ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR EXIT EXAM
QUESTIONS COMPLETE WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking furosemide.
Which of the following findings indicates an adverse effect of this medication?
A. Weight gain of 1 kg in 24 hours
B. Tinnitus
C. Increased appetite
D. Blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tinnitus is a known adverse effect of loop diuretics like furosemide,
especially with rapid infusion or high doses. Weight gain would indicate fluid
retention, not an adverse effect of a diuretic. Increased appetite is not associated.
Hypertension is not a typical adverse effect; furosemide usually lowers blood
pressure.
2. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) about pursed-lip breathing. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates understanding?
A. “I will breathe in through my mouth and out through my nose.”
B. “I should inhale twice as long as I exhale.”
C. “I will exhale slowly through pursed lips after inhaling through my nose.”
D. “I should only use this technique during an asthma attack.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing involves inhaling through the nose and exhaling
,slowly through pursed lips, typically with exhalation twice as long as inhalation.
Option A is incorrect because inhalation should be through the nose. Option B
reverses the ratio. Option D is incorrect because it is used for COPD, not just acute
attacks.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for enoxaparin. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Expel air bubbles from the prefilled syringe before injection.
B. Administer the injection into the deltoid muscle.
C. Aspirate for blood return before injecting.
D. Inject the medication into the anterolateral abdominal wall.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Enoxaparin (low molecular weight heparin) is given subcutaneously
into the anterolateral or posterolateral abdominal wall. Air bubbles should not be
expelled (they ensure full dose). The deltoid is not appropriate. Aspiration is not
required and may cause trauma.
4. A nurse is assessing a postpartum client 12 hours after delivery. The client
reports heavy lochia with large clots. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Administer oxytocin as prescribed.
B. Assess the fundus.
C. Increase IV fluids.
D. Notify the provider.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first action is to assess the fundus for tone and position to
determine if uterine atony is the cause of hemorrhage. After assessment, further
interventions (oxytocin, fluids, notification) may follow based on findings.
,5. A nurse is planning care for a client with major depressive disorder who was
admitted after a suicide attempt. Which of the following interventions is the
highest priority?
A. Encourage the client to attend group therapy.
B. Remove any items that could be used for self-harm.
C. Teach the client coping mechanisms.
D. Administer a PRN sedative for agitation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safety is always the priority. Removing potential means of self-harm
reduces immediate risk of suicide. Other interventions are important but
secondary to ensuring a safe environment.
6. A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client who has chronic kidney
disease. Which of the following values should the nurse report to the provider
immediately?
A. Serum creatinine 2.5 mg/dL
B. Hemoglobin 9.8 g/dL
C. Serum potassium 6.8 mEq/L
D. BUN 40 mg/dL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A serum potassium of 6.8 mEq/L is critically high and can cause cardiac
dysrhythmias. This requires immediate intervention. The other values are
abnormal but not immediately life-threatening.
7. A nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric tube for gastric decompression.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to verify proper placement
after insertion?
A. Aspirate gastric contents and check pH.
B. Auscultate over the epigastrium while injecting air.
, C. Place the end of the tube in water and observe for bubbles.
D. Obtain an order for an abdominal X-ray.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The gold standard for confirming NG tube placement is an abdominal X-
ray. pH testing and auscultation are less reliable. Bubble observation is used for
chest tube leaks, not NG placement.
8. A nurse is teaching a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus about sick day
management. Which of the following statements by the client indicates a need for
further teaching?
A. “I will check my blood glucose every 4 hours.”
B. “I should continue taking my insulin even if I cannot eat.”
C. “I will drink sugar-free liquids to stay hydrated.”
D. “I will stop my insulin if I am vomiting.”
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Insulin should never be stopped during illness, even with vomiting or
poor appetite, as this can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. The client needs further
teaching on this point.
9. A nurse is caring for a client receiving a blood transfusion. The client reports
chills and back pain 15 minutes after the start. What should the nurse do first?
A. Slow the infusion rate.
B. Administer acetaminophen.
C. Stop the transfusion.
D. Notify the provider.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chills and back pain suggest a hemolytic transfusion reaction. The first
action is to stop the transfusion immediately, then disconnect the tubing and
maintain IV access with saline. Then notify the provider.
QUESTIONS COMPLETE WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking furosemide.
Which of the following findings indicates an adverse effect of this medication?
A. Weight gain of 1 kg in 24 hours
B. Tinnitus
C. Increased appetite
D. Blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tinnitus is a known adverse effect of loop diuretics like furosemide,
especially with rapid infusion or high doses. Weight gain would indicate fluid
retention, not an adverse effect of a diuretic. Increased appetite is not associated.
Hypertension is not a typical adverse effect; furosemide usually lowers blood
pressure.
2. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) about pursed-lip breathing. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates understanding?
A. “I will breathe in through my mouth and out through my nose.”
B. “I should inhale twice as long as I exhale.”
C. “I will exhale slowly through pursed lips after inhaling through my nose.”
D. “I should only use this technique during an asthma attack.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing involves inhaling through the nose and exhaling
,slowly through pursed lips, typically with exhalation twice as long as inhalation.
Option A is incorrect because inhalation should be through the nose. Option B
reverses the ratio. Option D is incorrect because it is used for COPD, not just acute
attacks.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for enoxaparin. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Expel air bubbles from the prefilled syringe before injection.
B. Administer the injection into the deltoid muscle.
C. Aspirate for blood return before injecting.
D. Inject the medication into the anterolateral abdominal wall.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Enoxaparin (low molecular weight heparin) is given subcutaneously
into the anterolateral or posterolateral abdominal wall. Air bubbles should not be
expelled (they ensure full dose). The deltoid is not appropriate. Aspiration is not
required and may cause trauma.
4. A nurse is assessing a postpartum client 12 hours after delivery. The client
reports heavy lochia with large clots. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Administer oxytocin as prescribed.
B. Assess the fundus.
C. Increase IV fluids.
D. Notify the provider.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first action is to assess the fundus for tone and position to
determine if uterine atony is the cause of hemorrhage. After assessment, further
interventions (oxytocin, fluids, notification) may follow based on findings.
,5. A nurse is planning care for a client with major depressive disorder who was
admitted after a suicide attempt. Which of the following interventions is the
highest priority?
A. Encourage the client to attend group therapy.
B. Remove any items that could be used for self-harm.
C. Teach the client coping mechanisms.
D. Administer a PRN sedative for agitation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safety is always the priority. Removing potential means of self-harm
reduces immediate risk of suicide. Other interventions are important but
secondary to ensuring a safe environment.
6. A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client who has chronic kidney
disease. Which of the following values should the nurse report to the provider
immediately?
A. Serum creatinine 2.5 mg/dL
B. Hemoglobin 9.8 g/dL
C. Serum potassium 6.8 mEq/L
D. BUN 40 mg/dL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A serum potassium of 6.8 mEq/L is critically high and can cause cardiac
dysrhythmias. This requires immediate intervention. The other values are
abnormal but not immediately life-threatening.
7. A nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric tube for gastric decompression.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to verify proper placement
after insertion?
A. Aspirate gastric contents and check pH.
B. Auscultate over the epigastrium while injecting air.
, C. Place the end of the tube in water and observe for bubbles.
D. Obtain an order for an abdominal X-ray.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The gold standard for confirming NG tube placement is an abdominal X-
ray. pH testing and auscultation are less reliable. Bubble observation is used for
chest tube leaks, not NG placement.
8. A nurse is teaching a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus about sick day
management. Which of the following statements by the client indicates a need for
further teaching?
A. “I will check my blood glucose every 4 hours.”
B. “I should continue taking my insulin even if I cannot eat.”
C. “I will drink sugar-free liquids to stay hydrated.”
D. “I will stop my insulin if I am vomiting.”
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Insulin should never be stopped during illness, even with vomiting or
poor appetite, as this can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. The client needs further
teaching on this point.
9. A nurse is caring for a client receiving a blood transfusion. The client reports
chills and back pain 15 minutes after the start. What should the nurse do first?
A. Slow the infusion rate.
B. Administer acetaminophen.
C. Stop the transfusion.
D. Notify the provider.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chills and back pain suggest a hemolytic transfusion reaction. The first
action is to stop the transfusion immediately, then disconnect the tubing and
maintain IV access with saline. Then notify the provider.
