ATI QUICK TIPS
Understanding the difference between ATI Assessments and your
Unit Exams:
In nursing school you have been given tests to “examine” how much you had
learned from the specific material that was theoretically presented to you in
lecture, reading, skills labs, clinical, etc. Your score was based on the 100%
scale and you were probably expected to score anywhere from around 75%
to 100% over that material in order to pass.
Now, there is NO WAY that any nursing program can teach everything there
is to know about nursing in a 2 to 4 year period. Each program has a bit
different focus and uses different textbooks and materials based on their
focus.
This is where ATI assessments come in - these assessments are broad and
are used to “assess” what you know in comparison to the exit exam and
ultimately the NCLEX blueprint. Therefore your score — while still based on
the 100% scale — is not looked at in the same way it is a typical exam. It
would be totally unreasonable to expect you to score 75-100% over material
that you may have never even seen before!!
So, when you take the ATI assessments—think of them as a means to identify
areas that you might see on your exit exam and ultimately NCLEX. Through
review and remediation that you complete, you will be prepared.
Use the tips and strategies (see below) each week in the modules to help
you prepare the content review and assessment.
Laboratory Values
While lab values vary slightly according to the source, knowing an average
range for the following common lab tests will be very helpful to you when
answering questions.
Sodium 136-145 mEq/L
Potassium 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Total Calcium 9.0-10.5 mg/dL
,Magnesium 1.3-2.1 mg/dL
Phosphorus 3.0 –4.5 mg/dL
BUN 10-20 mg/dL
Creatinine 0.6 – 1.2mg/dL males, 0.5 – 1.1 mg/dL females
Glucose 70 -105 mg/dL
HgbA1c <6.5%
WBC 5,000-10,000/mm3
RBC Men 4.7-6.1 million/mm3, Women 4.2-5.4 million/mm3
Hemoglobin Men 14-18g/100 mL, Women 12-16 g/100 mL
Hematocrit Men 42-52%,Women 37-47%
Platelet 150,000-400,000/mm3
pH 7.35-7.45
pC02 35 to45 mm Hg
p02 80-100 mmHg
HCO3 21-26mmol/L
Normal PT = 11-12.5 sec, Normal INR = 0.7-1.8 (Therapeutic INR 2-
3)
Normal PTT = 30-40 sec (Therapeutic PTT 1.5 – 2 x normal or control
values)
Digoxin 0.5 to 2.0ng/mL
Lithium 0.8 to 1.4 mEq/L
Dilantin 10-20 mcg/mL
Theophylline 10 to 20mcg/mL
Latex Allergies:
,Note that clients allergic to bananas, apricots, cherries, grapes, kiwis,
passion fruit, avocados, chestnuts, tomatoes, and/or peaches may
experience latex allergies as well.
Order of assessment:
I-inspection
P-palpation
P-percussion
A-auscultation
Except with abdomen it is IAPP-inspect, auscultate, percuss and palpate.
Cane walking:
C-cane
O-opposite
A-affected
L-leg
Crutch walking:
Remember the phase “step up” when picturing a person going up stairs with
crutches. The good leg goes up first followed by the crutches and the bad
leg. The opposite happens going down the stairs….OR “up to heaven…down
to hell”
Delegation:
RNs DO NOT delegate what they can EAT - evaluate, assess, teach
Helpful tool to remember Isolation Precautions:
AIRBORNE: "My Chicken Hez TB"
-Measles
-Chicken pox
-Herpes zoster
-TB
, Management: neg. pressure room, private room, mask, n-95 for TB.
DROPLET: "SPIDERMAn"
-Sepsis
-Scarlet Fever
-Strep
-Pertussis
-Pneumonia
-Parvovirus
-Influenza
-Diphtheria
-Epiglottitis
-Rubella
-Mumps
-Adenovirus
Management: Private room/mask
CONTACT: "MRS WEE"
-MRSA
-VRSA
-RSV
-Skin infections (herpes zoster, cutaneous diphtheria, impetigo,
pediculosis, scabies, and staphylococcus)
-Wound infections
-Enteric infections (Clostridium difficile)
-Eye infections (conjunctivitis)
Management: gown, gloves, goggles, private room
Test taking tip: Slow Down!
Reading questions too quickly can lead to errors. When you are testing, try to
slow down a bit so that you do not miss any key words. Before each and
every question try this:
Understanding the difference between ATI Assessments and your
Unit Exams:
In nursing school you have been given tests to “examine” how much you had
learned from the specific material that was theoretically presented to you in
lecture, reading, skills labs, clinical, etc. Your score was based on the 100%
scale and you were probably expected to score anywhere from around 75%
to 100% over that material in order to pass.
Now, there is NO WAY that any nursing program can teach everything there
is to know about nursing in a 2 to 4 year period. Each program has a bit
different focus and uses different textbooks and materials based on their
focus.
This is where ATI assessments come in - these assessments are broad and
are used to “assess” what you know in comparison to the exit exam and
ultimately the NCLEX blueprint. Therefore your score — while still based on
the 100% scale — is not looked at in the same way it is a typical exam. It
would be totally unreasonable to expect you to score 75-100% over material
that you may have never even seen before!!
So, when you take the ATI assessments—think of them as a means to identify
areas that you might see on your exit exam and ultimately NCLEX. Through
review and remediation that you complete, you will be prepared.
Use the tips and strategies (see below) each week in the modules to help
you prepare the content review and assessment.
Laboratory Values
While lab values vary slightly according to the source, knowing an average
range for the following common lab tests will be very helpful to you when
answering questions.
Sodium 136-145 mEq/L
Potassium 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Total Calcium 9.0-10.5 mg/dL
,Magnesium 1.3-2.1 mg/dL
Phosphorus 3.0 –4.5 mg/dL
BUN 10-20 mg/dL
Creatinine 0.6 – 1.2mg/dL males, 0.5 – 1.1 mg/dL females
Glucose 70 -105 mg/dL
HgbA1c <6.5%
WBC 5,000-10,000/mm3
RBC Men 4.7-6.1 million/mm3, Women 4.2-5.4 million/mm3
Hemoglobin Men 14-18g/100 mL, Women 12-16 g/100 mL
Hematocrit Men 42-52%,Women 37-47%
Platelet 150,000-400,000/mm3
pH 7.35-7.45
pC02 35 to45 mm Hg
p02 80-100 mmHg
HCO3 21-26mmol/L
Normal PT = 11-12.5 sec, Normal INR = 0.7-1.8 (Therapeutic INR 2-
3)
Normal PTT = 30-40 sec (Therapeutic PTT 1.5 – 2 x normal or control
values)
Digoxin 0.5 to 2.0ng/mL
Lithium 0.8 to 1.4 mEq/L
Dilantin 10-20 mcg/mL
Theophylline 10 to 20mcg/mL
Latex Allergies:
,Note that clients allergic to bananas, apricots, cherries, grapes, kiwis,
passion fruit, avocados, chestnuts, tomatoes, and/or peaches may
experience latex allergies as well.
Order of assessment:
I-inspection
P-palpation
P-percussion
A-auscultation
Except with abdomen it is IAPP-inspect, auscultate, percuss and palpate.
Cane walking:
C-cane
O-opposite
A-affected
L-leg
Crutch walking:
Remember the phase “step up” when picturing a person going up stairs with
crutches. The good leg goes up first followed by the crutches and the bad
leg. The opposite happens going down the stairs….OR “up to heaven…down
to hell”
Delegation:
RNs DO NOT delegate what they can EAT - evaluate, assess, teach
Helpful tool to remember Isolation Precautions:
AIRBORNE: "My Chicken Hez TB"
-Measles
-Chicken pox
-Herpes zoster
-TB
, Management: neg. pressure room, private room, mask, n-95 for TB.
DROPLET: "SPIDERMAn"
-Sepsis
-Scarlet Fever
-Strep
-Pertussis
-Pneumonia
-Parvovirus
-Influenza
-Diphtheria
-Epiglottitis
-Rubella
-Mumps
-Adenovirus
Management: Private room/mask
CONTACT: "MRS WEE"
-MRSA
-VRSA
-RSV
-Skin infections (herpes zoster, cutaneous diphtheria, impetigo,
pediculosis, scabies, and staphylococcus)
-Wound infections
-Enteric infections (Clostridium difficile)
-Eye infections (conjunctivitis)
Management: gown, gloves, goggles, private room
Test taking tip: Slow Down!
Reading questions too quickly can lead to errors. When you are testing, try to
slow down a bit so that you do not miss any key words. Before each and
every question try this:
