ATI RN CONCEPT BASED ASSESSMENT LEVEL 2 2026 LATETS TEST
EXAM 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES COVERING THE RECENT TESTED QUESTIONS
OVERVIEW
The ATI RN Concept-Based Assessment Level 2 Proctored Exam focuses on applying core nursing
concepts to clinical situations rather than memorizing isolated facts. Key areas include oxygenation,
perfusion, fluid and electrolyte balance, infection, metabolism, tissue integrity, mobility, safety, and
mental health. Students are tested on recognizing priority symptoms, interpreting lab values,
identifying complications, and selecting the safest nursing intervention. Many questions require
clinical judgment using the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation,
evaluation) and prioritization frameworks such as ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation) and Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs. To succeed, students should understand pathophysiology, common medications,
expected assessment findings, and priority nursing actions for common conditions like heart failure,
diabetes, respiratory disorders, infections, electrolyte imbalances, and neurological emergencies.
1. A nurse is assessing a client with dehydration. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Decreased hematocrit
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Dehydration reduces body fluids, leading to dry mucous membranes, decreased skin
turgor, and concentrated urine.
2. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure. Which assessment finding indicates fluid overload?
A. Weight loss
B. Crackles in the lungs
C. Hypotension
D. Dry skin
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Fluid overload causes pulmonary congestion, producing crackles on auscultation.
3. A nurse is caring for a client receiving heparin therapy. Which laboratory value should the nurse
monitor?
A. PT
B. INR
,C. aPTT
D. Platelet count
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to monitor the therapeutic effect of
heparin.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with hypokalemia. Which symptom should the nurse expect?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Hypertension
D. Tachycardia
Answer: A
RATIONALE: Hypokalemia affects muscle function, often causing weakness, fatigue, and decreased
bowel motility.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with diabetes mellitus. Which laboratory test indicates long-term
glucose control?
A. Fasting glucose
B. Random glucose
C. Hemoglobin A1c
D. Oral glucose tolerance test
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Hemoglobin A1c reflects average blood glucose levels over the previous 2–3 months.
6. A nurse is assessing a client with anemia. Which manifestation should the nurse expect?
A. Cyanosis
B. Fatigue
C. Hypertension
D. Edema
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity in anemia causes fatigue, weakness, and pallor.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with COPD. Which intervention should the nurse implement to improve
oxygenation?
,A. High-flow oxygen at 15 L/min
B. Encourage pursed-lip breathing
C. Limit fluid intake
D. Keep the client in a supine position
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Pursed-lip breathing helps prevent airway collapse and improves gas exchange.
8. A nurse is caring for a client with pneumonia. Which finding indicates improvement?
A. Decreased oxygen saturation
B. Reduced cough
C. Improved breath sounds
D. Increased respiratory rate
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Improved breath sounds and oxygenation indicate resolution of lung inflammation.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a urinary tract infection. Which symptom should the nurse
expect?
A. Dysuria
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Hyperglycemia
Answer: A
RATIONALE: Dysuria (painful urination) is a common symptom of UTIs.
10. A nurse is assessing a client with appendicitis. Which finding is expected?
A. Left lower quadrant pain
B. Right lower quadrant pain
C. Epigastric pain only
D. Diffuse abdominal pain without tenderness
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Appendicitis commonly causes right lower quadrant pain at McBurney’s point.
11. A nurse is caring for a client with hyperthyroidism. Which manifestation should the nurse expect?
A. Weight gain
B. Cold intolerance
, C. Tachycardia
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Hyperthyroidism increases metabolic rate, causing tachycardia, weight loss, and heat
intolerance.
12. A nurse is caring for a client with hypothyroidism. Which manifestation should the nurse expect?
A. Heat intolerance
B. Weight loss
C. Bradycardia
D. Hyperactivity
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Hypothyroidism slows metabolism, leading to fatigue, weight gain, and bradycardia.
13. A nurse is caring for a client receiving morphine. Which adverse effect should the nurse monitor?
A. Hypertension
B. Respiratory depression
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Tachycardia
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Opioids depress the respiratory center and can lead to respiratory depression.
14. A nurse is caring for a client with sepsis. Which assessment finding indicates worsening condition?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Hypotension
C. Increased urine output
D. Normal temperature
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Sepsis causes systemic vasodilation leading to hypotension and poor tissue perfusion.
15. A nurse is caring for a client with a stroke. Which intervention is priority?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Maintain airway and oxygenation
C. Provide high-protein diet
D. Encourage ambulation
EXAM 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES COVERING THE RECENT TESTED QUESTIONS
OVERVIEW
The ATI RN Concept-Based Assessment Level 2 Proctored Exam focuses on applying core nursing
concepts to clinical situations rather than memorizing isolated facts. Key areas include oxygenation,
perfusion, fluid and electrolyte balance, infection, metabolism, tissue integrity, mobility, safety, and
mental health. Students are tested on recognizing priority symptoms, interpreting lab values,
identifying complications, and selecting the safest nursing intervention. Many questions require
clinical judgment using the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation,
evaluation) and prioritization frameworks such as ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation) and Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs. To succeed, students should understand pathophysiology, common medications,
expected assessment findings, and priority nursing actions for common conditions like heart failure,
diabetes, respiratory disorders, infections, electrolyte imbalances, and neurological emergencies.
1. A nurse is assessing a client with dehydration. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Decreased hematocrit
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Dehydration reduces body fluids, leading to dry mucous membranes, decreased skin
turgor, and concentrated urine.
2. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure. Which assessment finding indicates fluid overload?
A. Weight loss
B. Crackles in the lungs
C. Hypotension
D. Dry skin
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Fluid overload causes pulmonary congestion, producing crackles on auscultation.
3. A nurse is caring for a client receiving heparin therapy. Which laboratory value should the nurse
monitor?
A. PT
B. INR
,C. aPTT
D. Platelet count
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to monitor the therapeutic effect of
heparin.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with hypokalemia. Which symptom should the nurse expect?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Hypertension
D. Tachycardia
Answer: A
RATIONALE: Hypokalemia affects muscle function, often causing weakness, fatigue, and decreased
bowel motility.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with diabetes mellitus. Which laboratory test indicates long-term
glucose control?
A. Fasting glucose
B. Random glucose
C. Hemoglobin A1c
D. Oral glucose tolerance test
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Hemoglobin A1c reflects average blood glucose levels over the previous 2–3 months.
6. A nurse is assessing a client with anemia. Which manifestation should the nurse expect?
A. Cyanosis
B. Fatigue
C. Hypertension
D. Edema
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity in anemia causes fatigue, weakness, and pallor.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with COPD. Which intervention should the nurse implement to improve
oxygenation?
,A. High-flow oxygen at 15 L/min
B. Encourage pursed-lip breathing
C. Limit fluid intake
D. Keep the client in a supine position
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Pursed-lip breathing helps prevent airway collapse and improves gas exchange.
8. A nurse is caring for a client with pneumonia. Which finding indicates improvement?
A. Decreased oxygen saturation
B. Reduced cough
C. Improved breath sounds
D. Increased respiratory rate
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Improved breath sounds and oxygenation indicate resolution of lung inflammation.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a urinary tract infection. Which symptom should the nurse
expect?
A. Dysuria
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Hyperglycemia
Answer: A
RATIONALE: Dysuria (painful urination) is a common symptom of UTIs.
10. A nurse is assessing a client with appendicitis. Which finding is expected?
A. Left lower quadrant pain
B. Right lower quadrant pain
C. Epigastric pain only
D. Diffuse abdominal pain without tenderness
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Appendicitis commonly causes right lower quadrant pain at McBurney’s point.
11. A nurse is caring for a client with hyperthyroidism. Which manifestation should the nurse expect?
A. Weight gain
B. Cold intolerance
, C. Tachycardia
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Hyperthyroidism increases metabolic rate, causing tachycardia, weight loss, and heat
intolerance.
12. A nurse is caring for a client with hypothyroidism. Which manifestation should the nurse expect?
A. Heat intolerance
B. Weight loss
C. Bradycardia
D. Hyperactivity
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Hypothyroidism slows metabolism, leading to fatigue, weight gain, and bradycardia.
13. A nurse is caring for a client receiving morphine. Which adverse effect should the nurse monitor?
A. Hypertension
B. Respiratory depression
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Tachycardia
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Opioids depress the respiratory center and can lead to respiratory depression.
14. A nurse is caring for a client with sepsis. Which assessment finding indicates worsening condition?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Hypotension
C. Increased urine output
D. Normal temperature
Answer: B
RATIONALE: Sepsis causes systemic vasodilation leading to hypotension and poor tissue perfusion.
15. A nurse is caring for a client with a stroke. Which intervention is priority?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Maintain airway and oxygenation
C. Provide high-protein diet
D. Encourage ambulation
