© Academic_Excellence
ATI RN Fundamentals Proctored (Retake Prep) | Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationale
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client.
Which technique will the nurse use to maintain sterility?
A. Clean gloves only
B. Sterile gloves, sterile drapes, sterile solution, and sterile catheter
C. Hand hygiene and clean gloves only
D. Sterile gloves but no drapes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Indwelling catheter insertion requires surgical aseptic technique (sterile gloves,
drapes, sterile solution, sterile catheter). Clean gloves alone are insufficient.
2. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with a new prescription for
warfarin. Which statement by the client indicates understanding?
A. "I will take ibuprofen for headaches."
B. "I will eat more green leafy vegetables."
C. "I will use a soft toothbrush."
D. "I will stop taking warfarin if I see bruising."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Soft toothbrush reduces bleeding risk. NSAIDs (ibuprofen) increase bleeding;
consistent vitamin K intake (leafy greens) is recommended but not increased; never stop
warfarin without provider instruction.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days post-operative and reports pain of 8 on
a 0-10 scale. The nurse administers morphine 4 mg IV. One hour later, the client
reports pain 7/10. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer another dose of morphine.
B. Reassess the client's pain in 30 minutes.
C. Notify the provider that the pain is not controlled.
D. Offer nonpharmacological comfort measures.
,© Academic_Excellence
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Inadequate pain relief after opioid administration requires provider notification for
possible adjustment of analgesic regimen. Reassessment alone delays treatment.
4. A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. After opening the sterile kit, the
nurse drops a sterile gauze pad onto the floor. What should the nurse do?
A. Pick it up and use it because it fell only briefly.
B. Discard the gauze and obtain a new sterile one.
C. Rinse the gauze with sterile saline.
D. Use the gauze for the outer dressing only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Any sterile item that touches an unsterile surface (including the floor) is
contaminated and must be discarded. Never compromise sterility.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube set to low intermittent
suction. The nurse notes that the tube is not draining. What is the first action?
A. Irrigate the tube with 30 mL of sterile water.
B. Reposition the client.
C. Check for tube placement and patency.
D. Increase suction pressure.
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: First verify placement (pH <4 or x-ray) and check for kinks or obstruction.
Irrigation may be done after verification, never before.*
6. A nurse is providing oral care for an unconscious client. Which action is most
important for preventing aspiration?
A. Use lemon-glycerin swabs.
B. Position the client supine.
C. Place the client in side-lying position with head lowered.
D. Use a firm toothbrush to remove plaque.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Side-lying with head lowered allows fluids to drain out of mouth, reducing
,© Academic_Excellence
aspiration risk. Supine increases aspiration risk. Lemon-glycerin swabs dry mucous
membranes.
7. A nurse is measuring a client's blood pressure. The client has a small arm
circumference. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Use the standard adult cuff.
B. Use a pediatric cuff.
C. Use a larger cuff to ensure comfort.
D. Use a cuff that covers 40% of the arm.
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: Use a smaller cuff for small arm circumference. Cuff bladder width should be
40% of arm circumference; too-large cuff gives falsely low reading; too-small cuff gives
falsely high reading.*
8. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to an adult client
in the ventrogluteal site. Which landmark identifies this site?
A. Acromion process
B. Greater trochanter and iliac crest
C. Two fingerbreadths below the acromion process
D. Midpoint of the rectus femoris
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ventrogluteal site is located using the greater trochanter and iliac crest. Deltoid
uses acromion (C). Vastus lateralis is mid-thigh.
9. A nurse is teaching a client with heart failure about a low-sodium diet. Which food
choice indicates understanding?
A. Canned vegetable soup
B. Grilled chicken breast with steamed broccoli (no added salt)
C. Dill pickles
D. Processed cheese sandwich
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fresh grilled chicken and steamed broccoli are naturally low in sodium. Canned
soups, pickles, and processed cheese are high in sodium.
, © Academic_Excellence
10. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. The stoma is dark purple
and edematous. What should the nurse do first?
A. Apply a warm compress.
B. Notify the provider immediately.
C. Document the finding as expected.
D. Gently massage the stoma.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Purple/dark stoma indicates ischemia or necrosis — a medical emergency.
Normal stoma is pink to red. Notify provider immediately.
11. A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from the bed to a chair. The client has
right-sided weakness. Where should the nurse place the chair?
A. On the client's left side
B. On the client's right side
C. At the foot of the bed
D. Directly in front of the client
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Place the chair on the strong side (left) so the client can bear weight with the
strong leg during transfer.
12. A nurse is assessing a client's apical pulse. Where is the point of maximal
impulse (PMI) typically located?
A. 2nd intercostal space, left sternal border
B. 4th intercostal space, left sternal border
C. 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line
D. 5th intercostal space, right midclavicular line
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: PMI is normally at the 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line (about 7-9 cm
from sternum).*
13. A nurse is providing teaching about insulin injection. Which instruction is correct
for mixing NPH and regular insulin?
A. Draw up NPH first, then regular.
ATI RN Fundamentals Proctored (Retake Prep) | Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationale
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client.
Which technique will the nurse use to maintain sterility?
A. Clean gloves only
B. Sterile gloves, sterile drapes, sterile solution, and sterile catheter
C. Hand hygiene and clean gloves only
D. Sterile gloves but no drapes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Indwelling catheter insertion requires surgical aseptic technique (sterile gloves,
drapes, sterile solution, sterile catheter). Clean gloves alone are insufficient.
2. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with a new prescription for
warfarin. Which statement by the client indicates understanding?
A. "I will take ibuprofen for headaches."
B. "I will eat more green leafy vegetables."
C. "I will use a soft toothbrush."
D. "I will stop taking warfarin if I see bruising."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Soft toothbrush reduces bleeding risk. NSAIDs (ibuprofen) increase bleeding;
consistent vitamin K intake (leafy greens) is recommended but not increased; never stop
warfarin without provider instruction.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days post-operative and reports pain of 8 on
a 0-10 scale. The nurse administers morphine 4 mg IV. One hour later, the client
reports pain 7/10. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer another dose of morphine.
B. Reassess the client's pain in 30 minutes.
C. Notify the provider that the pain is not controlled.
D. Offer nonpharmacological comfort measures.
,© Academic_Excellence
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Inadequate pain relief after opioid administration requires provider notification for
possible adjustment of analgesic regimen. Reassessment alone delays treatment.
4. A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. After opening the sterile kit, the
nurse drops a sterile gauze pad onto the floor. What should the nurse do?
A. Pick it up and use it because it fell only briefly.
B. Discard the gauze and obtain a new sterile one.
C. Rinse the gauze with sterile saline.
D. Use the gauze for the outer dressing only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Any sterile item that touches an unsterile surface (including the floor) is
contaminated and must be discarded. Never compromise sterility.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube set to low intermittent
suction. The nurse notes that the tube is not draining. What is the first action?
A. Irrigate the tube with 30 mL of sterile water.
B. Reposition the client.
C. Check for tube placement and patency.
D. Increase suction pressure.
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: First verify placement (pH <4 or x-ray) and check for kinks or obstruction.
Irrigation may be done after verification, never before.*
6. A nurse is providing oral care for an unconscious client. Which action is most
important for preventing aspiration?
A. Use lemon-glycerin swabs.
B. Position the client supine.
C. Place the client in side-lying position with head lowered.
D. Use a firm toothbrush to remove plaque.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Side-lying with head lowered allows fluids to drain out of mouth, reducing
,© Academic_Excellence
aspiration risk. Supine increases aspiration risk. Lemon-glycerin swabs dry mucous
membranes.
7. A nurse is measuring a client's blood pressure. The client has a small arm
circumference. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Use the standard adult cuff.
B. Use a pediatric cuff.
C. Use a larger cuff to ensure comfort.
D. Use a cuff that covers 40% of the arm.
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: Use a smaller cuff for small arm circumference. Cuff bladder width should be
40% of arm circumference; too-large cuff gives falsely low reading; too-small cuff gives
falsely high reading.*
8. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to an adult client
in the ventrogluteal site. Which landmark identifies this site?
A. Acromion process
B. Greater trochanter and iliac crest
C. Two fingerbreadths below the acromion process
D. Midpoint of the rectus femoris
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ventrogluteal site is located using the greater trochanter and iliac crest. Deltoid
uses acromion (C). Vastus lateralis is mid-thigh.
9. A nurse is teaching a client with heart failure about a low-sodium diet. Which food
choice indicates understanding?
A. Canned vegetable soup
B. Grilled chicken breast with steamed broccoli (no added salt)
C. Dill pickles
D. Processed cheese sandwich
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fresh grilled chicken and steamed broccoli are naturally low in sodium. Canned
soups, pickles, and processed cheese are high in sodium.
, © Academic_Excellence
10. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. The stoma is dark purple
and edematous. What should the nurse do first?
A. Apply a warm compress.
B. Notify the provider immediately.
C. Document the finding as expected.
D. Gently massage the stoma.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Purple/dark stoma indicates ischemia or necrosis — a medical emergency.
Normal stoma is pink to red. Notify provider immediately.
11. A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from the bed to a chair. The client has
right-sided weakness. Where should the nurse place the chair?
A. On the client's left side
B. On the client's right side
C. At the foot of the bed
D. Directly in front of the client
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Place the chair on the strong side (left) so the client can bear weight with the
strong leg during transfer.
12. A nurse is assessing a client's apical pulse. Where is the point of maximal
impulse (PMI) typically located?
A. 2nd intercostal space, left sternal border
B. 4th intercostal space, left sternal border
C. 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line
D. 5th intercostal space, right midclavicular line
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: PMI is normally at the 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line (about 7-9 cm
from sternum).*
13. A nurse is providing teaching about insulin injection. Which instruction is correct
for mixing NPH and regular insulin?
A. Draw up NPH first, then regular.
