ATI Nutrition RN Exam 2026/2027 |
Comprehensive Practice Questions &
Verified Answers Study Guide
ATI NUTRITION RN EXAM 2026/2027 Comprehensive Practice Questions &
Verified Answers
• This 200-question study guide mirrors the ATI Nutrition RN exam format with five-
option questions, verified correct answers, and EXPERT RATIONALE — ideal for
active recall, timed practice, or last-minute review.
• Use each question to test yourself first, check the bolded correct answer, then
reinforce understanding with the EXPERT RATIONALE before moving to the next
question.
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's nutritional status. Which laboratory value is
the BEST indicator of long-term protein nutritional status?
A. Prealbumin
B. Transferrin
C. C-reactive protein
D. Hemoglobin
E. Albumin
✓ Correct Answer: E. Albumin
EXPERT RATIONALE: Albumin has a half-life of approximately 20 days, making it
the best indicator of chronic, long-term protein nutritional status. Prealbumin, with
a half-life of only 2–3 days, reflects short-term changes.
2. A nurse calculates a patient's BMI as 17.5 kg/m². Which classification does
this fall under?
,A. Normal weight
B. Overweight
C. Obese
D. Morbidly obese
E. Underweight
✓ Correct Answer: E. Underweight
EXPERT RATIONALE: A BMI below 18.5 kg/m² is classified as underweight. Normal
weight is 18.5–24.9, overweight is 25–29.9, obese is 30–39.9, and morbidly obese is
≥40.
3. Which anthropometric measurement is used to assess central obesity and
cardiovascular risk?
A. Tricep skinfold thickness
B. Mid-upper arm circumference
C. Body mass index
D. Hip-to-height ratio
E. Waist circumference
✓ Correct Answer: E. Waist circumference
EXPERT RATIONALE: Waist circumference is the primary anthropometric measure
for assessing central (abdominal) obesity and associated cardiovascular risk. Values
>88 cm in women and >102 cm in men indicate high risk.
4. A nurse is reviewing a patient's labs. Which value is the BEST short-term
indicator of protein status?
A. Albumin
B. Hemoglobin
,C. Total cholesterol
D. BUN
E. Prealbumin
✓ Correct Answer: E. Prealbumin
EXPERT RATIONALE: Prealbumin (transthyretin) has a half-life of approximately 2–
3 days, making it the best short-term indicator of protein nutritional status and
response to nutritional therapy.
5. Which tool is commonly used by nurses to screen for malnutrition risk in
hospitalized adults?
A. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)
B. 24-hour dietary recall
C. Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) assessment
D. Anthropometric measurement only
E. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
✓ Correct Answer: E. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
EXPERT RATIONALE: MUST is a validated, evidence-based screening tool used to
identify adults at risk for malnutrition in hospital and community settings. It
assesses BMI, unplanned weight loss, and acute disease effect.
6. A nurse notes that a patient has lost 10% of body weight over 6 months
without intentional effort. How should the nurse interpret this?
A. Expected normal weight fluctuation
B. Mild malnutrition
C. Indicator of fluid overload
D. Result of increased muscle mass
, E. Significant and clinically concerning weight loss
✓ Correct Answer: E. Significant and clinically concerning weight loss
EXPERT RATIONALE: Unintentional weight loss of ≥10% over 6 months is clinically
significant, associated with malnutrition, muscle wasting, immune dysfunction, and
increased mortality risk.
7. Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a 24-hour dietary
recall?
A. To assess long-term dietary patterns
B. To measure the caloric density of foods
C. To evaluate food safety practices
D. To identify food allergies
E. To estimate nutrient intake over a single day
✓ Correct Answer: E. To estimate nutrient intake over a single day
EXPERT RATIONALE: A 24-hour dietary recall is a retrospective method in which
the patient reports all foods and beverages consumed in the past 24 hours,
providing a snapshot of intake. It may not reflect the patient's usual diet.
8. Which laboratory finding would indicate iron deficiency anemia in a
nutritional assessment?
A. Elevated serum ferritin
B. Elevated hematocrit
C. Increased transferrin saturation
D. Normal hemoglobin
E. Decreased mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
✓ Correct Answer: E. Decreased mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
Comprehensive Practice Questions &
Verified Answers Study Guide
ATI NUTRITION RN EXAM 2026/2027 Comprehensive Practice Questions &
Verified Answers
• This 200-question study guide mirrors the ATI Nutrition RN exam format with five-
option questions, verified correct answers, and EXPERT RATIONALE — ideal for
active recall, timed practice, or last-minute review.
• Use each question to test yourself first, check the bolded correct answer, then
reinforce understanding with the EXPERT RATIONALE before moving to the next
question.
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's nutritional status. Which laboratory value is
the BEST indicator of long-term protein nutritional status?
A. Prealbumin
B. Transferrin
C. C-reactive protein
D. Hemoglobin
E. Albumin
✓ Correct Answer: E. Albumin
EXPERT RATIONALE: Albumin has a half-life of approximately 20 days, making it
the best indicator of chronic, long-term protein nutritional status. Prealbumin, with
a half-life of only 2–3 days, reflects short-term changes.
2. A nurse calculates a patient's BMI as 17.5 kg/m². Which classification does
this fall under?
,A. Normal weight
B. Overweight
C. Obese
D. Morbidly obese
E. Underweight
✓ Correct Answer: E. Underweight
EXPERT RATIONALE: A BMI below 18.5 kg/m² is classified as underweight. Normal
weight is 18.5–24.9, overweight is 25–29.9, obese is 30–39.9, and morbidly obese is
≥40.
3. Which anthropometric measurement is used to assess central obesity and
cardiovascular risk?
A. Tricep skinfold thickness
B. Mid-upper arm circumference
C. Body mass index
D. Hip-to-height ratio
E. Waist circumference
✓ Correct Answer: E. Waist circumference
EXPERT RATIONALE: Waist circumference is the primary anthropometric measure
for assessing central (abdominal) obesity and associated cardiovascular risk. Values
>88 cm in women and >102 cm in men indicate high risk.
4. A nurse is reviewing a patient's labs. Which value is the BEST short-term
indicator of protein status?
A. Albumin
B. Hemoglobin
,C. Total cholesterol
D. BUN
E. Prealbumin
✓ Correct Answer: E. Prealbumin
EXPERT RATIONALE: Prealbumin (transthyretin) has a half-life of approximately 2–
3 days, making it the best short-term indicator of protein nutritional status and
response to nutritional therapy.
5. Which tool is commonly used by nurses to screen for malnutrition risk in
hospitalized adults?
A. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)
B. 24-hour dietary recall
C. Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) assessment
D. Anthropometric measurement only
E. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
✓ Correct Answer: E. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
EXPERT RATIONALE: MUST is a validated, evidence-based screening tool used to
identify adults at risk for malnutrition in hospital and community settings. It
assesses BMI, unplanned weight loss, and acute disease effect.
6. A nurse notes that a patient has lost 10% of body weight over 6 months
without intentional effort. How should the nurse interpret this?
A. Expected normal weight fluctuation
B. Mild malnutrition
C. Indicator of fluid overload
D. Result of increased muscle mass
, E. Significant and clinically concerning weight loss
✓ Correct Answer: E. Significant and clinically concerning weight loss
EXPERT RATIONALE: Unintentional weight loss of ≥10% over 6 months is clinically
significant, associated with malnutrition, muscle wasting, immune dysfunction, and
increased mortality risk.
7. Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a 24-hour dietary
recall?
A. To assess long-term dietary patterns
B. To measure the caloric density of foods
C. To evaluate food safety practices
D. To identify food allergies
E. To estimate nutrient intake over a single day
✓ Correct Answer: E. To estimate nutrient intake over a single day
EXPERT RATIONALE: A 24-hour dietary recall is a retrospective method in which
the patient reports all foods and beverages consumed in the past 24 hours,
providing a snapshot of intake. It may not reflect the patient's usual diet.
8. Which laboratory finding would indicate iron deficiency anemia in a
nutritional assessment?
A. Elevated serum ferritin
B. Elevated hematocrit
C. Increased transferrin saturation
D. Normal hemoglobin
E. Decreased mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
✓ Correct Answer: E. Decreased mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
