ATI COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR "GREEN LIGHT"
2026/2027
150 Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING & SAFETY (Questions
1-25)
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a sterile wound irrigation. Which action should
the nurse take when pouring the sterile solution?
A. Remove the cap and place it sterile-side up on a clean surface
B. Place sterile gauze over areas of spilled solution
C. Hold the bottle in the center of the sterile field when pouring
D. Hold the irrigation solution bottle with the label facing away from the palm
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When pouring sterile solutions, the cap should be removed and placed sterile-
side up to maintain sterility. The bottle should be held outside the sterile field to prevent
contamination. The label should face the palm to prevent solution from running over the
label and obscuring it .
2. A home health nurse is caring for a child who has Lyme disease. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Ensure the state health department has been notified
B. Administer antitoxin
,C. Educate the family to avoid sharing personal belongings
D. Assess for skin necrosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Lyme disease is a reportable communicable disease in most states. The nurse
must ensure proper notification to public health authorities. Antitoxin is not used for Lyme
disease (antibiotics are). Skin necrosis is not a characteristic finding of Lyme disease;
erythema migrans is the classic rash .
3. A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which
intervention should the nurse include?
A. Encourage the client to gain 2.3 kg per week
B. Weigh the client once per week throughout hospitalization
C. Monitor the client for 1 hour after meals
D. Allow the client to choose mealtimes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clients with anorexia nervosa should be monitored for 1 hour after meals to
prevent purging behaviors. Weight gain should be gradual (0.5-1 kg per week). Mealtimes
should be structured, and weighing is typically done daily .
4. A charge nurse on a pediatric unit is making assignments for a float nurse from
the medical unit. Which client is appropriate to assign to the float nurse?
A. A 10-year-old client who has pneumonia and is receiving respiratory treatments
B. A 4-year-old client who has a Wilms tumor and is receiving chemotherapy
C. An 8-month-old client who is scheduled for surgical repair of a ventricular septal
defect
D. A 14-year-old client scheduled for discharge following placement of a Harrington rod
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale: A float nurse with experience in respiratory treatments can care for a client with
pneumonia receiving respiratory care. Clients with complex conditions (Wilms tumor,
cardiac surgery, spinal surgery) require pediatric specialty care .
5. A nurse is assessing an infant who has water intoxication. Which finding should
the nurse expect?
A. Generalized edema
B. Elevated urine specific gravity
C. Thready pulse
D. Increased hematocrit
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Water intoxication causes generalized edema, decreased urine specific gravity,
and decreased hematocrit. It can occur with excessive water intake, diluting body fluids
and causing fluid shifts .
6. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a depressive disorder and a
new prescription for amitriptyline. Which statement indicates understanding?
A. "I can continue to take St. John's wort while taking this medication"
B. "I know it will be a couple of weeks before the medication helps me feel better"
C. "I expect this medication to raise my blood pressure"
D. "I should take this medication on an empty stomach"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline require 2-4 weeks to achieve
therapeutic effects. St. John's wort interacts dangerously with antidepressants (serotonin
syndrome). Amitriptyline may cause orthostatic hypotension, not hypertension. It can be
taken with food to reduce GI upset .
, 7. A nurse is caring for a client who is immobile. Which intervention is appropriate
to prevent contracture?
A. Position a pillow under the client's knee
B. Place a towel roll under the client's neck
C. Align a trochanter wedge between the client's legs
D. Apply an orthotic to the client's foot
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A trochanter wedge maintains proper hip alignment and prevents external
rotation contractures. Pillows under knees promote flexion contractures; towel rolls under
the neck do not prevent contractures; foot orthotics prevent foot drop but not hip
contractures .
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has just returned to the unit following a
bronchoscopy. Which action by the assistive personnel requires the nurse to
intervene?
A. Encourages the client to use the incentive spirometer
B. Elevates the head of the client's bed
C. Offers oral fluids to the client
D. Checks the client's pulse oximetry
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: After a bronchoscopy, the client's gag reflex may be impaired due to topical
anesthesia. The client should remain NPO until the gag reflex returns to prevent
aspiration. Incentive spirometry, elevating the head of the bed, and pulse oximetry are
appropriate .
9. A nurse is admitting a client who has antisocial personality disorder. Which
client behavior is consistent with this disorder?
A. Compulsive attention to details
B. Avoids interacting with others
2026/2027
150 Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING & SAFETY (Questions
1-25)
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a sterile wound irrigation. Which action should
the nurse take when pouring the sterile solution?
A. Remove the cap and place it sterile-side up on a clean surface
B. Place sterile gauze over areas of spilled solution
C. Hold the bottle in the center of the sterile field when pouring
D. Hold the irrigation solution bottle with the label facing away from the palm
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When pouring sterile solutions, the cap should be removed and placed sterile-
side up to maintain sterility. The bottle should be held outside the sterile field to prevent
contamination. The label should face the palm to prevent solution from running over the
label and obscuring it .
2. A home health nurse is caring for a child who has Lyme disease. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Ensure the state health department has been notified
B. Administer antitoxin
,C. Educate the family to avoid sharing personal belongings
D. Assess for skin necrosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Lyme disease is a reportable communicable disease in most states. The nurse
must ensure proper notification to public health authorities. Antitoxin is not used for Lyme
disease (antibiotics are). Skin necrosis is not a characteristic finding of Lyme disease;
erythema migrans is the classic rash .
3. A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which
intervention should the nurse include?
A. Encourage the client to gain 2.3 kg per week
B. Weigh the client once per week throughout hospitalization
C. Monitor the client for 1 hour after meals
D. Allow the client to choose mealtimes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clients with anorexia nervosa should be monitored for 1 hour after meals to
prevent purging behaviors. Weight gain should be gradual (0.5-1 kg per week). Mealtimes
should be structured, and weighing is typically done daily .
4. A charge nurse on a pediatric unit is making assignments for a float nurse from
the medical unit. Which client is appropriate to assign to the float nurse?
A. A 10-year-old client who has pneumonia and is receiving respiratory treatments
B. A 4-year-old client who has a Wilms tumor and is receiving chemotherapy
C. An 8-month-old client who is scheduled for surgical repair of a ventricular septal
defect
D. A 14-year-old client scheduled for discharge following placement of a Harrington rod
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale: A float nurse with experience in respiratory treatments can care for a client with
pneumonia receiving respiratory care. Clients with complex conditions (Wilms tumor,
cardiac surgery, spinal surgery) require pediatric specialty care .
5. A nurse is assessing an infant who has water intoxication. Which finding should
the nurse expect?
A. Generalized edema
B. Elevated urine specific gravity
C. Thready pulse
D. Increased hematocrit
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Water intoxication causes generalized edema, decreased urine specific gravity,
and decreased hematocrit. It can occur with excessive water intake, diluting body fluids
and causing fluid shifts .
6. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a depressive disorder and a
new prescription for amitriptyline. Which statement indicates understanding?
A. "I can continue to take St. John's wort while taking this medication"
B. "I know it will be a couple of weeks before the medication helps me feel better"
C. "I expect this medication to raise my blood pressure"
D. "I should take this medication on an empty stomach"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline require 2-4 weeks to achieve
therapeutic effects. St. John's wort interacts dangerously with antidepressants (serotonin
syndrome). Amitriptyline may cause orthostatic hypotension, not hypertension. It can be
taken with food to reduce GI upset .
, 7. A nurse is caring for a client who is immobile. Which intervention is appropriate
to prevent contracture?
A. Position a pillow under the client's knee
B. Place a towel roll under the client's neck
C. Align a trochanter wedge between the client's legs
D. Apply an orthotic to the client's foot
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A trochanter wedge maintains proper hip alignment and prevents external
rotation contractures. Pillows under knees promote flexion contractures; towel rolls under
the neck do not prevent contractures; foot orthotics prevent foot drop but not hip
contractures .
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has just returned to the unit following a
bronchoscopy. Which action by the assistive personnel requires the nurse to
intervene?
A. Encourages the client to use the incentive spirometer
B. Elevates the head of the client's bed
C. Offers oral fluids to the client
D. Checks the client's pulse oximetry
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: After a bronchoscopy, the client's gag reflex may be impaired due to topical
anesthesia. The client should remain NPO until the gag reflex returns to prevent
aspiration. Incentive spirometry, elevating the head of the bed, and pulse oximetry are
appropriate .
9. A nurse is admitting a client who has antisocial personality disorder. Which
client behavior is consistent with this disorder?
A. Compulsive attention to details
B. Avoids interacting with others
