ATI RN CMS Final Exam
Preparation Guide Practice
Exam 2026–2027| Complete
Test Prep Practice Questions
With Answers & Detailed
Rationales |clinical Judgment
&Safety |A+ Rated
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has a potassium level of 2.9
mEq/L. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes
B. Muscle weakness
C. Peaked T waves
D. Facial twitching
Answer: B. Muscle weakness
Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, constipation, and
cardiac dysrhythmias. Peaked T waves are associated with
hyperkalemia.
2. A nurse is caring for a client receiving IV potassium chloride.
Which action is appropriate?
,A. Administer potassium IV push.
B. Infuse potassium using an infusion pump.
C. Add potassium to a gravity IV line without dilution.
D. Administer potassium rapidly for severe hypokalemia.
Answer: B. Infuse potassium using an infusion pump.
IV potassium must be diluted and administered at a controlled rate
using an infusion pump. Potassium should never be administered IV
push.
3. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which
laboratory value is most important for the nurse to monitor?
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Hemoglobin
D. Platelet count
Answer: A. Potassium
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss,
increasing the risk for dysrhythmias.
4. A nurse is assessing a client with hypocalcemia. Which finding
should the nurse anticipate?
A. Positive Trousseau's sign
B. Decreased neuromuscular excitability
C. Bradycardia
D. Flaccid muscles
Answer: A. Positive Trousseau's sign
Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability and can cause
Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs.
,5. A client has a sodium level of 124 mEq/L. Which intervention is
appropriate?
A. Encourage excessive free-water intake.
B. Initiate seizure precautions.
C. Administer potassium immediately.
D. Encourage a low-sodium diet.
Answer: B. Initiate seizure precautions.
Severe hyponatremia can cause cerebral edema, confusion, seizures,
and decreased level of consciousness.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with hypernatremia. Which
manifestation is expected?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Confusion and thirst
C. Bradycardia caused by water excess
D. Positive fluid balance
Answer: B. Confusion and thirst
Hypernatremia commonly causes intense thirst, neurologic changes,
restlessness, and confusion.
7. Which assessment finding indicates fluid volume excess?
A. Flat neck veins
B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Dry mucous membranes
Answer: C. Crackles in the lungs
, Fluid volume excess can cause pulmonary edema, crackles, peripheral
edema, weight gain, and jugular venous distention.
8. A nurse is caring for a client with dehydration. Which finding is
expected?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Increased urine output
C. Orthostatic hypotension
D. Pulmonary crackles
Answer: C. Orthostatic hypotension
Fluid volume deficit can cause decreased blood pressure, tachycardia,
concentrated urine, dry mucous membranes, and orthostatic
hypotension.
9. A client's arterial blood gas results are pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 50 mm Hg,
HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B. Respiratory acidosis
The low pH indicates acidosis, and the elevated PaCO₂ identifies the
respiratory cause.
10. A client has a pH of 7.50 and PaCO₂ of 30 mm Hg. Which
condition is present?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
Preparation Guide Practice
Exam 2026–2027| Complete
Test Prep Practice Questions
With Answers & Detailed
Rationales |clinical Judgment
&Safety |A+ Rated
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has a potassium level of 2.9
mEq/L. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes
B. Muscle weakness
C. Peaked T waves
D. Facial twitching
Answer: B. Muscle weakness
Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, constipation, and
cardiac dysrhythmias. Peaked T waves are associated with
hyperkalemia.
2. A nurse is caring for a client receiving IV potassium chloride.
Which action is appropriate?
,A. Administer potassium IV push.
B. Infuse potassium using an infusion pump.
C. Add potassium to a gravity IV line without dilution.
D. Administer potassium rapidly for severe hypokalemia.
Answer: B. Infuse potassium using an infusion pump.
IV potassium must be diluted and administered at a controlled rate
using an infusion pump. Potassium should never be administered IV
push.
3. A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which
laboratory value is most important for the nurse to monitor?
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Hemoglobin
D. Platelet count
Answer: A. Potassium
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss,
increasing the risk for dysrhythmias.
4. A nurse is assessing a client with hypocalcemia. Which finding
should the nurse anticipate?
A. Positive Trousseau's sign
B. Decreased neuromuscular excitability
C. Bradycardia
D. Flaccid muscles
Answer: A. Positive Trousseau's sign
Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability and can cause
Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs.
,5. A client has a sodium level of 124 mEq/L. Which intervention is
appropriate?
A. Encourage excessive free-water intake.
B. Initiate seizure precautions.
C. Administer potassium immediately.
D. Encourage a low-sodium diet.
Answer: B. Initiate seizure precautions.
Severe hyponatremia can cause cerebral edema, confusion, seizures,
and decreased level of consciousness.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with hypernatremia. Which
manifestation is expected?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Confusion and thirst
C. Bradycardia caused by water excess
D. Positive fluid balance
Answer: B. Confusion and thirst
Hypernatremia commonly causes intense thirst, neurologic changes,
restlessness, and confusion.
7. Which assessment finding indicates fluid volume excess?
A. Flat neck veins
B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Dry mucous membranes
Answer: C. Crackles in the lungs
, Fluid volume excess can cause pulmonary edema, crackles, peripheral
edema, weight gain, and jugular venous distention.
8. A nurse is caring for a client with dehydration. Which finding is
expected?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Increased urine output
C. Orthostatic hypotension
D. Pulmonary crackles
Answer: C. Orthostatic hypotension
Fluid volume deficit can cause decreased blood pressure, tachycardia,
concentrated urine, dry mucous membranes, and orthostatic
hypotension.
9. A client's arterial blood gas results are pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 50 mm Hg,
HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B. Respiratory acidosis
The low pH indicates acidosis, and the elevated PaCO₂ identifies the
respiratory cause.
10. A client has a pH of 7.50 and PaCO₂ of 30 mm Hg. Which
condition is present?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
