ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor | ATI Predictor
Exam Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026/2027 | ATI
RN Exit Exam Review, Comprehensive Nursing
Assessment, NCLEX-RN Readiness, Fundamentals,
Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology,
Maternal-Newborn, Pediatrics, Mental Health,
Community Health, Leadership & Management,
Prioritization, Delegation, Clinical Judgment, NGN-
Style Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationalesa
Question 1: A charge nurse is making assignments for a float nurse from a
medical-surgical unit to the pediatric unit. Which client is most appropriate to
assign to this float nurse?
A. A 10-year-old with pneumonia receiving respiratory treatments
B. A 4-year-old with a Wilms tumor receiving chemotherapy
C. An 8-month-old scheduled for surgical repair of a ventricular septal defect
D. A 14-year-old scheduled for discharge following placement of a Harrington rod
CORRECT ANSWER: A. A 10-year-old with pneumonia receiving respiratory
treatments
Rationale: A float nurse from a medical-surgical unit is most competent to care for a
client with pneumonia, a condition commonly managed on medical units. The other
options require specialized pediatric oncology, cardiac, or orthopedic surgical expertise .
Question 2: A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks to an unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Performing an initial admission assessment
B. Teaching a client how to use a walker
C. Obtaining a capillary blood glucose level
D. Evaluating a client's response to pain medication
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Obtaining a capillary blood glucose level
Rationale: UAP can perform capillary blood glucose testing. Assessment, teaching, and
evaluation all require nursing judgment and fall outside the UAP's scope of practice .
Question 3: A charge nurse is teaching newly licensed nurses about the correct
use of restraints. Which of the following guidelines should the nurse include?
A. Remove the client's restraint every 4 hours
B. Document the client's condition every 15 minutes
C. Attach the restraint to the bed's side rails
D. Request a PRN restraint prescription for clients who are aggressive
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Document the client's condition every 15 minutes
,Rationale: When a client is in restraints, the nurse must document the client's condition
every 15 minutes, including behavior, circulation, and skin integrity. Restraint
prescriptions must be renewed every 4 hours for adults, and a face-to-face evaluation
must be obtained within 1 hour .
Question 4: A nurse manager is discussing the use of SBAR with staff
members. The nurse should identify that "S" stands for which of the
following?
A. Summary
B. Situation
C. Subjective
D. Safety
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Situation
Rationale: SBAR is the most effective standardized handoff communication tool. It
promotes clarity, reduces errors, and improves patient safety during transitions of care. S
= Situation, B = Background, A = Assessment, R = Recommendation .
Question 5: A competent adult client refuses a blood transfusion for religious
reasons. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer the transfusion if Hgb is critical
B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
C. Ask the family to override the decision
D. Administer the transfusion and monitor for reactions
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
Rationale: Competent adults have autonomy. The nurse ensures informed refusal,
documents the refusal, and notifies the provider. Administering the transfusion or asking
the family to override would violate the client's rights .
Question 6: A nurse is caring for a client who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR)
order and is unresponsive with no pulse. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Begin chest compressions
B. Call a code blue
C. Provide comfort measures and notify the provider
D. Administer epinephrine
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Provide comfort measures and notify the provider
Rationale: A DNR order means no resuscitative measures should be taken. The nurse
should provide comfort and end-of-life care while notifying the provider .
Question 7: A nurse is supervising a newly licensed nurse on a mental health
unit. For which action by the newly licensed nurse should the supervising
nurse intervene?
,A. Sets boundaries with a manipulative client
B. Documents client refusals of medication
C. Tells a client he will lose phone privileges if he does not take his medication
D. Uses therapeutic communication techniques
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Tells a client he will lose phone privileges if he does
not take his medication
Rationale: Threatening to remove privileges as a consequence for refusing medication is
coercive and violates client autonomy. This action is unethical and can damage the
therapeutic relationship .
Question 8: A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The nurse notes
continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What does this indicate?
A. The system is functioning normally
B. There is an air leak in the system
C. The lung has fully re-expanded
D. The suction pressure is too high
CORRECT ANSWER: B. There is an air leak in the system
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak.
Intermittent bubbling is expected during coughing or expiration .
Question 9: A nurse is planning care for a client who practices Orthodox
Judaism. The client tells the nurse that they follow dietary laws. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Ensure the client receives meat and dairy together at meals
B. Provide only kosher foods prepared according to dietary laws
C. Offer pork alternatives if the client requests
D. Serve shellfish as a source of protein
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Provide only kosher foods prepared according to
dietary laws
Rationale: Orthodox Judaism requires adherence to kosher dietary laws, which include
separation of meat and dairy, and prohibition of pork and shellfish. The nurse should
respect these religious dietary practices .
Question 10: A nurse in an emergency department is performing triage for
multiple clients following a disaster. To which of the following injuries should
the nurse assign the highest priority?
A. Below-the-knee amputation
B. Fractured tibia
C. 95% full-thickness body burn
D. 10 cm laceration to the forearm
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 95% full-thickness body burn
, Rationale: A 95% full-thickness body burn is a critical, life-threatening injury requiring
immediate intervention. According to disaster triage, clients with critical injuries who
have a high likelihood of survival with immediate care are assigned the highest priority .
Question 11: A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
B. Obtain vital signs
C. Start an IV line with normal saline
D. Check the expiration date on the blood product
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
Rationale: The priority action before administering a blood transfusion is to verify the
client's identity using two identifiers to ensure the correct blood product is given to the
correct client. This is a critical safety step to prevent transfusion reactions .
Question 12: A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has an
implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Which of the following statements
by the client indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will soak in the tub rather than showering"
B. "I will wear loose clothing around my ICD"
C. "I will stop using my microwave oven at home because of my ICD"
D. "I can hold my cellphone on the same side of my body as the ICD"
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "I will wear loose clothing around my ICD"
Rationale: Clients with ICDs should wear loose clothing to prevent irritation or pressure
over the device site. They can use microwave ovens, should shower rather than soak in
tubs, and should hold cellphones on the opposite side of the body from the ICD .
Question 13: A nurse is caring for a client who is at 14 weeks gestation and
reports feelings of ambivalence about being pregnant. Which of the following
responses should the nurse make?
A. "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant"
B. "You should discuss your feelings about being pregnant with your provider"
C. "Have you discussed these feelings with your partner?"
D. "When did you start having these feelings?"
CORRECT ANSWER: A. "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant"
Rationale: This open-ended response encourages the client to express their specific
fears and concerns, which is therapeutic. It validates the client's feelings and allows the
nurse to assess the depth of the client's concerns .
Question 14: A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for a
patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
Exam Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026/2027 | ATI
RN Exit Exam Review, Comprehensive Nursing
Assessment, NCLEX-RN Readiness, Fundamentals,
Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology,
Maternal-Newborn, Pediatrics, Mental Health,
Community Health, Leadership & Management,
Prioritization, Delegation, Clinical Judgment, NGN-
Style Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationalesa
Question 1: A charge nurse is making assignments for a float nurse from a
medical-surgical unit to the pediatric unit. Which client is most appropriate to
assign to this float nurse?
A. A 10-year-old with pneumonia receiving respiratory treatments
B. A 4-year-old with a Wilms tumor receiving chemotherapy
C. An 8-month-old scheduled for surgical repair of a ventricular septal defect
D. A 14-year-old scheduled for discharge following placement of a Harrington rod
CORRECT ANSWER: A. A 10-year-old with pneumonia receiving respiratory
treatments
Rationale: A float nurse from a medical-surgical unit is most competent to care for a
client with pneumonia, a condition commonly managed on medical units. The other
options require specialized pediatric oncology, cardiac, or orthopedic surgical expertise .
Question 2: A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks to an unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Performing an initial admission assessment
B. Teaching a client how to use a walker
C. Obtaining a capillary blood glucose level
D. Evaluating a client's response to pain medication
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Obtaining a capillary blood glucose level
Rationale: UAP can perform capillary blood glucose testing. Assessment, teaching, and
evaluation all require nursing judgment and fall outside the UAP's scope of practice .
Question 3: A charge nurse is teaching newly licensed nurses about the correct
use of restraints. Which of the following guidelines should the nurse include?
A. Remove the client's restraint every 4 hours
B. Document the client's condition every 15 minutes
C. Attach the restraint to the bed's side rails
D. Request a PRN restraint prescription for clients who are aggressive
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Document the client's condition every 15 minutes
,Rationale: When a client is in restraints, the nurse must document the client's condition
every 15 minutes, including behavior, circulation, and skin integrity. Restraint
prescriptions must be renewed every 4 hours for adults, and a face-to-face evaluation
must be obtained within 1 hour .
Question 4: A nurse manager is discussing the use of SBAR with staff
members. The nurse should identify that "S" stands for which of the
following?
A. Summary
B. Situation
C. Subjective
D. Safety
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Situation
Rationale: SBAR is the most effective standardized handoff communication tool. It
promotes clarity, reduces errors, and improves patient safety during transitions of care. S
= Situation, B = Background, A = Assessment, R = Recommendation .
Question 5: A competent adult client refuses a blood transfusion for religious
reasons. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer the transfusion if Hgb is critical
B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
C. Ask the family to override the decision
D. Administer the transfusion and monitor for reactions
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
Rationale: Competent adults have autonomy. The nurse ensures informed refusal,
documents the refusal, and notifies the provider. Administering the transfusion or asking
the family to override would violate the client's rights .
Question 6: A nurse is caring for a client who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR)
order and is unresponsive with no pulse. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Begin chest compressions
B. Call a code blue
C. Provide comfort measures and notify the provider
D. Administer epinephrine
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Provide comfort measures and notify the provider
Rationale: A DNR order means no resuscitative measures should be taken. The nurse
should provide comfort and end-of-life care while notifying the provider .
Question 7: A nurse is supervising a newly licensed nurse on a mental health
unit. For which action by the newly licensed nurse should the supervising
nurse intervene?
,A. Sets boundaries with a manipulative client
B. Documents client refusals of medication
C. Tells a client he will lose phone privileges if he does not take his medication
D. Uses therapeutic communication techniques
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Tells a client he will lose phone privileges if he does
not take his medication
Rationale: Threatening to remove privileges as a consequence for refusing medication is
coercive and violates client autonomy. This action is unethical and can damage the
therapeutic relationship .
Question 8: A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The nurse notes
continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What does this indicate?
A. The system is functioning normally
B. There is an air leak in the system
C. The lung has fully re-expanded
D. The suction pressure is too high
CORRECT ANSWER: B. There is an air leak in the system
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak.
Intermittent bubbling is expected during coughing or expiration .
Question 9: A nurse is planning care for a client who practices Orthodox
Judaism. The client tells the nurse that they follow dietary laws. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Ensure the client receives meat and dairy together at meals
B. Provide only kosher foods prepared according to dietary laws
C. Offer pork alternatives if the client requests
D. Serve shellfish as a source of protein
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Provide only kosher foods prepared according to
dietary laws
Rationale: Orthodox Judaism requires adherence to kosher dietary laws, which include
separation of meat and dairy, and prohibition of pork and shellfish. The nurse should
respect these religious dietary practices .
Question 10: A nurse in an emergency department is performing triage for
multiple clients following a disaster. To which of the following injuries should
the nurse assign the highest priority?
A. Below-the-knee amputation
B. Fractured tibia
C. 95% full-thickness body burn
D. 10 cm laceration to the forearm
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 95% full-thickness body burn
, Rationale: A 95% full-thickness body burn is a critical, life-threatening injury requiring
immediate intervention. According to disaster triage, clients with critical injuries who
have a high likelihood of survival with immediate care are assigned the highest priority .
Question 11: A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
B. Obtain vital signs
C. Start an IV line with normal saline
D. Check the expiration date on the blood product
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
Rationale: The priority action before administering a blood transfusion is to verify the
client's identity using two identifiers to ensure the correct blood product is given to the
correct client. This is a critical safety step to prevent transfusion reactions .
Question 12: A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has an
implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Which of the following statements
by the client indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will soak in the tub rather than showering"
B. "I will wear loose clothing around my ICD"
C. "I will stop using my microwave oven at home because of my ICD"
D. "I can hold my cellphone on the same side of my body as the ICD"
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "I will wear loose clothing around my ICD"
Rationale: Clients with ICDs should wear loose clothing to prevent irritation or pressure
over the device site. They can use microwave ovens, should shower rather than soak in
tubs, and should hold cellphones on the opposite side of the body from the ICD .
Question 13: A nurse is caring for a client who is at 14 weeks gestation and
reports feelings of ambivalence about being pregnant. Which of the following
responses should the nurse make?
A. "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant"
B. "You should discuss your feelings about being pregnant with your provider"
C. "Have you discussed these feelings with your partner?"
D. "When did you start having these feelings?"
CORRECT ANSWER: A. "Describe your feelings to me about being pregnant"
Rationale: This open-ended response encourages the client to express their specific
fears and concerns, which is therapeutic. It validates the client's feelings and allows the
nurse to assess the depth of the client's concerns .
Question 14: A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for a
patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
