ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR
2026/2027 STUDY GUIDE 50 QUESTIONS
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 hours postoperative following a thyroidectomy.
Which of the following findings should the nurse prioritize?
A. Client reports a sore throat when swallowing.
B. Calcium level of 8.9 mg/dL.
C. Laryngeal stridor heard on inspiration.
D. Pain level reported as 7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Laryngeal stridor indicates an airway obstruction, which is a
life-threatening emergency. While pain and calcium levels are important, the ABC (Airway,
Breathing, Circulation) priority framework makes airway the most critical.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of digoxin toxicity?
A. Hyperkalemia
,B. Increased appetite
C. Insomnia
D. Yellow-tinged vision
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Manifestations of digoxin toxicity include visual disturbances
such as yellow-green halos or blurred vision, as well as nausea, vomiting, and bradycardia.
3. A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks is
appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Evaluating the effectiveness of a client’s new pain medication.
B. Providing discharge instructions to a client who had a colonoscopy.
C. Assisting a stable client to ambulate for the first time after surgery.
D. Performing a sterile dressing change on a central venous catheter.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Delegation to an AP should be for tasks that are routine and do
not require clinical judgment or assessment. Assisting a stable client with ambulation is
within the AP’s scope.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for magnesium sulfate IV for
preeclampsia. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
, B. Blood pressure of 150/95 mmHg
C. Respiratory rate of 14/min
D. Urine output of 20 mL/hr
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Magnesium sulfate is excreted by the kidneys. A urine output of
less than 30 mL/hr indicates renal impairment, which increases the risk of magnesium
toxicity.
5. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client who has a tension
pneumothorax. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Flattened neck veins
B. Tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side
C. Resonance on percussion of the affected side
D. Bradypnea
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Tension pneumothorax causes increased pressure in the pleural
space, leading to a mediastinal shift and tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side.
6. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for lithium carbonate
for bipolar disorder. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Limit sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day.
2026/2027 STUDY GUIDE 50 QUESTIONS
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 hours postoperative following a thyroidectomy.
Which of the following findings should the nurse prioritize?
A. Client reports a sore throat when swallowing.
B. Calcium level of 8.9 mg/dL.
C. Laryngeal stridor heard on inspiration.
D. Pain level reported as 7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Laryngeal stridor indicates an airway obstruction, which is a
life-threatening emergency. While pain and calcium levels are important, the ABC (Airway,
Breathing, Circulation) priority framework makes airway the most critical.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of digoxin toxicity?
A. Hyperkalemia
,B. Increased appetite
C. Insomnia
D. Yellow-tinged vision
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Manifestations of digoxin toxicity include visual disturbances
such as yellow-green halos or blurred vision, as well as nausea, vomiting, and bradycardia.
3. A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks is
appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Evaluating the effectiveness of a client’s new pain medication.
B. Providing discharge instructions to a client who had a colonoscopy.
C. Assisting a stable client to ambulate for the first time after surgery.
D. Performing a sterile dressing change on a central venous catheter.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Delegation to an AP should be for tasks that are routine and do
not require clinical judgment or assessment. Assisting a stable client with ambulation is
within the AP’s scope.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for magnesium sulfate IV for
preeclampsia. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
, B. Blood pressure of 150/95 mmHg
C. Respiratory rate of 14/min
D. Urine output of 20 mL/hr
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Magnesium sulfate is excreted by the kidneys. A urine output of
less than 30 mL/hr indicates renal impairment, which increases the risk of magnesium
toxicity.
5. A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a client who has a tension
pneumothorax. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Flattened neck veins
B. Tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side
C. Resonance on percussion of the affected side
D. Bradypnea
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Tension pneumothorax causes increased pressure in the pleural
space, leading to a mediastinal shift and tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side.
6. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for lithium carbonate
for bipolar disorder. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Limit sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day.
