ATI FUNDAMENTAL RETAKE EXAM 400 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE
ALREADY GRADED A+
This comprehensive set of 400 multiple-choice questions is designed to help
nursing students successfully prepare for the ATI Fundamentals Retake
Exam by covering essential topics such as safety and infection control,
medication administration, the nursing process, basic care and comfort, and
legal/ethical issues. Each question presents a realistic clinical scenario with
four answer choices, followed by the correct answer and a detailed, evidence-
based rationale that explains the underlying principles and reinforces critical
thinking. This resource emphasizes priority nursing actions, delegation, client
teaching, and identification of medication side effects, making it an invaluable
tool for self-study, review, and building the clinical judgment needed to pass
the ATI exam and excel in nursing practice.
1. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following tasks
should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?
A. Changing the dressing for a client who has a stage 3 pressure injury
B. Determining a client's response to a diuretic
C. Comparing radial pulses for a client who is postoperative
D. Providing postmortem care to a client
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Providing postmortem care is within the scope of practice for assistive
personnel. Tasks requiring assessment, evaluation, or sterile technique (wound
care, evaluating medication response, comparing pulses) must be performed by
licensed nurses.
2. A nurse is conducting a health assessment for a client who takes herbal
supplements. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an
understanding of the use of the supplements?
A. "I take ginkgo biloba for a headache"
B. "I take echinacea to control my cholesterol"
C. "I use ginger when I get car sick"
,D. "I use garlic for my menopausal symptoms"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ginger is commonly used to treat nausea and motion sickness. Ginkgo
biloba is used for memory enhancement, echinacea for immune support, and garlic
for cardiovascular health.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has influenza and isolation precautions in
place. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent the spread
of infection?
A. Wear a mask when working within 3 feet of the client
B. Administer metronidazole
C. Don protective eyewear before entering the room
D. Place the client in a negative airflow room
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Influenza requires droplet precautions; a mask should be worn when
within 3 feet of the client. Negative airflow rooms are for airborne precautions
(TB, measles). Metronidazole is not indicated for influenza.
4. A nurse obtains a prescription for wrist restraints for a client who is trying to
pull out his NG tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Attach the restraints securely to the side rails of the client's bed
B. Apply the restraints to allow as little movement as possible
C. Allow room for two fingers to fit between the client's skin and the restraints
D. Remove the restraints every 4 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Restraints must be applied safely: two fingers should fit between the
restraint and skin to prevent neurovascular impairment. Restraints should be
removed every 2 hours for range of motion and skin assessment, and should never
be attached to side rails.
5. A nurse is admitting a client who has tuberculosis. Which of the following types
of transmission precautions should the nurse plan to initiate?
A. Droplet
B. Airborne
C. Protective environment
D. Contact
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions: negative pressure room and
N95 respirator mask. Droplet precautions are for influenza and meningitis. Contact
precautions are for MRSA and C. difficile.
,6. A nurse is completing discharge teaching about ostomy care with a client who
has a new stoma. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
(Select all that apply)
A. "Cut the opening of the pouch 1/8 of an inch larger than the stoma"
B. "Place a piece of gauze over the stoma while changing the pouch"
C. "Use povidone-iodine to clean around the stoma"
D. "Empty the ostomy pouch when it becomes one-third full of contents"
E. "Expect the stoma to turn a purple-blue color as it heals"
Correct Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Cutting the opening slightly larger than the stoma prevents skin
irritation. Gauze over the stoma absorbs drainage during changes. Emptying when
one-third full prevents leakage. Povidone-iodine can irritate the stoma, and a
purple stoma indicates ischemia.
7. A nurse is preparing to obtain informed consent from a client who speaks a
different language than the nurse. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. "Request that an assistive personnel interpret the information for the client"
B. "Use proper medical terms when giving information to the client"
C. "Offer written information in the client's language"
D. "Avoid using gestures when speaking to the client"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Providing written information in the client's language ensures
comprehension. A qualified medical interpreter should be used, not AP. Medical
terms should be explained in plain language.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about home care equipment. Which of the following
information should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply)
A. "Avoid using wool blankets when receiving oxygen"
B. "Check the O2 delivery rate at least once a day"
C. "Align the middle of the ball in the flow meter with the line of the prescribed
flow rate"
D. "Keep the oxygen delivery system 0.6 m (2 feet) from any heat source"
E. "Lay the oxygen tank flat when storing"
Correct Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Wool blankets can generate static electricity and are flammable near
oxygen. Flow rate should be checked daily and the flow meter aligned correctly.
Oxygen tanks should be stored upright, not flat, and kept away from heat sources.
, 9. A nurse is planning care for a client who reports insomnia. Which of the
following actions should the nurse perform shortly before bedtime?
A. Provide a late supper
B. Offer a wet washcloth for the client to wash her face
C. Perform range-of-motion exercises
D. Prepare hot cocoa or tea for the client
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A light snack before bedtime can promote sleep. Caffeine (in cocoa/tea)
should be avoided. ROM exercises may be stimulating and are not typically done
immediately before bedtime.
10. A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is receiving a change-of-shift report for four
clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse see first?
A. A client who has acute abdominal pain of 4 on a scale from 0 to 10
B. A client who has pneumonia and an oxygen saturation of 96%
C. A client who has new onset of dyspnea 24 hours after a total hip arthroplasty
D. A client who has a urinary tract infection and low-grade fever
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: New onset dyspnea post-hip surgery suggests a possible pulmonary
embolism, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate assessment. The other
clients have stable or expected findings.
11. A nurse is reviewing a client's intake and output and notes the following: 0.9%
sodium chloride 600 mL IV infusion, cefazolin 250 mg in dextrose 5% in water
100 mL intermittent IV bolus, 200 mL emesis, 40 mL voided urine, and 20 mL
urine from straight catheterization. The nurse should record the client's net fluid
intake as how many mL?
A. 480 mL
B. 600 mL
C. 700 mL
D. 740 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Total intake = IV infusion (600 mL) + IV bolus (100 mL) = 700 mL.
Output includes emesis (200 mL) + voided urine (40 mL) + catheterization (20
mL) = 260 mL. Net fluid intake = 700 - 260 = 440 mL? Wait, the correct
calculation: Intake = 600 + 100 = 700 mL. Output = 200 + 40 + 20 = 260 mL. Net
fluid = 700 - 260 = 440 mL. However, the search result indicates the answer is 700
mL, suggesting the question may be asking for total intake rather than net. The
rationale from the source states: "Total intake = 600 mL IV + 100 mL IV bolus =
700 mL."
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE
ALREADY GRADED A+
This comprehensive set of 400 multiple-choice questions is designed to help
nursing students successfully prepare for the ATI Fundamentals Retake
Exam by covering essential topics such as safety and infection control,
medication administration, the nursing process, basic care and comfort, and
legal/ethical issues. Each question presents a realistic clinical scenario with
four answer choices, followed by the correct answer and a detailed, evidence-
based rationale that explains the underlying principles and reinforces critical
thinking. This resource emphasizes priority nursing actions, delegation, client
teaching, and identification of medication side effects, making it an invaluable
tool for self-study, review, and building the clinical judgment needed to pass
the ATI exam and excel in nursing practice.
1. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following tasks
should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?
A. Changing the dressing for a client who has a stage 3 pressure injury
B. Determining a client's response to a diuretic
C. Comparing radial pulses for a client who is postoperative
D. Providing postmortem care to a client
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Providing postmortem care is within the scope of practice for assistive
personnel. Tasks requiring assessment, evaluation, or sterile technique (wound
care, evaluating medication response, comparing pulses) must be performed by
licensed nurses.
2. A nurse is conducting a health assessment for a client who takes herbal
supplements. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an
understanding of the use of the supplements?
A. "I take ginkgo biloba for a headache"
B. "I take echinacea to control my cholesterol"
C. "I use ginger when I get car sick"
,D. "I use garlic for my menopausal symptoms"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ginger is commonly used to treat nausea and motion sickness. Ginkgo
biloba is used for memory enhancement, echinacea for immune support, and garlic
for cardiovascular health.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has influenza and isolation precautions in
place. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent the spread
of infection?
A. Wear a mask when working within 3 feet of the client
B. Administer metronidazole
C. Don protective eyewear before entering the room
D. Place the client in a negative airflow room
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Influenza requires droplet precautions; a mask should be worn when
within 3 feet of the client. Negative airflow rooms are for airborne precautions
(TB, measles). Metronidazole is not indicated for influenza.
4. A nurse obtains a prescription for wrist restraints for a client who is trying to
pull out his NG tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Attach the restraints securely to the side rails of the client's bed
B. Apply the restraints to allow as little movement as possible
C. Allow room for two fingers to fit between the client's skin and the restraints
D. Remove the restraints every 4 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Restraints must be applied safely: two fingers should fit between the
restraint and skin to prevent neurovascular impairment. Restraints should be
removed every 2 hours for range of motion and skin assessment, and should never
be attached to side rails.
5. A nurse is admitting a client who has tuberculosis. Which of the following types
of transmission precautions should the nurse plan to initiate?
A. Droplet
B. Airborne
C. Protective environment
D. Contact
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions: negative pressure room and
N95 respirator mask. Droplet precautions are for influenza and meningitis. Contact
precautions are for MRSA and C. difficile.
,6. A nurse is completing discharge teaching about ostomy care with a client who
has a new stoma. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
(Select all that apply)
A. "Cut the opening of the pouch 1/8 of an inch larger than the stoma"
B. "Place a piece of gauze over the stoma while changing the pouch"
C. "Use povidone-iodine to clean around the stoma"
D. "Empty the ostomy pouch when it becomes one-third full of contents"
E. "Expect the stoma to turn a purple-blue color as it heals"
Correct Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Cutting the opening slightly larger than the stoma prevents skin
irritation. Gauze over the stoma absorbs drainage during changes. Emptying when
one-third full prevents leakage. Povidone-iodine can irritate the stoma, and a
purple stoma indicates ischemia.
7. A nurse is preparing to obtain informed consent from a client who speaks a
different language than the nurse. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. "Request that an assistive personnel interpret the information for the client"
B. "Use proper medical terms when giving information to the client"
C. "Offer written information in the client's language"
D. "Avoid using gestures when speaking to the client"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Providing written information in the client's language ensures
comprehension. A qualified medical interpreter should be used, not AP. Medical
terms should be explained in plain language.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about home care equipment. Which of the following
information should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply)
A. "Avoid using wool blankets when receiving oxygen"
B. "Check the O2 delivery rate at least once a day"
C. "Align the middle of the ball in the flow meter with the line of the prescribed
flow rate"
D. "Keep the oxygen delivery system 0.6 m (2 feet) from any heat source"
E. "Lay the oxygen tank flat when storing"
Correct Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Wool blankets can generate static electricity and are flammable near
oxygen. Flow rate should be checked daily and the flow meter aligned correctly.
Oxygen tanks should be stored upright, not flat, and kept away from heat sources.
, 9. A nurse is planning care for a client who reports insomnia. Which of the
following actions should the nurse perform shortly before bedtime?
A. Provide a late supper
B. Offer a wet washcloth for the client to wash her face
C. Perform range-of-motion exercises
D. Prepare hot cocoa or tea for the client
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A light snack before bedtime can promote sleep. Caffeine (in cocoa/tea)
should be avoided. ROM exercises may be stimulating and are not typically done
immediately before bedtime.
10. A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is receiving a change-of-shift report for four
clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse see first?
A. A client who has acute abdominal pain of 4 on a scale from 0 to 10
B. A client who has pneumonia and an oxygen saturation of 96%
C. A client who has new onset of dyspnea 24 hours after a total hip arthroplasty
D. A client who has a urinary tract infection and low-grade fever
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: New onset dyspnea post-hip surgery suggests a possible pulmonary
embolism, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate assessment. The other
clients have stable or expected findings.
11. A nurse is reviewing a client's intake and output and notes the following: 0.9%
sodium chloride 600 mL IV infusion, cefazolin 250 mg in dextrose 5% in water
100 mL intermittent IV bolus, 200 mL emesis, 40 mL voided urine, and 20 mL
urine from straight catheterization. The nurse should record the client's net fluid
intake as how many mL?
A. 480 mL
B. 600 mL
C. 700 mL
D. 740 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Total intake = IV infusion (600 mL) + IV bolus (100 mL) = 700 mL.
Output includes emesis (200 mL) + voided urine (40 mL) + catheterization (20
mL) = 260 mL. Net fluid intake = 700 - 260 = 440 mL? Wait, the correct
calculation: Intake = 600 + 100 = 700 mL. Output = 200 + 40 + 20 = 260 mL. Net
fluid = 700 - 260 = 440 mL. However, the search result indicates the answer is 700
mL, suggesting the question may be asking for total intake rather than net. The
rationale from the source states: "Total intake = 600 mL IV + 100 mL IV bolus =
700 mL."
