RN ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT A 2026/2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
LATEST UPDATE
1. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients and is working with an LPN
and an AP. Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to the AP?
A) Insertion of a nasogastric tube
B) Assisting a patient with Alzheimer's disease with feeding
C) Administering a tube feeding to a patient with scleroderma
D) Assessing a patient with Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Answer B: Assisting a patient with Alzheimer's disease with feeding
Rationale: Assisting with feeding is within the scope of practice for an AP
(unlicensed assistive personnel). Insertion of an NG tube and administration of
tube feedings require licensed nursing skills, and assessment of respiratory status
is an RN responsibility .
2. A 23-year-old man is admitted with a subdural hematoma and cerebral
edema after a motorcycle accident. Which of the following symptoms should
the nurse expect to see initially?
A) Unequal and dilated pupils
B) Decerebrate posturing
C) Grand mal seizures
,D) Decreased level of consciousness
Answer D: Decreased level of consciousness
Rationale: A decreased level of consciousness is the earliest and most sensitive
indicator of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Pupillary changes, posturing, and
seizures occur later as ICP continues to rise .
3. If a patient develops cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure), the nurse
would expect to observe:
A) Increasing respiratory difficulty seen with exertion
B) Cough productive of a large amount of thick, yellow mucus
C) Peripheral edema and anorexia
D) Twitching of extremities
Answer C: Peripheral edema and anorexia
Rationale: Cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure) results in systemic venous
congestion, leading to peripheral edema, jugular venous distention,
hepatomegaly, and anorexia. Respiratory difficulty and productive cough are
associated with left-sided heart failure .
4. A 38-year-old woman is returned to her room after a subtotal
thyroidectomy for treatment of hyperthyroidism. Which of the following, if
found by the nurse at the patient's bedside, is nonessential?
A) Potassium chloride for IV administration
B) Tracheostomy set
,C) Suction equipment
D) Calcium gluconate
Answer A: Potassium chloride for IV administration
Rationale: After thyroidectomy, the nurse should have a tracheostomy set, suction
equipment, and calcium gluconate at the bedside. Calcium gluconate is essential
because of the risk of hypocalcemia due to accidental parathyroid gland removal.
Potassium chloride is not routinely needed post-thyroidectomy .
5. A patient on peritoneal dialysis complains of pain during the inflow of the
dialysate and the outflow is cloudy. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer pain medication
B) Document the findings
C) Notify the provider immediately
D) Slow the inflow rate
Answer C: Notify the provider immediately
Rationale: Cloudy dialysate outflow is the hallmark sign of peritonitis, a serious
complication of peritoneal dialysis. The provider should be notified immediately
for prompt intervention, which may include antibiotics or catheter removal. Pain
during inflow can occur normally, but cloudy outflow is abnormal .
6. A patient diagnosed with dementia wanders the halls of the locked nursing
unit during the day. To ensure the patient's safety while walking in the halls,
the nurse should do which of the following?
, A) Administer PRN haloperidol to decrease the need to walk
B) Assess the patient's gait for steadiness
C) Restrain the patient in a geriatric chair
D) Administer PRN lorazepam to provide sedation
Answer B: Assess the patient's gait for steadiness
Rationale: Assessing the patient's gait helps determine fall risk and the level of
supervision needed. Restraints and chemical restraints (haloperidol, lorazepam)
should be avoided as a first-line intervention; they are used only as a last resort
when the patient poses a danger to self or others. Walking with supervision is
encouraged .
7. A patient has a history of oliguria, hypertension, and peripheral edema.
Current lab values are BUN 25, K+ 4.0. Which nutrient should be restricted in
the patient's diet?
A) Protein
B) Fats
C) Carbohydrates
D) Magnesium
Answer A: Protein
Rationale: This patient's presentation (oliguria, hypertension, edema) suggests
renal impairment. Protein restriction is often indicated in renal disease to decrease
the workload on the kidneys and slow the progression of renal failure. Fats and
carbohydrates provide calories needed for energy, and potassium is within normal
limits .
ASSESSMENT A 2026/2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
LATEST UPDATE
1. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients and is working with an LPN
and an AP. Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to the AP?
A) Insertion of a nasogastric tube
B) Assisting a patient with Alzheimer's disease with feeding
C) Administering a tube feeding to a patient with scleroderma
D) Assessing a patient with Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Answer B: Assisting a patient with Alzheimer's disease with feeding
Rationale: Assisting with feeding is within the scope of practice for an AP
(unlicensed assistive personnel). Insertion of an NG tube and administration of
tube feedings require licensed nursing skills, and assessment of respiratory status
is an RN responsibility .
2. A 23-year-old man is admitted with a subdural hematoma and cerebral
edema after a motorcycle accident. Which of the following symptoms should
the nurse expect to see initially?
A) Unequal and dilated pupils
B) Decerebrate posturing
C) Grand mal seizures
,D) Decreased level of consciousness
Answer D: Decreased level of consciousness
Rationale: A decreased level of consciousness is the earliest and most sensitive
indicator of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Pupillary changes, posturing, and
seizures occur later as ICP continues to rise .
3. If a patient develops cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure), the nurse
would expect to observe:
A) Increasing respiratory difficulty seen with exertion
B) Cough productive of a large amount of thick, yellow mucus
C) Peripheral edema and anorexia
D) Twitching of extremities
Answer C: Peripheral edema and anorexia
Rationale: Cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure) results in systemic venous
congestion, leading to peripheral edema, jugular venous distention,
hepatomegaly, and anorexia. Respiratory difficulty and productive cough are
associated with left-sided heart failure .
4. A 38-year-old woman is returned to her room after a subtotal
thyroidectomy for treatment of hyperthyroidism. Which of the following, if
found by the nurse at the patient's bedside, is nonessential?
A) Potassium chloride for IV administration
B) Tracheostomy set
,C) Suction equipment
D) Calcium gluconate
Answer A: Potassium chloride for IV administration
Rationale: After thyroidectomy, the nurse should have a tracheostomy set, suction
equipment, and calcium gluconate at the bedside. Calcium gluconate is essential
because of the risk of hypocalcemia due to accidental parathyroid gland removal.
Potassium chloride is not routinely needed post-thyroidectomy .
5. A patient on peritoneal dialysis complains of pain during the inflow of the
dialysate and the outflow is cloudy. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer pain medication
B) Document the findings
C) Notify the provider immediately
D) Slow the inflow rate
Answer C: Notify the provider immediately
Rationale: Cloudy dialysate outflow is the hallmark sign of peritonitis, a serious
complication of peritoneal dialysis. The provider should be notified immediately
for prompt intervention, which may include antibiotics or catheter removal. Pain
during inflow can occur normally, but cloudy outflow is abnormal .
6. A patient diagnosed with dementia wanders the halls of the locked nursing
unit during the day. To ensure the patient's safety while walking in the halls,
the nurse should do which of the following?
, A) Administer PRN haloperidol to decrease the need to walk
B) Assess the patient's gait for steadiness
C) Restrain the patient in a geriatric chair
D) Administer PRN lorazepam to provide sedation
Answer B: Assess the patient's gait for steadiness
Rationale: Assessing the patient's gait helps determine fall risk and the level of
supervision needed. Restraints and chemical restraints (haloperidol, lorazepam)
should be avoided as a first-line intervention; they are used only as a last resort
when the patient poses a danger to self or others. Walking with supervision is
encouraged .
7. A patient has a history of oliguria, hypertension, and peripheral edema.
Current lab values are BUN 25, K+ 4.0. Which nutrient should be restricted in
the patient's diet?
A) Protein
B) Fats
C) Carbohydrates
D) Magnesium
Answer A: Protein
Rationale: This patient's presentation (oliguria, hypertension, edema) suggests
renal impairment. Protein restriction is often indicated in renal disease to decrease
the workload on the kidneys and slow the progression of renal failure. Fats and
carbohydrates provide calories needed for energy, and potassium is within normal
limits .
