ATI RN CONCEPT-BASED ASSESSMENT – LEVELS 1, 2 & 3 | FULL
COMPREHENSIVE ACTUAL PRACTICE EXAM WITH VERIFIED
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES | 2026–2027 EDITION |
INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
Question 1:
A patient with type 1 diabetes is admitted with blood glucose of 320 mg/dL. Which
intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Provide oral carbohydrates
B. Administer insulin as ordered
C. Encourage physical activity
D. Offer fluids high in sugar
Rationale Hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetes requires insulin administration first to
lower blood glucose safely.
Question 2:
Which of the following is the priority for a patient with shortness of breath?
A. Obtain blood pressure
B. Assess airway and oxygenation
C. Administer pain medication
D. Encourage ambulation
Rationale Airway and oxygenation are always the priority in the ABCs (Airway,
Breathing, Circulation).
Question 3:
A patient reports sudden onset chest pain radiating to the left arm. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Document the findings
B. Administer oxygen and notify the provider
C. Start IV fluids
,D. Encourage the patient to walk
Rationale Chest pain with radiation may indicate myocardial infarction;
immediate oxygen and provider notification is priority.
Question 4:
A patient is prescribed 1,000 mL of IV fluid over 8 hours. What is the correct IV
flow rate in mL/hour?
A. 80 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 100 mL/hr
D. 150 mL/hr
Rationale 1,000 ÷ 8 = 125 mL/hr.
Question 5:
Which intervention is most appropriate for preventing pressure injuries in an
immobile patient?
A. Apply adhesive tape to skin
B. Reposition patient every 2 hours
C. Avoid using pillows
D. Restrict fluid intake
Rationale Repositioning regularly reduces pressure and prevents skin breakdown.
Question 6:
A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection. Which site is
appropriate?
A. Deltoid muscle
B. Abdomen, 2 inches from umbilicus
C. Vastus lateralis
D. Gluteus maximus
Rationale Subcutaneous injections are commonly given in the abdomen, outer
arm, or thigh; 2 inches from the umbilicus avoids injection into scar tissue or navel
area.
,Question 7:
A patient with a nasogastric tube reports nausea. Which is the nurse’s best action?
A. Increase the feeding rate
B. Check tube placement and residual
C. Administer anti-diarrheal
D. Encourage ambulation
Rationale Nausea may indicate delayed gastric emptying or tube misplacement;
assessing placement and residual is priority.
Question 8:
Which laboratory result indicates risk for bleeding?
A. Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
B. Platelet count 40,000/mm³
C. Sodium 140 mEq/L
D. Potassium 4.2 mEq/L
Rationale Platelets below 50,000/mm³ increase risk for spontaneous bleeding.
Question 9:
A nurse is educating a patient on inhaler use. Which instruction is correct?
A. Exhale after inhaling
B. Shake the inhaler before use
C. Hold breath for 2 seconds
D. Use only after meals
Rationale Shaking ensures proper medication distribution in metered-dose
inhalers.
Question 10:
Which patient requires immediate attention?
A. Patient scheduled for routine labs
, B. Patient with sudden onset confusion and slurred speech
C. Patient receiving scheduled wound care
D. Patient ready for discharge education
Rationale Sudden confusion and slurred speech may indicate a stroke; immediate
intervention is required.
Question 11:
A patient receiving IV morphine reports respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A. Encourage deep breathing
B. Document the finding
C. Stop the infusion and notify the provider
D. Increase IV fluids
Rationale Opioids can depress respiration. The nurse must stop the infusion and
notify the provider immediately.
Question 12:
Which action is most important when caring for a patient on isolation precautions
for MRSA?
A. Wear gloves and gown when entering the room
B. Perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact
C. Limit visitors
D. Administer antibiotics
Rationale Hand hygiene is the most effective method to prevent transmission of
MRSA.
Question 13:
A patient with heart failure presents with 3+ pitting edema in the lower extremities.
Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Encourage high-sodium diet
B. Assess lung sounds and oxygen saturation
C. Limit fluid intake to 500 mL/day
D. Apply heat packs
COMPREHENSIVE ACTUAL PRACTICE EXAM WITH VERIFIED
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES | 2026–2027 EDITION |
INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
Question 1:
A patient with type 1 diabetes is admitted with blood glucose of 320 mg/dL. Which
intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Provide oral carbohydrates
B. Administer insulin as ordered
C. Encourage physical activity
D. Offer fluids high in sugar
Rationale Hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetes requires insulin administration first to
lower blood glucose safely.
Question 2:
Which of the following is the priority for a patient with shortness of breath?
A. Obtain blood pressure
B. Assess airway and oxygenation
C. Administer pain medication
D. Encourage ambulation
Rationale Airway and oxygenation are always the priority in the ABCs (Airway,
Breathing, Circulation).
Question 3:
A patient reports sudden onset chest pain radiating to the left arm. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Document the findings
B. Administer oxygen and notify the provider
C. Start IV fluids
,D. Encourage the patient to walk
Rationale Chest pain with radiation may indicate myocardial infarction;
immediate oxygen and provider notification is priority.
Question 4:
A patient is prescribed 1,000 mL of IV fluid over 8 hours. What is the correct IV
flow rate in mL/hour?
A. 80 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 100 mL/hr
D. 150 mL/hr
Rationale 1,000 ÷ 8 = 125 mL/hr.
Question 5:
Which intervention is most appropriate for preventing pressure injuries in an
immobile patient?
A. Apply adhesive tape to skin
B. Reposition patient every 2 hours
C. Avoid using pillows
D. Restrict fluid intake
Rationale Repositioning regularly reduces pressure and prevents skin breakdown.
Question 6:
A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection. Which site is
appropriate?
A. Deltoid muscle
B. Abdomen, 2 inches from umbilicus
C. Vastus lateralis
D. Gluteus maximus
Rationale Subcutaneous injections are commonly given in the abdomen, outer
arm, or thigh; 2 inches from the umbilicus avoids injection into scar tissue or navel
area.
,Question 7:
A patient with a nasogastric tube reports nausea. Which is the nurse’s best action?
A. Increase the feeding rate
B. Check tube placement and residual
C. Administer anti-diarrheal
D. Encourage ambulation
Rationale Nausea may indicate delayed gastric emptying or tube misplacement;
assessing placement and residual is priority.
Question 8:
Which laboratory result indicates risk for bleeding?
A. Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
B. Platelet count 40,000/mm³
C. Sodium 140 mEq/L
D. Potassium 4.2 mEq/L
Rationale Platelets below 50,000/mm³ increase risk for spontaneous bleeding.
Question 9:
A nurse is educating a patient on inhaler use. Which instruction is correct?
A. Exhale after inhaling
B. Shake the inhaler before use
C. Hold breath for 2 seconds
D. Use only after meals
Rationale Shaking ensures proper medication distribution in metered-dose
inhalers.
Question 10:
Which patient requires immediate attention?
A. Patient scheduled for routine labs
, B. Patient with sudden onset confusion and slurred speech
C. Patient receiving scheduled wound care
D. Patient ready for discharge education
Rationale Sudden confusion and slurred speech may indicate a stroke; immediate
intervention is required.
Question 11:
A patient receiving IV morphine reports respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A. Encourage deep breathing
B. Document the finding
C. Stop the infusion and notify the provider
D. Increase IV fluids
Rationale Opioids can depress respiration. The nurse must stop the infusion and
notify the provider immediately.
Question 12:
Which action is most important when caring for a patient on isolation precautions
for MRSA?
A. Wear gloves and gown when entering the room
B. Perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact
C. Limit visitors
D. Administer antibiotics
Rationale Hand hygiene is the most effective method to prevent transmission of
MRSA.
Question 13:
A patient with heart failure presents with 3+ pitting edema in the lower extremities.
Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Encourage high-sodium diet
B. Assess lung sounds and oxygen saturation
C. Limit fluid intake to 500 mL/day
D. Apply heat packs
