1|Page
ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2025/2026 160
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED RATIONAILE,100%
CORRECT, ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure.
Which finding should make the nurse withhold the medication?
A. Apical pulse 58/min
B. Serum potassium 4.1 mEq/L
C. Blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg
D. Respiratory rate 18/min
Answer: A. Apical pulse 58/min
Rationale: Digoxin should be withheld if apical pulse is <60/min due to risk of
severe bradycardia. Potassium within normal range reduces risk of toxicity.
2. A client receiving chemotherapy reports oral mucositis. Which nursing
action is appropriate?
A. Rinse mouth with alcohol-based mouthwash
B. Provide oral care with normal saline solution
C. Offer hot fluids frequently
D. Brush teeth with a firm-bristled toothbrush
Answer: B. Provide oral care with normal saline solution
Rationale: Normal saline prevents irritation. Alcohol-based rinses, hot fluids, and
firm bristles worsen mucosal damage.
,2|Page
3. A nurse is caring for a client on warfarin therapy. Which lab value should
the nurse monitor?
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: B. INR
Rationale: INR is used to monitor warfarin. aPTT is for heparin. Platelets and Hgb
monitor bleeding risk but do not guide dosing.
4. A nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client with a new prescription for
furosemide. Which statement shows understanding?
A. “I should eat more bananas and oranges.”
B. “I will limit my fluid intake.”
C. “I will take this medication at bedtime.”
D. “This medication may cause me to gain weight.”
Answer: A. “I should eat more bananas and oranges.”
Rationale: Furosemide causes potassium loss; foods high in potassium prevent
hypokalemia.
5. A nurse is assessing a client with COPD. Which finding indicates effective
oxygen therapy?
A. O2 sat 90%
B. O2 sat 97%
C. RR 10/min
D. Barrel chest
Answer: A. O2 sat 90%
Rationale: For COPD, acceptable O2 saturation is 88–92%. Higher may suppress
respiratory drive.
,3|Page
6. A nurse is preparing to administer blood. What is the priority before
starting the infusion?
A. Obtain baseline vital signs
B. Start an 18-gauge IV line
C. Prime tubing with normal saline
D. Verify client identity with another nurse
Answer: D. Verify client identity with another nurse
Rationale: The most critical action is to confirm the correct client to prevent fatal
errors.
7. A client with diabetes is shaky, sweaty, and confused. Blood glucose is 50
mg/dL. Which action is priority?
A. Administer IV insulin
B. Give 4 oz of orange juice
C. Notify provider
D. Check urine for ketones
Answer: B. Give 4 oz of orange juice
Rationale: Immediate treatment of hypoglycemia is rapid-acting carbohydrate.
8. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with tuberculosis. Which
instruction is correct?
A. “You should wear a mask in public places.”
B. “You may stop taking your medications when you feel better.”
C. “Your family no longer needs to be tested for TB.”
D. “You may return to work immediately after discharge.”
Answer: A. “You should wear a mask in public places.”
Rationale: Clients with TB must use respiratory precautions and continue meds
for full duration.
, 4|Page
9. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female
client. Which action maintains sterile technique?
A. Place catheter on bed before insertion
B. Clean perineal area from back to front
C. Apply sterile gloves before opening catheter kit
D. Maintain sterile field throughout procedure
Answer: D. Maintain sterile field throughout procedure
Rationale: Strict sterile technique prevents infection. Cleaning must be front to
back.
10. A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The water seal chamber
shows continuous bubbling. What does this indicate?
A. Normal function
B. Air leak
C. Chest tube obstruction
D. Need for suction adjustment
Answer: B. Air leak
Rationale: Continuous bubbling = air leak. Intermittent bubbling is expected with
pneumothorax.
11. A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices telling them to harm
others. What should the nurse do first?
A. Ask what the voices are saying
B. Tell the client the voices are not real
C. Place client in seclusion
D. Notify provider immediately
Answer: A. Ask what the voices are saying
Rationale: Assess risk for harm first. Safety assessment precedes interventions.
ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2025/2026 160
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED RATIONAILE,100%
CORRECT, ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure.
Which finding should make the nurse withhold the medication?
A. Apical pulse 58/min
B. Serum potassium 4.1 mEq/L
C. Blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg
D. Respiratory rate 18/min
Answer: A. Apical pulse 58/min
Rationale: Digoxin should be withheld if apical pulse is <60/min due to risk of
severe bradycardia. Potassium within normal range reduces risk of toxicity.
2. A client receiving chemotherapy reports oral mucositis. Which nursing
action is appropriate?
A. Rinse mouth with alcohol-based mouthwash
B. Provide oral care with normal saline solution
C. Offer hot fluids frequently
D. Brush teeth with a firm-bristled toothbrush
Answer: B. Provide oral care with normal saline solution
Rationale: Normal saline prevents irritation. Alcohol-based rinses, hot fluids, and
firm bristles worsen mucosal damage.
,2|Page
3. A nurse is caring for a client on warfarin therapy. Which lab value should
the nurse monitor?
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: B. INR
Rationale: INR is used to monitor warfarin. aPTT is for heparin. Platelets and Hgb
monitor bleeding risk but do not guide dosing.
4. A nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client with a new prescription for
furosemide. Which statement shows understanding?
A. “I should eat more bananas and oranges.”
B. “I will limit my fluid intake.”
C. “I will take this medication at bedtime.”
D. “This medication may cause me to gain weight.”
Answer: A. “I should eat more bananas and oranges.”
Rationale: Furosemide causes potassium loss; foods high in potassium prevent
hypokalemia.
5. A nurse is assessing a client with COPD. Which finding indicates effective
oxygen therapy?
A. O2 sat 90%
B. O2 sat 97%
C. RR 10/min
D. Barrel chest
Answer: A. O2 sat 90%
Rationale: For COPD, acceptable O2 saturation is 88–92%. Higher may suppress
respiratory drive.
,3|Page
6. A nurse is preparing to administer blood. What is the priority before
starting the infusion?
A. Obtain baseline vital signs
B. Start an 18-gauge IV line
C. Prime tubing with normal saline
D. Verify client identity with another nurse
Answer: D. Verify client identity with another nurse
Rationale: The most critical action is to confirm the correct client to prevent fatal
errors.
7. A client with diabetes is shaky, sweaty, and confused. Blood glucose is 50
mg/dL. Which action is priority?
A. Administer IV insulin
B. Give 4 oz of orange juice
C. Notify provider
D. Check urine for ketones
Answer: B. Give 4 oz of orange juice
Rationale: Immediate treatment of hypoglycemia is rapid-acting carbohydrate.
8. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with tuberculosis. Which
instruction is correct?
A. “You should wear a mask in public places.”
B. “You may stop taking your medications when you feel better.”
C. “Your family no longer needs to be tested for TB.”
D. “You may return to work immediately after discharge.”
Answer: A. “You should wear a mask in public places.”
Rationale: Clients with TB must use respiratory precautions and continue meds
for full duration.
, 4|Page
9. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female
client. Which action maintains sterile technique?
A. Place catheter on bed before insertion
B. Clean perineal area from back to front
C. Apply sterile gloves before opening catheter kit
D. Maintain sterile field throughout procedure
Answer: D. Maintain sterile field throughout procedure
Rationale: Strict sterile technique prevents infection. Cleaning must be front to
back.
10. A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The water seal chamber
shows continuous bubbling. What does this indicate?
A. Normal function
B. Air leak
C. Chest tube obstruction
D. Need for suction adjustment
Answer: B. Air leak
Rationale: Continuous bubbling = air leak. Intermittent bubbling is expected with
pneumothorax.
11. A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices telling them to harm
others. What should the nurse do first?
A. Ask what the voices are saying
B. Tell the client the voices are not real
C. Place client in seclusion
D. Notify provider immediately
Answer: A. Ask what the voices are saying
Rationale: Assess risk for harm first. Safety assessment precedes interventions.
