ATI CAPSTONE PROCTORED COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT EXAM 2 PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
Core Domains
Management of Care
Safety and Infection Control
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Psychosocial Integrity
Basic Care and Comfort
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Reduction of Risk Potential
Physiological Adaptation
Introduction
This comprehensive examination assesses the nursing student's
readiness for the ATI Capstone Proctored Comprehensive Assessment
Exam 2 through an unofficial, disclaimer-labeled practice set. The test
evaluates competency across all NCLEX-RN Client Need categories,
emphasizing clinical judgment, prioritization, delegation, and safe
patient care. Questions are based on unofficial study concepts and are
not actual ATI exam content. Candidates must demonstrate critical
thinking regarding patient assessment, medication administration, and
emergency response. This practice set is intended for study purposes
only and does not represent official ATI questions or rationales.
Section One: Questions 1–150
Question 1
A client with a T4 spinal cord injury develops a severe headache, BP
198/110, and HR 52. What is the priority nursing action?
,A. Administer antihypertensive medication
B. Sit the client upright and check for noxious stimuli
C. Place the client supine
D. Notify the provider immediately
B. Sit the client upright and check for noxious stimuli
RATIONALE: Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency. The
priority is to sit the client upright to lower BP and identify the cause,
most commonly a distended bladder or bowel impaction .
Question 2
A client with a blood glucose of 48 mg/dL is conscious and alert.
What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer IV dextrose
B. Give 15-20g fast-acting carbohydrate orally
C. Administer glucagon IM
D. Recheck blood glucose in 1 hour
B. Give 15-20g fast-acting carbohydrate orally
RATIONALE: For a conscious client with hypoglycemia, the 15-15
rule applies: give 15-20g fast-acting carbohydrate orally, recheck in 15
minutes .
Question 3
A client receiving heparin 5,000 units subcut every 12 hours.
Available: 10,000 units/mL. How many mL will the nurse
administer?
A. 0.5 mL
B. 1 mL
C. 2 mL
D. 5 mL
, A. 0.5 mL
RATIONALE: 5,000 units ÷ 10,000 units/mL = 0.5 mL .
Question 4
A client with a chest tube has continuous bubbling in the water seal
chamber. What does this indicate?
A. Normal finding
B. Air leak
C. Tube obstruction
D. Infection
B. Air leak
RATIONALE: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
indicates an air leak in the system .
Question 5
A client with acute kidney injury in the oliguric phase is at risk for
which electrolyte imbalance?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypophosphatemia
B. Hyperkalemia
RATIONALE: In the oliguric phase of AKI, potassium is not
excreted, leading to hyperkalemia. Hyperphosphatemia also occurs .
Question 6
A client receiving magnesium sulfate has a respiratory rate of 9/min.
What is the priority nursing action?
, A. Continue the infusion
B. Stop the infusion and prepare to administer calcium gluconate
C. Increase the infusion rate
D. Document the finding
B. Stop the infusion and prepare to administer calcium gluconate
RATIONALE: Respiratory rate below 12/min indicates magnesium
toxicity. Stop the infusion immediately and prepare the antidote, calcium
gluconate .
Question 7
A client experiencing alcohol withdrawal should receive which
priority medication?
A. Haloperidol
B. Chlordiazepoxide
C. Lorazepam
D. Phenytoin
B. Chlordiazepoxide
RATIONALE: Benzodiazepines, such as chlordiazepoxide, are the
priority medication for alcohol withdrawal to prevent seizures and
delirium tremens .
Question 8
A client with suspected pulmonary embolism has an oxygen
saturation of 88%. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer anticoagulants
B. Apply supplemental oxygen
C. Obtain a chest X-ray
D. Notify the provider
B. Apply supplemental oxygen
ASSESSMENT EXAM 2 PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
Core Domains
Management of Care
Safety and Infection Control
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Psychosocial Integrity
Basic Care and Comfort
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Reduction of Risk Potential
Physiological Adaptation
Introduction
This comprehensive examination assesses the nursing student's
readiness for the ATI Capstone Proctored Comprehensive Assessment
Exam 2 through an unofficial, disclaimer-labeled practice set. The test
evaluates competency across all NCLEX-RN Client Need categories,
emphasizing clinical judgment, prioritization, delegation, and safe
patient care. Questions are based on unofficial study concepts and are
not actual ATI exam content. Candidates must demonstrate critical
thinking regarding patient assessment, medication administration, and
emergency response. This practice set is intended for study purposes
only and does not represent official ATI questions or rationales.
Section One: Questions 1–150
Question 1
A client with a T4 spinal cord injury develops a severe headache, BP
198/110, and HR 52. What is the priority nursing action?
,A. Administer antihypertensive medication
B. Sit the client upright and check for noxious stimuli
C. Place the client supine
D. Notify the provider immediately
B. Sit the client upright and check for noxious stimuli
RATIONALE: Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency. The
priority is to sit the client upright to lower BP and identify the cause,
most commonly a distended bladder or bowel impaction .
Question 2
A client with a blood glucose of 48 mg/dL is conscious and alert.
What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer IV dextrose
B. Give 15-20g fast-acting carbohydrate orally
C. Administer glucagon IM
D. Recheck blood glucose in 1 hour
B. Give 15-20g fast-acting carbohydrate orally
RATIONALE: For a conscious client with hypoglycemia, the 15-15
rule applies: give 15-20g fast-acting carbohydrate orally, recheck in 15
minutes .
Question 3
A client receiving heparin 5,000 units subcut every 12 hours.
Available: 10,000 units/mL. How many mL will the nurse
administer?
A. 0.5 mL
B. 1 mL
C. 2 mL
D. 5 mL
, A. 0.5 mL
RATIONALE: 5,000 units ÷ 10,000 units/mL = 0.5 mL .
Question 4
A client with a chest tube has continuous bubbling in the water seal
chamber. What does this indicate?
A. Normal finding
B. Air leak
C. Tube obstruction
D. Infection
B. Air leak
RATIONALE: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
indicates an air leak in the system .
Question 5
A client with acute kidney injury in the oliguric phase is at risk for
which electrolyte imbalance?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypophosphatemia
B. Hyperkalemia
RATIONALE: In the oliguric phase of AKI, potassium is not
excreted, leading to hyperkalemia. Hyperphosphatemia also occurs .
Question 6
A client receiving magnesium sulfate has a respiratory rate of 9/min.
What is the priority nursing action?
, A. Continue the infusion
B. Stop the infusion and prepare to administer calcium gluconate
C. Increase the infusion rate
D. Document the finding
B. Stop the infusion and prepare to administer calcium gluconate
RATIONALE: Respiratory rate below 12/min indicates magnesium
toxicity. Stop the infusion immediately and prepare the antidote, calcium
gluconate .
Question 7
A client experiencing alcohol withdrawal should receive which
priority medication?
A. Haloperidol
B. Chlordiazepoxide
C. Lorazepam
D. Phenytoin
B. Chlordiazepoxide
RATIONALE: Benzodiazepines, such as chlordiazepoxide, are the
priority medication for alcohol withdrawal to prevent seizures and
delirium tremens .
Question 8
A client with suspected pulmonary embolism has an oxygen
saturation of 88%. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer anticoagulants
B. Apply supplemental oxygen
C. Obtain a chest X-ray
D. Notify the provider
B. Apply supplemental oxygen
