ATI Fundamentals Retake Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Detailed Rationales | Complete
Exam-Style Questions | Graded A+ | Pass
Guaranteed
Total Questions: 100 | Time: 120 min | Pass: 80%
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Safe & Effective Care Environment | Q1 – Q15
Section 2 | Health Promotion & Maintenance | Q16 – Q30
Section 3 | Psychosocial Integrity | Q31 – Q42
Section 4 | Basic Care & Comfort | Q43 – Q55
Section 5 | Pharmacological & Parenteral Therapies | Q56 – Q68
Section 6 | Reduction of Risk Potential | Q69 – Q81
Section 7 | Physiological Adaptation | Q82 – Q94
Section 8 | Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment | Q95 – Q100
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 80% in 120 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: SAFE & EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT Q1 – Q15
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 100
A 78-year-old client with Parkinson disease is admitted to a medical-surgical unit after a
fall at home. The nurse notes a shuffling gait, tremors in both hands, and difficulty
initiating movement. When assisting the client from the bed to the chair, the nurse
should take which action first?
A. Place a gait belt around the client's waist before standing
B. Instruct the client to rock back and forth to initiate momentum ✓ CORRECT
C. Ask the client to place both hands on the nurse's shoulders for support
,D. Have the client take a deep breath and hold it while standing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rocking back and forth uses momentum to overcome akinesia, which is the
primary barrier to movement initiation in Parkinson disease. Placing hands on the
nurse's shoulders can compromise the nurse's balance and does not address the
client's freezing episode. Clients with Parkinson disease often need extra time and
momentum-based cues rather than standard transfer instructions.
Question 2 of 100
During a fire drill on a busy orthopedic unit, a 54-year-old postoperative client asks the
nurse why the oxygen tanks were moved away from the hallway. The nurse explains that
this action reflects which safety principle?
A. Reducing the risk of combustion by separating fuel sources
B. Minimizing the chance of cylinder rupture during evacuation
C. Keeping corridors clear to speed up patient transport
D. Preventing oxygen-enriched environments near exit routes ✓ CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Oxygen accelerates combustion, so storing tanks near exit routes during a
fire drill creates an oxygen-enriched hazard zone that could intensify flames. While
corridor clearance matters for evacuation, the specific concern with oxygen is its role in
supporting combustion rather than general clutter. Fire safety in healthcare requires
isolating oxidizers from potential ignition sources and high-traffic escape paths.
Question 3 of 100
A nurse is caring for a 42-year-old client who has Clostridioides difficile infection and
requires contact precautions. The client needs to be transported to radiology for an
,abdominal CT scan. Before leaving the unit, the nurse should ensure which step is
completed?
A. The client wears a clean gown and gloves during transport ✓ CORRECT
B. Radiology staff are notified to don N95 respirators prior to imaging
C. The transport technician applies a surgical mask to the client
D. A sign is posted on the radiology door indicating airborne isolation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clients on contact precautions should wear a clean gown and gloves during
transport to prevent environmental contamination and protect others from infectious
organisms. C. difficile spreads via contact with spores, not airborne droplets, so N95
respirators and airborne signage are unnecessary and misleading. Gloves and gown
contain the pathogen and remind staff to maintain precautions at the destination.
Question 4 of 100
A 29-year-old construction worker is admitted to the emergency department with a
suspected lumbar strain after lifting heavy equipment. The nurse is preparing to apply a
cold pack to the lower back. When delegating this task to a UAP, the nurse should
specify which instruction?
A. Apply the cold pack directly to the skin for maximum vasoconstriction
B. Keep the cold pack in place for 45 minutes to ensure deep tissue cooling
C. Place a thin towel between the cold pack and the client's skin ✓ CORRECT
D. Massage the area gently while the cold pack is in place
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A thin towel barrier prevents thermal injury and skin damage while still
allowing cold to penetrate tissue effectively. Direct application or prolonged exposure
longer than 15 to 20 minutes risks frostbite and nerve damage, especially in clients with
altered sensation. Massaging during cold therapy is contraindicated because it can
increase inflammation rather than reduce it.
, Question 5 of 100
A nurse on a pediatric unit discovers that a 6-year-old client with asthma has removed
the nasal cannula while sleeping. The pulse oximeter reads 89%. The nurse enters the
room and finds the child sitting upright in bed, breathing rapidly with audible wheezing.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Call the respiratory therapist to administer a bronchodilator treatment
B. Reapply the nasal cannula and increase the oxygen flow rate ✓ CORRECT
C. Position the child in high Fowler's and begin chest physiotherapy
D. Notify the provider immediately and prepare for intubation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reapplying the oxygen device restores the supplemental oxygen support that
was interrupted, which is the most immediate intervention for hypoxemia indicated by
the 89% saturation. While positioning and bronchodilators are important, oxygen
reapplication takes priority when the saturation has dropped due to device
displacement. Rapid notification without first correcting the obvious cause of hypoxia
delays basic life support.
Question 6 of 100
The charge nurse is reviewing incident reports from the previous shift. A UAP
documented that a 35-year-old client with a seizure disorder fell while ambulating to the
bathroom unsupervised. The UAP stated the client insisted on going alone. Which
response by the charge nurse demonstrates appropriate accountability?
A. Remind the UAP that client autonomy always overrides safety protocols
B. Document that the client was noncompliant and refused assistance
C. Instruct the UAP to use a bed alarm for all clients going forward
D. Review the falls risk protocol and reinforce that assigned clients require escorts ✓
CORRECT
2026/2027 | Detailed Rationales | Complete
Exam-Style Questions | Graded A+ | Pass
Guaranteed
Total Questions: 100 | Time: 120 min | Pass: 80%
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Safe & Effective Care Environment | Q1 – Q15
Section 2 | Health Promotion & Maintenance | Q16 – Q30
Section 3 | Psychosocial Integrity | Q31 – Q42
Section 4 | Basic Care & Comfort | Q43 – Q55
Section 5 | Pharmacological & Parenteral Therapies | Q56 – Q68
Section 6 | Reduction of Risk Potential | Q69 – Q81
Section 7 | Physiological Adaptation | Q82 – Q94
Section 8 | Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment | Q95 – Q100
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 80% in 120 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: SAFE & EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT Q1 – Q15
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 100
A 78-year-old client with Parkinson disease is admitted to a medical-surgical unit after a
fall at home. The nurse notes a shuffling gait, tremors in both hands, and difficulty
initiating movement. When assisting the client from the bed to the chair, the nurse
should take which action first?
A. Place a gait belt around the client's waist before standing
B. Instruct the client to rock back and forth to initiate momentum ✓ CORRECT
C. Ask the client to place both hands on the nurse's shoulders for support
,D. Have the client take a deep breath and hold it while standing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rocking back and forth uses momentum to overcome akinesia, which is the
primary barrier to movement initiation in Parkinson disease. Placing hands on the
nurse's shoulders can compromise the nurse's balance and does not address the
client's freezing episode. Clients with Parkinson disease often need extra time and
momentum-based cues rather than standard transfer instructions.
Question 2 of 100
During a fire drill on a busy orthopedic unit, a 54-year-old postoperative client asks the
nurse why the oxygen tanks were moved away from the hallway. The nurse explains that
this action reflects which safety principle?
A. Reducing the risk of combustion by separating fuel sources
B. Minimizing the chance of cylinder rupture during evacuation
C. Keeping corridors clear to speed up patient transport
D. Preventing oxygen-enriched environments near exit routes ✓ CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Oxygen accelerates combustion, so storing tanks near exit routes during a
fire drill creates an oxygen-enriched hazard zone that could intensify flames. While
corridor clearance matters for evacuation, the specific concern with oxygen is its role in
supporting combustion rather than general clutter. Fire safety in healthcare requires
isolating oxidizers from potential ignition sources and high-traffic escape paths.
Question 3 of 100
A nurse is caring for a 42-year-old client who has Clostridioides difficile infection and
requires contact precautions. The client needs to be transported to radiology for an
,abdominal CT scan. Before leaving the unit, the nurse should ensure which step is
completed?
A. The client wears a clean gown and gloves during transport ✓ CORRECT
B. Radiology staff are notified to don N95 respirators prior to imaging
C. The transport technician applies a surgical mask to the client
D. A sign is posted on the radiology door indicating airborne isolation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clients on contact precautions should wear a clean gown and gloves during
transport to prevent environmental contamination and protect others from infectious
organisms. C. difficile spreads via contact with spores, not airborne droplets, so N95
respirators and airborne signage are unnecessary and misleading. Gloves and gown
contain the pathogen and remind staff to maintain precautions at the destination.
Question 4 of 100
A 29-year-old construction worker is admitted to the emergency department with a
suspected lumbar strain after lifting heavy equipment. The nurse is preparing to apply a
cold pack to the lower back. When delegating this task to a UAP, the nurse should
specify which instruction?
A. Apply the cold pack directly to the skin for maximum vasoconstriction
B. Keep the cold pack in place for 45 minutes to ensure deep tissue cooling
C. Place a thin towel between the cold pack and the client's skin ✓ CORRECT
D. Massage the area gently while the cold pack is in place
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A thin towel barrier prevents thermal injury and skin damage while still
allowing cold to penetrate tissue effectively. Direct application or prolonged exposure
longer than 15 to 20 minutes risks frostbite and nerve damage, especially in clients with
altered sensation. Massaging during cold therapy is contraindicated because it can
increase inflammation rather than reduce it.
, Question 5 of 100
A nurse on a pediatric unit discovers that a 6-year-old client with asthma has removed
the nasal cannula while sleeping. The pulse oximeter reads 89%. The nurse enters the
room and finds the child sitting upright in bed, breathing rapidly with audible wheezing.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Call the respiratory therapist to administer a bronchodilator treatment
B. Reapply the nasal cannula and increase the oxygen flow rate ✓ CORRECT
C. Position the child in high Fowler's and begin chest physiotherapy
D. Notify the provider immediately and prepare for intubation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reapplying the oxygen device restores the supplemental oxygen support that
was interrupted, which is the most immediate intervention for hypoxemia indicated by
the 89% saturation. While positioning and bronchodilators are important, oxygen
reapplication takes priority when the saturation has dropped due to device
displacement. Rapid notification without first correcting the obvious cause of hypoxia
delays basic life support.
Question 6 of 100
The charge nurse is reviewing incident reports from the previous shift. A UAP
documented that a 35-year-old client with a seizure disorder fell while ambulating to the
bathroom unsupervised. The UAP stated the client insisted on going alone. Which
response by the charge nurse demonstrates appropriate accountability?
A. Remind the UAP that client autonomy always overrides safety protocols
B. Document that the client was noncompliant and refused assistance
C. Instruct the UAP to use a bed alarm for all clients going forward
D. Review the falls risk protocol and reinforce that assigned clients require escorts ✓
CORRECT
