ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor 2026: Complete Practice
Exam with Rationales
ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026
PRACTICE SET QUESTIONS
Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–20: Fundamentals & Basic Care
1. A nurse is assessing a client's oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry. Which
factor can cause a falsely low reading?
• A. Bright nail polish (especially blue, green, black)
• B. Warm hands
• C. Adequate perfusion
• D. Normal hemoglobin
Answer: A
Rationale: Bright nail polish (especially blue, green, black) can cause falsely low
SpO2 readings. Remove polish or place probe sideways. Cold hands (not warm, B)
also cause false lows.
2. A nurse is providing post-mortem care before family viewing. Which action is
appropriate?
• A. Remove all tubes and lines
• B. Place the body in a flat supine position
• C. Close the eyes and place dentures in the mouth
,ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
• D. Label the body only after family leaves
Answer: C
Rationale: Close eyes (moisten cotton balls if needed), insert dentures to maintain
facial shape. Tubes may be left in place for family viewing (A). Elevate head to
prevent discoloration (B). Label the body before family leaves (D).
3. A nurse is caring for a client with a foley catheter . Which action is correct when
obtaining a urine specimen?
• A. Collect urine from the drainage bag
• B. Clamp the tubing, cleanse the port, and aspirate with a sterile syringe
• C. Disconnect the catheter from the drainage tubing
• D. Use the same port for multiple collections without cleaning
Answer: B
Rationale: Use the catheter port (not drainage bag, A). Clamp tubing below the
port, cleanse with alcohol, aspirate with sterile syringe. Do not disconnect (C) —
breaks closed system. Clean port before each use (D).
4. A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client undergoing a total knee
replacement . Which statement indicates understanding?
A. "I will stop taking my blood pressure medication before surgery"
• B. "I will not eat or drink anything after midnight"
• C. "I will tell the provider about any herbs or supplements I take"
• D. "I can smoke right up until surgery"
Answer: C
Rationale: Herbs and supplements (garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, St. John's wort, vitamin
E) increase bleeding risk. NPO guidelines vary; "nothing after midnight" (B) is
,ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
outdated for some surgeries. Do not stop BP meds without instruction (A). No
smoking (D) — impairs healing.
5. A nurse is assessing a client's skin turgor . Which site is most accurate for an
older adult?
• A. Back of the hand
• B. Forehead
• C. Clavicle or sternum
• D. Lower leg
Answer: C
Rationale: Skin turgor is most accurately assessed over the clavicle or sternum in
older adults (skin on hands loses elasticity with age). The back of the hand (A) is
less reliable due to age-related changes.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy . The stoma is dark purple
and dry. What should the nurse do?
• A. Document as a normal finding
• B. Apply a moisturizing ointment
• C. Notify the provider immediately (possible ischemia/necrosis)
• D. Gently massage the stoma
Answer: C
Rationale: A dark purple/black stoma indicates ischemia or necrosis — a surgical
emergency. Normal stoma is pink/red and moist. Notify provider immediately.
7. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client after a stroke with leftsided
weakness. Which statement indicates understanding?
, ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
• A. "I will dress my left side first when getting dressed"
• B. "I will dress my right side first when getting dressed"
• C. "I will use a walker on my left side"
• D. "I will avoid using a cane"
Answer: A
Rationale: Dress the affected side first (then unaffected side) when dressing.
Remove clothing from unaffected side first. Walker/cane (C) should be used on
the unaffected (strong) side. Use assistive devices as needed (D).
8. A nurse is caring for a client with a new permanent pacemaker . Which finding
requires immediate action?
• A. Heart rate of 72 bpm
• B. Hiccups (may indicate lead irritation of the diaphragm)
• C. Small amount of bruising at the insertion site
• D. Pain at the insertion site
Answer: B
Rationale: Hiccups after pacemaker placement may indicate lead perforation or
diaphragmatic stimulation. Notify provider. Bruising (C) and pain (D) are expected.
HR 72 (A) is normal.
9. A nurse is providing postoperative care after a thyroidectomy . Which finding
requires immediate action?
A. Complaint of pain rated 5/10
• B. Hoarse voice
• C. Stridor (high-pitched breathing sound)
• D. Nausea
ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor 2026: Complete Practice
Exam with Rationales
ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026
PRACTICE SET QUESTIONS
Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–20: Fundamentals & Basic Care
1. A nurse is assessing a client's oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry. Which
factor can cause a falsely low reading?
• A. Bright nail polish (especially blue, green, black)
• B. Warm hands
• C. Adequate perfusion
• D. Normal hemoglobin
Answer: A
Rationale: Bright nail polish (especially blue, green, black) can cause falsely low
SpO2 readings. Remove polish or place probe sideways. Cold hands (not warm, B)
also cause false lows.
2. A nurse is providing post-mortem care before family viewing. Which action is
appropriate?
• A. Remove all tubes and lines
• B. Place the body in a flat supine position
• C. Close the eyes and place dentures in the mouth
,ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
• D. Label the body only after family leaves
Answer: C
Rationale: Close eyes (moisten cotton balls if needed), insert dentures to maintain
facial shape. Tubes may be left in place for family viewing (A). Elevate head to
prevent discoloration (B). Label the body before family leaves (D).
3. A nurse is caring for a client with a foley catheter . Which action is correct when
obtaining a urine specimen?
• A. Collect urine from the drainage bag
• B. Clamp the tubing, cleanse the port, and aspirate with a sterile syringe
• C. Disconnect the catheter from the drainage tubing
• D. Use the same port for multiple collections without cleaning
Answer: B
Rationale: Use the catheter port (not drainage bag, A). Clamp tubing below the
port, cleanse with alcohol, aspirate with sterile syringe. Do not disconnect (C) —
breaks closed system. Clean port before each use (D).
4. A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client undergoing a total knee
replacement . Which statement indicates understanding?
A. "I will stop taking my blood pressure medication before surgery"
• B. "I will not eat or drink anything after midnight"
• C. "I will tell the provider about any herbs or supplements I take"
• D. "I can smoke right up until surgery"
Answer: C
Rationale: Herbs and supplements (garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, St. John's wort, vitamin
E) increase bleeding risk. NPO guidelines vary; "nothing after midnight" (B) is
,ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
outdated for some surgeries. Do not stop BP meds without instruction (A). No
smoking (D) — impairs healing.
5. A nurse is assessing a client's skin turgor . Which site is most accurate for an
older adult?
• A. Back of the hand
• B. Forehead
• C. Clavicle or sternum
• D. Lower leg
Answer: C
Rationale: Skin turgor is most accurately assessed over the clavicle or sternum in
older adults (skin on hands loses elasticity with age). The back of the hand (A) is
less reliable due to age-related changes.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy . The stoma is dark purple
and dry. What should the nurse do?
• A. Document as a normal finding
• B. Apply a moisturizing ointment
• C. Notify the provider immediately (possible ischemia/necrosis)
• D. Gently massage the stoma
Answer: C
Rationale: A dark purple/black stoma indicates ischemia or necrosis — a surgical
emergency. Normal stoma is pink/red and moist. Notify provider immediately.
7. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client after a stroke with leftsided
weakness. Which statement indicates understanding?
, ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2026: COMPLETE PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES
• A. "I will dress my left side first when getting dressed"
• B. "I will dress my right side first when getting dressed"
• C. "I will use a walker on my left side"
• D. "I will avoid using a cane"
Answer: A
Rationale: Dress the affected side first (then unaffected side) when dressing.
Remove clothing from unaffected side first. Walker/cane (C) should be used on
the unaffected (strong) side. Use assistive devices as needed (D).
8. A nurse is caring for a client with a new permanent pacemaker . Which finding
requires immediate action?
• A. Heart rate of 72 bpm
• B. Hiccups (may indicate lead irritation of the diaphragm)
• C. Small amount of bruising at the insertion site
• D. Pain at the insertion site
Answer: B
Rationale: Hiccups after pacemaker placement may indicate lead perforation or
diaphragmatic stimulation. Notify provider. Bruising (C) and pain (D) are expected.
HR 72 (A) is normal.
9. A nurse is providing postoperative care after a thyroidectomy . Which finding
requires immediate action?
A. Complaint of pain rated 5/10
• B. Hoarse voice
• C. Stridor (high-pitched breathing sound)
• D. Nausea
