ATI Fundamentals CMS Proctored Exam
2026/2027 | Newly Released
70 Verified Questions, Answers and detailed Rationales
Graded A+ | 100% Correct | Guaranteed Pass
Q1: A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative day 1 following an abdominal
hysterectomy. The client reports pain rated 8 on a 0 to 10 scale. Which action should the nurse
take first?
A. Administer the prescribed PRN pain medication immediately.
B. Assess the location, quality, and duration of the pain.
C. Notify the surgeon about the client's pain level.
D. Document the pain rating in the client's medical record.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because according to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, the nurse's priority action
is to perform a thorough pain assessment before administering any intervention. Assessment data
guides safe, effective pain management and ensures the nurse understands the nature of the pain
before treating it. Administering medication without assessment could mask symptoms of a
complication such as internal bleeding.
Q2: A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which of the following actions demonstrates
the "right patient" principle?
A. Asking the client to state their name and date of birth.
B. Checking the client's wristband against the medication administration record.
C. Confirming the client's identity using two identifiers.
D. Verifying the client's room number with the charge nurse.
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Correct because the rights of medication administration require the nurse to verify the
client's identity using at least two unique identifiers, such as name and date of birth, before
administering any medication. According to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, using two identifiers
is the gold standard for preventing medication errors and ensuring patient safety.
Q3: A nurse is caring for a 78-year-old client who is admitted with dehydration. Which finding
should the nurse identify as a priority concern?
A. Dry mucous membranes and poor skin turgor.
B. Report of feeling thirsty.
C. Urine specific gravity of 1.030.
D. Blood pressure 90/60 mm Hg with heart rate 110/min.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because hypotension with tachycardia indicates the client is experiencing
hypovolemic shock, which is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate intervention.
According to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, the nurse's priority is to address hemodynamic
instability before other signs of dehydration. The low blood pressure and elevated heart rate
demonstrate compensatory mechanisms that are failing.
Q4: A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which
statement by the client indicates effective learning?
A. "I will check my blood sugar every day in the morning."
B. "I need to call my doctor if my blood sugar is over 200."
C. "I will take my metformin with meals to help with the side effects."
D. "I can skip my insulin if I eat a low-carb meal."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because metformin is commonly taken with meals to reduce gastrointestinal
side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, and this statement reflects accurate understanding of
medication management. According to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, effective patient teaching is
evaluated when the client can accurately restate key self-care instructions. Skipping insulin or
only checking glucose once daily would indicate gaps in understanding.
,Q5: A client tells the nurse, "I don't think the treatment is going to work. I just want to give up."
Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "Don't say that. You need to stay positive."
B. "Tell me more about what's making you feel this way."
C. "Your family is counting on you to keep fighting."
D. "The doctor has a great plan for you."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because using an open-ended statement such as "Tell me more" encourages
the client to express feelings and promotes therapeutic communication. According to ATI
Fundamentals guidelines, the nurse should avoid false reassurance, giving advice, or closing off
conversation, and instead use open-ended questions to facilitate expression of emotions. This
approach validates the client's feelings and builds trust.
Q6: A nurse is delegating tasks to an LPN/LVN. Which task is appropriate for the LPN/LVN to
perform?
A. Administer IV push medications.
B. Reinforce discharge teaching for a client with heart failure.
C. Obtain a sterile urine specimen for culture.
D. Assess a client's respiratory status post-extubation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because obtaining a sterile urine specimen is within the LPN/LVN scope of
practice and does not require the complex clinical judgment of an RN. According to ATI
Fundamentals delegation guidelines, tasks requiring assessment, evaluation, IV medication
administration, or patient education reinforcement should remain with the RN. The LPN can
perform technical procedures like specimen collection under RN direction.
, Q7: A client is placed on contact precautions for Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which personal
protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse don when entering the room?
A. N95 respirator and eye protection.
B. Gown and gloves.
C. Surgical mask and gloves.
D. Gown, gloves, and shoe covers.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because contact precautions for C. diff require the nurse to don a gown and
gloves upon room entry to prevent transmission of spores via direct or indirect contact.
According to ATI Fundamentals infection control guidelines, C. diff is spread through the fecal-
oral route and spore contact, making gown and gloves the minimum required PPE. N95
respirators are used for airborne precautions, not contact.
Q8: A nurse is reviewing laboratory results. Which value is within normal limits for an adult?
A. Sodium 150 mEq/L.
B. Potassium 3.8 mEq/L.
C. Glucose 140 mg/dL fasting.
D. BUN 30 mg/dL.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because a potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L falls within the normal range of 3.5
to 5.0 mEq/L. According to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, sodium normal is 136–145 mEq/L,
fasting glucose normal is 70–100 mg/dL, and BUN normal is 7–20 mg/dL. The other values
represent hypernatremia, hyperglycemia, and elevated BUN respectively, all indicating abnormal
findings.
2026/2027 | Newly Released
70 Verified Questions, Answers and detailed Rationales
Graded A+ | 100% Correct | Guaranteed Pass
Q1: A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative day 1 following an abdominal
hysterectomy. The client reports pain rated 8 on a 0 to 10 scale. Which action should the nurse
take first?
A. Administer the prescribed PRN pain medication immediately.
B. Assess the location, quality, and duration of the pain.
C. Notify the surgeon about the client's pain level.
D. Document the pain rating in the client's medical record.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because according to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, the nurse's priority action
is to perform a thorough pain assessment before administering any intervention. Assessment data
guides safe, effective pain management and ensures the nurse understands the nature of the pain
before treating it. Administering medication without assessment could mask symptoms of a
complication such as internal bleeding.
Q2: A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which of the following actions demonstrates
the "right patient" principle?
A. Asking the client to state their name and date of birth.
B. Checking the client's wristband against the medication administration record.
C. Confirming the client's identity using two identifiers.
D. Verifying the client's room number with the charge nurse.
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Correct because the rights of medication administration require the nurse to verify the
client's identity using at least two unique identifiers, such as name and date of birth, before
administering any medication. According to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, using two identifiers
is the gold standard for preventing medication errors and ensuring patient safety.
Q3: A nurse is caring for a 78-year-old client who is admitted with dehydration. Which finding
should the nurse identify as a priority concern?
A. Dry mucous membranes and poor skin turgor.
B. Report of feeling thirsty.
C. Urine specific gravity of 1.030.
D. Blood pressure 90/60 mm Hg with heart rate 110/min.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because hypotension with tachycardia indicates the client is experiencing
hypovolemic shock, which is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate intervention.
According to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, the nurse's priority is to address hemodynamic
instability before other signs of dehydration. The low blood pressure and elevated heart rate
demonstrate compensatory mechanisms that are failing.
Q4: A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which
statement by the client indicates effective learning?
A. "I will check my blood sugar every day in the morning."
B. "I need to call my doctor if my blood sugar is over 200."
C. "I will take my metformin with meals to help with the side effects."
D. "I can skip my insulin if I eat a low-carb meal."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because metformin is commonly taken with meals to reduce gastrointestinal
side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, and this statement reflects accurate understanding of
medication management. According to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, effective patient teaching is
evaluated when the client can accurately restate key self-care instructions. Skipping insulin or
only checking glucose once daily would indicate gaps in understanding.
,Q5: A client tells the nurse, "I don't think the treatment is going to work. I just want to give up."
Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "Don't say that. You need to stay positive."
B. "Tell me more about what's making you feel this way."
C. "Your family is counting on you to keep fighting."
D. "The doctor has a great plan for you."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because using an open-ended statement such as "Tell me more" encourages
the client to express feelings and promotes therapeutic communication. According to ATI
Fundamentals guidelines, the nurse should avoid false reassurance, giving advice, or closing off
conversation, and instead use open-ended questions to facilitate expression of emotions. This
approach validates the client's feelings and builds trust.
Q6: A nurse is delegating tasks to an LPN/LVN. Which task is appropriate for the LPN/LVN to
perform?
A. Administer IV push medications.
B. Reinforce discharge teaching for a client with heart failure.
C. Obtain a sterile urine specimen for culture.
D. Assess a client's respiratory status post-extubation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because obtaining a sterile urine specimen is within the LPN/LVN scope of
practice and does not require the complex clinical judgment of an RN. According to ATI
Fundamentals delegation guidelines, tasks requiring assessment, evaluation, IV medication
administration, or patient education reinforcement should remain with the RN. The LPN can
perform technical procedures like specimen collection under RN direction.
, Q7: A client is placed on contact precautions for Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which personal
protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse don when entering the room?
A. N95 respirator and eye protection.
B. Gown and gloves.
C. Surgical mask and gloves.
D. Gown, gloves, and shoe covers.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because contact precautions for C. diff require the nurse to don a gown and
gloves upon room entry to prevent transmission of spores via direct or indirect contact.
According to ATI Fundamentals infection control guidelines, C. diff is spread through the fecal-
oral route and spore contact, making gown and gloves the minimum required PPE. N95
respirators are used for airborne precautions, not contact.
Q8: A nurse is reviewing laboratory results. Which value is within normal limits for an adult?
A. Sodium 150 mEq/L.
B. Potassium 3.8 mEq/L.
C. Glucose 140 mg/dL fasting.
D. BUN 30 mg/dL.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because a potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L falls within the normal range of 3.5
to 5.0 mEq/L. According to ATI Fundamentals guidelines, sodium normal is 136–145 mEq/L,
fasting glucose normal is 70–100 mg/dL, and BUN normal is 7–20 mg/dL. The other values
represent hypernatremia, hyperglycemia, and elevated BUN respectively, all indicating abnormal
findings.
