ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor
2026 Exit Prep: 100 NGN-Style
Practice Questions with Detailed
Rationales
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for a low-
sodium diet. The client's favorite food is canned soup. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
Answer: Assess the client's understanding of the low-sodium diet.
Rationale: The first step in the nursing process is assessment. The
nurse must first evaluate what the client knows about the diet
before providing education. Teaching should be tailored to the
client's current knowledge level.
A nurse is preparing to administer an enteric-coated tablet to a
client. The client has difficulty swallowing pills. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
Answer: Request a liquid formulation or a different preparation
from the pharmacy.
Rationale: Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed, chewed,
or dissolved because this destroys the coating that protects the
stomach or controls the release of the medication. The nurse
should consult the pharmacy for an alternative formulation.
, A client who is postoperative day one following an abdominal
hysterectomy reports a sudden onset of chest pain and shortness
of breath. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
Answer: Apply oxygen and notify the healthcare provider.
Rationale: These symptoms are indicative of a potential
pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication. The priority
is to ensure adequate oxygenation and immediately notify the
provider for further orders.
A nurse is assessing a client who has a sodium level of 150 mEq/L.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Answer: Thirst and dry mucous membranes.
Rationale: A sodium level of 150 mEq/L indicates hypernatremia.
Early manifestations include thirst, dry mucous membranes, and
decreased urine output. Neurological changes like confusion or
lethargy can occur with more severe elevations.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client prescribed
warfarin. Which of the following client statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
Answer: "I will avoid eating large amounts of leafy green
vegetables."
Rationale: Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist. Leafy green
vegetables are high in vitamin K, which can decrease the
medication's effectiveness. Consistency in dietary vitamin K intake
is important, but avoiding large amounts is recommended.
, A client is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. The nurse
should monitor the client for which of the following adverse
effects?
Answer: Hypokalemia.
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that inhibits sodium and
water reabsorption in the loop of Henle, leading to potassium
loss. Hypokalemia is a common and potentially serious adverse
effect.
A nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube set to
low intermittent suction. Which of the following assessment
findings indicates the tube is correctly placed?
Answer: The pH of the gastric aspirate is 4.
Rationale: Gastric aspirate from an NG tube typically has a pH of
4 or less. This is a reliable indicator of correct placement in the
stomach. A pH of 6 or higher may indicate placement in the
respiratory tract or intestines.
A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client.
Which of the following actions is most important to prevent a
transfusion reaction?
Answer: Verify the client's identity and blood product with
another licensed nurse.
Rationale: Verification of client identity and blood product
compatibility with a second licensed nurse is the most critical
safety step to prevent hemolytic transfusion reactions caused by
ABO or Rh incompatibility.
2026 Exit Prep: 100 NGN-Style
Practice Questions with Detailed
Rationales
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for a low-
sodium diet. The client's favorite food is canned soup. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
Answer: Assess the client's understanding of the low-sodium diet.
Rationale: The first step in the nursing process is assessment. The
nurse must first evaluate what the client knows about the diet
before providing education. Teaching should be tailored to the
client's current knowledge level.
A nurse is preparing to administer an enteric-coated tablet to a
client. The client has difficulty swallowing pills. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
Answer: Request a liquid formulation or a different preparation
from the pharmacy.
Rationale: Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed, chewed,
or dissolved because this destroys the coating that protects the
stomach or controls the release of the medication. The nurse
should consult the pharmacy for an alternative formulation.
, A client who is postoperative day one following an abdominal
hysterectomy reports a sudden onset of chest pain and shortness
of breath. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
Answer: Apply oxygen and notify the healthcare provider.
Rationale: These symptoms are indicative of a potential
pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening complication. The priority
is to ensure adequate oxygenation and immediately notify the
provider for further orders.
A nurse is assessing a client who has a sodium level of 150 mEq/L.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Answer: Thirst and dry mucous membranes.
Rationale: A sodium level of 150 mEq/L indicates hypernatremia.
Early manifestations include thirst, dry mucous membranes, and
decreased urine output. Neurological changes like confusion or
lethargy can occur with more severe elevations.
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client prescribed
warfarin. Which of the following client statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
Answer: "I will avoid eating large amounts of leafy green
vegetables."
Rationale: Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist. Leafy green
vegetables are high in vitamin K, which can decrease the
medication's effectiveness. Consistency in dietary vitamin K intake
is important, but avoiding large amounts is recommended.
, A client is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. The nurse
should monitor the client for which of the following adverse
effects?
Answer: Hypokalemia.
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that inhibits sodium and
water reabsorption in the loop of Henle, leading to potassium
loss. Hypokalemia is a common and potentially serious adverse
effect.
A nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube set to
low intermittent suction. Which of the following assessment
findings indicates the tube is correctly placed?
Answer: The pH of the gastric aspirate is 4.
Rationale: Gastric aspirate from an NG tube typically has a pH of
4 or less. This is a reliable indicator of correct placement in the
stomach. A pH of 6 or higher may indicate placement in the
respiratory tract or intestines.
A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client.
Which of the following actions is most important to prevent a
transfusion reaction?
Answer: Verify the client's identity and blood product with
another licensed nurse.
Rationale: Verification of client identity and blood product
compatibility with a second licensed nurse is the most critical
safety step to prevent hemolytic transfusion reactions caused by
ABO or Rh incompatibility.
