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ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
2026 | Nursing Fundamentals, Med-Surg,
NCLEX Prep | Multiple Choice & Open-
Ended Q&A with Rationales
Exam Structure:
Subject: Nursing Fundamentals / Medical-Surgical Nursing / NCLEX Preparation
Source: ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment – 2026
Format: Multiple-choice and open-ended questions with Correct Answers and
rationales
1. A nurse is completing a nutritional assessment on a client and
measures BMI. Which of the following readings correlates with a BMI
of an overweight client?
Correct Answer: 25 (25-29.9)
Rationale:
1. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9.
2. Normal BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9.
3. Obesity is classified as BMI of 30 or greater.
2. A nurse is verifying NG tube placement by the pH of aspirated
gastric fluid. Which of the following pH values provides a good
indication of correct tube placement?
Correct Answer: 2 (pH between 0-4)
Rationale:
1. Gastric fluid typically has a pH between 0 and 4.
2. A pH of 5 or higher may indicate respiratory or intestinal placement.
3. pH testing is a reliable bedside method for confirming NG tube placement
before use.
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3. A nurse is caring for a client with a closed head injury. When
pressure is applied to the client's nail beds, the client's eyes open and
adduction of the arms with flexion of the elbows and wrists is noted.
The client also moans with stimulation. What is the GCS?
Correct Answer: 7 (eye opening 1-4, verbal 1-5, motor 1-6)
Rationale:
1. Eye opening to pain = 2 points.
2. Moaning (incomprehensible sounds) = 2 points for verbal.
3. Decorticate posturing (adduction, flexion of elbows/wrists) = 3 points
for motor.
4. Total GCS = 2 + 2 + 3 = 7, indicating severe brain injury.
4. A nurse should teach which of the following clients requiring
crutches about how to use a three-point gait?
Correct Answer: a client who has a R femur fracture with no weight
bearing on the affected leg (bears all weight on one foot, then both
shoulders on crutches, and uninvolved leg; the affected leg does not touch
the ground)
Rationale:
1. Three-point gait is used when one leg cannot bear any weight.
2. Both crutches and the unaffected leg bear all body weight.
3. The affected leg remains off the ground throughout the gait cycle.
5. A nurse is providing teaching about the Mediterranean diet to a
client newly diagnosed with hypertension. What statement indicates
need for further teaching?
Correct Answer: "I will limit my intake of red meat to 2x weekly" (should
be limited to 2x monthly)
Rationale:
1. The Mediterranean diet recommends red meat only 2-3 times per
month.
2. Poultry, fish, and plant proteins are preferred protein sources.
3. The client's statement indicates misunderstanding of the frequency of red
meat consumption.
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6. A nurse is providing dietary education to a client with cholecystitis
who has been prescribed a low-fat diet. Which of the following meal
selections by the client indicates understanding of education?
Correct Answer: roast turkey, rice pilaf, green beans
Rationale:
1. Roast turkey is a lean protein low in fat.
2. Rice pilaf and green beans are low-fat side dishes.
3. This meal avoids the high-fat foods that can trigger gallbladder pain.
7. A client with cystocele is encouraged to exercise to strengthen
pelvic floor muscles and prevent pelvic organ prolapse. What exercise
will the client need to perform?
Correct Answer: Kegels (reduce pelvic prolapse and stress urinary
incontinence)
Rationale:
1. Kegel exercises strengthen the pubococcygeus muscle of the pelvic floor.
2. Stronger pelvic floor muscles provide better support for pelvic organs.
3. Regular Kegel exercises reduce symptoms of cystocele and stress
incontinence.
8. A nurse is caring for an older adult client with delirium. Which
intervention will most likely reduce the client's risk for falls?
Correct Answer: hourly rounding by the nurse
Rationale:
1. Hourly rounding allows the nurse to anticipate and meet the client's needs.
2. Regular checks reduce the likelihood of the client attempting unsafe
transfers.
3. This intervention also addresses toileting needs that may otherwise lead to
falls.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed furosemide.
Which of the following foods should the nurse encourage this client to
include in his diet?
Correct Answer: oranges (along with dried fruits, tomatoes, avocados,
dried peas, meats, broccoli, bananas are good for a potassium-wasting
diuretic)
ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
2026 | Nursing Fundamentals, Med-Surg,
NCLEX Prep | Multiple Choice & Open-
Ended Q&A with Rationales
Exam Structure:
Subject: Nursing Fundamentals / Medical-Surgical Nursing / NCLEX Preparation
Source: ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment – 2026
Format: Multiple-choice and open-ended questions with Correct Answers and
rationales
1. A nurse is completing a nutritional assessment on a client and
measures BMI. Which of the following readings correlates with a BMI
of an overweight client?
Correct Answer: 25 (25-29.9)
Rationale:
1. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9.
2. Normal BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9.
3. Obesity is classified as BMI of 30 or greater.
2. A nurse is verifying NG tube placement by the pH of aspirated
gastric fluid. Which of the following pH values provides a good
indication of correct tube placement?
Correct Answer: 2 (pH between 0-4)
Rationale:
1. Gastric fluid typically has a pH between 0 and 4.
2. A pH of 5 or higher may indicate respiratory or intestinal placement.
3. pH testing is a reliable bedside method for confirming NG tube placement
before use.
, 2|Page
3. A nurse is caring for a client with a closed head injury. When
pressure is applied to the client's nail beds, the client's eyes open and
adduction of the arms with flexion of the elbows and wrists is noted.
The client also moans with stimulation. What is the GCS?
Correct Answer: 7 (eye opening 1-4, verbal 1-5, motor 1-6)
Rationale:
1. Eye opening to pain = 2 points.
2. Moaning (incomprehensible sounds) = 2 points for verbal.
3. Decorticate posturing (adduction, flexion of elbows/wrists) = 3 points
for motor.
4. Total GCS = 2 + 2 + 3 = 7, indicating severe brain injury.
4. A nurse should teach which of the following clients requiring
crutches about how to use a three-point gait?
Correct Answer: a client who has a R femur fracture with no weight
bearing on the affected leg (bears all weight on one foot, then both
shoulders on crutches, and uninvolved leg; the affected leg does not touch
the ground)
Rationale:
1. Three-point gait is used when one leg cannot bear any weight.
2. Both crutches and the unaffected leg bear all body weight.
3. The affected leg remains off the ground throughout the gait cycle.
5. A nurse is providing teaching about the Mediterranean diet to a
client newly diagnosed with hypertension. What statement indicates
need for further teaching?
Correct Answer: "I will limit my intake of red meat to 2x weekly" (should
be limited to 2x monthly)
Rationale:
1. The Mediterranean diet recommends red meat only 2-3 times per
month.
2. Poultry, fish, and plant proteins are preferred protein sources.
3. The client's statement indicates misunderstanding of the frequency of red
meat consumption.
, 3|Page
6. A nurse is providing dietary education to a client with cholecystitis
who has been prescribed a low-fat diet. Which of the following meal
selections by the client indicates understanding of education?
Correct Answer: roast turkey, rice pilaf, green beans
Rationale:
1. Roast turkey is a lean protein low in fat.
2. Rice pilaf and green beans are low-fat side dishes.
3. This meal avoids the high-fat foods that can trigger gallbladder pain.
7. A client with cystocele is encouraged to exercise to strengthen
pelvic floor muscles and prevent pelvic organ prolapse. What exercise
will the client need to perform?
Correct Answer: Kegels (reduce pelvic prolapse and stress urinary
incontinence)
Rationale:
1. Kegel exercises strengthen the pubococcygeus muscle of the pelvic floor.
2. Stronger pelvic floor muscles provide better support for pelvic organs.
3. Regular Kegel exercises reduce symptoms of cystocele and stress
incontinence.
8. A nurse is caring for an older adult client with delirium. Which
intervention will most likely reduce the client's risk for falls?
Correct Answer: hourly rounding by the nurse
Rationale:
1. Hourly rounding allows the nurse to anticipate and meet the client's needs.
2. Regular checks reduce the likelihood of the client attempting unsafe
transfers.
3. This intervention also addresses toileting needs that may otherwise lead to
falls.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed furosemide.
Which of the following foods should the nurse encourage this client to
include in his diet?
Correct Answer: oranges (along with dried fruits, tomatoes, avocados,
dried peas, meats, broccoli, bananas are good for a potassium-wasting
diuretic)
