ATI Nursing Comprehensive Exit Exam 2026
- 180 Questions and Answers
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has given informed consent for ECT. Just
before the procedure, the client tells the nurse she is considering not going
forward with the treatment. Which of the following statements by the nurse is
appropriate?
a. “You don’t have to go through with the treatment.”
b. “Most people who have this procedure feel better following the treatment.”
c. “It’s okay to be nervous before this treatment.”
d. “Your doctor wouldn’t have ordered this treatment unless it was necessary.”
2. While performing a routine assessment, a nurse notices fraying on the
electrical cord of a client’s CPM device. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first?
a. Report the defect to the equipment maintenance staff.
b. Ensure the device inspection sticker is current
c. Remove the device from the room
d. Initiate a requisition for a replacement CPM device
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a new prescription
for hydromorphone. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Document administration of the medication upon removal from the
medication dispensing system
b. Withhold the medication if the client does not appear to be in pain.
c. Count the current number of unit doses available in the
medication dispensing system
d. Withhold the medication if the client has a fever
4. A nurse performing a change-of-shift assessment. Which of the following
clients has the priority finding?
a. Type 2 DM and a blood glucose of 250 mg/dL
b. Pneumonia with a productive cough and a fever of 38.8° C (101.8° F)
c. 2 hr. post cast placement and has 2+ pitting edema and pallor
d. First-degree heart block and a heart rate of 62/min
5. A nurse in an outpatient mental health facility is providing teaching to a group
of adolescents. Which of the following statements by a client indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
a. “I will limit my alcohol use to one drink daily while taking disulfiram.”
1|Page
, b. “I will avoid foods containing tyramine while taking fluoexetine.”
c. “I will take the sustained-release methylphenidate every morning.”
d. “I will take my lithium on an empty stomach.” (pharm pg. 64: taking
lithium with food will help decrease GI distress)
6. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing client who has major
depressive disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first? [View Exhibit]
a. Administer Zofran to the client for nausea
b. Implement seizure precautions for the client
c. Encourage the client to verbalize feelings
d. Obtain the client’s weight
7. A nurse is completing an admission assessment for a client who ahs narcissistic
personality disorder. Which of the following should the nurse expect?
a. Suspicious of others
b. Exhibits separation anxiety
c. Ritualistic behavior
d. Preoccupied with aging
8. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients and is working with one LPN and
one AP. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first to manage
her time effectively?
a. Develop an hourly time frame for tasks
b. Schedule daily activities
c. Determine goals of the day
d. Delegate tasks to the AP
9. A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has preeclampsia and is
to receive magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include in the plan?
a. Restrict the client’s total fluid intake to 250 mL/hr.
b. Measure the client’s urine output every hour
c. Give the client protamine if signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity occur
(antidote: calcium gluconate)
d. Monitor the FHR via Doppler every 30 min
10. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following wounds
should the nurse expect to heal by primary intention?
a. Infected laceration
b. Stage II pressure ulcer
c. Approximated surgical incision
d. Partial-thickness burn
2|Page
,11. A nurse in an acute mental health care facility is prioritizing care for multiple
clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse see first?
a. Client taking clozapine to treat schizophrenia and reports sore throat
(pharm pg. 72: monitor for infection [fever, sore throat, etc.])
b. Client has OCD and is upset about a change in daily routine
c. Client has narcissistic personality disorder and is mocking others during
group therapy
d. Client who has depressive disorder and requires assistance with ADLs
12. A nurse is caring for a client who has an implanted venous access port. Which of
the following should the nurse use to assess the port?
a. An angiocatheter
b. A butterfly needle
c. A noncoring needle
d. A 25 gauge needle
13. A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia and tells the nurse, “I feel like
an elephant is sitting on my chest.” The client is weak and unable to walk. After
the nurse indicates chest pain protocol, which of the following is the priority
diagnostic test?
a. PT and INR
b. 12 lead ECG
c. Chest X-ray
d. Serum potassium
14. A nurse is assessing the growth and development of a 3 y/o child. Which of
the following questions should the nurse ask the parent to determine if the
child is exhibiting typical developmental expectations?
a. “Can your child draw a stick figure?”
b. “Can your child catch and throw a small ball?”
c. “Can your child ride a tricycle?”
d. “Can your child name five colors?”
15. A nurse is preparing to assess fetal heart tones for a client who is at 12 weeks
of gestation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Measure the fundal height to determine the placement of the ultrasound
stethoscope
b. Perform Leopold maneuvers prior to auscultating the FHR
c. Position the ultrasound stethoscope above the symphysis pubis to assess
the FHR
d. Place the client in a side-lying position prior to assessing the FHR
16. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube with a water seal drainage
system. Upon assessment, the nurse notes tidaling in the water seal. Which of
3|Page
, the following is an explanation for the tidaling?
a. There is a loop of tubing below the drainage system
b. The system is working properly (medsurg pg. 104: tidaling in the water
seal chamber and continuous bubbling only in the suction chamber)
c. The lung has re-expanded
d. The tubing is partially obstructed by clots
17. A charge nurse on a medical surgical unit is assisting with the emergency
response plan following an external disaster in the community. In anticipation
of multiple client admissions, which of the following current clients should the
nurse recommend for early discharge?
a. A client who is receiving heparin for DVT
b. A client who is 1 day postoperative following a vertebroplasty
c. A client who has COPD and a respiratory rate of 44/min
d. A client who has cancer with a sealed implant for radiation therapy
18. A nurse is caring for a client who has ESRD. The client’s adult child asks the
nurse about becoming a living kidney donor for her father. Which of the
following conditions in the child’s medical history should the nurse identify as a
contraindication to the procedure?
a. Osteoarthritis
b. HTN
c. Amputation
d. Primary glaucoma
19. A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 days postpartum. Which of the following
assessment findings should the nurse expect? (SATA)
a. Foul perineal odor
b. Fundus displaced to the right
c. Lochia serosa
d. Fundus 4 cm (1.6 in) below the umbilicus
e. Postpartum chill
20. A nurse is caring for a child who has cystic fibrosis and requires postural
drainage. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Perform the procedure twice a day
b. Hold hand to perform percussions on the child
c. Administer a bronchodilator after the procedure
d. Perform the procedure prior to meals
21. A home care nurse is making a follow up visit with a client who has COPD and
is using a compressed oxygen system in his home. Which of the following
action should the nurse take?
4|Page
- 180 Questions and Answers
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has given informed consent for ECT. Just
before the procedure, the client tells the nurse she is considering not going
forward with the treatment. Which of the following statements by the nurse is
appropriate?
a. “You don’t have to go through with the treatment.”
b. “Most people who have this procedure feel better following the treatment.”
c. “It’s okay to be nervous before this treatment.”
d. “Your doctor wouldn’t have ordered this treatment unless it was necessary.”
2. While performing a routine assessment, a nurse notices fraying on the
electrical cord of a client’s CPM device. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first?
a. Report the defect to the equipment maintenance staff.
b. Ensure the device inspection sticker is current
c. Remove the device from the room
d. Initiate a requisition for a replacement CPM device
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a new prescription
for hydromorphone. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Document administration of the medication upon removal from the
medication dispensing system
b. Withhold the medication if the client does not appear to be in pain.
c. Count the current number of unit doses available in the
medication dispensing system
d. Withhold the medication if the client has a fever
4. A nurse performing a change-of-shift assessment. Which of the following
clients has the priority finding?
a. Type 2 DM and a blood glucose of 250 mg/dL
b. Pneumonia with a productive cough and a fever of 38.8° C (101.8° F)
c. 2 hr. post cast placement and has 2+ pitting edema and pallor
d. First-degree heart block and a heart rate of 62/min
5. A nurse in an outpatient mental health facility is providing teaching to a group
of adolescents. Which of the following statements by a client indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
a. “I will limit my alcohol use to one drink daily while taking disulfiram.”
1|Page
, b. “I will avoid foods containing tyramine while taking fluoexetine.”
c. “I will take the sustained-release methylphenidate every morning.”
d. “I will take my lithium on an empty stomach.” (pharm pg. 64: taking
lithium with food will help decrease GI distress)
6. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing client who has major
depressive disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first? [View Exhibit]
a. Administer Zofran to the client for nausea
b. Implement seizure precautions for the client
c. Encourage the client to verbalize feelings
d. Obtain the client’s weight
7. A nurse is completing an admission assessment for a client who ahs narcissistic
personality disorder. Which of the following should the nurse expect?
a. Suspicious of others
b. Exhibits separation anxiety
c. Ritualistic behavior
d. Preoccupied with aging
8. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients and is working with one LPN and
one AP. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first to manage
her time effectively?
a. Develop an hourly time frame for tasks
b. Schedule daily activities
c. Determine goals of the day
d. Delegate tasks to the AP
9. A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has preeclampsia and is
to receive magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include in the plan?
a. Restrict the client’s total fluid intake to 250 mL/hr.
b. Measure the client’s urine output every hour
c. Give the client protamine if signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity occur
(antidote: calcium gluconate)
d. Monitor the FHR via Doppler every 30 min
10. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following wounds
should the nurse expect to heal by primary intention?
a. Infected laceration
b. Stage II pressure ulcer
c. Approximated surgical incision
d. Partial-thickness burn
2|Page
,11. A nurse in an acute mental health care facility is prioritizing care for multiple
clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse see first?
a. Client taking clozapine to treat schizophrenia and reports sore throat
(pharm pg. 72: monitor for infection [fever, sore throat, etc.])
b. Client has OCD and is upset about a change in daily routine
c. Client has narcissistic personality disorder and is mocking others during
group therapy
d. Client who has depressive disorder and requires assistance with ADLs
12. A nurse is caring for a client who has an implanted venous access port. Which of
the following should the nurse use to assess the port?
a. An angiocatheter
b. A butterfly needle
c. A noncoring needle
d. A 25 gauge needle
13. A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia and tells the nurse, “I feel like
an elephant is sitting on my chest.” The client is weak and unable to walk. After
the nurse indicates chest pain protocol, which of the following is the priority
diagnostic test?
a. PT and INR
b. 12 lead ECG
c. Chest X-ray
d. Serum potassium
14. A nurse is assessing the growth and development of a 3 y/o child. Which of
the following questions should the nurse ask the parent to determine if the
child is exhibiting typical developmental expectations?
a. “Can your child draw a stick figure?”
b. “Can your child catch and throw a small ball?”
c. “Can your child ride a tricycle?”
d. “Can your child name five colors?”
15. A nurse is preparing to assess fetal heart tones for a client who is at 12 weeks
of gestation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Measure the fundal height to determine the placement of the ultrasound
stethoscope
b. Perform Leopold maneuvers prior to auscultating the FHR
c. Position the ultrasound stethoscope above the symphysis pubis to assess
the FHR
d. Place the client in a side-lying position prior to assessing the FHR
16. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube with a water seal drainage
system. Upon assessment, the nurse notes tidaling in the water seal. Which of
3|Page
, the following is an explanation for the tidaling?
a. There is a loop of tubing below the drainage system
b. The system is working properly (medsurg pg. 104: tidaling in the water
seal chamber and continuous bubbling only in the suction chamber)
c. The lung has re-expanded
d. The tubing is partially obstructed by clots
17. A charge nurse on a medical surgical unit is assisting with the emergency
response plan following an external disaster in the community. In anticipation
of multiple client admissions, which of the following current clients should the
nurse recommend for early discharge?
a. A client who is receiving heparin for DVT
b. A client who is 1 day postoperative following a vertebroplasty
c. A client who has COPD and a respiratory rate of 44/min
d. A client who has cancer with a sealed implant for radiation therapy
18. A nurse is caring for a client who has ESRD. The client’s adult child asks the
nurse about becoming a living kidney donor for her father. Which of the
following conditions in the child’s medical history should the nurse identify as a
contraindication to the procedure?
a. Osteoarthritis
b. HTN
c. Amputation
d. Primary glaucoma
19. A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 days postpartum. Which of the following
assessment findings should the nurse expect? (SATA)
a. Foul perineal odor
b. Fundus displaced to the right
c. Lochia serosa
d. Fundus 4 cm (1.6 in) below the umbilicus
e. Postpartum chill
20. A nurse is caring for a child who has cystic fibrosis and requires postural
drainage. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Perform the procedure twice a day
b. Hold hand to perform percussions on the child
c. Administer a bronchodilator after the procedure
d. Perform the procedure prior to meals
21. A home care nurse is making a follow up visit with a client who has COPD and
is using a compressed oxygen system in his home. Which of the following
action should the nurse take?
4|Page
