ATI PN Comprehensive Exit Exam 2024/2025 – NGN Format: Complete 180
Question Bank with Verified Answers, Rationales, and Test-Taking
Strategies for LPN/LVN Nursing Graduates | pdf
This document contains 115 verified questions and answers for the ATI PN
Comprehensive Exit Exam in NGN format for 2024/2025. All answers are in bold
italic with italic rationales. Topics include maternal-newborn nursing, medical-surgical
nursing, mental health nursing, pharmacology, pediatric nursing, and comprehensive review
questions. This resource is aligned with current NCLEX-PN test plans and ATI
Comprehensive Predictor Exam standards
SECTION 1: MATERNAL-NEWBORN & OBSTETRICAL NURSING
Q1. A nurse is assisting with monitoring a client who is at 40 weeks of gestation and
is in active labor. The nurse recognizes late decelerations on the fetal monitor
tracing. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate
B. Administer oxygen via face mask
C. Place the client in the lateral position
D. Notify the provider immediately
Rationale: Late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency. The priority action is to
position the client in a lateral position to improve placental blood flow. This is the first
intervention before oxygen, fluids, or notifying the provider .
Q2. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 14 weeks gestation and reports feelings of
ambivalence about being pregnant. Which response should the nurse make?
A. "You should discuss these feelings with your provider"
B. "Have you discussed these feelings with your partner?"
C. "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant"
D. "When did you start having these feelings?"
,Rationale: The nurse should use an open-ended statement to encourage the client to
express feelings. Ambivalence is common in the first trimester and does not indicate a
problem. Therapeutic communication involves exploring the client's feelings without
judgment .
Q3. A nurse is caring for a client who is in active labor and requests pain
management. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Administer ondansetron
B. Place the client in a warm shower
C. Apply fundal pressure during contractions
D. Assist the client to a supine position
Rationale: Non-pharmacological pain management options during active labor include
warm showers or baths (hydrotherapy), position changes, massage, and breathing
techniques. The supine position should be avoided due to risk of supine hypotensive
syndrome .
Q4. A nurse is caring for a client who is dilated to 10 cm and pushing. Which pain
management option is safe for the client?
A. Naloxone hydrochloride
B. Spinal anesthesia
C. Pudendal block
D. Butorphanol tartrate
Rationale: A pudendal block provides anesthesia to the perineum during the second
stage of labor and delivery without affecting the fetus. Spinal anesthesia is used for
cesarean sections. Opioids (butorphanol) are given earlier in labor, not during pushing due
to risk of neonatal respiratory depression .
Q5. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is bottle feeding her full-term
newborn with formula. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Feed your newborn every 2 hours around the clock"
B. "Supplement feedings with water between formula feedings"
C. "Six to eight feedings every 24 hours should support adequate nutrition"
, D. "Warm the formula in the microwave for 15 seconds before feeding"
*Rationale: While rigidity about feeding times is unnecessary, six to eight feedings every
24 hours should support a full-term newborn's nutrition adequately. Fewer feedings in the
initial weeks could delay establishment of an adequate weight-gain pattern .*
Q6. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 40 weeks of gestation and is in active
labor. The nurse observes late decelerations. After placing the client in the lateral
position, what is the next action?
A. *Apply oxygen via face mask at 10 L/min*
B. Increase the oxytocin infusion rate
C. Prepare for an emergency cesarean section
D. Document the findings and continue monitoring
*Rationale: After repositioning, the next priority interventions for late decelerations are
administering oxygen (10 L/min via non-rebreather mask), increasing IV fluids, and reducing
or discontinuing oxytocin if infusing. These measures improve fetal oxygenation .*
Q7. A nurse is teaching a client who is breastfeeding about diet. Which food should
the nurse recommend to increase calcium intake?
A. Apples
B. Yogurt
C. White bread
D. Chicken breast
*Rationale: Dairy products such as yogurt, milk, and cheese are excellent sources of
calcium. Breastfeeding mothers need increased calcium intake (1,000-1,300 mg/day) to
support milk production and maintain maternal bone health .*
Q8. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parent of a preschooler who has lactose
intolerance. Which statement indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should eliminate all milk products from my child's diet"
B. "Lactose intolerance is the same as a milk allergy"
C. "I should offer my child yogurt that has a probiotic as a snack"
, D. "My child will outgrow this condition by age 5"
Rationale: Yogurt with live, active cultures (probiotics) contains bacterial enzymes that
help digest lactose, making it better tolerated than milk in lactose-intolerant children. Small
amounts of aged cheese may also be tolerated .
Q9. A nurse is caring for a newborn who is 12 hours old. Which finding should the
nurse report to the provider?
A. Respiratory rate of 44/min
B. Axillary temperature of 36.1°C (97°F)
C. Heart rate of 154/min
D. Pinkish coloring of the hands and feet
*Rationale: A temperature of 36.1°C (97°F) is below normal (36.5-37.5°C) and may
indicate hypothermia. Newborns are at risk for cold stress, which can lead to hypoglycemia,
respiratory distress, and metabolic acidosis. The nurse should warm the newborn and notify
the provider .*
Q10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a parent about safe sleep for a newborn.
Which statement by the parent indicates understanding?
A. "I will place my baby on their side to sleep"
B. "I can use a sleep positioner to prevent rolling"
C. "I will place my baby's crib away from heat vents"
D. "Soft bedding helps prevent flat spots on the head"
Rationale: The baby's crib should be placed away from heat vents, drafty windows, and
direct sunlight. Newborns should always be placed on their backs for sleep in a crib with a
firm mattress and no loose bedding, pillows, or soft toys to reduce the risk of SIDS .
Q11. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has type 2 diabetes mellitus and is
concerned about weight gain during pregnancy. Which response should the nurse
make?
A. "You should try to avoid gaining any weight during pregnancy"
B. "Your weight gain should be less than someone without diabetes"
C. "Your weight gain should be the same as for someone without diabetes"
Question Bank with Verified Answers, Rationales, and Test-Taking
Strategies for LPN/LVN Nursing Graduates | pdf
This document contains 115 verified questions and answers for the ATI PN
Comprehensive Exit Exam in NGN format for 2024/2025. All answers are in bold
italic with italic rationales. Topics include maternal-newborn nursing, medical-surgical
nursing, mental health nursing, pharmacology, pediatric nursing, and comprehensive review
questions. This resource is aligned with current NCLEX-PN test plans and ATI
Comprehensive Predictor Exam standards
SECTION 1: MATERNAL-NEWBORN & OBSTETRICAL NURSING
Q1. A nurse is assisting with monitoring a client who is at 40 weeks of gestation and
is in active labor. The nurse recognizes late decelerations on the fetal monitor
tracing. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate
B. Administer oxygen via face mask
C. Place the client in the lateral position
D. Notify the provider immediately
Rationale: Late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency. The priority action is to
position the client in a lateral position to improve placental blood flow. This is the first
intervention before oxygen, fluids, or notifying the provider .
Q2. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 14 weeks gestation and reports feelings of
ambivalence about being pregnant. Which response should the nurse make?
A. "You should discuss these feelings with your provider"
B. "Have you discussed these feelings with your partner?"
C. "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant"
D. "When did you start having these feelings?"
,Rationale: The nurse should use an open-ended statement to encourage the client to
express feelings. Ambivalence is common in the first trimester and does not indicate a
problem. Therapeutic communication involves exploring the client's feelings without
judgment .
Q3. A nurse is caring for a client who is in active labor and requests pain
management. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Administer ondansetron
B. Place the client in a warm shower
C. Apply fundal pressure during contractions
D. Assist the client to a supine position
Rationale: Non-pharmacological pain management options during active labor include
warm showers or baths (hydrotherapy), position changes, massage, and breathing
techniques. The supine position should be avoided due to risk of supine hypotensive
syndrome .
Q4. A nurse is caring for a client who is dilated to 10 cm and pushing. Which pain
management option is safe for the client?
A. Naloxone hydrochloride
B. Spinal anesthesia
C. Pudendal block
D. Butorphanol tartrate
Rationale: A pudendal block provides anesthesia to the perineum during the second
stage of labor and delivery without affecting the fetus. Spinal anesthesia is used for
cesarean sections. Opioids (butorphanol) are given earlier in labor, not during pushing due
to risk of neonatal respiratory depression .
Q5. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is bottle feeding her full-term
newborn with formula. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Feed your newborn every 2 hours around the clock"
B. "Supplement feedings with water between formula feedings"
C. "Six to eight feedings every 24 hours should support adequate nutrition"
, D. "Warm the formula in the microwave for 15 seconds before feeding"
*Rationale: While rigidity about feeding times is unnecessary, six to eight feedings every
24 hours should support a full-term newborn's nutrition adequately. Fewer feedings in the
initial weeks could delay establishment of an adequate weight-gain pattern .*
Q6. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 40 weeks of gestation and is in active
labor. The nurse observes late decelerations. After placing the client in the lateral
position, what is the next action?
A. *Apply oxygen via face mask at 10 L/min*
B. Increase the oxytocin infusion rate
C. Prepare for an emergency cesarean section
D. Document the findings and continue monitoring
*Rationale: After repositioning, the next priority interventions for late decelerations are
administering oxygen (10 L/min via non-rebreather mask), increasing IV fluids, and reducing
or discontinuing oxytocin if infusing. These measures improve fetal oxygenation .*
Q7. A nurse is teaching a client who is breastfeeding about diet. Which food should
the nurse recommend to increase calcium intake?
A. Apples
B. Yogurt
C. White bread
D. Chicken breast
*Rationale: Dairy products such as yogurt, milk, and cheese are excellent sources of
calcium. Breastfeeding mothers need increased calcium intake (1,000-1,300 mg/day) to
support milk production and maintain maternal bone health .*
Q8. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parent of a preschooler who has lactose
intolerance. Which statement indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should eliminate all milk products from my child's diet"
B. "Lactose intolerance is the same as a milk allergy"
C. "I should offer my child yogurt that has a probiotic as a snack"
, D. "My child will outgrow this condition by age 5"
Rationale: Yogurt with live, active cultures (probiotics) contains bacterial enzymes that
help digest lactose, making it better tolerated than milk in lactose-intolerant children. Small
amounts of aged cheese may also be tolerated .
Q9. A nurse is caring for a newborn who is 12 hours old. Which finding should the
nurse report to the provider?
A. Respiratory rate of 44/min
B. Axillary temperature of 36.1°C (97°F)
C. Heart rate of 154/min
D. Pinkish coloring of the hands and feet
*Rationale: A temperature of 36.1°C (97°F) is below normal (36.5-37.5°C) and may
indicate hypothermia. Newborns are at risk for cold stress, which can lead to hypoglycemia,
respiratory distress, and metabolic acidosis. The nurse should warm the newborn and notify
the provider .*
Q10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a parent about safe sleep for a newborn.
Which statement by the parent indicates understanding?
A. "I will place my baby on their side to sleep"
B. "I can use a sleep positioner to prevent rolling"
C. "I will place my baby's crib away from heat vents"
D. "Soft bedding helps prevent flat spots on the head"
Rationale: The baby's crib should be placed away from heat vents, drafty windows, and
direct sunlight. Newborns should always be placed on their backs for sleep in a crib with a
firm mattress and no loose bedding, pillows, or soft toys to reduce the risk of SIDS .
Q11. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has type 2 diabetes mellitus and is
concerned about weight gain during pregnancy. Which response should the nurse
make?
A. "You should try to avoid gaining any weight during pregnancy"
B. "Your weight gain should be less than someone without diabetes"
C. "Your weight gain should be the same as for someone without diabetes"
