1
ATI Fundamentals CMS Proctored Exam
2024/2025 | 300+ Verified & Latest Questions | A+
Real Guarantee Pass!
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the
following is the most important action the nurse should take before
administering the medication?
A) Check the client’s allergies
B) Verify the medication order
C) Identify the client using two identifiers
D) Explain the medication purpose to the client
Answer: C) Identify the client using two identifiers
Rationale: Verifying the client's identity with two identifiers (e.g., name and date
of birth) is the most critical safety step to prevent medication errors. Checking
allergies and verifying orders are important but come after confirming the client’s
identity.
2. When performing hand hygiene, what is the minimum amount of time the
nurse should spend rubbing hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer?
A) 5 seconds
B) 10 seconds
C) 15 seconds
D) 20 seconds
, 2
Answer: D) 20 seconds
Rationale: The CDC recommends rubbing hands with alcohol-based sanitizer for
at least 20 seconds to effectively reduce microbial flora.
3. A client has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which nursing action is
essential to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
A) Irrigate the catheter daily
B) Keep the drainage bag below bladder level
C) Disconnect the catheter to empty the bag
D) Use sterile technique to clean the insertion site
Answer: B) Keep the drainage bag below bladder level
Rationale: Keeping the drainage bag below bladder level prevents urine backflow,
which reduces risk of infection. Routine irrigation is not recommended unless
prescribed.
4. Which position is best for a client experiencing shortness of breath?
A) Supine
B) Trendelenburg
C) High Fowler’s
D) Left lateral
Answer: C) High Fowler’s
Rationale: High Fowler’s position (sitting up at 60–90 degrees) maximizes lung
expansion and eases breathing.
5. Which vital sign change is an early indicator of hypovolemia?
A) Elevated blood pressure
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased respiratory rate
D) Elevated oxygen saturation
, 3
Answer: B) Increased heart rate
Rationale: Tachycardia is often the first compensatory response to hypovolemia as
the body attempts to maintain cardiac output.
6. The nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a Jackson-
Pratt drain. What is the best nursing action to ensure proper function of the
drain?
A) Empty the drain when it is half full
B) Maintain the drain below the surgical site
C) Strip the drain tubing hourly
D) Irrigate the drain daily with sterile saline
Answer: B) Maintain the drain below the surgical site
Rationale: Keeping the drain below the surgical site promotes gravity drainage
and prevents backflow of fluids.
7. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention to prevent pressure
ulcers in a bedridden client?
A) Use doughnut-shaped cushions
B) Reposition the client every 2 hours
C) Apply lotion only to the heels
D) Massage reddened areas
Answer: B) Reposition the client every 2 hours
Rationale: Frequent repositioning relieves pressure on bony prominences,
preventing skin breakdown. Doughnut cushions may impair blood flow.
8. Which is the correct order when donning personal protective equipment
(PPE)?
A) Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
B) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
, 4
C) Mask, gloves, gown, goggles
D) Mask, gown, gloves, goggles
Answer: B) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
Rationale: PPE should be donned in the order: gown → mask/respirator →
goggles/face shield → gloves to maintain sterile technique.
9. A nurse is teaching a client about a low-sodium diet. Which foods should the
client avoid?
A) Fresh fruits
B) Processed meats
C) Steamed vegetables
D) Whole grains
Answer: B) Processed meats
Rationale: Processed meats are high in sodium and should be avoided on a low-
sodium diet.
10. When auscultating lung sounds, where should the nurse place the
stethoscope to best hear the lower lobes?
A) Anterior chest, above the clavicle
B) Posterior chest, below the scapula
C) Lateral chest, midaxillary line
D) Over the trachea
Answer: B) Posterior chest, below the scapula
Rationale: The lower lobes of the lungs are best auscultated on the posterior chest
below the scapula.
11. Which finding requires immediate intervention in a client receiving oxygen
via nasal cannula at 3 L/min?
ATI Fundamentals CMS Proctored Exam
2024/2025 | 300+ Verified & Latest Questions | A+
Real Guarantee Pass!
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the
following is the most important action the nurse should take before
administering the medication?
A) Check the client’s allergies
B) Verify the medication order
C) Identify the client using two identifiers
D) Explain the medication purpose to the client
Answer: C) Identify the client using two identifiers
Rationale: Verifying the client's identity with two identifiers (e.g., name and date
of birth) is the most critical safety step to prevent medication errors. Checking
allergies and verifying orders are important but come after confirming the client’s
identity.
2. When performing hand hygiene, what is the minimum amount of time the
nurse should spend rubbing hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer?
A) 5 seconds
B) 10 seconds
C) 15 seconds
D) 20 seconds
, 2
Answer: D) 20 seconds
Rationale: The CDC recommends rubbing hands with alcohol-based sanitizer for
at least 20 seconds to effectively reduce microbial flora.
3. A client has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which nursing action is
essential to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
A) Irrigate the catheter daily
B) Keep the drainage bag below bladder level
C) Disconnect the catheter to empty the bag
D) Use sterile technique to clean the insertion site
Answer: B) Keep the drainage bag below bladder level
Rationale: Keeping the drainage bag below bladder level prevents urine backflow,
which reduces risk of infection. Routine irrigation is not recommended unless
prescribed.
4. Which position is best for a client experiencing shortness of breath?
A) Supine
B) Trendelenburg
C) High Fowler’s
D) Left lateral
Answer: C) High Fowler’s
Rationale: High Fowler’s position (sitting up at 60–90 degrees) maximizes lung
expansion and eases breathing.
5. Which vital sign change is an early indicator of hypovolemia?
A) Elevated blood pressure
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased respiratory rate
D) Elevated oxygen saturation
, 3
Answer: B) Increased heart rate
Rationale: Tachycardia is often the first compensatory response to hypovolemia as
the body attempts to maintain cardiac output.
6. The nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a Jackson-
Pratt drain. What is the best nursing action to ensure proper function of the
drain?
A) Empty the drain when it is half full
B) Maintain the drain below the surgical site
C) Strip the drain tubing hourly
D) Irrigate the drain daily with sterile saline
Answer: B) Maintain the drain below the surgical site
Rationale: Keeping the drain below the surgical site promotes gravity drainage
and prevents backflow of fluids.
7. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention to prevent pressure
ulcers in a bedridden client?
A) Use doughnut-shaped cushions
B) Reposition the client every 2 hours
C) Apply lotion only to the heels
D) Massage reddened areas
Answer: B) Reposition the client every 2 hours
Rationale: Frequent repositioning relieves pressure on bony prominences,
preventing skin breakdown. Doughnut cushions may impair blood flow.
8. Which is the correct order when donning personal protective equipment
(PPE)?
A) Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
B) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
, 4
C) Mask, gloves, gown, goggles
D) Mask, gown, gloves, goggles
Answer: B) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
Rationale: PPE should be donned in the order: gown → mask/respirator →
goggles/face shield → gloves to maintain sterile technique.
9. A nurse is teaching a client about a low-sodium diet. Which foods should the
client avoid?
A) Fresh fruits
B) Processed meats
C) Steamed vegetables
D) Whole grains
Answer: B) Processed meats
Rationale: Processed meats are high in sodium and should be avoided on a low-
sodium diet.
10. When auscultating lung sounds, where should the nurse place the
stethoscope to best hear the lower lobes?
A) Anterior chest, above the clavicle
B) Posterior chest, below the scapula
C) Lateral chest, midaxillary line
D) Over the trachea
Answer: B) Posterior chest, below the scapula
Rationale: The lower lobes of the lungs are best auscultated on the posterior chest
below the scapula.
11. Which finding requires immediate intervention in a client receiving oxygen
via nasal cannula at 3 L/min?
