ATI FUNDAMENTALS QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026 –
2027 .
A nurse is assisting a client who has right-sided weakness while ambulating using a cane.
Which of the following client actions should indicate to the nurse that the client understands
the procedure of cane walking?
A. The client holds the cane on the affected side.
B. The client advances the unaffected leg followed by the cane.
C. The client supports this weight on the unaffected leg when moving the cane forward.
D. The client keeps 2 points of support on the ground. - Correct Answer -D. The client keeps
2 points of support on the ground.
When ambulating with a cane, the client should keep 2 points of support on the ground at all
times.
A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is washing her hands prior to assisting with a surgical
procedure. Which of the following actions by the nurse demonstrates proper surgical
handwashing technique?
A. The nurse washes each part of her hands with 5 strokes.
B. The nurse washes from the elbows down to her hands.
C. The nurse holds her hands higher than her elbows while washing.
D. The nurse uses minimal friction when washing her hands. - Correct Answer -C. The nurse
holds her hands higher than her elbows while washing.
The nurse who is performing a surgical handwashing technique should wash while holding
her hands higher than the elbows so that water and soapsuds can drain away from the clean
area toward the dirty area.
1
,A nurse is supervising a newly licensed nurse who is suctioning a client's tracheostomy.
Which of the following actions by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
procedure?
A. Using clean technique to perform the procedure.
B. Applying suction while inserting the catheter.
C. Lubricating the suction catheter with an oil-based lubricating jelly.
D. Administering high-flow oxygen prior to the procedure. - Correct Answer -D.
Administrating high-flow oxygen prior to the procedure.
The nurse should instruct the newly licensed nurse to administer 3 to 4 breaths of 100%
oxygen via a resuscitation bag before suctioning to the client to reduce risk of hypoxia.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client about a surgical procedure that she is scheduled for
later in the day. The client states that no one has spoken to her about the procedure before.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Continue the teaching, but check afterward with the surgeon about informed consent.
B. Stop the teaching and check with the surgeon about informed consent.
C. Stop the teaching and ask the client to sign an informed consent form.
D. Continue the teaching and check with the client's medical record afterward for a signed
consent form. - Correct Answer -B. Stop the teaching and check with the surgeon about
informed consent.
The client's statement indicates that she has not given informed consent; therefore, the nurse
should interrupt the teaching and notify the surgeon.
A nurse manager is providing teaching to a group of newly licensed nurses about ways that
clients acquire health care-associated infections (HAIs). Which of the following routes of
infection should the manager identify as an iatrogenic HAI?
A. Infection acquired from improper hand hygiene.
B. Infection acquired by drug resistance.
C. Infection acquired by inappropriate waste disposal.
2
,D. Infection acquired from a diagnostic procedure. - Correct Answer -D. Infection acquired
from a diagnostic procedure.
Iatrogenic HAIs directly result from diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
A charge nurse is providing teaching to a newly licensed nurse about removing sutures from
a client's laceration. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates
an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will use a staple remover and remove each suture individually."
B. "Bandage scissors are used to cut the sutures."
C. "Tweezers are necessary only for removing retention sutures."
D. "I will clip each suture close to the skin and pull it through from the other side." - Correct
Answer -D. "I will clip each suture close to the skin and pull it through from the other side."
Clipping close to the skin and pulling the suture from the other side does not disrupt the
wound-healing process.
A nurse is assessing a client. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an
indication of protein-calorie malnourishment? (Select All That Apply)
A. Gingivitis
B. Dry, brittle hair
C. Edema
D. Spoon-shaped nails
E. Poor wound healing - Correct Answer -B. Dry, brittle hair
C. Edema
E. Poor wound healing
Dry, brittle hair that falls out easily suggests inadequate protein intake and malnutrition.
Edema can occur when albumin levels are lower than the expected reference range and
indicates protein-calorie malnutrition. Adequate wound healing depends on the ingestion of
sufficient protein, calories, water, vitamins (especially C and A), iron and zinc.
3
, A nurse is preparing to irrigate a client's wound. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Use a 10 mL syringe
B. Attach a 22-gauge catheter to the syringe
C. Warm the irrigating the solution to 37°C (98.6°F)
D. Administer an analgesic 10 min before the irrigation - Correct Answer -C. Warm the
irrigating the solution to 37°C (98.6°F)
The nurse should prepare 200 mL of irrigating solution and warm it to body temperature to
minimize discomfort and vascular constriction.
A charge nurse is observing a newly licensed nurse perform tracheostomy care for a client.
Which of the following actions by the newly licensed nurse requires intervention?
A. Obtaining hydrogen peroxide for tracheostomy care
B. Obtaining cotton balls for tracheostomy care
C. Obtaining sterile gloves for tracheostomy care
D. Obtaining a sterile brush for tracheostomy care - Correct Answer -B. Obtaining cotton
balls for tracheostomy care
Cotton ball particles can be aspirated into the tracheostomy opening, possibly causing a
tracheal abscess. The charge nurse should intervene for this action.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a cuffed endotracheal tube in place. The nurse should
identify that the purpose of inflating the cuff includes which of the following? (Select All
That Apply)
A. Allowing the client to speak
B. Stabilizing the position of the tube
C. Preventing aspiration of secretions
D. Preventing air leaks
E. Preventing tracheal injury - Correct Answer -B. Stabilizing the position of the tube
4
AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026 –
2027 .
A nurse is assisting a client who has right-sided weakness while ambulating using a cane.
Which of the following client actions should indicate to the nurse that the client understands
the procedure of cane walking?
A. The client holds the cane on the affected side.
B. The client advances the unaffected leg followed by the cane.
C. The client supports this weight on the unaffected leg when moving the cane forward.
D. The client keeps 2 points of support on the ground. - Correct Answer -D. The client keeps
2 points of support on the ground.
When ambulating with a cane, the client should keep 2 points of support on the ground at all
times.
A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is washing her hands prior to assisting with a surgical
procedure. Which of the following actions by the nurse demonstrates proper surgical
handwashing technique?
A. The nurse washes each part of her hands with 5 strokes.
B. The nurse washes from the elbows down to her hands.
C. The nurse holds her hands higher than her elbows while washing.
D. The nurse uses minimal friction when washing her hands. - Correct Answer -C. The nurse
holds her hands higher than her elbows while washing.
The nurse who is performing a surgical handwashing technique should wash while holding
her hands higher than the elbows so that water and soapsuds can drain away from the clean
area toward the dirty area.
1
,A nurse is supervising a newly licensed nurse who is suctioning a client's tracheostomy.
Which of the following actions by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
procedure?
A. Using clean technique to perform the procedure.
B. Applying suction while inserting the catheter.
C. Lubricating the suction catheter with an oil-based lubricating jelly.
D. Administering high-flow oxygen prior to the procedure. - Correct Answer -D.
Administrating high-flow oxygen prior to the procedure.
The nurse should instruct the newly licensed nurse to administer 3 to 4 breaths of 100%
oxygen via a resuscitation bag before suctioning to the client to reduce risk of hypoxia.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client about a surgical procedure that she is scheduled for
later in the day. The client states that no one has spoken to her about the procedure before.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Continue the teaching, but check afterward with the surgeon about informed consent.
B. Stop the teaching and check with the surgeon about informed consent.
C. Stop the teaching and ask the client to sign an informed consent form.
D. Continue the teaching and check with the client's medical record afterward for a signed
consent form. - Correct Answer -B. Stop the teaching and check with the surgeon about
informed consent.
The client's statement indicates that she has not given informed consent; therefore, the nurse
should interrupt the teaching and notify the surgeon.
A nurse manager is providing teaching to a group of newly licensed nurses about ways that
clients acquire health care-associated infections (HAIs). Which of the following routes of
infection should the manager identify as an iatrogenic HAI?
A. Infection acquired from improper hand hygiene.
B. Infection acquired by drug resistance.
C. Infection acquired by inappropriate waste disposal.
2
,D. Infection acquired from a diagnostic procedure. - Correct Answer -D. Infection acquired
from a diagnostic procedure.
Iatrogenic HAIs directly result from diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
A charge nurse is providing teaching to a newly licensed nurse about removing sutures from
a client's laceration. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates
an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will use a staple remover and remove each suture individually."
B. "Bandage scissors are used to cut the sutures."
C. "Tweezers are necessary only for removing retention sutures."
D. "I will clip each suture close to the skin and pull it through from the other side." - Correct
Answer -D. "I will clip each suture close to the skin and pull it through from the other side."
Clipping close to the skin and pulling the suture from the other side does not disrupt the
wound-healing process.
A nurse is assessing a client. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an
indication of protein-calorie malnourishment? (Select All That Apply)
A. Gingivitis
B. Dry, brittle hair
C. Edema
D. Spoon-shaped nails
E. Poor wound healing - Correct Answer -B. Dry, brittle hair
C. Edema
E. Poor wound healing
Dry, brittle hair that falls out easily suggests inadequate protein intake and malnutrition.
Edema can occur when albumin levels are lower than the expected reference range and
indicates protein-calorie malnutrition. Adequate wound healing depends on the ingestion of
sufficient protein, calories, water, vitamins (especially C and A), iron and zinc.
3
, A nurse is preparing to irrigate a client's wound. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Use a 10 mL syringe
B. Attach a 22-gauge catheter to the syringe
C. Warm the irrigating the solution to 37°C (98.6°F)
D. Administer an analgesic 10 min before the irrigation - Correct Answer -C. Warm the
irrigating the solution to 37°C (98.6°F)
The nurse should prepare 200 mL of irrigating solution and warm it to body temperature to
minimize discomfort and vascular constriction.
A charge nurse is observing a newly licensed nurse perform tracheostomy care for a client.
Which of the following actions by the newly licensed nurse requires intervention?
A. Obtaining hydrogen peroxide for tracheostomy care
B. Obtaining cotton balls for tracheostomy care
C. Obtaining sterile gloves for tracheostomy care
D. Obtaining a sterile brush for tracheostomy care - Correct Answer -B. Obtaining cotton
balls for tracheostomy care
Cotton ball particles can be aspirated into the tracheostomy opening, possibly causing a
tracheal abscess. The charge nurse should intervene for this action.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a cuffed endotracheal tube in place. The nurse should
identify that the purpose of inflating the cuff includes which of the following? (Select All
That Apply)
A. Allowing the client to speak
B. Stabilizing the position of the tube
C. Preventing aspiration of secretions
D. Preventing air leaks
E. Preventing tracheal injury - Correct Answer -B. Stabilizing the position of the tube
4
