RN ATI Fundamentals of Nursing
Proctored Exam 2026: High-Yield
Questions & Answers Review
(Questions 1–150 with Rationales)
SECTION 1: DELEGATION, ASSIGNMENT, AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Question 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. Feeding a client who was admitted 24 hours ago with aspiration
pneumonia
B. Reinforcing teaching with a client who is learning to walk using a quad
cane
C. Reapplying a condom catheter for a client who has urinary incontinence
D. Applying a sterile dressing to a pressure ulcer
Answer: C. Reapplying a condom catheter for a client who has urinary
incontinence
Rationale: The application of a condom catheter is a noninvasive, routine
procedure that the nurse may delegate to the AP. Tasks that require
nursing judgment, assessment, or sterile technique (feeding a client with
aspiration pneumonia, reinforcing teaching, applying sterile dressings)
should not be delegated to AP.
,Question 2
A nurse manager of a med-surg unit is assigning care responsibilities for
the oncoming shift. A client is awaiting transfer back to the unit from the
PACU following thoracic surgery. To which staff member should the nurse
assign this client?
A. Charge nurse
B. RN
C. LPN
D. AP
Answer: B. RN
Rationale: A client returning from surgery requires assessment and
establishment of a plan of care. RNs are responsible for this, especially if
the client is potentially unstable. This assignment cannot be delegated to
LPNs or AP.
Question 3
An RN is making assignments for client care to an LPN at the beginning of
the shift. Which of the following assignments should the LPN question?
A. Assisting a client who is 24 hours postop to use an incentive spirometer
B. Collecting a clean-catch urine specimen from a client who was admitted
on the previous shift
C. Providing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a client who has pneumonia
D. Replacing the cartridge and tubing on a PCA pump
Answer: D. Replacing the cartridge and tubing on a PCA pump
,Rationale: The RN is responsible for the PCA pump. Tasks involving
complex medication administration and pump programming should not be
delegated to LPNs.
Question 4
A nurse is delegating tasks to an AP. Which of the following tasks is
appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Performing a sterile dressing change
C. Assisting a client with ambulation
D. Assessing a client's lung sounds
Answer: C. Assisting a client with ambulation
Rationale: Assisting with ambulation is a routine task within the AP's scope
of practice. Medication administration, sterile procedures, and assessments
require nursing judgment and cannot be delegated to AP.
Question 5
Which client should the charge nurse assign to an experienced LPN?
A. A client who is 1 day postoperative with a new colostomy
B. A client with stable diabetes mellitus requiring insulin administration
C. A client admitted with chest pain and unstable vital signs
D. A client requiring initial postoperative assessment
Answer: B. A client with stable diabetes mellitus requiring insulin
administration
, Rationale: LPNs can administer medications, including insulin, to stable
clients. Unstable clients, new postoperative assessments, and complex
procedures require RN supervision or should be assigned to an RN.
Question 6
A nurse is delegating feeding assistance to an AP for a client with
dysphagia. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. "Feed the client as quickly as possible to prevent fatigue."
B. "Place the food on the strong side of the client's mouth."
C. "Thin liquids are preferred for clients with dysphagia."
D. "Allow the client to feed independently without supervision."
Answer: B. Place the food on the strong side of the client's mouth.
Rationale: For clients with dysphagia, placing food on the strong side of
the mouth facilitates safer swallowing. The AP should be instructed to feed
slowly, use thickened liquids as prescribed, and supervise the client during
meals.
Question 7
A nurse is assigning care for a client with a new tracheostomy. Which staff
member should the nurse assign to provide trach care?
A. AP
B. LPN
C. Newly graduated RN
D. Experienced RN
Proctored Exam 2026: High-Yield
Questions & Answers Review
(Questions 1–150 with Rationales)
SECTION 1: DELEGATION, ASSIGNMENT, AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Question 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. Feeding a client who was admitted 24 hours ago with aspiration
pneumonia
B. Reinforcing teaching with a client who is learning to walk using a quad
cane
C. Reapplying a condom catheter for a client who has urinary incontinence
D. Applying a sterile dressing to a pressure ulcer
Answer: C. Reapplying a condom catheter for a client who has urinary
incontinence
Rationale: The application of a condom catheter is a noninvasive, routine
procedure that the nurse may delegate to the AP. Tasks that require
nursing judgment, assessment, or sterile technique (feeding a client with
aspiration pneumonia, reinforcing teaching, applying sterile dressings)
should not be delegated to AP.
,Question 2
A nurse manager of a med-surg unit is assigning care responsibilities for
the oncoming shift. A client is awaiting transfer back to the unit from the
PACU following thoracic surgery. To which staff member should the nurse
assign this client?
A. Charge nurse
B. RN
C. LPN
D. AP
Answer: B. RN
Rationale: A client returning from surgery requires assessment and
establishment of a plan of care. RNs are responsible for this, especially if
the client is potentially unstable. This assignment cannot be delegated to
LPNs or AP.
Question 3
An RN is making assignments for client care to an LPN at the beginning of
the shift. Which of the following assignments should the LPN question?
A. Assisting a client who is 24 hours postop to use an incentive spirometer
B. Collecting a clean-catch urine specimen from a client who was admitted
on the previous shift
C. Providing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a client who has pneumonia
D. Replacing the cartridge and tubing on a PCA pump
Answer: D. Replacing the cartridge and tubing on a PCA pump
,Rationale: The RN is responsible for the PCA pump. Tasks involving
complex medication administration and pump programming should not be
delegated to LPNs.
Question 4
A nurse is delegating tasks to an AP. Which of the following tasks is
appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Performing a sterile dressing change
C. Assisting a client with ambulation
D. Assessing a client's lung sounds
Answer: C. Assisting a client with ambulation
Rationale: Assisting with ambulation is a routine task within the AP's scope
of practice. Medication administration, sterile procedures, and assessments
require nursing judgment and cannot be delegated to AP.
Question 5
Which client should the charge nurse assign to an experienced LPN?
A. A client who is 1 day postoperative with a new colostomy
B. A client with stable diabetes mellitus requiring insulin administration
C. A client admitted with chest pain and unstable vital signs
D. A client requiring initial postoperative assessment
Answer: B. A client with stable diabetes mellitus requiring insulin
administration
, Rationale: LPNs can administer medications, including insulin, to stable
clients. Unstable clients, new postoperative assessments, and complex
procedures require RN supervision or should be assigned to an RN.
Question 6
A nurse is delegating feeding assistance to an AP for a client with
dysphagia. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. "Feed the client as quickly as possible to prevent fatigue."
B. "Place the food on the strong side of the client's mouth."
C. "Thin liquids are preferred for clients with dysphagia."
D. "Allow the client to feed independently without supervision."
Answer: B. Place the food on the strong side of the client's mouth.
Rationale: For clients with dysphagia, placing food on the strong side of
the mouth facilitates safer swallowing. The AP should be instructed to feed
slowly, use thickened liquids as prescribed, and supervise the client during
meals.
Question 7
A nurse is assigning care for a client with a new tracheostomy. Which staff
member should the nurse assign to provide trach care?
A. AP
B. LPN
C. Newly graduated RN
D. Experienced RN
