Virtual ATI / Green Light 2026/2027 | Virtual-ATI NCLEX Review
Study Guide, Green Light NCLEX Exam Prep, ATI Virtual ATI
Practice Questions & Answers, NCLEX-RN & NCLEX-PN
Comprehensive Review, ATI NCLEX Readiness, Nursing School Exit
Exam Preparation, Fundamentals, Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing,
Pharmacology, Maternal-Newborn Nursing, Pediatric Nursing,
Mental Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Leadership &
Management, Clinical Judgment, Prioritization, Delegation, Patient
Safety, NGN Practice, Remediation & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is caring for four clients on a medical-surgical
unit. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with chronic heart failure who has 2+ bilateral ankle edema
B. A client 2 days after hip replacement reporting pain of 7/10
C. A client with pneumonia who has new confusion and a respiratory rate of
30/min
D. A client with diabetes whose premeal glucose is 218 mg/dL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A client with pneumonia who has new
confusion and a respiratory rate of 30/min
Rationale: New confusion and tachypnea in a client with pneumonia may
indicate worsening hypoxemia or sepsis. Airway and breathing threats take
priority over pain, chronic edema, and moderate hyperglycemia .
Question 2: A charge nurse is making assignments on a medical-
surgical unit. Which client should be assigned to the most
experienced RN?
A. A client with pneumonia requiring IV antibiotics every 6 hours
B. A client with a fractured hip who is 1 day post-operative
C. A client with end-stage renal disease who is exhibiting confusion and
twitching
D. A client with a new diagnosis of hypertension requiring dietary teaching
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A client with end-stage renal disease who is
exhibiting confusion and twitching
Rationale: The client with ESRD exhibiting confusion and twitching is
displaying signs of severe uremia or electrolyte imbalances (like
hyperkalemia or hypocalcemia), which can rapidly progress to seizures or
cardiac arrest. This client requires the most experienced RN for complex
assessment .
,Question 3: A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should
the nurse assess first?
A. A client with an NG tube who has vomited 50 mL of greenish fluid
B. A client with a new colostomy who is reporting abdominal cramping
C. A client with a hip replacement who is reporting incisional pain of 6/10
D. A client with a chest tube who has continuous bubbling in the water seal
chamber
CORRECT ANSWER: D. A client with a chest tube who has
continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air
leak, which can lead to a tension pneumothorax or complete lung collapse.
This is a life-threatening airway/breathing issue .
Question 4: The nurse receives a telephone order from a healthcare
provider for "Morphine sulfate 4 mg IV push every 2 hours PRN for
severe pain." Which action should the nurse take FIRST?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Ask the provider to clarify the administration rate
C. Repeat the order back to the provider
D. Document the order in the electronic medical record
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ask the provider to clarify the
administration rate
Rationale: An IV push order must include the rate of administration (e.g.,
"over 2-5 minutes") to prevent severe respiratory depression and
hypotension. The FIRST action is to recognize the missing component and
obtain clarification before administration .
Question 5: An RN is delegating tasks to an unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Performing a sterile dressing change on a surgical wound
B. Assessing a client's lung sounds for crackles
C. Measuring a client's intake and output
D. Teaching a client how to use an incentive spirometer
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Measuring a client's intake and output
,Rationale: UAPs can perform routine, non-invasive tasks such as measuring
intake and output on stable clients. Assessment, sterile procedures, and
teaching are within the RN's scope of practice and cannot be delegated .
Question 6: A nurse is providing handoff report using the SBAR
format. When the nurse states, "The client has a new prescription
for Lasix 40 mg IV push," which SBAR component is the nurse
addressing?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Recommendation
Rationale: SBAR: Situation (what is happening), Background (relevant
history), Assessment (what I think is wrong), Recommendation (what I
think should happen). Stating a new prescription is a suggestion for an
action, which falls under Recommendation .
Question 7: A client is being discharged with a new diagnosis of
heart failure. The client speaks a different primary language.
Which action is essential for ensuring safe discharge teaching?
A. Provide written instructions in English and ask the client to read them
back
B. Use a certified medical interpreter to explain the discharge instructions
C. Ask the client's bilingual family member to translate the instructions
D. Use hand gestures and pictures to communicate the key points
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Use a certified medical interpreter to
explain the discharge instructions
Rationale: Federal laws (Title VI) mandate that healthcare providers use
certified medical interpreters for clients with limited English proficiency to
ensure accurate, unbiased medical communication. Family members are
not reliable for medical interpretation due to potential errors, omissions,
and lack of medical terminology knowledge .
Question 8: A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a
new prescription for a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer.
, Which of the following actions by the client indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A. Inhales rapidly upon actuation of the MDI
B. Holds the breath for 10 seconds after inhaling the medication
C. Places the spacer in the mouth before actuating the MDI
D. Activates the MDI before placing the spacer in the mouth
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Holds the breath for 10 seconds after
inhaling the medication
Rationale: Holding the breath for 5 to 10 seconds after inhaling the
medication allows for maximum deposition of the aerosolized medication in
the lungs. Inhaling rapidly can cause the medication to impact the
oropharynx .
Question 9: A charge nurse is observing a newly licensed nurse
perform a sterile dressing change. Which of the following actions
should the charge nurse identify as a breach of sterile technique?
A. Opens the sterile package away from the body
B. Holds sterile objects above the waist
C. Places the sterile field within 2.5 cm (1 in) of the edge of the table
D. Sets up the sterile field before applying sterile gloves
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Places the sterile field within 2.5 cm (1 in)
of the edge of the table
Rationale: A sterile field must be at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) from the edge of
the table, as the edges are considered unsterile. Opening the package away
from the body, holding objects above the waist, and setting up the field
before gloving are all appropriate sterile techniques .
Question 10: A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving a blood
transfusion. Which of the following findings indicates a hemolytic
transfusion reaction?
A. Flank pain and chills
B. Hypertension and bradycardia
C. Urticaria and wheezing
D. Fever and hypotension
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Flank pain and chills
Study Guide, Green Light NCLEX Exam Prep, ATI Virtual ATI
Practice Questions & Answers, NCLEX-RN & NCLEX-PN
Comprehensive Review, ATI NCLEX Readiness, Nursing School Exit
Exam Preparation, Fundamentals, Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing,
Pharmacology, Maternal-Newborn Nursing, Pediatric Nursing,
Mental Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Leadership &
Management, Clinical Judgment, Prioritization, Delegation, Patient
Safety, NGN Practice, Remediation & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is caring for four clients on a medical-surgical
unit. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with chronic heart failure who has 2+ bilateral ankle edema
B. A client 2 days after hip replacement reporting pain of 7/10
C. A client with pneumonia who has new confusion and a respiratory rate of
30/min
D. A client with diabetes whose premeal glucose is 218 mg/dL
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A client with pneumonia who has new
confusion and a respiratory rate of 30/min
Rationale: New confusion and tachypnea in a client with pneumonia may
indicate worsening hypoxemia or sepsis. Airway and breathing threats take
priority over pain, chronic edema, and moderate hyperglycemia .
Question 2: A charge nurse is making assignments on a medical-
surgical unit. Which client should be assigned to the most
experienced RN?
A. A client with pneumonia requiring IV antibiotics every 6 hours
B. A client with a fractured hip who is 1 day post-operative
C. A client with end-stage renal disease who is exhibiting confusion and
twitching
D. A client with a new diagnosis of hypertension requiring dietary teaching
CORRECT ANSWER: C. A client with end-stage renal disease who is
exhibiting confusion and twitching
Rationale: The client with ESRD exhibiting confusion and twitching is
displaying signs of severe uremia or electrolyte imbalances (like
hyperkalemia or hypocalcemia), which can rapidly progress to seizures or
cardiac arrest. This client requires the most experienced RN for complex
assessment .
,Question 3: A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should
the nurse assess first?
A. A client with an NG tube who has vomited 50 mL of greenish fluid
B. A client with a new colostomy who is reporting abdominal cramping
C. A client with a hip replacement who is reporting incisional pain of 6/10
D. A client with a chest tube who has continuous bubbling in the water seal
chamber
CORRECT ANSWER: D. A client with a chest tube who has
continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air
leak, which can lead to a tension pneumothorax or complete lung collapse.
This is a life-threatening airway/breathing issue .
Question 4: The nurse receives a telephone order from a healthcare
provider for "Morphine sulfate 4 mg IV push every 2 hours PRN for
severe pain." Which action should the nurse take FIRST?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Ask the provider to clarify the administration rate
C. Repeat the order back to the provider
D. Document the order in the electronic medical record
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ask the provider to clarify the
administration rate
Rationale: An IV push order must include the rate of administration (e.g.,
"over 2-5 minutes") to prevent severe respiratory depression and
hypotension. The FIRST action is to recognize the missing component and
obtain clarification before administration .
Question 5: An RN is delegating tasks to an unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Performing a sterile dressing change on a surgical wound
B. Assessing a client's lung sounds for crackles
C. Measuring a client's intake and output
D. Teaching a client how to use an incentive spirometer
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Measuring a client's intake and output
,Rationale: UAPs can perform routine, non-invasive tasks such as measuring
intake and output on stable clients. Assessment, sterile procedures, and
teaching are within the RN's scope of practice and cannot be delegated .
Question 6: A nurse is providing handoff report using the SBAR
format. When the nurse states, "The client has a new prescription
for Lasix 40 mg IV push," which SBAR component is the nurse
addressing?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Recommendation
Rationale: SBAR: Situation (what is happening), Background (relevant
history), Assessment (what I think is wrong), Recommendation (what I
think should happen). Stating a new prescription is a suggestion for an
action, which falls under Recommendation .
Question 7: A client is being discharged with a new diagnosis of
heart failure. The client speaks a different primary language.
Which action is essential for ensuring safe discharge teaching?
A. Provide written instructions in English and ask the client to read them
back
B. Use a certified medical interpreter to explain the discharge instructions
C. Ask the client's bilingual family member to translate the instructions
D. Use hand gestures and pictures to communicate the key points
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Use a certified medical interpreter to
explain the discharge instructions
Rationale: Federal laws (Title VI) mandate that healthcare providers use
certified medical interpreters for clients with limited English proficiency to
ensure accurate, unbiased medical communication. Family members are
not reliable for medical interpretation due to potential errors, omissions,
and lack of medical terminology knowledge .
Question 8: A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a
new prescription for a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer.
, Which of the following actions by the client indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A. Inhales rapidly upon actuation of the MDI
B. Holds the breath for 10 seconds after inhaling the medication
C. Places the spacer in the mouth before actuating the MDI
D. Activates the MDI before placing the spacer in the mouth
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Holds the breath for 10 seconds after
inhaling the medication
Rationale: Holding the breath for 5 to 10 seconds after inhaling the
medication allows for maximum deposition of the aerosolized medication in
the lungs. Inhaling rapidly can cause the medication to impact the
oropharynx .
Question 9: A charge nurse is observing a newly licensed nurse
perform a sterile dressing change. Which of the following actions
should the charge nurse identify as a breach of sterile technique?
A. Opens the sterile package away from the body
B. Holds sterile objects above the waist
C. Places the sterile field within 2.5 cm (1 in) of the edge of the table
D. Sets up the sterile field before applying sterile gloves
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Places the sterile field within 2.5 cm (1 in)
of the edge of the table
Rationale: A sterile field must be at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) from the edge of
the table, as the edges are considered unsterile. Opening the package away
from the body, holding objects above the waist, and setting up the field
before gloving are all appropriate sterile techniques .
Question 10: A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving a blood
transfusion. Which of the following findings indicates a hemolytic
transfusion reaction?
A. Flank pain and chills
B. Hypertension and bradycardia
C. Urticaria and wheezing
D. Fever and hypotension
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Flank pain and chills
