ATI Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Nursing
Exam | Complete Practice Questions with
Verified Solutions & Updated Review Guide
• This practice exam contains 200 comprehensive ATI Predictor-style questions
designed to simulate the real exam experience, complete with verified correct
answers and detailed EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce your understanding.
• Use this material by attempting each question independently before checking the
correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE — this active recall method strengthens
retention and prepares you for exam-day performance.
QUESTION 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with hypertensive crisis.
Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate
administering?
A. Metformin
B. Atenolol
C. Furosemide
D. Nitroprusside
E. Warfarin
D. Nitroprusside
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nitroprusside is a rapid-acting vasodilator used in hypertensive
emergencies to quickly lower blood pressure. It acts on arterial and venous smooth
muscle to reduce both preload and afterload.
QUESTION 2
A nurse is assessing a client with left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Peripheral edema
,B. Ascites
C. Jugular vein distension
D. Pulmonary crackles
E. Hepatomegaly
D. Pulmonary crackles
EXPERT RATIONALE: Left-sided heart failure causes fluid to back up into the pulmonary
circulation, resulting in pulmonary congestion. This produces crackles (rales) on
auscultation due to fluid in the alveoli.
QUESTION 3
A nurse is teaching a client about warfarin therapy. Which of the following
foods should the client be instructed to limit?
A. Oranges
B. Bananas
C. Spinach
D. Apples
E. Grapes
C. Spinach
EXPERT RATIONALE: Spinach is high in vitamin K, which directly antagonizes the
anticoagulant effect of warfarin. Clients on warfarin should maintain a consistent intake
of vitamin K-rich foods rather than drastically increasing or decreasing consumption.
QUESTION 4
A nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Which
laboratory finding should the nurse anticipate?
A. Decreased serum creatinine
,B. Decreased BUN
C. Increased serum potassium
D. Decreased serum phosphorus
E. Increased serum sodium
C. Increased serum potassium
EXPERT RATIONALE: In CKD, the kidneys lose the ability to excrete potassium, leading to
hyperkalemia. This is a potentially life-threatening complication requiring close
monitoring and dietary restriction.
QUESTION 5
A nurse is preparing to administer an IM injection to an adult client. Which
site is most appropriate for a large-volume injection?
A. Deltoid
B. Dorsogluteal
C. Ventrogluteal
D. Vastus lateralis
E. Rectus femoris
C. Ventrogluteal
EXPERT RATIONALE: The ventrogluteal site is the preferred site for IM injections in adults
because it is free from major nerves and blood vessels, has a large muscle mass, and is
suitable for large-volume injections.
QUESTION 6
A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 minute after birth. The newborn has a heart
rate of 96 bpm, slow irregular respirations, grimaces with stimulation, some
, flexion of extremities, and a pink body with blue extremities. What is the
APGAR score?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 8
B. 5
EXPERT RATIONALE: HR below 100 = 1, slow irregular respirations = 1, grimace = 1,
some flexion = 1, pink body/blue extremities (acrocyanosis) = 1. Total = 5. An APGAR of
4–6 indicates moderate depression.
QUESTION 7
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy.
Which of the following findings is the priority assessment?
A. Pain at incision site
B. Nausea and vomiting
C. Stridor
D. Low-grade fever
E. Serosanguineous drainage
C. Stridor
EXPERT RATIONALE: Stridor following thyroidectomy indicates laryngeal edema or
damage to the parathyroid glands causing hypocalcemia leading to laryngospasm. This
is a life-threatening airway emergency requiring immediate intervention.
QUESTION 8
Exam | Complete Practice Questions with
Verified Solutions & Updated Review Guide
• This practice exam contains 200 comprehensive ATI Predictor-style questions
designed to simulate the real exam experience, complete with verified correct
answers and detailed EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce your understanding.
• Use this material by attempting each question independently before checking the
correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE — this active recall method strengthens
retention and prepares you for exam-day performance.
QUESTION 1
A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with hypertensive crisis.
Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate
administering?
A. Metformin
B. Atenolol
C. Furosemide
D. Nitroprusside
E. Warfarin
D. Nitroprusside
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nitroprusside is a rapid-acting vasodilator used in hypertensive
emergencies to quickly lower blood pressure. It acts on arterial and venous smooth
muscle to reduce both preload and afterload.
QUESTION 2
A nurse is assessing a client with left-sided heart failure. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Peripheral edema
,B. Ascites
C. Jugular vein distension
D. Pulmonary crackles
E. Hepatomegaly
D. Pulmonary crackles
EXPERT RATIONALE: Left-sided heart failure causes fluid to back up into the pulmonary
circulation, resulting in pulmonary congestion. This produces crackles (rales) on
auscultation due to fluid in the alveoli.
QUESTION 3
A nurse is teaching a client about warfarin therapy. Which of the following
foods should the client be instructed to limit?
A. Oranges
B. Bananas
C. Spinach
D. Apples
E. Grapes
C. Spinach
EXPERT RATIONALE: Spinach is high in vitamin K, which directly antagonizes the
anticoagulant effect of warfarin. Clients on warfarin should maintain a consistent intake
of vitamin K-rich foods rather than drastically increasing or decreasing consumption.
QUESTION 4
A nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Which
laboratory finding should the nurse anticipate?
A. Decreased serum creatinine
,B. Decreased BUN
C. Increased serum potassium
D. Decreased serum phosphorus
E. Increased serum sodium
C. Increased serum potassium
EXPERT RATIONALE: In CKD, the kidneys lose the ability to excrete potassium, leading to
hyperkalemia. This is a potentially life-threatening complication requiring close
monitoring and dietary restriction.
QUESTION 5
A nurse is preparing to administer an IM injection to an adult client. Which
site is most appropriate for a large-volume injection?
A. Deltoid
B. Dorsogluteal
C. Ventrogluteal
D. Vastus lateralis
E. Rectus femoris
C. Ventrogluteal
EXPERT RATIONALE: The ventrogluteal site is the preferred site for IM injections in adults
because it is free from major nerves and blood vessels, has a large muscle mass, and is
suitable for large-volume injections.
QUESTION 6
A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 minute after birth. The newborn has a heart
rate of 96 bpm, slow irregular respirations, grimaces with stimulation, some
, flexion of extremities, and a pink body with blue extremities. What is the
APGAR score?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 8
B. 5
EXPERT RATIONALE: HR below 100 = 1, slow irregular respirations = 1, grimace = 1,
some flexion = 1, pink body/blue extremities (acrocyanosis) = 1. Total = 5. An APGAR of
4–6 indicates moderate depression.
QUESTION 7
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy.
Which of the following findings is the priority assessment?
A. Pain at incision site
B. Nausea and vomiting
C. Stridor
D. Low-grade fever
E. Serosanguineous drainage
C. Stridor
EXPERT RATIONALE: Stridor following thyroidectomy indicates laryngeal edema or
damage to the parathyroid glands causing hypocalcemia leading to laryngospasm. This
is a life-threatening airway emergency requiring immediate intervention.
QUESTION 8
