ATI NUTRITION EXAM REVIEW FOR NURSING STUDENTS –
2026/2027 ACADEMIC YEAR – COMPREHENSIVE
PRACTICE QUESTION BANK WITH RATIONALES AND
DISTRACTOR ANALYSIS
Section 1: Basic Nutrition & Metabolism (Questions 130)
1. A client asks the nurse which nutrient is most essential for building and
repairing body tissues. Which response is correct?
A) Carbohydrates
B) Fats
C) Proteins
D) Vitamins
Answer: C
Rationale: Proteins are the primary structural components of cells and are
essential for growth, maintenance, and repair of tissues.
Distractor Analysis: A) Carbohydrates are the primary energy source. B) Fats are
for energy storage and insulation. D) Vitamins act as coenzymes.
2. A nurse is teaching about basal metabolic rate (BMR). Which factor increases
BMR the most?
A) Starvation
,B) Sleep
C) Fever
D) Age
Answer: C
Rationale: Fever significantly increases BMR due to the increase in cellular
chemical reactions and heat production.
Distractor Analysis: A) Starvation decreases BMR to conserve energy. B) Sleep
decreases BMR. D) Aging decreases BMR.
3. A client's diet consists of 2000 calories. If 60% come from carbohydrates, how
many grams of carbs is the client consuming?
A) 150g
B) 200g
C) 300g
D) 400g
Answer: C
Rationale: 2000 x 0.60 = 1200 calories from carbs. calories per gram =
300 grams.
Distractor Analysis: A) This is miscalculated for 30%. B) This is miscalculated for
40%. D) This is miscalculated for 80%.
4. The nurse identifies which vitamin as crucial for the absorption of dietary
calcium?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin C
,C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin E
Answer: C
Rationale: Vitamin D promotes the synthesis of calciumbinding proteins in the
intestines, facilitating calcium absorption.
Distractor Analysis: A) Vitamin A is for vision. B) Vitamin C is for collagen synthesis.
D) Vitamin E is an antioxidant.
5. The nurse assesses a client for signs of dehydration. Which finding is an early
indicator?
A) Decreased blood pressure
B) Thirst
C) Oliguria
D) Confusion
Answer: B
Rationale: Thirst is the body's primary and earliest defense mechanism to increase
fluid intake before significant volume depletion occurs.
Distractor Analysis: A) Decreased BP is a late sign. C) Oliguria is a late sign. D)
Confusion is a late sign.
6. A client's lab results show a serum sodium of 155 mEq/L. The nurse interprets
this as:
A) Hyponatremia
B) Hypernatremia
C) Hypokalemia
, D) Hyperkalemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal serum sodium is 135145 mEq/L. 155 mEq/L is elevated.
Distractor Analysis: A) Hyponatremia is low sodium. C & D relate to potassium, not
sodium.
7. During nutritional counseling, the nurse notes that a client's BMI is 32. This
classifies the client as:
A) Underweight
B) Normal weight
C) Overweight
D) Obese
Answer: D
Rationale: BMI of 30.0 – 39.9 is classified as Obese Class I/II.
Distractor Analysis: A) <18.5. B) 18.524.9. C) 25.029.9.
8. The nurse instructs a client to limit saturated fat intake. Which oil is the highest
in saturated fat?
A) Olive oil
B) Canola oil
C) Coconut oil
D) Sunflower oil
Answer: C
Rationale: Coconut oil is about 82% saturated fat, higher than palm oil and butter.
2026/2027 ACADEMIC YEAR – COMPREHENSIVE
PRACTICE QUESTION BANK WITH RATIONALES AND
DISTRACTOR ANALYSIS
Section 1: Basic Nutrition & Metabolism (Questions 130)
1. A client asks the nurse which nutrient is most essential for building and
repairing body tissues. Which response is correct?
A) Carbohydrates
B) Fats
C) Proteins
D) Vitamins
Answer: C
Rationale: Proteins are the primary structural components of cells and are
essential for growth, maintenance, and repair of tissues.
Distractor Analysis: A) Carbohydrates are the primary energy source. B) Fats are
for energy storage and insulation. D) Vitamins act as coenzymes.
2. A nurse is teaching about basal metabolic rate (BMR). Which factor increases
BMR the most?
A) Starvation
,B) Sleep
C) Fever
D) Age
Answer: C
Rationale: Fever significantly increases BMR due to the increase in cellular
chemical reactions and heat production.
Distractor Analysis: A) Starvation decreases BMR to conserve energy. B) Sleep
decreases BMR. D) Aging decreases BMR.
3. A client's diet consists of 2000 calories. If 60% come from carbohydrates, how
many grams of carbs is the client consuming?
A) 150g
B) 200g
C) 300g
D) 400g
Answer: C
Rationale: 2000 x 0.60 = 1200 calories from carbs. calories per gram =
300 grams.
Distractor Analysis: A) This is miscalculated for 30%. B) This is miscalculated for
40%. D) This is miscalculated for 80%.
4. The nurse identifies which vitamin as crucial for the absorption of dietary
calcium?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin C
,C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin E
Answer: C
Rationale: Vitamin D promotes the synthesis of calciumbinding proteins in the
intestines, facilitating calcium absorption.
Distractor Analysis: A) Vitamin A is for vision. B) Vitamin C is for collagen synthesis.
D) Vitamin E is an antioxidant.
5. The nurse assesses a client for signs of dehydration. Which finding is an early
indicator?
A) Decreased blood pressure
B) Thirst
C) Oliguria
D) Confusion
Answer: B
Rationale: Thirst is the body's primary and earliest defense mechanism to increase
fluid intake before significant volume depletion occurs.
Distractor Analysis: A) Decreased BP is a late sign. C) Oliguria is a late sign. D)
Confusion is a late sign.
6. A client's lab results show a serum sodium of 155 mEq/L. The nurse interprets
this as:
A) Hyponatremia
B) Hypernatremia
C) Hypokalemia
, D) Hyperkalemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal serum sodium is 135145 mEq/L. 155 mEq/L is elevated.
Distractor Analysis: A) Hyponatremia is low sodium. C & D relate to potassium, not
sodium.
7. During nutritional counseling, the nurse notes that a client's BMI is 32. This
classifies the client as:
A) Underweight
B) Normal weight
C) Overweight
D) Obese
Answer: D
Rationale: BMI of 30.0 – 39.9 is classified as Obese Class I/II.
Distractor Analysis: A) <18.5. B) 18.524.9. C) 25.029.9.
8. The nurse instructs a client to limit saturated fat intake. Which oil is the highest
in saturated fat?
A) Olive oil
B) Canola oil
C) Coconut oil
D) Sunflower oil
Answer: C
Rationale: Coconut oil is about 82% saturated fat, higher than palm oil and butter.
