VATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR
2026 150 REAL EXAM SCENARIOS
WITH DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADE A+
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD | 100% PASS GUARANTEE
1. A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client
who has a traumatic brain injury following a motor vehicle
crash. The nurse notes the client's blood pressure is
162/54 mm Hg, pulse is 48/min, and respirations are
12/min and irregular. Which of the following interventions
is the priority action for the nurse to take?
• Administer an intravenous bolus of mannitol 20%.
• Elevate the head of the client's bed to 30 degrees.
Correct Answer. RationaleThe client is exhibiting
signs of Cushing's triad (widened pulse pressure,
bradycardia, and irregular respirations), which indicates
a significant increase in intracranial pressure (ICP).
Elevating the head of the bed to 30 degrees promotes
venous drainage from the brain and is the immediate,
non-invasive nursing priority to lower ICP before
administering hyperosmotic medications.
• Prepare the client for surgical decompression craniectomy.
• Initiate mechanical ventilation support.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 34 weeks of
gestation and presents to the labor and delivery unit with
sudden-onset, severe abdominal pain and dark red vaginal
bleeding. The client's abdomen is rigid and tender to
palpation. Which of the following actions should the nurse
perform first?
,• Palpate the client's uterus to assess muscle tone.
Correct Answer. RationaleThe client's clinical
presentation strongly suggests abruptio placentae, which
is a medical emergency. The priority action using the
nursing process is to assess the client's uterine tone and
contraction pattern to evaluate the severity of the
abruption while simultaneously preparing for emergency
delivery.
• Obtain a blood sample for a clotting profile.
• Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
• Administer oxygen via a nonrebreather face mask.
3. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a prescription
for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to infusing through a
central venous catheter. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
• Change the TPN IV tubing and filter every 72 hours.
• Measure the client's blood glucose levels every 6
hours. Correct Answer. RationaleTPN solutions
contain highly concentrated dextrose, putting the client at
a high risk for hyperglycemia and fluid shifts. Monitoring
blood glucose every 6 hours is essential to determine the
need for supplemental insulin and ensure client safety.
• Accelerate the infusion rate if the schedule falls behind.
• Flush the central line with heparin 10,000 units daily.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hours postoperative
following a total thyroidectomy. The client reports a
tingling sensation around their mouth and muscle
twitching in their fingers. Which of the following
medications should the nurse prepare to administer?
,• Calcium gluconate Correct Answer.
RationaleTingling around the mouth (perioral
paresthesia) and muscle twitching are classic signs of
hypocalcemia, which can occur after a thyroidectomy if
the parathyroid glands are accidentally damaged or
removed. Calcium gluconate is the treatment of choice to
restore serum calcium levels.
• Potassium chloride
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Magnesium sulfate
5. A nurse in a mental health facility is caring for a client who
has schizophrenia and is experiencing auditory
hallucinations, stating, "The voices are telling me that the
food is poisoned." Which of the following responses
should the nurse make?
• "No one is trying to poison you. The food is perfectly safe
to eat."
• "I understand the voices are real to you, but I do not hear
them. Let's walk to the dining room together."
• "It must be very frightening to hear voices that tell
you your food is unsafe, but I do not hear any
voices." Correct Answer. RationaleThis
therapeutic response validates the client's feelings and
acknowledges their reality without reinforcing the
hallucination, while also gently presenting the nurse's
reality.
• "Why do you think the voices want to poison your food?"
6. A nurse is evaluating a client who has advanced heart
failure and is taking digoxin daily. The client reports
nausea, vomiting, and seeing yellow-green halos around
, lights. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take first?
• Obtain a blood sample to measure the client's
serum digoxin level. Correct Answer.
RationaleGastrointestinal distress and visual
disturbances are classic manifestations of digoxin
toxicity. The nurse must immediately verify the serum
digoxin level to guide further interventions, such as
withholding the drug or administering digoxin immune
Fab.
• Administer an antiemetic medication.
• Request an order for a 12-lead electrocardiogram.
• Check the client's apical pulse for 1 full minute.
7. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who
has acute kidney injury (AKI) and notes a serum
potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which of the following
provider prescriptions should the nurse expect to
implement immediately?
• Sodium polystyrene sulfonate orally Correct
Answer. RationaleA serum potassium level of 6.8
mEq/L indicates severe hyperkalemia, which poses a high
risk for lethal cardiac arrhythmias. Sodium polystyrene
sulfonate is an ion-exchange resin that removes
potassium from the body via the gastrointestinal tract.
• Potassium-sparing diuretic therapy
• Intravenous administration of 0.9% sodium chloride
• Hemodialysis access site evaluation
8. A nurse is preparing to administer regular insulin and
NPH insulin in the same syringe to a client who has type 1
2026 150 REAL EXAM SCENARIOS
WITH DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADE A+
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD | 100% PASS GUARANTEE
1. A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client
who has a traumatic brain injury following a motor vehicle
crash. The nurse notes the client's blood pressure is
162/54 mm Hg, pulse is 48/min, and respirations are
12/min and irregular. Which of the following interventions
is the priority action for the nurse to take?
• Administer an intravenous bolus of mannitol 20%.
• Elevate the head of the client's bed to 30 degrees.
Correct Answer. RationaleThe client is exhibiting
signs of Cushing's triad (widened pulse pressure,
bradycardia, and irregular respirations), which indicates
a significant increase in intracranial pressure (ICP).
Elevating the head of the bed to 30 degrees promotes
venous drainage from the brain and is the immediate,
non-invasive nursing priority to lower ICP before
administering hyperosmotic medications.
• Prepare the client for surgical decompression craniectomy.
• Initiate mechanical ventilation support.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 34 weeks of
gestation and presents to the labor and delivery unit with
sudden-onset, severe abdominal pain and dark red vaginal
bleeding. The client's abdomen is rigid and tender to
palpation. Which of the following actions should the nurse
perform first?
,• Palpate the client's uterus to assess muscle tone.
Correct Answer. RationaleThe client's clinical
presentation strongly suggests abruptio placentae, which
is a medical emergency. The priority action using the
nursing process is to assess the client's uterine tone and
contraction pattern to evaluate the severity of the
abruption while simultaneously preparing for emergency
delivery.
• Obtain a blood sample for a clotting profile.
• Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
• Administer oxygen via a nonrebreather face mask.
3. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a prescription
for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to infusing through a
central venous catheter. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
• Change the TPN IV tubing and filter every 72 hours.
• Measure the client's blood glucose levels every 6
hours. Correct Answer. RationaleTPN solutions
contain highly concentrated dextrose, putting the client at
a high risk for hyperglycemia and fluid shifts. Monitoring
blood glucose every 6 hours is essential to determine the
need for supplemental insulin and ensure client safety.
• Accelerate the infusion rate if the schedule falls behind.
• Flush the central line with heparin 10,000 units daily.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who is 12 hours postoperative
following a total thyroidectomy. The client reports a
tingling sensation around their mouth and muscle
twitching in their fingers. Which of the following
medications should the nurse prepare to administer?
,• Calcium gluconate Correct Answer.
RationaleTingling around the mouth (perioral
paresthesia) and muscle twitching are classic signs of
hypocalcemia, which can occur after a thyroidectomy if
the parathyroid glands are accidentally damaged or
removed. Calcium gluconate is the treatment of choice to
restore serum calcium levels.
• Potassium chloride
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Magnesium sulfate
5. A nurse in a mental health facility is caring for a client who
has schizophrenia and is experiencing auditory
hallucinations, stating, "The voices are telling me that the
food is poisoned." Which of the following responses
should the nurse make?
• "No one is trying to poison you. The food is perfectly safe
to eat."
• "I understand the voices are real to you, but I do not hear
them. Let's walk to the dining room together."
• "It must be very frightening to hear voices that tell
you your food is unsafe, but I do not hear any
voices." Correct Answer. RationaleThis
therapeutic response validates the client's feelings and
acknowledges their reality without reinforcing the
hallucination, while also gently presenting the nurse's
reality.
• "Why do you think the voices want to poison your food?"
6. A nurse is evaluating a client who has advanced heart
failure and is taking digoxin daily. The client reports
nausea, vomiting, and seeing yellow-green halos around
, lights. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take first?
• Obtain a blood sample to measure the client's
serum digoxin level. Correct Answer.
RationaleGastrointestinal distress and visual
disturbances are classic manifestations of digoxin
toxicity. The nurse must immediately verify the serum
digoxin level to guide further interventions, such as
withholding the drug or administering digoxin immune
Fab.
• Administer an antiemetic medication.
• Request an order for a 12-lead electrocardiogram.
• Check the client's apical pulse for 1 full minute.
7. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who
has acute kidney injury (AKI) and notes a serum
potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which of the following
provider prescriptions should the nurse expect to
implement immediately?
• Sodium polystyrene sulfonate orally Correct
Answer. RationaleA serum potassium level of 6.8
mEq/L indicates severe hyperkalemia, which poses a high
risk for lethal cardiac arrhythmias. Sodium polystyrene
sulfonate is an ion-exchange resin that removes
potassium from the body via the gastrointestinal tract.
• Potassium-sparing diuretic therapy
• Intravenous administration of 0.9% sodium chloride
• Hemodialysis access site evaluation
8. A nurse is preparing to administer regular insulin and
NPH insulin in the same syringe to a client who has type 1
