ATI COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS – LATEST EXAM UPDATE
2026/2027 | VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST
EXAM UPDATE | EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE |
PRACTICE TEST | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF
1. A nurse is caring for a client with chronic heart failure who reports a 3-pound weight
gain over the past 24 hours and mild shortness of breath. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first?
A. Administer the prescribed as-needed sublingual nitroglycerin.
B. Auscultate the client's breath sounds.
C. Draw blood for a basic metabolic panel.
D. Elevate the head of the bed to a high-Fowler's position.
Auscultating breath sounds allows the nurse to assess for pulmonary congestion or crackles,
which directly correlates with the client's sudden weight gain and dyspnea, indicating possible
worsening heart failure.
2. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is receiving heparin therapy
for deep vein thrombosis. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse
monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy?
A. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C. Prothrombin time (PT)
D. Platelet count
The activated partial thromboplastin time is used to monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of
unfractionated heparin therapy.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which of the
following findings should cause the nurse to withhold the medication and notify the
primary healthcare provider?
A. Blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg
B. Apical pulse rate of 54/min
C. Serum potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L
D. Respiratory rate of 18/min
,Digoxin slows the heart rate. If the apical pulse is less than 60/min in an adult client, the
nurse should withhold the dose and notify the provider to prevent severe bradycardia and
toxicity.
4. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
warfarin. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I will increase my intake of dark leafy green vegetables."
B. "I should use a soft-bristled toothbrush for daily oral hygiene."
C. "I can take aspirin for occasional headaches."
D. "I will stop taking the medication if I notice minor bruising."
A soft-bristled toothbrush minimizes the risk of gum bleeding and trauma, which is important
due to the anticoagulant effects of warfarin.
5. A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who has sustained multiple
trauma following a motor-vehicle crash. Which of the following findings is the priority for
the nurse to address?
A. Absence of breath sounds in the right hemithorax
B. Irregular laceration on the right forearm
C. Report of severe pain in the left femur
D. Ecchymosis across the lower abdomen
Using the airway, breathing, and circulation (ABC) prioritization framework, an absence of
breath sounds indicates a life-threatening condition such as a tension pneumothorax, which
requires immediate intervention.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hr postpartum and notes that the client's fundus is
boggy and located 2 cm above the umbilicus, with heavy lochia. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer methylergonovine IM.
B. Massage the client's fundus.
C. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
D. Notify the primary healthcare provider.
The first action when managing postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony is to
massage the fundus to stimulate muscle contraction and expel clots.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia and is experiencing
auditory hallucinations. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "Why do you keep listening to voices that are not really there?"
B. "I know the voices are frightening, but I do not hear them."
, C. "Tell me more about what the voices are telling you to do."
D. "Let's focus on a reality-based activity instead of paying attention to the voices."
Validating the client's feelings while clearly stating reality establishes trust and helps ground
the client without reinforcing the hallucination.
8. A nurse is assessing a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus and is exhibiting
diaphoresis, tremulousness, and confusion. Which of the following complications should the
nurse suspect?
A. Diabetic ketoacidosis
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
D. Lactic acidosis
Symptoms of diaphoresis, tremors, confusion, and anxiety are classic manifestations of
hypoglycemia caused by insufficient circulating blood glucose.
9. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a prescription for airborne precautions due
to suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include?
A. Place the client in a negative-pressure airflow room.
B. Wear a surgical mask when entering the client's room.
C. Ensure the client wears an N95 respirator when outside the room.
D. Assign the client to a shared room with another client who has an infection.
Clients with pulmonary tuberculosis require placement in a negative-pressure airflow room to
prevent infectious droplet nuclei from escaping into the surrounding hallways.
10. A nurse is caring for a client who has a closed-chest drainage system in place following
thoracic surgery. Which of the following findings indicates the system is functioning
correctly?
A. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
B. Fluctuations of the fluid level in the water-seal chamber with respiration
C. Absence of fluid in the suction control chamber
D. Clamping the chest tube routinely during client ambulation
Fluctuation (tidaling) of the fluid level in the water-seal chamber with inspiration and
expiration indicates normal functioning and patency of the chest drainage system.
11. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension about lifestyle
modifications. Which of the following dietary recommendations should the nurse include?
A. Increase sodium intake to 3 g per day.
AND ANSWERS – LATEST EXAM UPDATE
2026/2027 | VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST
EXAM UPDATE | EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE |
PRACTICE TEST | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF
1. A nurse is caring for a client with chronic heart failure who reports a 3-pound weight
gain over the past 24 hours and mild shortness of breath. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first?
A. Administer the prescribed as-needed sublingual nitroglycerin.
B. Auscultate the client's breath sounds.
C. Draw blood for a basic metabolic panel.
D. Elevate the head of the bed to a high-Fowler's position.
Auscultating breath sounds allows the nurse to assess for pulmonary congestion or crackles,
which directly correlates with the client's sudden weight gain and dyspnea, indicating possible
worsening heart failure.
2. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is receiving heparin therapy
for deep vein thrombosis. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse
monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy?
A. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C. Prothrombin time (PT)
D. Platelet count
The activated partial thromboplastin time is used to monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of
unfractionated heparin therapy.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which of the
following findings should cause the nurse to withhold the medication and notify the
primary healthcare provider?
A. Blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg
B. Apical pulse rate of 54/min
C. Serum potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L
D. Respiratory rate of 18/min
,Digoxin slows the heart rate. If the apical pulse is less than 60/min in an adult client, the
nurse should withhold the dose and notify the provider to prevent severe bradycardia and
toxicity.
4. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
warfarin. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I will increase my intake of dark leafy green vegetables."
B. "I should use a soft-bristled toothbrush for daily oral hygiene."
C. "I can take aspirin for occasional headaches."
D. "I will stop taking the medication if I notice minor bruising."
A soft-bristled toothbrush minimizes the risk of gum bleeding and trauma, which is important
due to the anticoagulant effects of warfarin.
5. A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who has sustained multiple
trauma following a motor-vehicle crash. Which of the following findings is the priority for
the nurse to address?
A. Absence of breath sounds in the right hemithorax
B. Irregular laceration on the right forearm
C. Report of severe pain in the left femur
D. Ecchymosis across the lower abdomen
Using the airway, breathing, and circulation (ABC) prioritization framework, an absence of
breath sounds indicates a life-threatening condition such as a tension pneumothorax, which
requires immediate intervention.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hr postpartum and notes that the client's fundus is
boggy and located 2 cm above the umbilicus, with heavy lochia. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer methylergonovine IM.
B. Massage the client's fundus.
C. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
D. Notify the primary healthcare provider.
The first action when managing postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony is to
massage the fundus to stimulate muscle contraction and expel clots.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia and is experiencing
auditory hallucinations. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "Why do you keep listening to voices that are not really there?"
B. "I know the voices are frightening, but I do not hear them."
, C. "Tell me more about what the voices are telling you to do."
D. "Let's focus on a reality-based activity instead of paying attention to the voices."
Validating the client's feelings while clearly stating reality establishes trust and helps ground
the client without reinforcing the hallucination.
8. A nurse is assessing a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus and is exhibiting
diaphoresis, tremulousness, and confusion. Which of the following complications should the
nurse suspect?
A. Diabetic ketoacidosis
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
D. Lactic acidosis
Symptoms of diaphoresis, tremors, confusion, and anxiety are classic manifestations of
hypoglycemia caused by insufficient circulating blood glucose.
9. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a prescription for airborne precautions due
to suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include?
A. Place the client in a negative-pressure airflow room.
B. Wear a surgical mask when entering the client's room.
C. Ensure the client wears an N95 respirator when outside the room.
D. Assign the client to a shared room with another client who has an infection.
Clients with pulmonary tuberculosis require placement in a negative-pressure airflow room to
prevent infectious droplet nuclei from escaping into the surrounding hallways.
10. A nurse is caring for a client who has a closed-chest drainage system in place following
thoracic surgery. Which of the following findings indicates the system is functioning
correctly?
A. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
B. Fluctuations of the fluid level in the water-seal chamber with respiration
C. Absence of fluid in the suction control chamber
D. Clamping the chest tube routinely during client ambulation
Fluctuation (tidaling) of the fluid level in the water-seal chamber with inspiration and
expiration indicates normal functioning and patency of the chest drainage system.
11. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension about lifestyle
modifications. Which of the following dietary recommendations should the nurse include?
A. Increase sodium intake to 3 g per day.
