ATI FUNDAMENTALS
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 –
GRADED A+ VERSION :
QUESTIONS AND
RATIONALES/GRADED A+
UPDATE 100% CORRECT
Latest 2026 Practice Test for Nursing Students
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female patient.
Which of the following actions is most important to reduce the risk of infection?
A. Use a large-gauge catheter to ensure adequate drainage.
B. Apply sterile gloves before opening the catheter kit.
C. Maintain sterile technique throughout the procedure.
D. Secure the catheter to the patient’s thigh with tape.
Rationale: Maintaining sterile technique is the single most important measure to
prevent introducing pathogens into the urinary tract, reducing the risk of catheter-
associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Using a large-gauge catheter can cause
trauma; sterile gloves are applied after opening the kit; securing the catheter
prevents movement but does not directly reduce infection risk.
,Question 2
A nurse is assessing a patient’s blood pressure using a manual cuff. The patient
reports a history of “white coat hypertension.” Which action should the nurse take?
A. Use a larger cuff to obtain a more accurate reading.
B. Take the blood pressure after the patient has rested quietly for 5 minutes.
C. Immediately notify the provider of the elevated reading.
D. Avoid measuring blood pressure during future visits.
Rationale: White coat hypertension is an elevated BP due to anxiety in clinical
settings. Having the patient rest quietly for 5 minutes helps reduce stress and obtain
a more accurate baseline reading. Larger cuff is for obese arms; notifying provider is
premature; avoiding measurement is inappropriate.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a patient on fall precautions. Which intervention is the highest
priority?
A. Place the call light within reach.
B. Keep the bed in the lowest position with side rails up as per protocol.
C. Apply a yellow fall risk wristband.
D. Encourage the patient to use the bathroom independently.
Rationale: Keeping the bed low reduces injury height if the patient falls; side rails
may be used cautiously. The highest priority is environmental safety to prevent falls.
Call light and wristband are important but secondary. Encouraging independent
bathroom use without supervision increases fall risk.
,Question 4
A patient with an indwelling catheter complains of bladder spasms. The nurse notes
that the urine output has decreased and the catheter appears to be draining poorly.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Irrigate the catheter with 30 mL of sterile saline.
B. Check for kinks or dependent loops in the tubing.
C. Increase the patient’s oral fluid intake.
D. Administer prescribed antispasmodic medication.
Rationale: Poor drainage is often due to mechanical obstruction (kinks, loops).
Checking and correcting tubing position is the first step. Irrigation requires an order
and may increase infection risk; increasing fluids helps but won’t relieve obstruction;
medication treats spasm but not the underlying drainage issue.
Question 5
A nurse is providing teaching about home wound care to a patient who has a
pressure injury. Which statement by the patient indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. “I will apply hydrogen peroxide to the wound twice a day.”
B. “I will keep the wound open to air for several hours each day.”
C. “I will clean the wound with normal saline and cover it with a sterile
dressing.”
D. “I will use a heating pad to increase blood flow to the wound.”
Rationale: Normal saline is isotonic and non-cytotoxic, ideal for cleaning. Sterile
dressing maintains a moist, clean environment. Hydrogen peroxide damages
granulation tissue; open air dries wounds, impairing healing; heat can cause burns
and increase bacterial growth.
, Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin. Which site
is most appropriate?
A. Deltoid muscle
B. Abdomen (anterolateral or posterolateral aspect)
C. Ventrogluteal area
D. Inner forearm
Rationale: Enoxaparin (low-molecular-weight heparin) is best absorbed from the
abdominal subcutaneous tissue, which has consistent fat distribution. Deltoid and
ventrogluteal are IM sites; inner forearm is used for intradermal injections.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a patient’s peripheral IV site. Which finding indicates phlebitis?
A. Blanching at the insertion site
B. Redness, warmth, and a palpable venous cord
C. Pitting edema distal to the IV
D. Clear, serous drainage from the site
Rationale: Phlebitis is inflammation of the vein, presenting with redness, warmth,
swelling, and a palpable cord-like vein. Blanching suggests infiltration; edema may
indicate infiltration or fluid overload; serous drainage could be infection or
infiltration.
Question 8
A patient with a history of heart failure exhibits dyspnea, crackles in lung bases, and
jugular venous distension. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 –
GRADED A+ VERSION :
QUESTIONS AND
RATIONALES/GRADED A+
UPDATE 100% CORRECT
Latest 2026 Practice Test for Nursing Students
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female patient.
Which of the following actions is most important to reduce the risk of infection?
A. Use a large-gauge catheter to ensure adequate drainage.
B. Apply sterile gloves before opening the catheter kit.
C. Maintain sterile technique throughout the procedure.
D. Secure the catheter to the patient’s thigh with tape.
Rationale: Maintaining sterile technique is the single most important measure to
prevent introducing pathogens into the urinary tract, reducing the risk of catheter-
associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Using a large-gauge catheter can cause
trauma; sterile gloves are applied after opening the kit; securing the catheter
prevents movement but does not directly reduce infection risk.
,Question 2
A nurse is assessing a patient’s blood pressure using a manual cuff. The patient
reports a history of “white coat hypertension.” Which action should the nurse take?
A. Use a larger cuff to obtain a more accurate reading.
B. Take the blood pressure after the patient has rested quietly for 5 minutes.
C. Immediately notify the provider of the elevated reading.
D. Avoid measuring blood pressure during future visits.
Rationale: White coat hypertension is an elevated BP due to anxiety in clinical
settings. Having the patient rest quietly for 5 minutes helps reduce stress and obtain
a more accurate baseline reading. Larger cuff is for obese arms; notifying provider is
premature; avoiding measurement is inappropriate.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a patient on fall precautions. Which intervention is the highest
priority?
A. Place the call light within reach.
B. Keep the bed in the lowest position with side rails up as per protocol.
C. Apply a yellow fall risk wristband.
D. Encourage the patient to use the bathroom independently.
Rationale: Keeping the bed low reduces injury height if the patient falls; side rails
may be used cautiously. The highest priority is environmental safety to prevent falls.
Call light and wristband are important but secondary. Encouraging independent
bathroom use without supervision increases fall risk.
,Question 4
A patient with an indwelling catheter complains of bladder spasms. The nurse notes
that the urine output has decreased and the catheter appears to be draining poorly.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Irrigate the catheter with 30 mL of sterile saline.
B. Check for kinks or dependent loops in the tubing.
C. Increase the patient’s oral fluid intake.
D. Administer prescribed antispasmodic medication.
Rationale: Poor drainage is often due to mechanical obstruction (kinks, loops).
Checking and correcting tubing position is the first step. Irrigation requires an order
and may increase infection risk; increasing fluids helps but won’t relieve obstruction;
medication treats spasm but not the underlying drainage issue.
Question 5
A nurse is providing teaching about home wound care to a patient who has a
pressure injury. Which statement by the patient indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. “I will apply hydrogen peroxide to the wound twice a day.”
B. “I will keep the wound open to air for several hours each day.”
C. “I will clean the wound with normal saline and cover it with a sterile
dressing.”
D. “I will use a heating pad to increase blood flow to the wound.”
Rationale: Normal saline is isotonic and non-cytotoxic, ideal for cleaning. Sterile
dressing maintains a moist, clean environment. Hydrogen peroxide damages
granulation tissue; open air dries wounds, impairing healing; heat can cause burns
and increase bacterial growth.
, Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin. Which site
is most appropriate?
A. Deltoid muscle
B. Abdomen (anterolateral or posterolateral aspect)
C. Ventrogluteal area
D. Inner forearm
Rationale: Enoxaparin (low-molecular-weight heparin) is best absorbed from the
abdominal subcutaneous tissue, which has consistent fat distribution. Deltoid and
ventrogluteal are IM sites; inner forearm is used for intradermal injections.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a patient’s peripheral IV site. Which finding indicates phlebitis?
A. Blanching at the insertion site
B. Redness, warmth, and a palpable venous cord
C. Pitting edema distal to the IV
D. Clear, serous drainage from the site
Rationale: Phlebitis is inflammation of the vein, presenting with redness, warmth,
swelling, and a palpable cord-like vein. Blanching suggests infiltration; edema may
indicate infiltration or fluid overload; serous drainage could be infection or
infiltration.
Question 8
A patient with a history of heart failure exhibits dyspnea, crackles in lung bases, and
jugular venous distension. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
