ATI FUNDAMENTALS PROCTORED ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027..
Core Domains:
• Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
• Safety and Infection Control
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Basic Care and Comfort
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
• Reduction of Risk Potential
• Physiological Adaptation
Introduction
The ATI Fundamentals Proctored Assessment is designed to evaluate a student's comprehension and mastery of basic nursing concepts
and foundational clinical skills required for safe, entry-level practice. This comprehensive exam assesses essential knowledge including
infection control, patient safety, legal and ethical guidelines, basic physiological care, and risk reduction. Utilizing a mixture of multiple-
choice and scenario-based questions, the assessment tests critical thinking, clinical judgment, and real-world application. Students must
demonstrate the ability to analyze patient data, prioritize nursing actions, and make sound clinical decisions to ensure high-quality, patient-
centered care within diverse healthcare environments.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for pressure injury development. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include in the plan of care?
A. Massage reddened bony prominences.
B. Keep the head of the bed elevated above 45 degrees at all times.
C. Apply a moisture barrier ointment to skin exposed to incontinence.
D. Reposition the client every 4 hours while they are in bed.
🟢
C. Apply a moisture barrier ointment to skin exposed to incontinence.
🔴 RATIONALE: Applying a moisture barrier ointment protects vulnerable skin from breakdown caused by exposure to moisture and bodily
fluids. Reddenened areas should not be massaged because this can cause deeper tissue damage. The head of the bed should be kept at
or below 30 degrees to minimize shearing forces, and immobile clients should be repositioned at least every 2 hours.
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
A. Open the sterile catheterization kit.
B. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers.
,C. Cleanse the perineal area with antiseptic solution.
D. Lubricate the tip of the catheter.
🟢
B. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers.
🔴 RATIONALE: The first action the nurse should always take using the nursing process approach is to verify the client's identity using two
independent identifiers to ensure safety and prevent medical errors. The other choices are sequential steps of the procedure that occur after
identity verification.
A nurse is reviewing legal definitions with a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following situations should the nurse identify
as an example of battery?
A. A nurse threatens to insert a nasogastric tube if a client refuses to eat.
B. A nurse administers an injection to a competent client who explicitly refused it.
C. A nurse restrains a client who is coherent to prevent them from leaving the unit.
D. A nurse shares confidential client laboratory values with a colleague in the cafeteria.
🟢
B. A nurse administers an injection to a competent client who explicitly refused it.
🔴 RATIONALE: Battery is the intentional, unauthorized, and harmful or offensive physical contact with another person. Administering a
medication after a competent client has refused constitutes battery. Threatening an action is assault. Restraining a client inappropriately is
false imprisonment. Sharing confidential data is a breach of confidentiality or invasion of privacy.
A nurse is preparing to change a sterile dressing for a client who has a surgical wound. Which of the following actions should the
nurse perform to maintain surgical asepsis?
A. Reach across the sterile field to pick up a dressing sponge.
B. Open the outermost flap of the sterile kit wrapper toward the body.
C. Drop sterile items onto the center of the sterile field from 6 inches above.
D. Leave the sterile field unattended to obtain forgotten supplies.
🟢
C. Drop sterile items onto the center of the sterile field from 6 inches above.
🔴 RATIONALE: Dropping sterile items carefully onto the center of the field from about 6 inches prevents contamination from unsterile
edges. Reaching across a sterile field contaminates it. The outermost flap of a sterile package should be opened away from the body. A
sterile field should never be left unattended or turned away from.
A nurse is assessing a client who has a prescription for wrist restraints. Which of the following findings indicates a need to intervene?
A. The restraints are tied to the movable portion of the bed frame.
B. The nurse can insert two fingers between the restraint and the client's wrist.
C. The restraints are secured with a quick-release knot.
D. The client's peripheral pulses distal to the restraint are non-palpable.
,🟢
D. The client's peripheral pulses distal to the restraint are non-palpable.
🔴 RATIONALE: Non-palpable peripheral pulses indicate compromised arterial circulation distal to the restraint, requiring immediate
removal and reassessment. Tying restraints to the movable bed frame, ensuring a two-finger space, and utilizing quick-release knots are
correct practices.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous intravenous infusion and develops fluid volume overload. Which of the
following manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Flat neck veins when supine
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Distended neck veins and bounding pulses
D. Sunken eyeballs and dry mucous membranes
🟢
C. Distended neck veins and bounding pulses
🔴 RATIONALE: Fluid volume excess manifests with circulatory overload signs, including distended neck veins, bounding peripheral
pulses, hypertension, and peripheral edema. Flat neck veins, low blood pressure, sunken eyes, and dry mucous membranes are
manifestations of fluid volume deficit or dehydration.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about a low-sodium diet with a client who has hypertension. Which of the following choices by the
client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. Canned tomato soup
B. Fresh turkey breast sliced at home
C. Smoked salmon roll
D. Pre-packaged frozen pepperoni pizza
🟢
B. Fresh turkey breast sliced at home
🔴 RATIONALE: Fresh poultry processed at home contains significantly less sodium than canned, smoked, cured, or frozen pre-packaged
commercial foods. Canned soups, smoked fish, and frozen pizzas are highly processed and contain high amounts of sodium.
A nurse is documenting care in a client's electronic health record. Which of the following entries demonstrates objective
documentation?
A. "The client is being manipulative and uncooperative today."
B. "The client appears depressed and is crying constantly."
C. "The client stated that they hate the hospital food."
D. "The client walked 50 feet down the hallway with a walker, steady gait."
🟢
D. "The client walked 50 feet down the hallway with a walker, steady gait."
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Objective documentation should be factual, measurable, and observable without subjective interpretations or judgments.
Describing a client as manipulative or depressed uses subjective conclusions. Reporting a quotation is acceptable but the direct physical
description of ambulation distance and stability is purely objective.
A nurse is evaluating a client's understanding of using a cane for left-sided weakness. Which of the following actions by the client
demonstrates correct technique?
A. Holding the cane in the left hand
B. Advancing the cane and the right leg together
C. Holding the cane in the right hand and advancing it with the left leg
D. Moving the strong leg forward first before advancing the cane
🟢
C. Holding the cane in the right hand and advancing it with the left leg
🔴 RATIONALE: A cane should be held on the unaffected or stronger side (the right hand for left-sided weakness) to provide wider support.
The cane is moved forward simultaneously with the affected or weaker leg (left leg) to distribute weight evenly.
A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for an elective surgical procedure. The client states, "I'm really not sure what the
surgeon is planning to do during the operation." Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Explain the surgical procedure to the client in detail.
B. Reassure the client that the surgeon is highly qualified.
C. Notify the provider that the client needs further explanation of the procedure.
D. Document that informed consent has been obtained since the form is signed.
🟢
C. Notify the provider that the client needs further explanation of the procedure.
🔴 RATIONALE: It is the legal responsibility of the provider to explain the surgical procedure, risks, and benefits to the client. If the client
expresses lack of understanding, the nurse's role as a witness and advocate is to contact the provider to clarify, even if the consent form
was already signed.
A nurse is implementing airborne precautions for a client. Which of the following infections requires this type of isolation transmission
barrier?
A. Influenza
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
C. Clostridioides difficile
D. Mycoplasma pneumonia
🟢
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Airborne precautions are required for droplet nuclei smaller than 5 microns, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, rubeola
(measles), and varicella (chickenpox). Influenza and mycoplasma pneumonia require droplet precautions, while Clostridioides difficile
requires contact precautions.
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027..
Core Domains:
• Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
• Safety and Infection Control
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Basic Care and Comfort
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
• Reduction of Risk Potential
• Physiological Adaptation
Introduction
The ATI Fundamentals Proctored Assessment is designed to evaluate a student's comprehension and mastery of basic nursing concepts
and foundational clinical skills required for safe, entry-level practice. This comprehensive exam assesses essential knowledge including
infection control, patient safety, legal and ethical guidelines, basic physiological care, and risk reduction. Utilizing a mixture of multiple-
choice and scenario-based questions, the assessment tests critical thinking, clinical judgment, and real-world application. Students must
demonstrate the ability to analyze patient data, prioritize nursing actions, and make sound clinical decisions to ensure high-quality, patient-
centered care within diverse healthcare environments.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for pressure injury development. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include in the plan of care?
A. Massage reddened bony prominences.
B. Keep the head of the bed elevated above 45 degrees at all times.
C. Apply a moisture barrier ointment to skin exposed to incontinence.
D. Reposition the client every 4 hours while they are in bed.
🟢
C. Apply a moisture barrier ointment to skin exposed to incontinence.
🔴 RATIONALE: Applying a moisture barrier ointment protects vulnerable skin from breakdown caused by exposure to moisture and bodily
fluids. Reddenened areas should not be massaged because this can cause deeper tissue damage. The head of the bed should be kept at
or below 30 degrees to minimize shearing forces, and immobile clients should be repositioned at least every 2 hours.
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
A. Open the sterile catheterization kit.
B. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers.
,C. Cleanse the perineal area with antiseptic solution.
D. Lubricate the tip of the catheter.
🟢
B. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers.
🔴 RATIONALE: The first action the nurse should always take using the nursing process approach is to verify the client's identity using two
independent identifiers to ensure safety and prevent medical errors. The other choices are sequential steps of the procedure that occur after
identity verification.
A nurse is reviewing legal definitions with a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following situations should the nurse identify
as an example of battery?
A. A nurse threatens to insert a nasogastric tube if a client refuses to eat.
B. A nurse administers an injection to a competent client who explicitly refused it.
C. A nurse restrains a client who is coherent to prevent them from leaving the unit.
D. A nurse shares confidential client laboratory values with a colleague in the cafeteria.
🟢
B. A nurse administers an injection to a competent client who explicitly refused it.
🔴 RATIONALE: Battery is the intentional, unauthorized, and harmful or offensive physical contact with another person. Administering a
medication after a competent client has refused constitutes battery. Threatening an action is assault. Restraining a client inappropriately is
false imprisonment. Sharing confidential data is a breach of confidentiality or invasion of privacy.
A nurse is preparing to change a sterile dressing for a client who has a surgical wound. Which of the following actions should the
nurse perform to maintain surgical asepsis?
A. Reach across the sterile field to pick up a dressing sponge.
B. Open the outermost flap of the sterile kit wrapper toward the body.
C. Drop sterile items onto the center of the sterile field from 6 inches above.
D. Leave the sterile field unattended to obtain forgotten supplies.
🟢
C. Drop sterile items onto the center of the sterile field from 6 inches above.
🔴 RATIONALE: Dropping sterile items carefully onto the center of the field from about 6 inches prevents contamination from unsterile
edges. Reaching across a sterile field contaminates it. The outermost flap of a sterile package should be opened away from the body. A
sterile field should never be left unattended or turned away from.
A nurse is assessing a client who has a prescription for wrist restraints. Which of the following findings indicates a need to intervene?
A. The restraints are tied to the movable portion of the bed frame.
B. The nurse can insert two fingers between the restraint and the client's wrist.
C. The restraints are secured with a quick-release knot.
D. The client's peripheral pulses distal to the restraint are non-palpable.
,🟢
D. The client's peripheral pulses distal to the restraint are non-palpable.
🔴 RATIONALE: Non-palpable peripheral pulses indicate compromised arterial circulation distal to the restraint, requiring immediate
removal and reassessment. Tying restraints to the movable bed frame, ensuring a two-finger space, and utilizing quick-release knots are
correct practices.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous intravenous infusion and develops fluid volume overload. Which of the
following manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Flat neck veins when supine
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Distended neck veins and bounding pulses
D. Sunken eyeballs and dry mucous membranes
🟢
C. Distended neck veins and bounding pulses
🔴 RATIONALE: Fluid volume excess manifests with circulatory overload signs, including distended neck veins, bounding peripheral
pulses, hypertension, and peripheral edema. Flat neck veins, low blood pressure, sunken eyes, and dry mucous membranes are
manifestations of fluid volume deficit or dehydration.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about a low-sodium diet with a client who has hypertension. Which of the following choices by the
client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. Canned tomato soup
B. Fresh turkey breast sliced at home
C. Smoked salmon roll
D. Pre-packaged frozen pepperoni pizza
🟢
B. Fresh turkey breast sliced at home
🔴 RATIONALE: Fresh poultry processed at home contains significantly less sodium than canned, smoked, cured, or frozen pre-packaged
commercial foods. Canned soups, smoked fish, and frozen pizzas are highly processed and contain high amounts of sodium.
A nurse is documenting care in a client's electronic health record. Which of the following entries demonstrates objective
documentation?
A. "The client is being manipulative and uncooperative today."
B. "The client appears depressed and is crying constantly."
C. "The client stated that they hate the hospital food."
D. "The client walked 50 feet down the hallway with a walker, steady gait."
🟢
D. "The client walked 50 feet down the hallway with a walker, steady gait."
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Objective documentation should be factual, measurable, and observable without subjective interpretations or judgments.
Describing a client as manipulative or depressed uses subjective conclusions. Reporting a quotation is acceptable but the direct physical
description of ambulation distance and stability is purely objective.
A nurse is evaluating a client's understanding of using a cane for left-sided weakness. Which of the following actions by the client
demonstrates correct technique?
A. Holding the cane in the left hand
B. Advancing the cane and the right leg together
C. Holding the cane in the right hand and advancing it with the left leg
D. Moving the strong leg forward first before advancing the cane
🟢
C. Holding the cane in the right hand and advancing it with the left leg
🔴 RATIONALE: A cane should be held on the unaffected or stronger side (the right hand for left-sided weakness) to provide wider support.
The cane is moved forward simultaneously with the affected or weaker leg (left leg) to distribute weight evenly.
A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for an elective surgical procedure. The client states, "I'm really not sure what the
surgeon is planning to do during the operation." Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Explain the surgical procedure to the client in detail.
B. Reassure the client that the surgeon is highly qualified.
C. Notify the provider that the client needs further explanation of the procedure.
D. Document that informed consent has been obtained since the form is signed.
🟢
C. Notify the provider that the client needs further explanation of the procedure.
🔴 RATIONALE: It is the legal responsibility of the provider to explain the surgical procedure, risks, and benefits to the client. If the client
expresses lack of understanding, the nurse's role as a witness and advocate is to contact the provider to clarify, even if the consent form
was already signed.
A nurse is implementing airborne precautions for a client. Which of the following infections requires this type of isolation transmission
barrier?
A. Influenza
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
C. Clostridioides difficile
D. Mycoplasma pneumonia
🟢
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Airborne precautions are required for droplet nuclei smaller than 5 microns, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, rubeola
(measles), and varicella (chickenpox). Influenza and mycoplasma pneumonia require droplet precautions, while Clostridioides difficile
requires contact precautions.
