ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor 2026–2027
Latest Exam Study Guide with Comprehensive
Practice Questions, Verified Rationales and
NCLEX Readiness Review
Introduction
The ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor is the definitive standardized examination
designed to evaluate nursing students' readiness for the NCLEX-RN. This
comprehensive assessment integrates content from all nursing courses including
fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, maternal-newborn, pediatrics,
psychiatric-mental health, community health, leadership, and pharmacology.
The 2026–2027 edition incorporates Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) styles
including enhanced clinical judgment items, unfolding case studies, and
prioritization questions that mirror the new NCLEX testing format.
Question 1
A charge nurse is assigning client care to a team consisting of an RN, an LPN,
and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which of the following clients
should the charge nurse assign to the LPN?
• A. A client who is 2 hours postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty
• B. A client who has a urinary tract infection and requires a urine
culture
• C. A client who has experienced a stroke and requires frequent
neurological assessments
• D. A client who is receiving a continuous blood transfusion
Rationale: LPNs are licensed to perform stable, predictable tasks including
specimen collection and urinary catheterization. Client with a UTI requiring a
urine culture is stable and within LPN scope. The postoperative hip
,arthroplasty client (A) is unstable and requires RN assessment. The stroke
client (C) requires frequent neurological assessments which must be
performed by an RN. The client receiving a blood transfusion (D) requires RN
monitoring for transfusion reactions. Correct Answer: B
Question 2
A nurse is caring for four clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the
following clients should the nurse assess FIRST?
• A. A client who is 3 days post-appendectomy with a temperature of
99.2°F
• B. A client with chest pain who is experiencing diaphoresis and
nausea
• C. A client with diabetes mellitus who has a blood glucose of 160 mg/dL
• D. A client with a fractured tibia requesting pain medication
Rationale: Chest pain with diaphoresis and nausea are classic signs of
myocardial infarction, indicating an immediate life-threatening emergency
requiring priority assessment. A slightly elevated temperature (A) is expected
postoperatively. Blood glucose of 160 mg/dL (C) is mildly elevated but not
immediately life-threatening. Pain from a fracture (D) is painful but not
immediately life-threatening. Correct Answer: B
Question 3
A nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which of
the following tasks should the nurse delegate to a UAP?
• A. Assisting a client with feeding
• B. Administering oral medications
• C. Performing a sterile dressing change
• D. Assessing a client's wound
Rationale: Assisting with feeding is within the scope of UAP. Administering
oral medications (B) is a licensed nursing function. Performing sterile
,dressing changes (C) requires licensed nursing judgment. Assessing a client's
wound (D) requires nursing assessment and is not within UAP scope. Correct
Answer: A
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who has a new colostomy. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
• A. Refer the client to a registered dietitian
• B. Evaluate the client's ability to perform ostomy care
• C. Provide written instructions only
• D. Schedule a follow-up appointment in 1 month
Rationale: Evaluation of the client's ability to perform ostomy care is
essential before discharge to ensure client safety and self-management.
Dietitian referral (A) and follow-up scheduling (D) are important but
secondary. Written instructions only (C) are insufficient without
demonstration and return demonstration. Correct Answer: B
Question 5
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has heart failure.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
• A. "Weigh yourself daily at the same time each morning before
breakfast."
• B. "Increase your fluid intake to 3 liters per day."
• C. "You should walk for 2 hours every day without rest."
• D. "You can stop taking your medications when you feel better."
Rationale: Daily weights at the same time are the most reliable indicator of
fluid status in heart failure clients. Fluid intake should be restricted (not
increased) in heart failure. Exercise should be gradually increased with rest
periods. Medications must be taken as prescribed, not discontinued when
feeling better. Correct Answer: A
, Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client who has a living will. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
• A. Follow the client's advance directives as documented
• B. Override the living will in an emergency
• C. Consult the family for all decisions
• D. Discard the living will after admission
Rationale: Living wills are legal documents that must be followed according
to the client's documented wishes. Overriding a living will is illegal and
unethical. While family consultation is appropriate, the documented advance
directive takes precedence. Correct Answer: A
Question 7
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a client. Which of the
following should the nurse use to verify the client's identity?
• A. Name and date of birth
• B. Room number and bed number
• C. Diagnosis and age
• D. Physician's name and medication
Rationale: The two acceptable identifiers are the client's name and date of
birth (or another approved identifier like medical record number). Room and
bed numbers are not reliable identifiers. Diagnosis and physician's name do
not verify identity. Correct Answer: A
Question 8
A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is making assignments. Which of the
following clients should be assigned to the most experienced RN?
• A. A client with pneumonia who is stable and receiving IV antibiotics
Latest Exam Study Guide with Comprehensive
Practice Questions, Verified Rationales and
NCLEX Readiness Review
Introduction
The ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor is the definitive standardized examination
designed to evaluate nursing students' readiness for the NCLEX-RN. This
comprehensive assessment integrates content from all nursing courses including
fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, maternal-newborn, pediatrics,
psychiatric-mental health, community health, leadership, and pharmacology.
The 2026–2027 edition incorporates Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) styles
including enhanced clinical judgment items, unfolding case studies, and
prioritization questions that mirror the new NCLEX testing format.
Question 1
A charge nurse is assigning client care to a team consisting of an RN, an LPN,
and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which of the following clients
should the charge nurse assign to the LPN?
• A. A client who is 2 hours postoperative following a total hip
arthroplasty
• B. A client who has a urinary tract infection and requires a urine
culture
• C. A client who has experienced a stroke and requires frequent
neurological assessments
• D. A client who is receiving a continuous blood transfusion
Rationale: LPNs are licensed to perform stable, predictable tasks including
specimen collection and urinary catheterization. Client with a UTI requiring a
urine culture is stable and within LPN scope. The postoperative hip
,arthroplasty client (A) is unstable and requires RN assessment. The stroke
client (C) requires frequent neurological assessments which must be
performed by an RN. The client receiving a blood transfusion (D) requires RN
monitoring for transfusion reactions. Correct Answer: B
Question 2
A nurse is caring for four clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the
following clients should the nurse assess FIRST?
• A. A client who is 3 days post-appendectomy with a temperature of
99.2°F
• B. A client with chest pain who is experiencing diaphoresis and
nausea
• C. A client with diabetes mellitus who has a blood glucose of 160 mg/dL
• D. A client with a fractured tibia requesting pain medication
Rationale: Chest pain with diaphoresis and nausea are classic signs of
myocardial infarction, indicating an immediate life-threatening emergency
requiring priority assessment. A slightly elevated temperature (A) is expected
postoperatively. Blood glucose of 160 mg/dL (C) is mildly elevated but not
immediately life-threatening. Pain from a fracture (D) is painful but not
immediately life-threatening. Correct Answer: B
Question 3
A nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which of
the following tasks should the nurse delegate to a UAP?
• A. Assisting a client with feeding
• B. Administering oral medications
• C. Performing a sterile dressing change
• D. Assessing a client's wound
Rationale: Assisting with feeding is within the scope of UAP. Administering
oral medications (B) is a licensed nursing function. Performing sterile
,dressing changes (C) requires licensed nursing judgment. Assessing a client's
wound (D) requires nursing assessment and is not within UAP scope. Correct
Answer: A
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who has a new colostomy. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
• A. Refer the client to a registered dietitian
• B. Evaluate the client's ability to perform ostomy care
• C. Provide written instructions only
• D. Schedule a follow-up appointment in 1 month
Rationale: Evaluation of the client's ability to perform ostomy care is
essential before discharge to ensure client safety and self-management.
Dietitian referral (A) and follow-up scheduling (D) are important but
secondary. Written instructions only (C) are insufficient without
demonstration and return demonstration. Correct Answer: B
Question 5
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has heart failure.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
• A. "Weigh yourself daily at the same time each morning before
breakfast."
• B. "Increase your fluid intake to 3 liters per day."
• C. "You should walk for 2 hours every day without rest."
• D. "You can stop taking your medications when you feel better."
Rationale: Daily weights at the same time are the most reliable indicator of
fluid status in heart failure clients. Fluid intake should be restricted (not
increased) in heart failure. Exercise should be gradually increased with rest
periods. Medications must be taken as prescribed, not discontinued when
feeling better. Correct Answer: A
, Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client who has a living will. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
• A. Follow the client's advance directives as documented
• B. Override the living will in an emergency
• C. Consult the family for all decisions
• D. Discard the living will after admission
Rationale: Living wills are legal documents that must be followed according
to the client's documented wishes. Overriding a living will is illegal and
unethical. While family consultation is appropriate, the documented advance
directive takes precedence. Correct Answer: A
Question 7
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a client. Which of the
following should the nurse use to verify the client's identity?
• A. Name and date of birth
• B. Room number and bed number
• C. Diagnosis and age
• D. Physician's name and medication
Rationale: The two acceptable identifiers are the client's name and date of
birth (or another approved identifier like medical record number). Room and
bed numbers are not reliable identifiers. Diagnosis and physician's name do
not verify identity. Correct Answer: A
Question 8
A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is making assignments. Which of the
following clients should be assigned to the most experienced RN?
• A. A client with pneumonia who is stable and receiving IV antibiotics
