ATI Fundamentals Proctored Exam – Practice Test
60 Questions AND ANSWERS | Answers &
Rationales Included
Section 1: Safe & Effective Care Environment (Management of Care) – Q1–12
Q1: A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from a bed to a chair. Which action by the nurse
demonstrates proper body mechanics?
A: Bending at the waist to lift the client
B: Keeping feet together for stability
C: Positioning the client close to the nurse's center of gravity
D: Twisting the torso while moving the client
Rationale: Proper body mechanics involves keeping the client close to the nurse's center of
gravity to reduce back strain. Bending at the waist, twisting, and narrow base of support
increase injury risk.
Q2: A charge nurse is assigning clients to a practical nurse (PN) and an assistive personnel (AP).
Which client should the charge nurse assign to the PN?
A: Client requiring hourly vital signs post-surgery
B: Client with a stable tracheostomy requiring routine suctioning
C: Client requesting a bed bath
D: Client who is confused and needs frequent reorientation
Rationale: LPNs/PNs can perform stable, predictable procedures like tracheostomy suctioning.
RNs must delegate vital signs to APs only for stable clients. Bed baths and reorientation are
appropriate for APs.
Q3: A nurse discovers a small fire in a client's trash can. What is the priority action?
A: Pull the fire alarm
B: Remove the client from the room
C: Use a fire extinguisher
D: Close all doors and windows
,Rationale: RACE protocol: Rescue (remove client), Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. Client safety is
always first.
Q4: A client refuses to take prescribed medication. What should the nurse do first?
A: Document the refusal in the medical record
B: Explore the client's reason for refusing
C: Notify the provider
D: Hide the medication in food
Rationale: The nurse must first understand why the client is refusing (e.g., side effects, beliefs).
Covert administration is unethical and illegal.
Q5: A nurse receives a verbal order from a provider over the telephone. Which action is
essential?
A: Implement the order immediately
B: Read back the order to the provider for verification
C: Ask another nurse to listen to the order
D: Document the order in pencil until signed
Rationale: Verbal/telephone orders must be read back to confirm accuracy. The order must be
signed by the provider within a facility-specified time.
Q6: A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse see first?
A: Client requesting pain medication for a headache
B: Client with new-onset confusion and oxygen saturation of 88%
C: Client who needs assistance with ambulation
D: Client who wants to discuss discharge instructions
Rationale: ABCs first – low oxygen saturation with mental status change indicates possible
hypoxia. This is an unstable finding requiring immediate assessment.
Q7: A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which task can the
nurse safely delegate?
A: Measuring urinary output
B: Assessing a client's skin condition
, C: Administering an enema
D: Teaching a client about wound care
Rationale: APs can perform tasks that do not require nursing judgment: vital signs (stable
clients), I&O, ambulation, bathing, and feeding. Assessment, teaching, and invasive procedures
(enemas) require licensed nursing staff.
Q8: A client has an advance directive refusing intubation. The client becomes unresponsive and
stops breathing. What should the nurse do?
A: Provide oxygen via bag-valve-mask without intubation
B: Immediately intubate the client
C: Call the provider for permission to intubate
D: Withhold all respiratory support
Rationale: The advance directive refuses intubation, not all respiratory support. BVM is
acceptable unless specifically refused. Always follow the client's documented wishes.
Q9: A nurse is preparing an incident report after a client falls. Which statement should be
included?
A: "The nurse was distracted and did not see the client get up."
B: "The client was found on the floor beside the bed at 0200."
C: "The night shift staff is always understaffed."
D: "The client's call light was not answered for 10 minutes."
Rationale: Incident reports must contain objective, factual information only. Avoid blame,
assumptions, or subjective language. Document only observable facts.
Q10: A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about informed consent. Who is responsible for
obtaining informed consent?
A: The nurse
B: The provider performing the procedure
C: The charge nurse
D: The client's family member
Rationale: The provider is legally responsible for explaining risks, benefits, and alternatives and
obtaining consent. The nurse's role is to witness the signature and ensure the client
understands.
60 Questions AND ANSWERS | Answers &
Rationales Included
Section 1: Safe & Effective Care Environment (Management of Care) – Q1–12
Q1: A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from a bed to a chair. Which action by the nurse
demonstrates proper body mechanics?
A: Bending at the waist to lift the client
B: Keeping feet together for stability
C: Positioning the client close to the nurse's center of gravity
D: Twisting the torso while moving the client
Rationale: Proper body mechanics involves keeping the client close to the nurse's center of
gravity to reduce back strain. Bending at the waist, twisting, and narrow base of support
increase injury risk.
Q2: A charge nurse is assigning clients to a practical nurse (PN) and an assistive personnel (AP).
Which client should the charge nurse assign to the PN?
A: Client requiring hourly vital signs post-surgery
B: Client with a stable tracheostomy requiring routine suctioning
C: Client requesting a bed bath
D: Client who is confused and needs frequent reorientation
Rationale: LPNs/PNs can perform stable, predictable procedures like tracheostomy suctioning.
RNs must delegate vital signs to APs only for stable clients. Bed baths and reorientation are
appropriate for APs.
Q3: A nurse discovers a small fire in a client's trash can. What is the priority action?
A: Pull the fire alarm
B: Remove the client from the room
C: Use a fire extinguisher
D: Close all doors and windows
,Rationale: RACE protocol: Rescue (remove client), Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. Client safety is
always first.
Q4: A client refuses to take prescribed medication. What should the nurse do first?
A: Document the refusal in the medical record
B: Explore the client's reason for refusing
C: Notify the provider
D: Hide the medication in food
Rationale: The nurse must first understand why the client is refusing (e.g., side effects, beliefs).
Covert administration is unethical and illegal.
Q5: A nurse receives a verbal order from a provider over the telephone. Which action is
essential?
A: Implement the order immediately
B: Read back the order to the provider for verification
C: Ask another nurse to listen to the order
D: Document the order in pencil until signed
Rationale: Verbal/telephone orders must be read back to confirm accuracy. The order must be
signed by the provider within a facility-specified time.
Q6: A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse see first?
A: Client requesting pain medication for a headache
B: Client with new-onset confusion and oxygen saturation of 88%
C: Client who needs assistance with ambulation
D: Client who wants to discuss discharge instructions
Rationale: ABCs first – low oxygen saturation with mental status change indicates possible
hypoxia. This is an unstable finding requiring immediate assessment.
Q7: A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which task can the
nurse safely delegate?
A: Measuring urinary output
B: Assessing a client's skin condition
, C: Administering an enema
D: Teaching a client about wound care
Rationale: APs can perform tasks that do not require nursing judgment: vital signs (stable
clients), I&O, ambulation, bathing, and feeding. Assessment, teaching, and invasive procedures
(enemas) require licensed nursing staff.
Q8: A client has an advance directive refusing intubation. The client becomes unresponsive and
stops breathing. What should the nurse do?
A: Provide oxygen via bag-valve-mask without intubation
B: Immediately intubate the client
C: Call the provider for permission to intubate
D: Withhold all respiratory support
Rationale: The advance directive refuses intubation, not all respiratory support. BVM is
acceptable unless specifically refused. Always follow the client's documented wishes.
Q9: A nurse is preparing an incident report after a client falls. Which statement should be
included?
A: "The nurse was distracted and did not see the client get up."
B: "The client was found on the floor beside the bed at 0200."
C: "The night shift staff is always understaffed."
D: "The client's call light was not answered for 10 minutes."
Rationale: Incident reports must contain objective, factual information only. Avoid blame,
assumptions, or subjective language. Document only observable facts.
Q10: A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about informed consent. Who is responsible for
obtaining informed consent?
A: The nurse
B: The provider performing the procedure
C: The charge nurse
D: The client's family member
Rationale: The provider is legally responsible for explaining risks, benefits, and alternatives and
obtaining consent. The nurse's role is to witness the signature and ensure the client
understands.
