ATI PN COMPREHENSIVE EXIT EXAM/ATI PN COMPREHENSIVE EXIT REVIEW
EXAM (2026/2027 LATEST VERSION) STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS/NEWEST UPDATE!!!.
Question 1
A nurse is assisting with the plan of care for a client following a transurethral resection of the
prostate (TURP). Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of
care to ensure safety and prevent complications?
A) Irrigate the bladder using clean technique only
B) Encourage the client to remain in a supine position for 48 hours
C) Irrigate the bladder using strict sterile technique
D) Disconnect the catheter every 4 hours to check for clots
E) Administer aspirin for postoperative pain management
Correct Answer: C) The nurse should irrigate the bladder using strict sterile technique and
maintain a closed catheter drainage system to minimize the risk of infection.
Rationale: Post-TURP care often requires continuous or intermittent bladder irrigation to
prevent blood clots from obstructing the catheter. Because the urinary tract is a sterile
environment and the surgical site is highly susceptible to pathogens, using strict sterile
technique and maintaining a closed system are essential to prevent healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs).
Question 2
A nurse is reviewing a client's electronic medical record and finds that an assistive personnel
(AP) recorded the client's temperature as 35.3 degrees Celsius (95.5 degrees F) 2 hours earlier.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Notify the provider immediately
B) Document the temperature in the nurse's notes
C) Check the client's temperature personally
D) Apply several warm blankets to the client
E) Administer an oral dose of acetaminophen
Correct Answer: C) check the clients temp
Rationale: The first step in the nursing process is assessment. When a nurse identifies data
that is abnormal or potentially inaccurate, the nurse must validate that data personally
before taking further action, such as notifying a provider or initiating an intervention for
hypothermia.
Question 3
A nurse is receiving a change-of-shift report for four clients. Which of the following clients
should the nurse see first?
A) A client who is scheduled for a physical therapy session in 30 minutes
B) A client who requested a routine dressing change for a chronic wound
C) A client whose urinary output was 100 mL for the past 12 hours
D) A client who reports a headache rated as 2 on a 0 to 10 scale
E) A client who is waiting for a ride to go home after discharge
, 2
Correct Answer: C) A client whose urinary output was 100mL for the past 12 hrs
Rationale: The nurse should use the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and
prioritization frameworks. A urinary output of less than 30 mL/hr (which would be 360 mL
over 12 hours) indicates potential acute kidney injury or severe dehydration. 100 mL in 12
hours is a critical finding that requires immediate assessment and intervention to prevent
systemic complications.
Question 4
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about weight loss with a female older adult client who is
overweight. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching to
promote a healthy cardiovascular profile?
A) Eliminate all carbohydrates from the diet
B) Replace all protein with simple sugars
C) Keep fat intake to no more than 30% of daily caloric intake
D) Consume at least 4,000 calories per day to maintain energy
E) Avoid all physical activity to prevent joint strain
Correct Answer: C) keep fat intake to no more that 30% of daily caloric intake.
Rationale: Standard nutritional guidelines for weight loss and heart health recommend that
fat intake should not exceed 20% to 35% of total daily calories. This helps reduce the risk
of high cholesterol and coronary artery disease, which are significant concerns in the older
adult population.
Question 5
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has iron deficiency anemia. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect during the assessment?
A) Increased physical energy and stamina
B) Difficulty concentrating
C) Flushed, red skin and mucous membranes
D) Bradycardia and high blood pressure
E) Increased appetite for red meats
Correct Answer: B) difficulty concentrating
Rationale: Iron deficiency anemia results in reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pallor, and cognitive effects such as
difficulty concentrating or "brain fog" due to decreased oxygen delivery to the brain.
Question 6
A nurse is collecting data from an older adult client who is 48 hours postoperative following
abdominal surgery. The provider writes a prescription to advance the client to a regular diet. For
which of the following findings should the nurse notify the provider before advancing the diet?
A) The client reports being hungry
B) The client has not had a bowel movement yet
, 3
C) The client has absent bowel sounds
D) The client’s incision is intact with staples
E) The client is able to ambulate to the chair
Correct Answer: C) The client has absent bowel sounds
Rationale: After abdominal surgery, the return of bowel function (peristalsis) is essential
before resuming oral intake. Absent bowel sounds can indicate a paralytic ileus. Advancing
the diet before bowel sounds return could lead to nausea, vomiting, and further
complications.
Question 7
A parent brings her adolescent son to an urgent care center and states, "He is high on something
and needs help." The client is exhibiting agitation, paranoia, and reports visual hallucinations.
The nurse should suspect intoxication with which of the following substances?
A) Heroin
B) Methamphetamines
C) Alcohol
D) Phenobarbital
E) Alprazolam
Correct Answer: B) Methamphetamines
Rationale: Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. Intoxication
typically manifests as increased physical activity, agitation, paranoia, dilated pupils, and
hallucinations. Opioids like heroin or benzodiazepines like alprazolam would typically
cause sedation or respiratory depression.
Question 8
A nurse notices an assistive personnel (AP) taking a nap in the break room during their mealtime.
The AP later appears drowsy while performing routine tasks. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A) Tell the AP to go home immediately
B) Ignore the behavior if the tasks are getting done
C) Report the observations about the AP to the unit's nurse manager
D) Give the AP a cup of strong coffee
E) Assign the AP to a different set of patients
Correct Answer: C) Report the observations about the ap to the unit's nurse manager.
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. If a teammate appears impaired or unable to safely
perform their duties due to drowsiness or other factors, the nurse must follow the
professional chain of command and report the concern to the supervisor for appropriate
management.
Question 9
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a fluid volume deficit about selecting foods
, 4
that have a high water content. The nurse should include that which of the following raw foods
contains the highest amount of water per 1 cup serving?
A) Whole wheat bread
B) Hard-boiled eggs
C) Cherry tomatoes
D) Roasted almonds
E) Dried apricots
Correct Answer: C) cherry tomatoes
Rationale: Raw vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelon have
extremely high water content (often over 90%). Cherry tomatoes are an excellent dietary
choice to supplement fluid intake for a client with a deficit.
Question 10
The nurse is positioning a client who is scheduled for a lumbar puncture. The nurse should assist
the client into which of the following positions?
A) Prone with the head turned to the side
B) Supine with legs extended
C) Lateral recumbent
D) High-Fowler's position
E) Trendelenburg position
Correct Answer: C) lateral recumbent
Rationale: For a lumbar puncture, the client is usually placed in a lateral recumbent (side-
lying) position with the knees drawn up to the chest and the chin tucked. This arches the
back and widens the space between the vertebrae, allowing for easier insertion of the needle
into the subarachnoid space.
Question 11
A nurse is talking with a client whose son died in a motor-vehicle crash 2 weeks ago. The client
states, "I really thought I'd be back to my usual routines by now, but I can't think of anything else
except my son is gone." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A) "You should try to find a hobby to take your mind off things."
B) "Most people feel better after just one week."
C) "Grieving for your son is hard work. It will take as much time as you need to come to terms
with your loss."
D) "At least you have other children to focus on."
E) "I think you should speak to a psychiatrist about a prescription."
Correct Answer: C) Grieving for your son is hard work. It will take as much time as you
need to come to terms with your loss.
Rationale: This response uses the therapeutic communication technique of validation and
EXAM (2026/2027 LATEST VERSION) STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS/NEWEST UPDATE!!!.
Question 1
A nurse is assisting with the plan of care for a client following a transurethral resection of the
prostate (TURP). Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of
care to ensure safety and prevent complications?
A) Irrigate the bladder using clean technique only
B) Encourage the client to remain in a supine position for 48 hours
C) Irrigate the bladder using strict sterile technique
D) Disconnect the catheter every 4 hours to check for clots
E) Administer aspirin for postoperative pain management
Correct Answer: C) The nurse should irrigate the bladder using strict sterile technique and
maintain a closed catheter drainage system to minimize the risk of infection.
Rationale: Post-TURP care often requires continuous or intermittent bladder irrigation to
prevent blood clots from obstructing the catheter. Because the urinary tract is a sterile
environment and the surgical site is highly susceptible to pathogens, using strict sterile
technique and maintaining a closed system are essential to prevent healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs).
Question 2
A nurse is reviewing a client's electronic medical record and finds that an assistive personnel
(AP) recorded the client's temperature as 35.3 degrees Celsius (95.5 degrees F) 2 hours earlier.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Notify the provider immediately
B) Document the temperature in the nurse's notes
C) Check the client's temperature personally
D) Apply several warm blankets to the client
E) Administer an oral dose of acetaminophen
Correct Answer: C) check the clients temp
Rationale: The first step in the nursing process is assessment. When a nurse identifies data
that is abnormal or potentially inaccurate, the nurse must validate that data personally
before taking further action, such as notifying a provider or initiating an intervention for
hypothermia.
Question 3
A nurse is receiving a change-of-shift report for four clients. Which of the following clients
should the nurse see first?
A) A client who is scheduled for a physical therapy session in 30 minutes
B) A client who requested a routine dressing change for a chronic wound
C) A client whose urinary output was 100 mL for the past 12 hours
D) A client who reports a headache rated as 2 on a 0 to 10 scale
E) A client who is waiting for a ride to go home after discharge
, 2
Correct Answer: C) A client whose urinary output was 100mL for the past 12 hrs
Rationale: The nurse should use the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and
prioritization frameworks. A urinary output of less than 30 mL/hr (which would be 360 mL
over 12 hours) indicates potential acute kidney injury or severe dehydration. 100 mL in 12
hours is a critical finding that requires immediate assessment and intervention to prevent
systemic complications.
Question 4
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about weight loss with a female older adult client who is
overweight. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching to
promote a healthy cardiovascular profile?
A) Eliminate all carbohydrates from the diet
B) Replace all protein with simple sugars
C) Keep fat intake to no more than 30% of daily caloric intake
D) Consume at least 4,000 calories per day to maintain energy
E) Avoid all physical activity to prevent joint strain
Correct Answer: C) keep fat intake to no more that 30% of daily caloric intake.
Rationale: Standard nutritional guidelines for weight loss and heart health recommend that
fat intake should not exceed 20% to 35% of total daily calories. This helps reduce the risk
of high cholesterol and coronary artery disease, which are significant concerns in the older
adult population.
Question 5
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has iron deficiency anemia. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect during the assessment?
A) Increased physical energy and stamina
B) Difficulty concentrating
C) Flushed, red skin and mucous membranes
D) Bradycardia and high blood pressure
E) Increased appetite for red meats
Correct Answer: B) difficulty concentrating
Rationale: Iron deficiency anemia results in reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pallor, and cognitive effects such as
difficulty concentrating or "brain fog" due to decreased oxygen delivery to the brain.
Question 6
A nurse is collecting data from an older adult client who is 48 hours postoperative following
abdominal surgery. The provider writes a prescription to advance the client to a regular diet. For
which of the following findings should the nurse notify the provider before advancing the diet?
A) The client reports being hungry
B) The client has not had a bowel movement yet
, 3
C) The client has absent bowel sounds
D) The client’s incision is intact with staples
E) The client is able to ambulate to the chair
Correct Answer: C) The client has absent bowel sounds
Rationale: After abdominal surgery, the return of bowel function (peristalsis) is essential
before resuming oral intake. Absent bowel sounds can indicate a paralytic ileus. Advancing
the diet before bowel sounds return could lead to nausea, vomiting, and further
complications.
Question 7
A parent brings her adolescent son to an urgent care center and states, "He is high on something
and needs help." The client is exhibiting agitation, paranoia, and reports visual hallucinations.
The nurse should suspect intoxication with which of the following substances?
A) Heroin
B) Methamphetamines
C) Alcohol
D) Phenobarbital
E) Alprazolam
Correct Answer: B) Methamphetamines
Rationale: Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. Intoxication
typically manifests as increased physical activity, agitation, paranoia, dilated pupils, and
hallucinations. Opioids like heroin or benzodiazepines like alprazolam would typically
cause sedation or respiratory depression.
Question 8
A nurse notices an assistive personnel (AP) taking a nap in the break room during their mealtime.
The AP later appears drowsy while performing routine tasks. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A) Tell the AP to go home immediately
B) Ignore the behavior if the tasks are getting done
C) Report the observations about the AP to the unit's nurse manager
D) Give the AP a cup of strong coffee
E) Assign the AP to a different set of patients
Correct Answer: C) Report the observations about the ap to the unit's nurse manager.
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. If a teammate appears impaired or unable to safely
perform their duties due to drowsiness or other factors, the nurse must follow the
professional chain of command and report the concern to the supervisor for appropriate
management.
Question 9
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a fluid volume deficit about selecting foods
, 4
that have a high water content. The nurse should include that which of the following raw foods
contains the highest amount of water per 1 cup serving?
A) Whole wheat bread
B) Hard-boiled eggs
C) Cherry tomatoes
D) Roasted almonds
E) Dried apricots
Correct Answer: C) cherry tomatoes
Rationale: Raw vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelon have
extremely high water content (often over 90%). Cherry tomatoes are an excellent dietary
choice to supplement fluid intake for a client with a deficit.
Question 10
The nurse is positioning a client who is scheduled for a lumbar puncture. The nurse should assist
the client into which of the following positions?
A) Prone with the head turned to the side
B) Supine with legs extended
C) Lateral recumbent
D) High-Fowler's position
E) Trendelenburg position
Correct Answer: C) lateral recumbent
Rationale: For a lumbar puncture, the client is usually placed in a lateral recumbent (side-
lying) position with the knees drawn up to the chest and the chin tucked. This arches the
back and widens the space between the vertebrae, allowing for easier insertion of the needle
into the subarachnoid space.
Question 11
A nurse is talking with a client whose son died in a motor-vehicle crash 2 weeks ago. The client
states, "I really thought I'd be back to my usual routines by now, but I can't think of anything else
except my son is gone." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A) "You should try to find a hobby to take your mind off things."
B) "Most people feel better after just one week."
C) "Grieving for your son is hard work. It will take as much time as you need to come to terms
with your loss."
D) "At least you have other children to focus on."
E) "I think you should speak to a psychiatrist about a prescription."
Correct Answer: C) Grieving for your son is hard work. It will take as much time as you
need to come to terms with your loss.
Rationale: This response uses the therapeutic communication technique of validation and
