ATI PN Fundamentals Proctored Exam 2026/2027 – Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified –
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
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SECTION 1: SAFE & EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT (Q1–Q10)
──────────────────────────────
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene before entering a patient's room.
According to current CDC guidelines, how long should the nurse rub hands together
when using an alcohol-based hand rub?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds ✓
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
CDC guidelines recommend rubbing alcohol-based hand rub over all surfaces of the
hands for at least 20 seconds until dry. Ten to fifteen seconds is insufficient for
adequate microbial reduction, and 30 seconds exceeds the minimum standard without
added benefit.
Question 2
A nurse is doffing personal protective equipment after caring for a patient on Contact
Precautions. Which sequence demonstrates correct technique?
A. Gloves, goggles, gown, mask
B. Gloves, gown, face shield, mask ✓
C. Gown, gloves, face shield, mask
,D. Mask, goggles, gown, gloves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
CDC doffing sequence requires removing gloves first, then gown, then face shield or eye
protection, and finally the mask. Removing the mask last protects the respiratory tract
from contamination, and gloves must always be removed before touching other PPE.
Question 3
A nurse enters the room of a patient newly diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile
infection. Which action by the nurse demonstrates appropriate infection control?
A. Applying an N95 respirator before entering
B. Performing hand hygiene with alcohol-based rub after removing gloves
C. Donning a gown and gloves before patient contact ✓
D. Placing the patient in a negative-pressure room
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
C. difficile requires Contact Precautions, which includes a gown and gloves.
Alcohol-based hand rub is not effective against C. difficile spores; soap and water must
be used. Negative-pressure rooms and N95 respirators are reserved for Airborne
Precautions.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for four patients on a medical-surgical unit. Which patient should the
nurse assess first?
A. A patient with a blood pressure of 148/92 mm Hg
B. A patient reporting a pain level of 6/10
C. A patient with a respiratory rate of 28/min and SpO2 of 89% ✓
D. A patient with a heart rate of 102 beats/min
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The patient with tachypnea and hypoxemia requires immediate assessment due to
compromised oxygenation, following the ABCs priority framework. While elevated blood
pressure, pain, and tachycardia require intervention, respiratory compromise poses the
greatest immediate threat to life.
Question 5
An 82-year-old patient with dementia repeatedly attempts to climb out of bed and has
fallen twice. The family insists on bilateral wrist restraints. What is the nurse's best
action?
A. Apply the restraints as requested by the family
B. Explain that restraints require a physician's order and implement least restrictive
alternatives first ✓
C. Delegate continuous observation to the UAP
D. Place the patient in a chair with a lap belt
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Restraints require a physician's order and must be the last resort after least restrictive
alternatives such as bed alarms, frequent reorientation, and sitters are attempted. UAPs
cannot be independently assigned one-to-one observation without proper delegation,
and lap belts are also considered restraints.
Question 6
A fire alarm sounds on the nursing unit, and a nurse smells smoke coming from a
patient's room. According to the RACE protocol, what is the nurse's first action?
A. Activate the alarm and call for help ✓
B. Confine the fire by closing doors
C. Extinguish the fire with the nearest fire extinguisher
, D. Evacuate patients from the unit
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish/Evacuate. The first steps are to
rescue patients in immediate danger and activate the alarm system. Attempting to
extinguish a fire before activating the alarm endangers staff and patients.
Question 7
A nurse overhears two UAPs discussing a patient's HIV status in the hospital cafeteria.
Which statement best describes this situation?
A. This is acceptable because UAPs are part of the care team
B. This violates the patient's right to confidentiality under HIPAA ✓
C. This is permitted if the patient is not named directly
D. This should be reported to the state health department
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Discussing patient health information in public areas violates HIPAA regardless of
whether the patient is named, as unauthorized disclosure of protected health
information in any identifiable form breaches confidentiality. UAPs are bound by the
same privacy rules as licensed staff.
Question 8
A nurse on a busy unit needs to delegate tasks appropriately. Which task is appropriate
to delegate to an experienced UAP?
A. Inserting a urinary catheter for a patient with urinary retention
B. Administering oral medications to a stable patient
C. Measuring and recording intake and output for a postoperative patient ✓
D. Assessing a patient's lung sounds after chest tube placement
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified –
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
──────────────────────────────
SECTION 1: SAFE & EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT (Q1–Q10)
──────────────────────────────
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene before entering a patient's room.
According to current CDC guidelines, how long should the nurse rub hands together
when using an alcohol-based hand rub?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds ✓
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
CDC guidelines recommend rubbing alcohol-based hand rub over all surfaces of the
hands for at least 20 seconds until dry. Ten to fifteen seconds is insufficient for
adequate microbial reduction, and 30 seconds exceeds the minimum standard without
added benefit.
Question 2
A nurse is doffing personal protective equipment after caring for a patient on Contact
Precautions. Which sequence demonstrates correct technique?
A. Gloves, goggles, gown, mask
B. Gloves, gown, face shield, mask ✓
C. Gown, gloves, face shield, mask
,D. Mask, goggles, gown, gloves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
CDC doffing sequence requires removing gloves first, then gown, then face shield or eye
protection, and finally the mask. Removing the mask last protects the respiratory tract
from contamination, and gloves must always be removed before touching other PPE.
Question 3
A nurse enters the room of a patient newly diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile
infection. Which action by the nurse demonstrates appropriate infection control?
A. Applying an N95 respirator before entering
B. Performing hand hygiene with alcohol-based rub after removing gloves
C. Donning a gown and gloves before patient contact ✓
D. Placing the patient in a negative-pressure room
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
C. difficile requires Contact Precautions, which includes a gown and gloves.
Alcohol-based hand rub is not effective against C. difficile spores; soap and water must
be used. Negative-pressure rooms and N95 respirators are reserved for Airborne
Precautions.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for four patients on a medical-surgical unit. Which patient should the
nurse assess first?
A. A patient with a blood pressure of 148/92 mm Hg
B. A patient reporting a pain level of 6/10
C. A patient with a respiratory rate of 28/min and SpO2 of 89% ✓
D. A patient with a heart rate of 102 beats/min
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The patient with tachypnea and hypoxemia requires immediate assessment due to
compromised oxygenation, following the ABCs priority framework. While elevated blood
pressure, pain, and tachycardia require intervention, respiratory compromise poses the
greatest immediate threat to life.
Question 5
An 82-year-old patient with dementia repeatedly attempts to climb out of bed and has
fallen twice. The family insists on bilateral wrist restraints. What is the nurse's best
action?
A. Apply the restraints as requested by the family
B. Explain that restraints require a physician's order and implement least restrictive
alternatives first ✓
C. Delegate continuous observation to the UAP
D. Place the patient in a chair with a lap belt
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Restraints require a physician's order and must be the last resort after least restrictive
alternatives such as bed alarms, frequent reorientation, and sitters are attempted. UAPs
cannot be independently assigned one-to-one observation without proper delegation,
and lap belts are also considered restraints.
Question 6
A fire alarm sounds on the nursing unit, and a nurse smells smoke coming from a
patient's room. According to the RACE protocol, what is the nurse's first action?
A. Activate the alarm and call for help ✓
B. Confine the fire by closing doors
C. Extinguish the fire with the nearest fire extinguisher
, D. Evacuate patients from the unit
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish/Evacuate. The first steps are to
rescue patients in immediate danger and activate the alarm system. Attempting to
extinguish a fire before activating the alarm endangers staff and patients.
Question 7
A nurse overhears two UAPs discussing a patient's HIV status in the hospital cafeteria.
Which statement best describes this situation?
A. This is acceptable because UAPs are part of the care team
B. This violates the patient's right to confidentiality under HIPAA ✓
C. This is permitted if the patient is not named directly
D. This should be reported to the state health department
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Discussing patient health information in public areas violates HIPAA regardless of
whether the patient is named, as unauthorized disclosure of protected health
information in any identifiable form breaches confidentiality. UAPs are bound by the
same privacy rules as licensed staff.
Question 8
A nurse on a busy unit needs to delegate tasks appropriately. Which task is appropriate
to delegate to an experienced UAP?
A. Inserting a urinary catheter for a patient with urinary retention
B. Administering oral medications to a stable patient
C. Measuring and recording intake and output for a postoperative patient ✓
D. Assessing a patient's lung sounds after chest tube placement
