ATI Fundamentals Retake 2026 Exam Prep
NURSING FOUNDATIONS & THE
NURSING PROCESS : QUESTIONS
AND RATIONALES/GRADED A+
UPDATE 100% CORRECT
Q1. A nurse is explaining the nursing process to a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements correctly describes an aspect of the nursing process?
A. The nursing process is a linear, one-time process that ends with implementation.
B. Assessment is performed only at the beginning of the nurse–client relationship.
C. The nursing process requires critical thinking and is constantly evolving.
D. Evaluation is the first step of the nursing process.
Correct Answer: C. The nursing process requires critical thinking and is
constantly evolving.
Rationale: The nursing process is an organizational framework that demands critical
thinking and is ongoing—assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation are continually revisited as the client’s condition changes. It is not static
nor strictly linear.
Q2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hr postoperative following an inguinal
hernia repair. The client is tolerating clear liquids well, has active bowel sounds, and
,is expressing a desire for “real food.” The nurse used which of the following levels of
critical thinking?
A. Basic critical thinking
B. Complex critical thinking
C. Commitment
D. Scientific method
Correct Answer: C. Commitment
Rationale: Commitment is the level of critical thinking in which the nurse anticipates
the need to make choices without assistance from others and assumes responsibility
for those choices. In this scenario, the nurse synthesizes assessment data to decide
on advancing the client’s diet.
Q3. A nurse is documenting in a client’s medical record. Which of the following
entries is most appropriate?
A. “Oral temperature slightly elevated at 0800”
B. “Administered pain medication”
C. “Incision without redness or drainage”
D. “Drank adequate amounts of fluid with meals”
Correct Answer: B. “Administered pain medication”
Rationale: Documentation should be objective, specific, and factual. Administering
pain medication is an objective action that should be recorded, including the time,
medication, dose, route, and client response. Vague descriptors such as “slightly
elevated” or “adequate amounts” are ambiguous and should be avoided.
Q4. A nurse asks a client to explain the statement, “A bird in the hand is worth two in
the bush.” Through this question, the nurse is evaluating which type of intellectual
function?
A. Judgment
B. Short-term memory
C. Attention span
D. Abstract reasoning
,Correct Answer: D. Abstract reasoning
Rationale: Asking a client to interpret a proverb evaluates higher-level thinking and
the ability to understand abstract concepts, which is a component of abstract
reasoning. Judgment is assessed by asking what decisions the client would make in a
specific situation; memory is assessed by recall of past information; attention span is
assessed by tasks such as counting backwards.
Q5. A nurse is planning to collect a stool specimen for ova and parasites from a
client who has diarrhea. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Instruct the client to defecate into the toilet bowl.
B. Transfer the specimen to a sterile container.
C. Refrigerate the collected specimen.
D. Place the stool specimen collection container in a biohazard bag.
Correct Answer: D. Place the stool specimen collection container in a biohazard
bag.
Rationale: The specimen container should be placed in a biohazard bag with the
client label on both the container and the bag for easy identification and to prevent
contamination with microorganisms. The client should defecate into a bedpan or
container, not the toilet (toilet water can dilute and contaminate the specimen). The
specimen should be sent immediately to the lab, not refrigerated.
Q6. A nurse is performing a health history on a client. Which question is most
appropriate for obtaining information about the client’s health perception?
A. “How do you typically manage stress?”
B. “Can you describe your daily meal pattern?”
C. “What do you believe caused your current illness?”
D. “How many hours of sleep do you get each night?”
Correct Answer: C. “What do you believe caused your current illness?”
Rationale: Health perception includes the client’s beliefs about their health and what
causes illness. Asking about perceived causes addresses the client’s understanding
and health beliefs directly.
, Q7. A nurse is evaluating a client’s understanding of their newly diagnosed diabetes.
Which client statement indicates correct understanding of the teaching?
A. “I will only check my blood sugar when I feel unwell.”
B. “I will take my insulin whenever my blood sugar feels high.”
C. “I will rotate my insulin injection sites to prevent tissue changes.”
D. “I can stop checking my feet once my blood sugar is under control.”
Correct Answer: C. “I will rotate my insulin injection sites to prevent tissue
changes.”
Rationale: Rotating insulin injection sites helps prevent lipodystrophy (changes in
subcutaneous tissue) and promotes consistent insulin absorption.
Q8. A nurse is assessing a client’s peripheral pulses. The nurse notes that the pulse is
easily palpable but can be obliterated with pressure. How should the nurse
document this finding?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 3+
D. 4+
Correct Answer: B. 2+
Rationale: Pulse amplitude is graded on a 0–4 scale: 0 = absent; 1+ = weak, difficult
to palpate; 2+ = normal, easily palpable but can be obliterated with pressure; 3+ =
full, increased; 4+ = bounding.
Q9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension. The nurse
plans to check the client’s blood pressure every 4 hours. This is an example of which
step of the nursing process?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
NURSING FOUNDATIONS & THE
NURSING PROCESS : QUESTIONS
AND RATIONALES/GRADED A+
UPDATE 100% CORRECT
Q1. A nurse is explaining the nursing process to a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements correctly describes an aspect of the nursing process?
A. The nursing process is a linear, one-time process that ends with implementation.
B. Assessment is performed only at the beginning of the nurse–client relationship.
C. The nursing process requires critical thinking and is constantly evolving.
D. Evaluation is the first step of the nursing process.
Correct Answer: C. The nursing process requires critical thinking and is
constantly evolving.
Rationale: The nursing process is an organizational framework that demands critical
thinking and is ongoing—assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation are continually revisited as the client’s condition changes. It is not static
nor strictly linear.
Q2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hr postoperative following an inguinal
hernia repair. The client is tolerating clear liquids well, has active bowel sounds, and
,is expressing a desire for “real food.” The nurse used which of the following levels of
critical thinking?
A. Basic critical thinking
B. Complex critical thinking
C. Commitment
D. Scientific method
Correct Answer: C. Commitment
Rationale: Commitment is the level of critical thinking in which the nurse anticipates
the need to make choices without assistance from others and assumes responsibility
for those choices. In this scenario, the nurse synthesizes assessment data to decide
on advancing the client’s diet.
Q3. A nurse is documenting in a client’s medical record. Which of the following
entries is most appropriate?
A. “Oral temperature slightly elevated at 0800”
B. “Administered pain medication”
C. “Incision without redness or drainage”
D. “Drank adequate amounts of fluid with meals”
Correct Answer: B. “Administered pain medication”
Rationale: Documentation should be objective, specific, and factual. Administering
pain medication is an objective action that should be recorded, including the time,
medication, dose, route, and client response. Vague descriptors such as “slightly
elevated” or “adequate amounts” are ambiguous and should be avoided.
Q4. A nurse asks a client to explain the statement, “A bird in the hand is worth two in
the bush.” Through this question, the nurse is evaluating which type of intellectual
function?
A. Judgment
B. Short-term memory
C. Attention span
D. Abstract reasoning
,Correct Answer: D. Abstract reasoning
Rationale: Asking a client to interpret a proverb evaluates higher-level thinking and
the ability to understand abstract concepts, which is a component of abstract
reasoning. Judgment is assessed by asking what decisions the client would make in a
specific situation; memory is assessed by recall of past information; attention span is
assessed by tasks such as counting backwards.
Q5. A nurse is planning to collect a stool specimen for ova and parasites from a
client who has diarrhea. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Instruct the client to defecate into the toilet bowl.
B. Transfer the specimen to a sterile container.
C. Refrigerate the collected specimen.
D. Place the stool specimen collection container in a biohazard bag.
Correct Answer: D. Place the stool specimen collection container in a biohazard
bag.
Rationale: The specimen container should be placed in a biohazard bag with the
client label on both the container and the bag for easy identification and to prevent
contamination with microorganisms. The client should defecate into a bedpan or
container, not the toilet (toilet water can dilute and contaminate the specimen). The
specimen should be sent immediately to the lab, not refrigerated.
Q6. A nurse is performing a health history on a client. Which question is most
appropriate for obtaining information about the client’s health perception?
A. “How do you typically manage stress?”
B. “Can you describe your daily meal pattern?”
C. “What do you believe caused your current illness?”
D. “How many hours of sleep do you get each night?”
Correct Answer: C. “What do you believe caused your current illness?”
Rationale: Health perception includes the client’s beliefs about their health and what
causes illness. Asking about perceived causes addresses the client’s understanding
and health beliefs directly.
, Q7. A nurse is evaluating a client’s understanding of their newly diagnosed diabetes.
Which client statement indicates correct understanding of the teaching?
A. “I will only check my blood sugar when I feel unwell.”
B. “I will take my insulin whenever my blood sugar feels high.”
C. “I will rotate my insulin injection sites to prevent tissue changes.”
D. “I can stop checking my feet once my blood sugar is under control.”
Correct Answer: C. “I will rotate my insulin injection sites to prevent tissue
changes.”
Rationale: Rotating insulin injection sites helps prevent lipodystrophy (changes in
subcutaneous tissue) and promotes consistent insulin absorption.
Q8. A nurse is assessing a client’s peripheral pulses. The nurse notes that the pulse is
easily palpable but can be obliterated with pressure. How should the nurse
document this finding?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 3+
D. 4+
Correct Answer: B. 2+
Rationale: Pulse amplitude is graded on a 0–4 scale: 0 = absent; 1+ = weak, difficult
to palpate; 2+ = normal, easily palpable but can be obliterated with pressure; 3+ =
full, increased; 4+ = bounding.
Q9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension. The nurse
plans to check the client’s blood pressure every 4 hours. This is an example of which
step of the nursing process?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
