1|Page
ATI CRITICAL THINKING EXAM 2025-2026 TEST BANK FOR
ATI PROCTORED EXAM COMPLETE 200 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS, ALREADY GRADED A+
Questions 1–20: Prioritization
1. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse see first?
A. A client reporting severe pain rated 9/10
B. A client with blood pressure of 86/50 mmHg
C. A client requesting discharge teaching about wound care
D. A client who needs assistance ambulating to the bathroom
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypotension (86/50) indicates poor perfusion and is life-
threatening (ABC: Circulation). Pain is important but not immediately life-
threatening. Teaching and ambulation can be delayed.
2. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with new-onset shortness of breath
B. A client scheduled for a dressing change
C. A client awaiting blood glucose monitoring
D. A client who reports chronic back pain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: New-onset shortness of breath indicates possible
airway/breathing compromise, making this the priority.
,2|Page
3. A nurse has received shift report. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with a blood glucose of 250 mg/dL
B. A client with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L
C. A client with a temperature of 100.2°F
D. A client with a hemoglobin of 11 g/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (K+ 2.8) can cause life-threatening arrhythmias.
Requires immediate intervention.
4. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which one requires immediate attention?
A. A client with an O₂ saturation of 84% on room air
B. A client who requests ice chips for a sore throat
C. A client awaiting routine lab results
D. A client reporting constipation for 2 days
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: O₂ sat <90% is critical; airway and oxygenation are always top
priority.
5. A nurse is prioritizing care for clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client
should the nurse assess first?
A. A client reporting chest pain radiating to the jaw
B. A client scheduled for morning lab draws
C. A client with an IV that has infiltrated
D. A client requesting a PRN stool softener
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chest pain radiating to jaw suggests myocardial infarction →
immediate intervention required.
,3|Page
6. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client condition is the highest priority?
A. A client with a urinary catheter and cloudy urine
B. A client with a respiratory rate of 8/min
C. A client with a stage II pressure ulcer
D. A client with blood glucose of 180 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Respiratory depression (RR 8) threatens oxygenation—life-
threatening.
7. Which of the following clients should the nurse evaluate first?
A. A client with severe anxiety before surgery
B. A client with a fever of 101.5°F
C. A client with audible inspiratory stridor
D. A client who needs a wound dressing change
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Stridor = airway obstruction, highest priority (ABC: Airway).
8. A nurse is caring for four clients. Who should the nurse see first?
A. A client with nausea and vomiting for 2 hours
B. A client with oxygen saturation of 89%
C. A client with a blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg
D. A client with a capillary blood glucose of 210 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxemia (SpO₂ <90%) is life-threatening. Other conditions
are important but not immediately emergent.
9. A nurse is caring for a client with COPD. Which assessment finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Oxygen saturation of 88% on 2L nasal cannula
, 4|Page
B. Respiratory rate of 28/min
C. Clubbing of the fingers
D. Barrel-shaped chest
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: O₂ sat <90% is critical, even for COPD patients. Clubbing and
barrel chest are chronic findings.
10. A nurse has four clients assigned. Who is the priority?
A. A client with a fractured femur reporting moderate pain
B. A client with asthma wheezing and O₂ sat of 82%
C. A client needing morning blood work drawn
D. A client requesting assistance with meals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asthma with hypoxia (O₂ sat 82%) is a respiratory emergency.
ABC priority.
11. A nurse is caring for a post-op client who reports sudden chest pain and
dyspnea. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Administer prescribed analgesics
B. Notify the healthcare provider
C. Elevate the head of the bed and apply oxygen
D. Check the surgical incision site
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Airway and breathing come first—apply O₂ and elevate HOB.
Then notify provider.
12. Which client should the nurse evaluate first?
A. A client with new confusion and restlessness
B. A client reporting pain level of 8/10
ATI CRITICAL THINKING EXAM 2025-2026 TEST BANK FOR
ATI PROCTORED EXAM COMPLETE 200 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS, ALREADY GRADED A+
Questions 1–20: Prioritization
1. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse see first?
A. A client reporting severe pain rated 9/10
B. A client with blood pressure of 86/50 mmHg
C. A client requesting discharge teaching about wound care
D. A client who needs assistance ambulating to the bathroom
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypotension (86/50) indicates poor perfusion and is life-
threatening (ABC: Circulation). Pain is important but not immediately life-
threatening. Teaching and ambulation can be delayed.
2. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with new-onset shortness of breath
B. A client scheduled for a dressing change
C. A client awaiting blood glucose monitoring
D. A client who reports chronic back pain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: New-onset shortness of breath indicates possible
airway/breathing compromise, making this the priority.
,2|Page
3. A nurse has received shift report. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with a blood glucose of 250 mg/dL
B. A client with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L
C. A client with a temperature of 100.2°F
D. A client with a hemoglobin of 11 g/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (K+ 2.8) can cause life-threatening arrhythmias.
Requires immediate intervention.
4. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which one requires immediate attention?
A. A client with an O₂ saturation of 84% on room air
B. A client who requests ice chips for a sore throat
C. A client awaiting routine lab results
D. A client reporting constipation for 2 days
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: O₂ sat <90% is critical; airway and oxygenation are always top
priority.
5. A nurse is prioritizing care for clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client
should the nurse assess first?
A. A client reporting chest pain radiating to the jaw
B. A client scheduled for morning lab draws
C. A client with an IV that has infiltrated
D. A client requesting a PRN stool softener
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chest pain radiating to jaw suggests myocardial infarction →
immediate intervention required.
,3|Page
6. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client condition is the highest priority?
A. A client with a urinary catheter and cloudy urine
B. A client with a respiratory rate of 8/min
C. A client with a stage II pressure ulcer
D. A client with blood glucose of 180 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Respiratory depression (RR 8) threatens oxygenation—life-
threatening.
7. Which of the following clients should the nurse evaluate first?
A. A client with severe anxiety before surgery
B. A client with a fever of 101.5°F
C. A client with audible inspiratory stridor
D. A client who needs a wound dressing change
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Stridor = airway obstruction, highest priority (ABC: Airway).
8. A nurse is caring for four clients. Who should the nurse see first?
A. A client with nausea and vomiting for 2 hours
B. A client with oxygen saturation of 89%
C. A client with a blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg
D. A client with a capillary blood glucose of 210 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxemia (SpO₂ <90%) is life-threatening. Other conditions
are important but not immediately emergent.
9. A nurse is caring for a client with COPD. Which assessment finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Oxygen saturation of 88% on 2L nasal cannula
, 4|Page
B. Respiratory rate of 28/min
C. Clubbing of the fingers
D. Barrel-shaped chest
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: O₂ sat <90% is critical, even for COPD patients. Clubbing and
barrel chest are chronic findings.
10. A nurse has four clients assigned. Who is the priority?
A. A client with a fractured femur reporting moderate pain
B. A client with asthma wheezing and O₂ sat of 82%
C. A client needing morning blood work drawn
D. A client requesting assistance with meals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asthma with hypoxia (O₂ sat 82%) is a respiratory emergency.
ABC priority.
11. A nurse is caring for a post-op client who reports sudden chest pain and
dyspnea. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Administer prescribed analgesics
B. Notify the healthcare provider
C. Elevate the head of the bed and apply oxygen
D. Check the surgical incision site
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Airway and breathing come first—apply O₂ and elevate HOB.
Then notify provider.
12. Which client should the nurse evaluate first?
A. A client with new confusion and restlessness
B. A client reporting pain level of 8/10
