ATI RN CMS Complete
Practice Exam 2026–2027|
Complete Test Prep Practice
Questions With Answers &
Detailed Rationales |clinical
Judgment &Safety |A+ Rated
1. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
A. A client with osteoarthritis reporting chronic knee pain
B. A client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation of 89%
C. A client with diabetes requesting a snack
D. A client awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B. A client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation
of 89%
Rationale: Airway and breathing take priority. An oxygen saturation
of 89% in a client with pneumonia indicates impaired oxygenation
and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer IV potassium chloride. Which
action is appropriate?
,A. Administer it by IV push
B. Dilute it before administration
C. Administer it undiluted through a peripheral IV
D. Give it rapidly over 5 min
Answer: B. Dilute it before administration
Rationale: Potassium chloride must be diluted and administered
using an infusion pump. IV potassium is never administered by IV
push because rapid administration can cause fatal dysrhythmias.
3. Which finding requires immediate intervention in a client
receiving a blood transfusion?
A. Temperature increase of 0.2°C
B. Mild hunger
C. Chills and low back pain
D. Heart rate of 82/min
Answer: C. Chills and low back pain
Rationale: Chills and low back pain can indicate an acute hemolytic
transfusion reaction. The nurse should stop the transfusion
immediately and maintain IV access with normal saline using new
tubing.
4. A client is at risk for falls. Which intervention is appropriate?
A. Keep all four side rails raised
B. Place the call light within reach
C. Keep the room dark
D. Encourage the client to walk independently
Answer: B. Place the call light within reach
,Rationale: Keeping the call light accessible promotes safety and
allows the client to request assistance. Four side rails may be
considered a restraint.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with dysphagia following a stroke.
Which action is appropriate?
A. Place food on the affected side
B. Offer thin liquids
C. Place food on the unaffected side of the mouth
D. Encourage the client to drink through a straw
Answer: C. Place food on the unaffected side of the mouth
Rationale: Food should be placed on the stronger, unaffected side to
facilitate chewing and swallowing and reduce aspiration risk.
6. A nurse is evaluating pain in a client who cannot speak. Which
assessment is most appropriate?
A. Ask the family to estimate the pain
B. Use a behavioral pain scale
C. Assume the client has no pain
D. Assess only the client's vital signs
Answer: B. Use a behavioral pain scale
Rationale: Behavioral scales can help assess pain in clients who
cannot communicate verbally.
7. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client with a blood pressure of 138/84 mm Hg
B. Client with new-onset confusion
, C. Client requesting assistance with bathing
D. Client reporting chronic back pain
Answer: B. Client with new-onset confusion
Rationale: Acute mental-status changes can indicate hypoxia,
infection, metabolic abnormalities, or neurological deterioration and
require prompt assessment.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about incentive spirometry. Which
instruction should the nurse provide?
A. "Blow forcefully into the device."
B. "Inhale slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece."
C. "Use the device once every 8 hours."
D. "Exhale forcefully into the mouthpiece."
Answer: B. "Inhale slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece."
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes alveolar expansion through
slow, sustained inhalation.
9. Which action reduces the risk of pressure injury?
A. Massage reddened areas
B. Reposition the client regularly
C. Keep the skin moist
D. Use donut-shaped cushions routinely
Answer: B. Reposition the client regularly
Rationale: Frequent repositioning reduces prolonged pressure over
bony prominences. Reddened areas should not be massaged.
Practice Exam 2026–2027|
Complete Test Prep Practice
Questions With Answers &
Detailed Rationales |clinical
Judgment &Safety |A+ Rated
1. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
A. A client with osteoarthritis reporting chronic knee pain
B. A client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation of 89%
C. A client with diabetes requesting a snack
D. A client awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B. A client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation
of 89%
Rationale: Airway and breathing take priority. An oxygen saturation
of 89% in a client with pneumonia indicates impaired oxygenation
and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer IV potassium chloride. Which
action is appropriate?
,A. Administer it by IV push
B. Dilute it before administration
C. Administer it undiluted through a peripheral IV
D. Give it rapidly over 5 min
Answer: B. Dilute it before administration
Rationale: Potassium chloride must be diluted and administered
using an infusion pump. IV potassium is never administered by IV
push because rapid administration can cause fatal dysrhythmias.
3. Which finding requires immediate intervention in a client
receiving a blood transfusion?
A. Temperature increase of 0.2°C
B. Mild hunger
C. Chills and low back pain
D. Heart rate of 82/min
Answer: C. Chills and low back pain
Rationale: Chills and low back pain can indicate an acute hemolytic
transfusion reaction. The nurse should stop the transfusion
immediately and maintain IV access with normal saline using new
tubing.
4. A client is at risk for falls. Which intervention is appropriate?
A. Keep all four side rails raised
B. Place the call light within reach
C. Keep the room dark
D. Encourage the client to walk independently
Answer: B. Place the call light within reach
,Rationale: Keeping the call light accessible promotes safety and
allows the client to request assistance. Four side rails may be
considered a restraint.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with dysphagia following a stroke.
Which action is appropriate?
A. Place food on the affected side
B. Offer thin liquids
C. Place food on the unaffected side of the mouth
D. Encourage the client to drink through a straw
Answer: C. Place food on the unaffected side of the mouth
Rationale: Food should be placed on the stronger, unaffected side to
facilitate chewing and swallowing and reduce aspiration risk.
6. A nurse is evaluating pain in a client who cannot speak. Which
assessment is most appropriate?
A. Ask the family to estimate the pain
B. Use a behavioral pain scale
C. Assume the client has no pain
D. Assess only the client's vital signs
Answer: B. Use a behavioral pain scale
Rationale: Behavioral scales can help assess pain in clients who
cannot communicate verbally.
7. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client with a blood pressure of 138/84 mm Hg
B. Client with new-onset confusion
, C. Client requesting assistance with bathing
D. Client reporting chronic back pain
Answer: B. Client with new-onset confusion
Rationale: Acute mental-status changes can indicate hypoxia,
infection, metabolic abnormalities, or neurological deterioration and
require prompt assessment.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about incentive spirometry. Which
instruction should the nurse provide?
A. "Blow forcefully into the device."
B. "Inhale slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece."
C. "Use the device once every 8 hours."
D. "Exhale forcefully into the mouthpiece."
Answer: B. "Inhale slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece."
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes alveolar expansion through
slow, sustained inhalation.
9. Which action reduces the risk of pressure injury?
A. Massage reddened areas
B. Reposition the client regularly
C. Keep the skin moist
D. Use donut-shaped cushions routinely
Answer: B. Reposition the client regularly
Rationale: Frequent repositioning reduces prolonged pressure over
bony prominences. Reddened areas should not be massaged.
