ATI Engage Fundamentals PN
Elimination Assessment 2.0 Exam
Review Guide + Correct Answers
2026/2027
1. A nurse is collecting data from a client. Which of the
following findings indicates normal bowel elimination?
A) Hard, dry stools every 3 days
B) Soft, formed brown stool every day
C) Liquid stool every 2 hours
D) Clay-colored stool once a week
Correct Answer: B – Soft, formed brown stool daily is normal.
Rationale: Normal stool is brown, soft, formed, and passed
regularly (daily to 3×/week). Hard/dry (A) indicates constipation.
Liquid (C) indicates diarrhea. Clay-colored (D) suggests biliary
obstruction.
2. A nurse is assessing a client’s urinary output. Which of the
following is the expected 24-hour urine output for an adult?
A) 200–400 mL
B) 500–600 mL
C) 800–2000 mL
D) 3000–4000 mL
Correct Answer: C – 800–2000 mL/24 hr (approx. 30–80 mL/hr).
Rationale: Normal adult output is 1–2 L/day. Less than 400
mL/24hr is oliguria; less than 100 mL is anuria.
,3. A nurse is teaching about factors that increase the risk for
constipation. Which should be included?
A) High-fiber diet
B) Regular exercise
C) Opioid pain medication
D) Drinking 2 L of water daily
Correct Answer: C – Opioids slow peristalsis.
Rationale: Opioids, anticholinergics, and calcium channel blockers
cause constipation. High fiber, exercise, and hydration prevent it.
4. A client reports leaking urine when sneezing. The nurse
should identify this as which type of incontinence?
A) Urge
B) Stress
C) Overflow
D) Functional
Correct Answer: B – Stress incontinence.
Rationale: Stress incontinence occurs with increased intra-
abdominal pressure (coughing, sneezing, laughing). Urge is
sudden strong need; overflow is constant dribbling; functional is
due to physical/cognitive barriers.
5. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about bowel retraining.
Which intervention is appropriate?
A) Encourage defecation at various times each day
B) Instruct client to ignore the urge to defecate
C) Provide a bedside commode at the same time daily
D) Restrict fluids to reduce stool volume
,Correct Answer: C – Consistent timing (e.g., 30 min after
breakfast) uses gastrocolic reflex.
Rationale: Bowel retraining involves scheduled toileting, usually
after meals, to promote regularity. Ignoring urge (B) worsens
constipation.
6. A nurse is collecting a clean-catch midstream urine
specimen. Which action is correct?
A) Collect the first 10 mL of urine
B) Clean the meatus from back to front
C) Start voiding, then collect specimen midstream
D) Pour urine from the bedpan into the sterile cup
Correct Answer: C – Midstream collection avoids contamination.
Rationale: Clean front to back (B wrong). Discard initial stream,
collect middle, then finish. Bedpan urine (D) is contaminated.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy. Which
stool consistency is expected for a descending colostomy?
A) Liquid
B) Semiliquid
C) Semi-formed to formed
D) Watery with mucus
Correct Answer: C – Descending colostomy produces more
formed stool.
Rationale: More distal colostomy = more water absorption.
Ascending = liquid; transverse = semiliquid; descending/sigmoid
= formed.
, 8. A nurse is applying a condom catheter. Which step is
essential to prevent injury?
A) Shave pubic hair completely
B) Leave a gap of 1–2 inches at tip of penis
C) Use adhesive tape around the base tightly
D) Change every 7 days
Correct Answer: B – Leave space to prevent pressure and tissue
injury.
Rationale: Condom catheters are rolled onto penis; ensure
adhesive strip is not too tight and tip is not compressed. Change
daily.
9. A nurse is checking for bladder distention. Which finding
suggests urinary retention?
A) Suprapubic dullness to percussion
B) Tympany over the bladder
C) Absent urge to void
D) Output 400 mL each void
Correct Answer: A – Dullness indicates fluid-filled bladder.
Rationale: A distended bladder is palpable and percussed as dull.
Tympany (B) is gas. Retention causes low output, not 400 mL (D).
10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about dietary fiber. Which
food is highest in soluble fiber?
A) Oatmeal
B) Celery
C) Wheat bran
D) Popcorn
Elimination Assessment 2.0 Exam
Review Guide + Correct Answers
2026/2027
1. A nurse is collecting data from a client. Which of the
following findings indicates normal bowel elimination?
A) Hard, dry stools every 3 days
B) Soft, formed brown stool every day
C) Liquid stool every 2 hours
D) Clay-colored stool once a week
Correct Answer: B – Soft, formed brown stool daily is normal.
Rationale: Normal stool is brown, soft, formed, and passed
regularly (daily to 3×/week). Hard/dry (A) indicates constipation.
Liquid (C) indicates diarrhea. Clay-colored (D) suggests biliary
obstruction.
2. A nurse is assessing a client’s urinary output. Which of the
following is the expected 24-hour urine output for an adult?
A) 200–400 mL
B) 500–600 mL
C) 800–2000 mL
D) 3000–4000 mL
Correct Answer: C – 800–2000 mL/24 hr (approx. 30–80 mL/hr).
Rationale: Normal adult output is 1–2 L/day. Less than 400
mL/24hr is oliguria; less than 100 mL is anuria.
,3. A nurse is teaching about factors that increase the risk for
constipation. Which should be included?
A) High-fiber diet
B) Regular exercise
C) Opioid pain medication
D) Drinking 2 L of water daily
Correct Answer: C – Opioids slow peristalsis.
Rationale: Opioids, anticholinergics, and calcium channel blockers
cause constipation. High fiber, exercise, and hydration prevent it.
4. A client reports leaking urine when sneezing. The nurse
should identify this as which type of incontinence?
A) Urge
B) Stress
C) Overflow
D) Functional
Correct Answer: B – Stress incontinence.
Rationale: Stress incontinence occurs with increased intra-
abdominal pressure (coughing, sneezing, laughing). Urge is
sudden strong need; overflow is constant dribbling; functional is
due to physical/cognitive barriers.
5. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about bowel retraining.
Which intervention is appropriate?
A) Encourage defecation at various times each day
B) Instruct client to ignore the urge to defecate
C) Provide a bedside commode at the same time daily
D) Restrict fluids to reduce stool volume
,Correct Answer: C – Consistent timing (e.g., 30 min after
breakfast) uses gastrocolic reflex.
Rationale: Bowel retraining involves scheduled toileting, usually
after meals, to promote regularity. Ignoring urge (B) worsens
constipation.
6. A nurse is collecting a clean-catch midstream urine
specimen. Which action is correct?
A) Collect the first 10 mL of urine
B) Clean the meatus from back to front
C) Start voiding, then collect specimen midstream
D) Pour urine from the bedpan into the sterile cup
Correct Answer: C – Midstream collection avoids contamination.
Rationale: Clean front to back (B wrong). Discard initial stream,
collect middle, then finish. Bedpan urine (D) is contaminated.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy. Which
stool consistency is expected for a descending colostomy?
A) Liquid
B) Semiliquid
C) Semi-formed to formed
D) Watery with mucus
Correct Answer: C – Descending colostomy produces more
formed stool.
Rationale: More distal colostomy = more water absorption.
Ascending = liquid; transverse = semiliquid; descending/sigmoid
= formed.
, 8. A nurse is applying a condom catheter. Which step is
essential to prevent injury?
A) Shave pubic hair completely
B) Leave a gap of 1–2 inches at tip of penis
C) Use adhesive tape around the base tightly
D) Change every 7 days
Correct Answer: B – Leave space to prevent pressure and tissue
injury.
Rationale: Condom catheters are rolled onto penis; ensure
adhesive strip is not too tight and tip is not compressed. Change
daily.
9. A nurse is checking for bladder distention. Which finding
suggests urinary retention?
A) Suprapubic dullness to percussion
B) Tympany over the bladder
C) Absent urge to void
D) Output 400 mL each void
Correct Answer: A – Dullness indicates fluid-filled bladder.
Rationale: A distended bladder is palpable and percussed as dull.
Tympany (B) is gas. Retention causes low output, not 400 mL (D).
10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about dietary fiber. Which
food is highest in soluble fiber?
A) Oatmeal
B) Celery
C) Wheat bran
D) Popcorn
