clots.
Question 3:
A charge nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about medication administration.
Which of the following information should the charge nurse include?
A. Avoid preparing medications for more than two clients at one time.B. Inform clients
about the action of each medication prior to administration.C. Read medication
labels at least two times prior to administration.D. Complete an incident report if a
client vomits after taking a medication
,Question 4:
A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who reports ingesting thirty
diazepam tablets 20 minutes ago.
The client is lethargic and has a respiratory rate of 10/min.
After securing the client's airway and initiating an IV, which of the following actions should the
nurse take next?
A. Evaluate the client for further suicidal behavior.
B. Administer flumazenil to the client.
C. Monitor the client's IV site for thrombophlebitis.
D. Initiate seizure precautions for the client.
Question 5:
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who has a new prescription for
haloperidol.
Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse instruct the client to report to the
provider?
A. Weight gain.
B. Dry mouth.
C. Shuffling gait.
D. Sedation.
Question 6;
A nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has cystic fibrosis.
Which of the following actions should the nurse instruct the client to take prior to
initiating postural drainage?
A. Eat a meal.
B. Take pancrelipase.
C. Use an albuterol inhaler.
D. Complete oral hygiene.
Question 7:
A nurse is preparing an in-service for a group of nurses about malpractice issues in nursing.
Which of the following examples should the nurse include in the teaching as an example of
malpractice?
A. Administering potassium via IV bolus.
B. Leaving a nasogastric tube clamped after administering oral medication.
C. Placing a yellow bracelet on a client who is at risk for falls.
,D. Documenting communication with a provider in the progress notes of the client's
medical record.
Question 8:
A nurse is performing a neurological examination on a client as part of a complete physical
assessment.
The nurse should identify that cranial nerve XI is intact when the client performs which of the
following actions?
A. Sticks his tongue out.
B. Frowns symmetrically.
C. Identifies a sour taste.
D. Shrugs his shoulders.
Question 9:
A nurse is planning care for a client who is receiving continuous enteral tube
feedings through an open system.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Maintain bed elevation at 20 degrees.
B. Flush the tubing with 30 mL of water every 4 hr.
C. Check for gastric residual every 12 hr.
D. Place enough formula in the container to last 18 hr.
Question 10:
A nurse is working with a client who has an anxiety disorder and is in the orientation phase of
the therapeutic relationship.
Which of the following statements should the nurse make during this phase?
A. "We should establish our roles in the initial session."
B. "Let me show you simple relaxation exercises to manage stress."
C. "Let's talk about how you can change your response to stress."
D. "We should discuss resources to implement in your daily life."
Question 11
A nurse is caring for a child who has cystic fibrosis and requires postural drainage.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Perform the procedure twice each day.
B. Hold the hand flat to perform percussions on the child.
, C. Administer a bronchodilator after the procedure.
D. Perform the procedure prior to meals.
Question 12:
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a newborn whose mother tested positive for
heroin during pregnancy. The newborn is experiencing neonatal abstinence
syndrome. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan?
A. Maintain eye contact with the newborn during feedings.
B. Swaddle the newborn with his legs extended.
C. Minimize noise in the newborn's environment.
D. Administer naloxone to the newborn
Question 13:
A nurse is admitting a client to a medical-surgical unit. When performing
medication reconciliation for the client, which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Include any adverse effects of the medications the client might develop.
B. Exclude nutritional supplements from the list of medications the client reports.
C. Encourage the client to make his own list after he returns to his home.
D. Compare new prescriptions with the list of medications the client reports.
Question 14:
A school nurse is teaching a parent about absence seizures. Which of the following
information should the nurse include?
A. "The child usually has an aura prior to onset."
B. "This type of seizure can be mistaken for daydreaming."
C. "This type of seizure lasts 30 to 60 seconds."
D. "This type of seizure has a gradual onset."
Question 15:
A nurse is planning care for an older adult client who has dementia. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Reinforce orientation to time, place, and person.
