ATI COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR EXAM
2026 – APRIL LATEST UPDATED
SECTION I: MANAGEMENT OF CARE (PRIORITIZATION & DELEGATION)
Q1. A nurse in an emergency department completes an assessment on an adolescent client
who has conduct disorder. The client threatened suicide to a teacher at school. Which of the
following statements should the nurse include in the assessment?
A) "Tell me about your siblings"
B) "Tell me what kind of music you like"
C) "Tell me how often do you drink alcohol"
D) "Tell me about your school schedule"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Direct, specific questions about risky behaviors (alcohol, substance use) are
appropriate for adolescents with conduct disorder to assess safety risks .
Q2. A nurse is observing bonding between a client and her newborn. Which of the following
actions by the client requires the nurse to intervene?
A) Holding the newborn in an en face position
B) Asking the father to change the newborn's diaper
C) Requesting the nurse take the newborn to the nursery so she can rest
D) Viewing the newborn's actions as uncooperative
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Viewing normal newborn reflexes as "uncooperative" indicates potential impaired
bonding and requires intervention .
Q3. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking levothyroxine. Which of the following findings
should indicate that the medication is effective?
A) Weight loss
B) Decreased blood pressure
C) Absence of seizures
D) Decreased inflammation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Levothyroxine treats hypothyroidism. Weight loss indicates metabolism is normalizing
(weight gain is a sign of hypothyroidism) .
,Q4. A nurse is planning discharge teaching for cord care for the parent of a newborn. Which
instructions should the nurse include?
A) Contact provider if the cord turns black
B) Clean the base of the cord with hydrogen peroxide daily
C) Keep the cord dry until it falls off
D) The cord stump will fall off in five days
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Keep the cord clean and dry. The cord should not be submerged in water. It falls off
in 10-14 days (not 5 days). Blackening is normal before falling off .
Q5. A nurse is assessing a client in the PACU. Which of the following findings indicates
decreased cardiac output?
A) Shivering
B) Oliguria
C) Bradypnea
D) Constricted pupils
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Decreased cardiac output reduces renal perfusion, causing oliguria (urine output <0.5
mL/kg/hr). This is a sensitive indicator of inadequate perfusion .
Q6. A nurse is assisting with mass casualty triage after an explosion at a local factory. Which of
the following clients should the nurse identify as the priority?
A) A client with massive head trauma
B) A client with full-thickness burns to face and trunk
C) A client with indications of hypovolemic shock
D) A client with open fracture of the lower extremity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock is potentially reversible with immediate intervention. Massive
head trauma (A) and severe burns (B) are often expectant (black tag) in mass casualty .
Q7. A nurse is receiving report on four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse
assess first?
A) A client who has an ileal conduit and mucus in the pouch
B) A client with pleasant arteriovenous vibration palpated
C) A client with chronic kidney disease who has cloudy dialysate outflow
D) A client with transurethral resection of the prostate with red-tinged urine in the bag
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cloudy dialysate outflow indicates peritonitis, a medical emergency in peritoneal
dialysis patients. This finding requires immediate assessment .
, Q8. A nurse is caring for a client who just received the first dose of lisinopril. Which of the
following is an appropriate nursing intervention?
A) Place on cardiac monitoring
B) Monitor the client's oxygen saturation level
C) Provide standby assist when the client gets out of bed
D) Encourage foods high in potassium
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) can cause first-dose hypotension, leading to dizziness or
falls. Standby assist is an appropriate safety measure .
Q9. A nurse is caring for a client in labor who is receiving electronic fetal monitoring. The nurse
reviews the monitor tracing and notes early decelerations. Which of the following should the
nurse expect?
A) Fetal hypoxia
B) Abruptio placentae
C) Post-maturity
D) Head compression
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Early decelerations are caused by fetal head compression during contractions and
are benign .
Q10. A nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease. Which of the following laboratory
values indicates a need for hemodialysis?
A) Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 14 mL/minute
B) BUN 16 mg/dL
C) Serum magnesium 1.8 mg/dL
D) Serum phosphorus 4.0 mg/dL
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A GFR below 15 mL/minute is an indication for hemodialysis in end-stage renal
disease .
Q11. A nurse in a mental health facility receives a change-of-shift report on four clients. Which
of the following clients should the nurse plan to assess first?
A) Client placed in restraints for aggressive behavior
B) A newly admitted client with a history of 4.5 kg weight loss in the past two months
C) Client who received a PRN dose of haloperidol two hours ago for increased anxiety
D) Client who will be receiving his first ECT treatment today
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The client in restraints requires immediate assessment for safety, circulation, and
continued need for restraints .
2026 – APRIL LATEST UPDATED
SECTION I: MANAGEMENT OF CARE (PRIORITIZATION & DELEGATION)
Q1. A nurse in an emergency department completes an assessment on an adolescent client
who has conduct disorder. The client threatened suicide to a teacher at school. Which of the
following statements should the nurse include in the assessment?
A) "Tell me about your siblings"
B) "Tell me what kind of music you like"
C) "Tell me how often do you drink alcohol"
D) "Tell me about your school schedule"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Direct, specific questions about risky behaviors (alcohol, substance use) are
appropriate for adolescents with conduct disorder to assess safety risks .
Q2. A nurse is observing bonding between a client and her newborn. Which of the following
actions by the client requires the nurse to intervene?
A) Holding the newborn in an en face position
B) Asking the father to change the newborn's diaper
C) Requesting the nurse take the newborn to the nursery so she can rest
D) Viewing the newborn's actions as uncooperative
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Viewing normal newborn reflexes as "uncooperative" indicates potential impaired
bonding and requires intervention .
Q3. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking levothyroxine. Which of the following findings
should indicate that the medication is effective?
A) Weight loss
B) Decreased blood pressure
C) Absence of seizures
D) Decreased inflammation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Levothyroxine treats hypothyroidism. Weight loss indicates metabolism is normalizing
(weight gain is a sign of hypothyroidism) .
,Q4. A nurse is planning discharge teaching for cord care for the parent of a newborn. Which
instructions should the nurse include?
A) Contact provider if the cord turns black
B) Clean the base of the cord with hydrogen peroxide daily
C) Keep the cord dry until it falls off
D) The cord stump will fall off in five days
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Keep the cord clean and dry. The cord should not be submerged in water. It falls off
in 10-14 days (not 5 days). Blackening is normal before falling off .
Q5. A nurse is assessing a client in the PACU. Which of the following findings indicates
decreased cardiac output?
A) Shivering
B) Oliguria
C) Bradypnea
D) Constricted pupils
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Decreased cardiac output reduces renal perfusion, causing oliguria (urine output <0.5
mL/kg/hr). This is a sensitive indicator of inadequate perfusion .
Q6. A nurse is assisting with mass casualty triage after an explosion at a local factory. Which of
the following clients should the nurse identify as the priority?
A) A client with massive head trauma
B) A client with full-thickness burns to face and trunk
C) A client with indications of hypovolemic shock
D) A client with open fracture of the lower extremity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock is potentially reversible with immediate intervention. Massive
head trauma (A) and severe burns (B) are often expectant (black tag) in mass casualty .
Q7. A nurse is receiving report on four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse
assess first?
A) A client who has an ileal conduit and mucus in the pouch
B) A client with pleasant arteriovenous vibration palpated
C) A client with chronic kidney disease who has cloudy dialysate outflow
D) A client with transurethral resection of the prostate with red-tinged urine in the bag
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cloudy dialysate outflow indicates peritonitis, a medical emergency in peritoneal
dialysis patients. This finding requires immediate assessment .
, Q8. A nurse is caring for a client who just received the first dose of lisinopril. Which of the
following is an appropriate nursing intervention?
A) Place on cardiac monitoring
B) Monitor the client's oxygen saturation level
C) Provide standby assist when the client gets out of bed
D) Encourage foods high in potassium
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) can cause first-dose hypotension, leading to dizziness or
falls. Standby assist is an appropriate safety measure .
Q9. A nurse is caring for a client in labor who is receiving electronic fetal monitoring. The nurse
reviews the monitor tracing and notes early decelerations. Which of the following should the
nurse expect?
A) Fetal hypoxia
B) Abruptio placentae
C) Post-maturity
D) Head compression
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Early decelerations are caused by fetal head compression during contractions and
are benign .
Q10. A nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease. Which of the following laboratory
values indicates a need for hemodialysis?
A) Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 14 mL/minute
B) BUN 16 mg/dL
C) Serum magnesium 1.8 mg/dL
D) Serum phosphorus 4.0 mg/dL
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A GFR below 15 mL/minute is an indication for hemodialysis in end-stage renal
disease .
Q11. A nurse in a mental health facility receives a change-of-shift report on four clients. Which
of the following clients should the nurse plan to assess first?
A) Client placed in restraints for aggressive behavior
B) A newly admitted client with a history of 4.5 kg weight loss in the past two months
C) Client who received a PRN dose of haloperidol two hours ago for increased anxiety
D) Client who will be receiving his first ECT treatment today
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The client in restraints requires immediate assessment for safety, circulation, and
continued need for restraints .
