ATI RN Exit Exam 2026: The 300-Questions
and Answers with Rationales/
Verified/Graded A+
Question 1
A nurse is receiving report on four clients. Which client should the
nurse assess first?
A. A client with COPD who has an SpO₂ of 89% on 2L nasal
cannula
B. A client who is post-appendectomy day 2 with a temperature of
38.3°C (101°F)
C. A client with heart failure and 3+ pitting edema
D. A client with new-onset confusion and a bounding pulse
Answer: D. New-onset confusion and a bounding pulse
Rationale: A change in neurological status (new-onset confusion)
is always a priority. When combined with a bounding pulse, it
suggests potential hypercapnia or fluid overload affecting
cerebral perfusion, which requires immediate intervention. The
other findings are concerning but are more expected or chronic in
nature.
Question 2
A charge nurse is assigning rooms for four clients. Which client
should be placed in a private room?
A. A client with pneumonia
B. A client with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
, C. A client with a diabetic foot ulcer
D. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Answer: B. MRSA
Rationale: MRSA requires contact isolation. A private room is
essential to prevent transmission to other clients. Pneumonia may
require droplet precautions, but MRSA is the priority for a single-
room assignment.
Question 3
A charge nurse is assigning a float RN who usually works in
postpartum to a medical-surgical unit. Which client is most
appropriate for the charge nurse to assign to this RN?
A. A client in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
B. A client who is postoperative day 2 following an appendectomy
and is stable
C. A client with a chest tube for a pneumothorax
D. A client receiving IV heparin for a deep vein thrombosis
Answer: B. A stable postoperative client
Rationale: A stable, low-acuity postoperative client is safest for a
float nurse from a different specialty. Complex clients with chest
tubes, titratable heparin drips, or DKA require an RN with current
experience in those specific areas.
Question 4
A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which
task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Assessing a postoperative incision
, B. Teaching a client how to use a walker
C. Obtaining a capillary blood glucose level
D. Evaluating a client's pain level
Answer: C. Obtaining a capillary blood glucose level
Rationale: APs can perform capillary blood glucose testing.
Assessment, teaching, and evaluation require nursing judgment
and fall outside the AP's scope of practice.
Question 5
A nurse is planning care for a client who is postoperative
following a hip arthroplasty. Which task should the nurse delegate
to the AP?
A. Assessing the surgical incision for redness and drainage
B. Assisting the client with ambulation using a walker
C. Teaching the client about hip precautions
D. Evaluating the client's pain level
Answer: B. Assisting with ambulation
Rationale: Assisting with ambulation is within the AP's scope of
practice. Assessment, teaching, and evaluation are RN
responsibilities. An AP can reinforce teaching but not provide
initial instruction.
Question 6
A charge nurse is assigning client care. Which client should be
assigned to a newly licensed RN?
A. A client with a chest tube following a pneumothorax
B. A client receiving a continuous IV heparin infusion
, C. A client with diabetes who requires insulin administration
D. A client who is 1 day postoperative following an appendectomy
Answer: D. 1-day post-op appendectomy
Rationale: A stable, post-operative client with predictable needs
is most appropriate for a newly licensed RN. Clients with chest
tubes, heparin infusions, or new-onset diabetes requiring insulin
administration require more experienced nursing judgment.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client with a new tracheostomy. Which task
can the nurse delegate to an AP?
A. Performing tracheostomy suctioning
B. Assessing the client's respiratory status
C. Providing oral care
D. Monitoring oxygen saturation
Answer: C. Providing oral care
Rationale: Oral care is a routine task that can be delegated.
Suctioning, respiratory assessment, and oxygen saturation
monitoring all require nursing judgment and are not within the
AP's scope.
Question 8
A competent adult client refuses a blood transfusion for religious
reasons. Which actions should the nurse take? (Select all that
apply)
A. Verify the client understands the risks
B. Document the refusal
and Answers with Rationales/
Verified/Graded A+
Question 1
A nurse is receiving report on four clients. Which client should the
nurse assess first?
A. A client with COPD who has an SpO₂ of 89% on 2L nasal
cannula
B. A client who is post-appendectomy day 2 with a temperature of
38.3°C (101°F)
C. A client with heart failure and 3+ pitting edema
D. A client with new-onset confusion and a bounding pulse
Answer: D. New-onset confusion and a bounding pulse
Rationale: A change in neurological status (new-onset confusion)
is always a priority. When combined with a bounding pulse, it
suggests potential hypercapnia or fluid overload affecting
cerebral perfusion, which requires immediate intervention. The
other findings are concerning but are more expected or chronic in
nature.
Question 2
A charge nurse is assigning rooms for four clients. Which client
should be placed in a private room?
A. A client with pneumonia
B. A client with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
, C. A client with a diabetic foot ulcer
D. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Answer: B. MRSA
Rationale: MRSA requires contact isolation. A private room is
essential to prevent transmission to other clients. Pneumonia may
require droplet precautions, but MRSA is the priority for a single-
room assignment.
Question 3
A charge nurse is assigning a float RN who usually works in
postpartum to a medical-surgical unit. Which client is most
appropriate for the charge nurse to assign to this RN?
A. A client in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
B. A client who is postoperative day 2 following an appendectomy
and is stable
C. A client with a chest tube for a pneumothorax
D. A client receiving IV heparin for a deep vein thrombosis
Answer: B. A stable postoperative client
Rationale: A stable, low-acuity postoperative client is safest for a
float nurse from a different specialty. Complex clients with chest
tubes, titratable heparin drips, or DKA require an RN with current
experience in those specific areas.
Question 4
A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which
task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Assessing a postoperative incision
, B. Teaching a client how to use a walker
C. Obtaining a capillary blood glucose level
D. Evaluating a client's pain level
Answer: C. Obtaining a capillary blood glucose level
Rationale: APs can perform capillary blood glucose testing.
Assessment, teaching, and evaluation require nursing judgment
and fall outside the AP's scope of practice.
Question 5
A nurse is planning care for a client who is postoperative
following a hip arthroplasty. Which task should the nurse delegate
to the AP?
A. Assessing the surgical incision for redness and drainage
B. Assisting the client with ambulation using a walker
C. Teaching the client about hip precautions
D. Evaluating the client's pain level
Answer: B. Assisting with ambulation
Rationale: Assisting with ambulation is within the AP's scope of
practice. Assessment, teaching, and evaluation are RN
responsibilities. An AP can reinforce teaching but not provide
initial instruction.
Question 6
A charge nurse is assigning client care. Which client should be
assigned to a newly licensed RN?
A. A client with a chest tube following a pneumothorax
B. A client receiving a continuous IV heparin infusion
, C. A client with diabetes who requires insulin administration
D. A client who is 1 day postoperative following an appendectomy
Answer: D. 1-day post-op appendectomy
Rationale: A stable, post-operative client with predictable needs
is most appropriate for a newly licensed RN. Clients with chest
tubes, heparin infusions, or new-onset diabetes requiring insulin
administration require more experienced nursing judgment.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a client with a new tracheostomy. Which task
can the nurse delegate to an AP?
A. Performing tracheostomy suctioning
B. Assessing the client's respiratory status
C. Providing oral care
D. Monitoring oxygen saturation
Answer: C. Providing oral care
Rationale: Oral care is a routine task that can be delegated.
Suctioning, respiratory assessment, and oxygen saturation
monitoring all require nursing judgment and are not within the
AP's scope.
Question 8
A competent adult client refuses a blood transfusion for religious
reasons. Which actions should the nurse take? (Select all that
apply)
A. Verify the client understands the risks
B. Document the refusal
