RETAKE
The ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor Retake Exam is a critical tool for nursing students preparing for
the NCLEX-RN, designed to assess readiness and identify areas needing improvement. It consists of 180
questions covering key NCLEX content areas like management of care, safety and infection control,
health promotion, psychosocial integrity, and physiological adaptation.
Question 1
Scenario: A nurse is caring for a client who had a total hip replacement 2 days ago. The client
reports sudden shortness of breath and chest pain. Which action should the nurse take rst?
A. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B. Check the client’s oxygen saturation level
C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
D. Place the client in a high Fowler’s position
Answer: B. Check the client’s oxygen saturation level
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain in a postoperative client suggest a possible
pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening emergency. Checking oxygen saturation rst provides
objective data to guide further actions, such as oxygen administration or provider noti cation.
Administering oxygen (A) or positioning (D) may be appropriate but should follow assessment.
Notifying the provider (C) is urgent but comes after collecting critical data.
Question 2
Scenario: A nurse is preparing to administer insulin glargine to a client with type 1 diabetes.
Which action should the nurse take before giving the injection?
A. Check the client’s blood glucose level
B. Warm the insulin to room temperature
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,C. Rotate the vial gently to mix the insulin
D. Draw up the insulin with an 18-gauge needle
Answer: A. Check the client’s blood glucose level
Rationale: Checking blood glucose ensures the insulin dose is safe and appropriate, preventing
hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Insulin glargine is a clear, long-acting insulin that doesn’t
require mixing (C) or warming (B). A smaller-gauge needle (e.g., 25–30 gauge) is used for
subcutaneous injections, not an 18-gauge (D).
Question 3
Scenario: A nurse is assessing a client with a history of heart failure who reports weight gain of
3 pounds in 2 days. Which nding should the nurse prioritize?
A. Pitting edema in the lower extremities
B. Heart rate of 88 beats/min
C. Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg
D. Clear lung sounds bilaterally
Answer: A. Pitting edema in the lower extremities
Rationale: Rapid weight gain in heart failure indicates uid retention, and pitting edema is a key
sign of worsening uid overload, requiring immediate intervention. A heart rate of 88 (B) and
blood pressure of 130/80 (C) are within normal ranges. Clear lung sounds (D) are reassuring but
don’t address the priority concern of uid retention.
Question 4
Scenario: A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridium dif cile infection. Which precaution
should the nurse implement when handling the client’s linens?
A. Wear a surgical mask and gloves
B. Place linens in a biohazard bag
C. Use an N95 respirator and gown
D. Wash hands with alcohol-based sanitizer
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,Answer: B. Place linens in a biohazard bag
Rationale: C. dif cile requires contact precautions, and contaminated linens should be placed in
a biohazard bag to prevent pathogen spread. A surgical mask (A) or N95 respirator (C) is
unnecessary, as C. dif cile is not airborne. Hand washing with soap and water is preferred over
alcohol-based sanitizer (D) for C. dif cile, but the question focuses on linens, making B the
priority.
Question 5
Scenario: A nurse is teaching a client with hypertension about dietary modi cations. Which
statement by the client indicates understanding?
A. “I’ll switch to canned soups for convenience.”
B. “I should choose fresh fruits and vegetables.”
C. “I can eat bacon as a protein source.”
D. “I’ll use table salt to avor my meals.”
Answer: B. “I should choose fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Rationale: Fresh fruits and vegetables are low in sodium and support the DASH diet, which is
recommended for hypertension. Canned soups (A), bacon (C), and table salt (D) are high in
sodium and should be avoided to manage blood pressure.
Question 6
Scenario: A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous IV infusion of heparin. The
client’s activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is 90 seconds (reference range: 25–35
seconds). What should the nurse do next?
A. Stop the heparin infusion immediately
B. Continue the infusion and monitor
C. Increase the heparin infusion rate
D. Administer protamine sulfate
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, Answer: A. Stop the heparin infusion immediately
Rationale: An aPTT of 90 seconds is signi cantly elevated, indicating a high risk of bleeding.
Stopping the heparin infusion is the priority to prevent complications. Continuing (B) or
increasing (C) the infusion is unsafe. Protamine sulfate (D) reverses heparin but requires a
provider’s order and is not the rst action.
Question 7
Scenario: A nurse is assessing a newborn 12 hours after birth. Which nding requires immediate
intervention?
A. Heart rate of 140 beats/min
B. Acrocyanosis of the hands and feet
C. Respiratory rate of 60 breaths/min
D. Central cyanosis of the trunk
Answer: D. Central cyanosis of the trunk
Rationale: Central cyanosis indicates systemic hypoxemia, a critical condition requiring
immediate intervention, possibly due to cardiac or respiratory issues. A heart rate of 140 (A) and
respiratory rate of 60 (C) are normal for a newborn. Acrocyanosis (B) is a common, benign
nding in newborns.
Question 8
Scenario: A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is agitated and pacing. Which
approach should the nurse use rst?
A. Administer a PRN dose of haloperidol
B. Place the client in a seclusion room
C. Speak calmly and offer a quiet space
D. Restrain the client to ensure safety
Answer: C. Speak calmly and offer a quiet space
Rationale: A calm, non-threatening approach de-escalates agitation and promotes safety.
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