ATI Fundamentals of Nursing Practice Exam — 70 Multiple Choice
Questions with Answers for NCLEX Success
ATI Nursing Fundamentals Study Guide | Nurse Entrance Test Prep | RN & LPN Exam Practice
Instructions: Select the best answer for each question. The correct answer is marked in bold with a ✔symbol.
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a nasogastric tube for enteral feedings. Which action should the nurse
take first before administering a tube feeding?
A. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water
B. ✔Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
C. Elevate the head of the bed to 90 degrees
D. Warm the formula to room temperature
2. A nurse is preparing to administer medications through a patient's nasogastric tube. Which medication is safe
to crush and administer through the tube?
A. Enteric-coated aspirin
B. Extended-release metoprolol
C. ✔Immediate-release acetaminophen
D. Sublingual nitroglycerin
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin turgor. Which finding indicates dehydration?
A. Skin snaps back immediately when pinched
B. ✔Skin remains tented after pinching
C. Skin appears shiny and taut
D. Skin feels warm and moist
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a urinary catheter. Which action best prevents catheter-associated urinary
tract infections (CAUTIs)?
A. Irrigate the catheter every 8 hours with normal saline
B. Keep the drainage bag above the level of the bladder
C. ✔Maintain a closed drainage system and secure the catheter to the thigh
D. Change the catheter every 72 hours
5. A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene. According to the CDC, when is it appropriate to use an alcohol-
based hand rub instead of soap and water?
A. After caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
B. ✔Before and after routine patient contact when hands are not visibly soiled
C. After exposure to blood or body fluids
D. After removing gloves contaminated with feces
6. A patient tells the nurse, 'I don't want to take my blood pressure medication anymore.' What is the nurse's
best first response?
A. Inform the physician immediately and document the refusal
B. ✔Ask the patient to explain their reasons for refusing the medication
C. Tell the patient that the medication is necessary for their health
D. Administer the medication with the patient's food to ensure compliance
7. A nurse is caring for a patient who is confused and attempting to climb out of bed. Which intervention should
the nurse implement first?
A. Apply a vest restraint to prevent the patient from falling
, B. Administer a PRN sedative as prescribed
C. ✔Reorient the patient and remove environmental hazards
D. Request a sitter to stay at the bedside
8. A nurse is reviewing a patient's medication orders and notices a dose that appears too high. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Administer the medication and monitor for adverse effects
B. Refuse to give the medication and document refusal
C. ✔Contact the prescribing provider to clarify the order
D. Check a drug reference for the standard dose range
9. A nurse is performing a focused assessment on a patient with left-sided heart failure. Which finding is
expected?
A. Peripheral edema in the lower extremities
B. ✔Crackles in the lung bases
C. Distended jugular veins
D. Hepatomegaly
10. A nurse is educating a patient about the proper technique for using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) without a
spacer. In which order should the patient perform these steps? (Select the FIRST step)
A. Inhale slowly and deeply while pressing down on the inhaler
B. ✔Shake the inhaler for 5 seconds
C. Exhale completely before placing the inhaler in the mouth
D. Hold breath for 10 seconds after inhalation
11. A nurse is preparing to insert a peripheral IV catheter. Which vein should the nurse select first?
A. Antecubital fossa vein
B. Dorsal hand vein
C. ✔Distal forearm vein
D. Femoral vein
12. A patient is prescribed 250 mg of amoxicillin oral suspension, available as 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer?
A. 5 mL
B. ✔10 mL
C. 2.5 mL
D. 7.5 mL
13. A nurse is caring for a patient on contact precautions. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is
required when entering the patient's room?
A. Gloves only
B. ✔Gloves and gown
C. Gloves, gown, and N95 respirator
D. Gloves, gown, and surgical mask
14. A nurse is assessing a patient's respiratory rate. Which finding should the nurse report to the physician
immediately?
A. Respiratory rate of 14 breaths per minute
B. Respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute
C. ✔Respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute
D. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
Questions with Answers for NCLEX Success
ATI Nursing Fundamentals Study Guide | Nurse Entrance Test Prep | RN & LPN Exam Practice
Instructions: Select the best answer for each question. The correct answer is marked in bold with a ✔symbol.
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a nasogastric tube for enteral feedings. Which action should the nurse
take first before administering a tube feeding?
A. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water
B. ✔Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
C. Elevate the head of the bed to 90 degrees
D. Warm the formula to room temperature
2. A nurse is preparing to administer medications through a patient's nasogastric tube. Which medication is safe
to crush and administer through the tube?
A. Enteric-coated aspirin
B. Extended-release metoprolol
C. ✔Immediate-release acetaminophen
D. Sublingual nitroglycerin
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin turgor. Which finding indicates dehydration?
A. Skin snaps back immediately when pinched
B. ✔Skin remains tented after pinching
C. Skin appears shiny and taut
D. Skin feels warm and moist
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a urinary catheter. Which action best prevents catheter-associated urinary
tract infections (CAUTIs)?
A. Irrigate the catheter every 8 hours with normal saline
B. Keep the drainage bag above the level of the bladder
C. ✔Maintain a closed drainage system and secure the catheter to the thigh
D. Change the catheter every 72 hours
5. A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene. According to the CDC, when is it appropriate to use an alcohol-
based hand rub instead of soap and water?
A. After caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
B. ✔Before and after routine patient contact when hands are not visibly soiled
C. After exposure to blood or body fluids
D. After removing gloves contaminated with feces
6. A patient tells the nurse, 'I don't want to take my blood pressure medication anymore.' What is the nurse's
best first response?
A. Inform the physician immediately and document the refusal
B. ✔Ask the patient to explain their reasons for refusing the medication
C. Tell the patient that the medication is necessary for their health
D. Administer the medication with the patient's food to ensure compliance
7. A nurse is caring for a patient who is confused and attempting to climb out of bed. Which intervention should
the nurse implement first?
A. Apply a vest restraint to prevent the patient from falling
, B. Administer a PRN sedative as prescribed
C. ✔Reorient the patient and remove environmental hazards
D. Request a sitter to stay at the bedside
8. A nurse is reviewing a patient's medication orders and notices a dose that appears too high. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Administer the medication and monitor for adverse effects
B. Refuse to give the medication and document refusal
C. ✔Contact the prescribing provider to clarify the order
D. Check a drug reference for the standard dose range
9. A nurse is performing a focused assessment on a patient with left-sided heart failure. Which finding is
expected?
A. Peripheral edema in the lower extremities
B. ✔Crackles in the lung bases
C. Distended jugular veins
D. Hepatomegaly
10. A nurse is educating a patient about the proper technique for using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) without a
spacer. In which order should the patient perform these steps? (Select the FIRST step)
A. Inhale slowly and deeply while pressing down on the inhaler
B. ✔Shake the inhaler for 5 seconds
C. Exhale completely before placing the inhaler in the mouth
D. Hold breath for 10 seconds after inhalation
11. A nurse is preparing to insert a peripheral IV catheter. Which vein should the nurse select first?
A. Antecubital fossa vein
B. Dorsal hand vein
C. ✔Distal forearm vein
D. Femoral vein
12. A patient is prescribed 250 mg of amoxicillin oral suspension, available as 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer?
A. 5 mL
B. ✔10 mL
C. 2.5 mL
D. 7.5 mL
13. A nurse is caring for a patient on contact precautions. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is
required when entering the patient's room?
A. Gloves only
B. ✔Gloves and gown
C. Gloves, gown, and N95 respirator
D. Gloves, gown, and surgical mask
14. A nurse is assessing a patient's respiratory rate. Which finding should the nurse report to the physician
immediately?
A. Respiratory rate of 14 breaths per minute
B. Respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute
C. ✔Respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute
D. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
