ATI COMPREHESIVE EXIT VERSION A&B 2026-2027 LATEST
ACTUAL EXAM ALL 180 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+.
A nurse in an emergency department completes an assessment on an
adolescent client who has conduct disorder. The client threatened suicide to a
teacher at school. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in
the assessment?
A. "Tell me about your siblings."
B. "Tell me what kind of music you like."
C. "Tell me how often do you drink alcohol."
D. "Tell me about your school schedule."
Correct Answer: C. "Tell me how often do you drink alcohol."
Rationale
When assessing an adolescent with conduct disorder who has made suicidal
threats, the nurse must evaluate for substance use, as alcohol and drug use are
significant risk factors for suicidal behavior and are commonly associated with
conduct disorder. Asking about alcohol consumption directly addresses a
modifiable risk factor and provides essential information for safety planning and
treatment. Questions about siblings, music preferences, and school schedules,
while potentially useful for building rapport, do not address immediate safety
concerns or risk factors for self-harm. The priority in this assessment is to identify
factors that may increase the client's risk for acting on suicidal ideation, and
substance use is a critical component of this evaluation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
,A nurse is observing bonding between a client and her newborn. Which of the
following actions by the client requires the nurse to intervene?
A. Holding the newborn in an en face position
B. Asking the father to change the newborn's diaper
C. Requesting the nurse take the newborn to the nursery so she can rest
D. Viewing the newborn's actions to be uncooperative
Correct Answer: D. Viewing the newborn's actions to be uncooperative.
Rationale
Viewing the newborn's actions as uncooperative indicates a negative perception
of the infant's behavior, which may reflect impaired bonding or attachment
difficulties. This perception can interfere with the development of a healthy
parent-infant relationship and requires nursing intervention to assess for
postpartum depression, unrealistic expectations, or other factors affecting
bonding. Holding the newborn in an en face position, where the parent's face is
aligned with the infant's, promotes eye contact and is a positive bonding behavior.
Asking the father to change the diaper demonstrates appropriate sharing of
caregiving responsibilities. Requesting that the nurse take the newborn to the
nursery for rest is an appropriate self-care measure and does not indicate
impaired bonding.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking levothyroxine. Which of the following
findings should indicate that the medication is effective?
A. Weight loss
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Absence of seizures
D. Decreased inflammation
Correct Answer: A. Weight loss.
,Rationale
Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone (T4) used to treat hypothyroidism.
Weight loss is an expected therapeutic effect, as thyroid hormone replacement
normalizes the metabolic rate, which is decreased in hypothyroid states. Effective
treatment should result in resolution of hypothyroid symptoms, including weight
gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, and constipation. Decreased blood pressure is not a
direct effect of levothyroxine; in fact, thyroid hormone replacement may increase
heart rate and blood pressure in some clients. Absence of seizures is not a
therapeutic effect of levothyroxine, as hypothyroidism is not a primary cause of
seizures. Decreased inflammation is not a therapeutic effect of levothyroxine.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluate (Evaluation)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A nurse is planning discharge teaching for cord care for the parent of a newborn.
Which instructions would you include in the teaching?
A. Contact provider if the cord turns black.
B. Clean the base of the cord with hydrogen peroxide daily.
C. Keep the cord dry until it falls off.
D. The cord stump will fall off in five days.
Correct Answer: C. Keep the cord dry until it falls off.
Rationale
The umbilical cord stump should be kept clean and dry to prevent infection and
promote natural separation. Keeping the cord dry is the most important aspect of
cord care, as moisture can promote bacterial growth and delay separation. The
cord will naturally turn black as it dries and necroses before falling off, which is a
normal process and does not require provider notification. Hydrogen peroxide is
not recommended for routine cord care; the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends keeping the cord clean and dry with no specific cleansing agents
unless soiled. The cord stump typically falls off in 10 to 14 days, not five days,
though this timeframe can vary.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
A nurse is assessing a client in the PACU. Which of the following findings
indicates decreased cardiac output?
A. Shivering
B. Oliguria
C. Bradypnea
D. Constricted pupils
Correct Answer: B. Oliguria.
Rationale
Oliguria, defined as urine output of less than 30 mL per hour or 0.5 mL/kg/hour, is
a clinical manifestation of decreased cardiac output. When cardiac output
decreases, renal blood flow is reduced, leading to decreased glomerular filtration
and subsequent oliguria. This finding is an important indicator of inadequate
tissue perfusion and requires prompt intervention. Shivering is a physiological
response to hypothermia or emergence from anesthesia and does not directly
indicate decreased cardiac output. Bradypnea may indicate respiratory depression
from anesthesia or opioids but is not a primary indicator of decreased cardiac
output. Constricted pupils may result from opioid administration or other central
nervous system effects and do not indicate decreased cardiac output.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A nurse is assisting with mass casualty triage following an explosion at a local
factory. Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. A client who has massive head trauma
B. A client who has full thickness burns to face and trunk
ACTUAL EXAM ALL 180 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+.
A nurse in an emergency department completes an assessment on an
adolescent client who has conduct disorder. The client threatened suicide to a
teacher at school. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in
the assessment?
A. "Tell me about your siblings."
B. "Tell me what kind of music you like."
C. "Tell me how often do you drink alcohol."
D. "Tell me about your school schedule."
Correct Answer: C. "Tell me how often do you drink alcohol."
Rationale
When assessing an adolescent with conduct disorder who has made suicidal
threats, the nurse must evaluate for substance use, as alcohol and drug use are
significant risk factors for suicidal behavior and are commonly associated with
conduct disorder. Asking about alcohol consumption directly addresses a
modifiable risk factor and provides essential information for safety planning and
treatment. Questions about siblings, music preferences, and school schedules,
while potentially useful for building rapport, do not address immediate safety
concerns or risk factors for self-harm. The priority in this assessment is to identify
factors that may increase the client's risk for acting on suicidal ideation, and
substance use is a critical component of this evaluation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
,A nurse is observing bonding between a client and her newborn. Which of the
following actions by the client requires the nurse to intervene?
A. Holding the newborn in an en face position
B. Asking the father to change the newborn's diaper
C. Requesting the nurse take the newborn to the nursery so she can rest
D. Viewing the newborn's actions to be uncooperative
Correct Answer: D. Viewing the newborn's actions to be uncooperative.
Rationale
Viewing the newborn's actions as uncooperative indicates a negative perception
of the infant's behavior, which may reflect impaired bonding or attachment
difficulties. This perception can interfere with the development of a healthy
parent-infant relationship and requires nursing intervention to assess for
postpartum depression, unrealistic expectations, or other factors affecting
bonding. Holding the newborn in an en face position, where the parent's face is
aligned with the infant's, promotes eye contact and is a positive bonding behavior.
Asking the father to change the diaper demonstrates appropriate sharing of
caregiving responsibilities. Requesting that the nurse take the newborn to the
nursery for rest is an appropriate self-care measure and does not indicate
impaired bonding.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking levothyroxine. Which of the following
findings should indicate that the medication is effective?
A. Weight loss
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Absence of seizures
D. Decreased inflammation
Correct Answer: A. Weight loss.
,Rationale
Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone (T4) used to treat hypothyroidism.
Weight loss is an expected therapeutic effect, as thyroid hormone replacement
normalizes the metabolic rate, which is decreased in hypothyroid states. Effective
treatment should result in resolution of hypothyroid symptoms, including weight
gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, and constipation. Decreased blood pressure is not a
direct effect of levothyroxine; in fact, thyroid hormone replacement may increase
heart rate and blood pressure in some clients. Absence of seizures is not a
therapeutic effect of levothyroxine, as hypothyroidism is not a primary cause of
seizures. Decreased inflammation is not a therapeutic effect of levothyroxine.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluate (Evaluation)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A nurse is planning discharge teaching for cord care for the parent of a newborn.
Which instructions would you include in the teaching?
A. Contact provider if the cord turns black.
B. Clean the base of the cord with hydrogen peroxide daily.
C. Keep the cord dry until it falls off.
D. The cord stump will fall off in five days.
Correct Answer: C. Keep the cord dry until it falls off.
Rationale
The umbilical cord stump should be kept clean and dry to prevent infection and
promote natural separation. Keeping the cord dry is the most important aspect of
cord care, as moisture can promote bacterial growth and delay separation. The
cord will naturally turn black as it dries and necroses before falling off, which is a
normal process and does not require provider notification. Hydrogen peroxide is
not recommended for routine cord care; the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends keeping the cord clean and dry with no specific cleansing agents
unless soiled. The cord stump typically falls off in 10 to 14 days, not five days,
though this timeframe can vary.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
A nurse is assessing a client in the PACU. Which of the following findings
indicates decreased cardiac output?
A. Shivering
B. Oliguria
C. Bradypnea
D. Constricted pupils
Correct Answer: B. Oliguria.
Rationale
Oliguria, defined as urine output of less than 30 mL per hour or 0.5 mL/kg/hour, is
a clinical manifestation of decreased cardiac output. When cardiac output
decreases, renal blood flow is reduced, leading to decreased glomerular filtration
and subsequent oliguria. This finding is an important indicator of inadequate
tissue perfusion and requires prompt intervention. Shivering is a physiological
response to hypothermia or emergence from anesthesia and does not directly
indicate decreased cardiac output. Bradypnea may indicate respiratory depression
from anesthesia or opioids but is not a primary indicator of decreased cardiac
output. Constricted pupils may result from opioid administration or other central
nervous system effects and do not indicate decreased cardiac output.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A nurse is assisting with mass casualty triage following an explosion at a local
factory. Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. A client who has massive head trauma
B. A client who has full thickness burns to face and trunk
