ATI PN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026 REAL EXAM
180 Questions and Answers with Verified Answers and Rationales
QUESTION 1
A nurse is caring for a client who wears glasses. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Store the glasses on the bedside table
B. Clean the glasses with hot water
C. Store the glasses in a labeled case
D. Place the glasses with the lenses facing down
VERIFIED ANSWER: C. Store the glasses in a labeled case
Rationale: Storing glasses in a labeled case protects them from damage and
ensures they are easily identifiable for the client. This promotes client safety
and prevents loss or breakage of personal items.
QUESTION 2
A nurse is caring for a client who requires airborne precautions. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Place the client in a negative pressure room
B. Wear a mask when changing the linens in the client's room
C. Keep the client's door open to promote ventilation
D. Remove mask immediately after leaving the client's room
VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Place the client in a negative pressure room
,Rationale: Airborne precautions require a negative pressure room to prevent
airborne pathogens from escaping into the hallway. This ensures the safety of
other clients, staff, and visitors.
QUESTION 3
A nurse is discussing advance directives with a client. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Witness the client's signature on the advance directive
B. Evaluate the client's understanding of life-sustaining measures
C. Determine the client's preferences about post mortem care
D. Provide legal advice about advance directive options
VERIFIED ANSWER: B. Evaluate the client's understanding of life-
sustaining measures
Rationale: The nurse's role in advance directives is to ensure the client
understands the implications of life-sustaining measures and can make
informed decisions. The nurse should not witness signatures (often prohibited),
provide legal advice, or focus solely on post-mortem care.
QUESTION 4
A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has sickle-cell anemia. Which of the
following manifestations indicates acute chest syndrome and should be
immediately reported to the provider?
A. Substernal chest pain
B. Mild fatigue
C. Joint pain
D. Headache
,VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Substernal chest pain
Rationale: Acute chest syndrome is a life-threatening complication of sickle-
cell anemia characterized by chest pain, fever, and respiratory symptoms.
Substernal chest pain requires immediate reporting to prevent respiratory
failure.
QUESTION 5
A nurse is performing a gastric lavage for a client who has upper
gastrointestinal bleeding. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Position the client in Trendelenburg position
B. Use cold saline for the lavage
C. Aspirate stomach contents before instilling fluid
D. Administer the lavage rapidly
VERIFIED ANSWER: C. Aspirate stomach contents before instilling fluid
Rationale: Aspirating stomach contents first helps confirm tube placement and
assess the amount of bleeding. This is a safety measure before beginning
lavage.
QUESTION 6
A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client. Which of the following
values should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Platelet count 150,000/mm³
B. Aspartate aminotransferase 10 units/L
C. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 75 mm/hr
D. White blood cell count 8,000/mm³
VERIFIED ANSWER: C. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 75 mm/hr
, Rationale: An ESR of 75 mm/hr is significantly elevated (normal is typically 0-
20 mm/hr for women, 0-15 mm/hr for men), indicating significant
inflammation or infection that requires provider notification.
QUESTION 7
A nurse is caring for a client who has generalized petechiae and ecchymoses.
The nurse should expect a prescription for which of the following laboratory
tests?
A. Platelet count
B. Hemoglobin
C. White blood cell count
D. Blood glucose
VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Platelet count
Rationale: Petechiae and ecchymoses are classic signs of thrombocytopenia
(low platelet count). Platelets are essential for clotting, and when low, clients
develop bleeding manifestations.
QUESTION 8
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new plaster cast on the left forearm.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Place an ice pack directly on the cast
B. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast
C. Support the cast with the palm of the hand
D. Elevate the cast on a pillow
VERIFIED ANSWER: B. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast
180 Questions and Answers with Verified Answers and Rationales
QUESTION 1
A nurse is caring for a client who wears glasses. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Store the glasses on the bedside table
B. Clean the glasses with hot water
C. Store the glasses in a labeled case
D. Place the glasses with the lenses facing down
VERIFIED ANSWER: C. Store the glasses in a labeled case
Rationale: Storing glasses in a labeled case protects them from damage and
ensures they are easily identifiable for the client. This promotes client safety
and prevents loss or breakage of personal items.
QUESTION 2
A nurse is caring for a client who requires airborne precautions. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Place the client in a negative pressure room
B. Wear a mask when changing the linens in the client's room
C. Keep the client's door open to promote ventilation
D. Remove mask immediately after leaving the client's room
VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Place the client in a negative pressure room
,Rationale: Airborne precautions require a negative pressure room to prevent
airborne pathogens from escaping into the hallway. This ensures the safety of
other clients, staff, and visitors.
QUESTION 3
A nurse is discussing advance directives with a client. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Witness the client's signature on the advance directive
B. Evaluate the client's understanding of life-sustaining measures
C. Determine the client's preferences about post mortem care
D. Provide legal advice about advance directive options
VERIFIED ANSWER: B. Evaluate the client's understanding of life-
sustaining measures
Rationale: The nurse's role in advance directives is to ensure the client
understands the implications of life-sustaining measures and can make
informed decisions. The nurse should not witness signatures (often prohibited),
provide legal advice, or focus solely on post-mortem care.
QUESTION 4
A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has sickle-cell anemia. Which of the
following manifestations indicates acute chest syndrome and should be
immediately reported to the provider?
A. Substernal chest pain
B. Mild fatigue
C. Joint pain
D. Headache
,VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Substernal chest pain
Rationale: Acute chest syndrome is a life-threatening complication of sickle-
cell anemia characterized by chest pain, fever, and respiratory symptoms.
Substernal chest pain requires immediate reporting to prevent respiratory
failure.
QUESTION 5
A nurse is performing a gastric lavage for a client who has upper
gastrointestinal bleeding. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Position the client in Trendelenburg position
B. Use cold saline for the lavage
C. Aspirate stomach contents before instilling fluid
D. Administer the lavage rapidly
VERIFIED ANSWER: C. Aspirate stomach contents before instilling fluid
Rationale: Aspirating stomach contents first helps confirm tube placement and
assess the amount of bleeding. This is a safety measure before beginning
lavage.
QUESTION 6
A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client. Which of the following
values should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Platelet count 150,000/mm³
B. Aspartate aminotransferase 10 units/L
C. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 75 mm/hr
D. White blood cell count 8,000/mm³
VERIFIED ANSWER: C. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 75 mm/hr
, Rationale: An ESR of 75 mm/hr is significantly elevated (normal is typically 0-
20 mm/hr for women, 0-15 mm/hr for men), indicating significant
inflammation or infection that requires provider notification.
QUESTION 7
A nurse is caring for a client who has generalized petechiae and ecchymoses.
The nurse should expect a prescription for which of the following laboratory
tests?
A. Platelet count
B. Hemoglobin
C. White blood cell count
D. Blood glucose
VERIFIED ANSWER: A. Platelet count
Rationale: Petechiae and ecchymoses are classic signs of thrombocytopenia
(low platelet count). Platelets are essential for clotting, and when low, clients
develop bleeding manifestations.
QUESTION 8
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new plaster cast on the left forearm.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Place an ice pack directly on the cast
B. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast
C. Support the cast with the palm of the hand
D. Elevate the cast on a pillow
VERIFIED ANSWER: B. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast
