Ace your nursing exams with this massive, high-yield question
bank covering ATI, HESI, and NCLEX-RN standards. This
comprehensive guide features next-generation questions and
detailed rationales to ensure your success on the first
attempt.
---
## 📚 2025/2026 RN Nursing Ultimate Prep Guide | ATI, HESI
& NCLEX-RN | Complete NGN Questions & Rationales –
Versions V1-V5
---
**1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 day post-operative following a partial colectomy. The client
reports sudden, severe abdominal pain and the nurse notes a rigid, board-like abdomen. What is the
nurse's priority action?**
A. Administer the prescribed PRN analgesic.
B. Encourage the client to ambulate to relieve gas.
C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
D. Apply a warm compress to the abdomen.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: A rigid, board-like abdomen with sudden severe pain is a classic sign of peritonitis or
a perforated viscus, which is a surgical emergency. The nurse must notify the provider immediately. This
is a critical concept for ATI Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam success.
---
,**2. A client is prescribed a potassium-sparing diuretic, spironolactone. Which of the following
assessment findings would indicate a potential adverse effect of this medication?**
A. Muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias
B. Hyponatremia and hypotension
C. Hyperkalemia and ECG changes
D. Hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, which means it can cause
hyperkalemia. The nurse should monitor for signs of hyperkalemia, including muscle weakness and ECG
changes. This is a key pharmacology topic for HESI Pharmacology Exam.
---
**3. A client is receiving a continuous heparin infusion for a deep vein thrombosis. The nurse should
monitor which of the following laboratory values to evaluate the therapeutic effect of this
medication?**
A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. International normalized ratio (INR)
C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D. Complete blood count (CBC)
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The aPTT is the lab value used to monitor the therapeutic effect of unfractionated
heparin. The aPTT should be 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal control. PT and INR are used to monitor
warfarin. This is a key pharmacology concept for NCLEX-RN readiness.
---
,**4. A nurse is assessing a client who has a new tracheostomy. Which of the following findings should
be reported to the healthcare provider immediately?**
A. Small amount of serosanguineous drainage around the stoma
B. Client is able to cough and clear secretions
C. The client's oxygen saturation is 88%
D. The tracheostomy tube is secured with a tracheostomy collar
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: An oxygen saturation of 88% indicates hypoxia and is a critical finding that requires
immediate intervention. This could be due to a mucous plug, displaced tube, or other respiratory
complication. This is a high-yield topic for Chamberlain BSN students.
---
**5. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Which of the following pain management
strategies is most appropriate for this client?**
A. Administering oral analgesics as needed
B. Placing the client in a prone position
C. Keeping the client NPO and administering IV analgesics
D. Applying a heating pad to the abdomen
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Clients with acute pancreatitis are kept NPO to rest the pancreas. Pain is managed
with IV analgesics, as oral medications may not be absorbed well. This is a standard nursing intervention
for nursing exam guides.
---
**6. A client is being discharged with a new prescription for an ACE inhibitor, lisinopril. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates a correct understanding of the medication?**
A. "I should take this medication with food to avoid stomach upset."
, B. "I should notify my doctor if I develop a persistent cough."
C. "I can take this medication with over-the-counter potassium supplements."
D. "I should stop taking this medication if I feel dizzy."
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: A persistent dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors and should be
reported to the healthcare provider. The client should not take potassium supplements without
consulting the provider and should not stop the medication abruptly. This is a key patient education
point for nursing success.
---
**7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube in place following a pneumothorax. The nurse
notes that the water seal chamber is tidaling with respirations. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?**
A. Clamp the chest tube immediately.
B. Notify the healthcare provider.
C. Document this as a normal finding.
D. Increase the suction pressure.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Tidaling (fluctuations) in the water seal chamber with respirations is a normal finding,
indicating that the chest tube is patent and functioning correctly. This is a key assessment for ATI RN
Comprehensive Predictor 2026 NGN.
---
**8. A client is prescribed a benzodiazepine for generalized anxiety disorder. The nurse should instruct
the client that this medication should not be stopped abruptly due to the risk of:**
A. Rebound anxiety and withdrawal symptoms
B. Hypotension and bradycardia
bank covering ATI, HESI, and NCLEX-RN standards. This
comprehensive guide features next-generation questions and
detailed rationales to ensure your success on the first
attempt.
---
## 📚 2025/2026 RN Nursing Ultimate Prep Guide | ATI, HESI
& NCLEX-RN | Complete NGN Questions & Rationales –
Versions V1-V5
---
**1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 day post-operative following a partial colectomy. The client
reports sudden, severe abdominal pain and the nurse notes a rigid, board-like abdomen. What is the
nurse's priority action?**
A. Administer the prescribed PRN analgesic.
B. Encourage the client to ambulate to relieve gas.
C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
D. Apply a warm compress to the abdomen.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: A rigid, board-like abdomen with sudden severe pain is a classic sign of peritonitis or
a perforated viscus, which is a surgical emergency. The nurse must notify the provider immediately. This
is a critical concept for ATI Medical-Surgical Proctored Exam success.
---
,**2. A client is prescribed a potassium-sparing diuretic, spironolactone. Which of the following
assessment findings would indicate a potential adverse effect of this medication?**
A. Muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias
B. Hyponatremia and hypotension
C. Hyperkalemia and ECG changes
D. Hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, which means it can cause
hyperkalemia. The nurse should monitor for signs of hyperkalemia, including muscle weakness and ECG
changes. This is a key pharmacology topic for HESI Pharmacology Exam.
---
**3. A client is receiving a continuous heparin infusion for a deep vein thrombosis. The nurse should
monitor which of the following laboratory values to evaluate the therapeutic effect of this
medication?**
A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. International normalized ratio (INR)
C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D. Complete blood count (CBC)
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The aPTT is the lab value used to monitor the therapeutic effect of unfractionated
heparin. The aPTT should be 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal control. PT and INR are used to monitor
warfarin. This is a key pharmacology concept for NCLEX-RN readiness.
---
,**4. A nurse is assessing a client who has a new tracheostomy. Which of the following findings should
be reported to the healthcare provider immediately?**
A. Small amount of serosanguineous drainage around the stoma
B. Client is able to cough and clear secretions
C. The client's oxygen saturation is 88%
D. The tracheostomy tube is secured with a tracheostomy collar
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: An oxygen saturation of 88% indicates hypoxia and is a critical finding that requires
immediate intervention. This could be due to a mucous plug, displaced tube, or other respiratory
complication. This is a high-yield topic for Chamberlain BSN students.
---
**5. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Which of the following pain management
strategies is most appropriate for this client?**
A. Administering oral analgesics as needed
B. Placing the client in a prone position
C. Keeping the client NPO and administering IV analgesics
D. Applying a heating pad to the abdomen
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Clients with acute pancreatitis are kept NPO to rest the pancreas. Pain is managed
with IV analgesics, as oral medications may not be absorbed well. This is a standard nursing intervention
for nursing exam guides.
---
**6. A client is being discharged with a new prescription for an ACE inhibitor, lisinopril. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates a correct understanding of the medication?**
A. "I should take this medication with food to avoid stomach upset."
, B. "I should notify my doctor if I develop a persistent cough."
C. "I can take this medication with over-the-counter potassium supplements."
D. "I should stop taking this medication if I feel dizzy."
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: A persistent dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors and should be
reported to the healthcare provider. The client should not take potassium supplements without
consulting the provider and should not stop the medication abruptly. This is a key patient education
point for nursing success.
---
**7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube in place following a pneumothorax. The nurse
notes that the water seal chamber is tidaling with respirations. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?**
A. Clamp the chest tube immediately.
B. Notify the healthcare provider.
C. Document this as a normal finding.
D. Increase the suction pressure.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Tidaling (fluctuations) in the water seal chamber with respirations is a normal finding,
indicating that the chest tube is patent and functioning correctly. This is a key assessment for ATI RN
Comprehensive Predictor 2026 NGN.
---
**8. A client is prescribed a benzodiazepine for generalized anxiety disorder. The nurse should instruct
the client that this medication should not be stopped abruptly due to the risk of:**
A. Rebound anxiety and withdrawal symptoms
B. Hypotension and bradycardia
