ATI RN
Concept-Based
Assessment
Level 2 Proctored Examination | 2026/2027
Comprehensive Verified Question Bank
90 Questions | 10 Clinical Sections Verified | A+ Graded Rationales
,Section 1: Patient-Centered Care and Communication
Q1: A nurse is caring for a patient who speaks limited English and needs to provide discharge
instructions about a new medication regimen. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Ask a bilingual family member to interpret the instructions
B. Use medical terminology to ensure accuracy of the information provided
C. Obtain a professional medical interpreter to facilitate communication [CORRECT]
D. Provide written instructions in English and ask the patient to read them back
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Professional medical interpreters are required for patients with limited English proficiency to ensure accurate
communication and maintain confidentiality. Using family members as interpreters may breach confidentiality and result in
miscommunication of medical information. While the teach-back method is important for confirming understanding, the first
priority is to establish effective communication through a qualified interpreter. ATI prioritizes patient safety and accurate
information exchange in therapeutic communication.
Q2: A nurse is providing end-of-life care for a patient with a terminal illness. The patient's family
asks about the difference between palliative care and hospice care. Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
A. Palliative care is only for patients who have less than six months to live
B. Hospice care focuses on curing the underlying disease while managing symptoms
C. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and focuses on symptom relief and
quality of life [CORRECT]
D. Hospice care requires the patient to be admitted to an inpatient facility for continuous care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness and focuses on relieving symptoms and improving
quality of life, whereas hospice care is specifically for patients with a prognosis of six months or less who have elected to
forgo curative treatment. Hospice care can be provided in various settings including the home, not just inpatient facilities. ATI
distinguishes clearly between palliative care and hospice care in end-of-life education.
Q3: A nurse is using the LEARN model to provide culturally competent care to a patient from a
different cultural background. Which action demonstrates the 'Negotiate' component of this model?
A. Listening actively to the patient's explanation of their health beliefs
B. Acknowledging and validating the patient's cultural health practices
C. Collaborating with the patient to find a mutually acceptable treatment plan [CORRECT]
D. Explaining the medical rationale for the recommended treatment approach
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The LEARN model stands for Listen, Explain, Acknowledge, Recommend, and Negotiate. The Negotiate
component involves collaborating with the patient to find a plan that integrates cultural preferences with evidence-based
medical care. Listening corresponds to the first step, Acknowledging validates the patient's perspective, and Explaining
provides the medical rationale. Negotiation is the final and most collaborative step in this cultural competence framework.
Q4: A nurse is assessing a patient's health literacy before providing discharge education. Which
technique is most appropriate to evaluate the patient's understanding?
, ATI RN Concept-Based Assessment Level 2 Proctored Exam 2026/2027
A. Ask the patient to complete a written comprehension test before providing education
B. Provide education at a college reading level to ensure thoroughness of content
C. Use the teach-back method by asking the patient to explain the instructions in their own words
[CORRECT]
D. Provide a detailed pamphlet and assume the patient will read it thoroughly at home
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The teach-back method is the recommended approach for assessing patient understanding and confirming that
education has been effective. The nurse asks the patient to explain or demonstrate what they have learned in their own words.
Patient education should be provided at a 5th- to 6th-grade reading level, not college level. Simply providing written materials
without assessing comprehension does not confirm understanding. ATI emphasizes the teach-back method as a best practice.
Q5: A nurse is caring for a patient who is grieving the recent loss of a spouse. Which therapeutic
communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the patient to express their feelings?
A. I know exactly how you feel; I lost my spouse too
B. It has been three months now; you should be starting to feel better
C. Can you tell me more about what you are experiencing right now? [CORRECT]
D. Don't worry; everything happens for a reason and things will get better
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Asking an open-ended question encourages the patient to share their feelings and is a therapeutic communication
technique. Stating 'I know exactly how you feel' minimizes the patient's unique experience and is non-therapeutic. Telling the
patient they should feel better is dismissive of their grief timeline. Saying 'everything happens for a reason' is false
reassurance, a non-therapeutic technique that minimizes feelings. ATI emphasizes recognizing and validating patient emotions
through open-ended exploration.
Q6: A nurse is communicating with a patient who appears anxious about an upcoming surgical
procedure. Which nursing response demonstrates the technique of reflecting?
A. You seem anxious about the surgery tomorrow; surgery can be stressful for many patients
[CORRECT]
B. Let me tell you about the procedure so you will understand what to expect
C. There is nothing to worry about; our surgical team is very experienced
D. Why are you so worried about this procedure?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reflecting is a therapeutic communication technique that directs the patient's feelings or thoughts back to them to
encourage further expression. By acknowledging the patient's anxiety and reflecting it back, the nurse validates the patient's
feelings and invites elaboration. Providing information does not constitute reflecting. False reassurance is non-therapeutic.
'Why' questions are non-therapeutic because they can make patients feel defensive. ATI emphasizes therapeutic
communication techniques.
Q7: A patient with a terminal diagnosis is experiencing dyspnea and anxiety at end of life. Which
intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Administer prescribed opioid analgesic to manage dyspnea and reduce anxiety [CORRECT]
B. Teach the patient deep breathing exercises to cope with breathlessness
C. Restrict fluid intake to reduce respiratory secretions
D. Position the patient flat to conserve energy
Verified Question Bank Page 2
Concept-Based
Assessment
Level 2 Proctored Examination | 2026/2027
Comprehensive Verified Question Bank
90 Questions | 10 Clinical Sections Verified | A+ Graded Rationales
,Section 1: Patient-Centered Care and Communication
Q1: A nurse is caring for a patient who speaks limited English and needs to provide discharge
instructions about a new medication regimen. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Ask a bilingual family member to interpret the instructions
B. Use medical terminology to ensure accuracy of the information provided
C. Obtain a professional medical interpreter to facilitate communication [CORRECT]
D. Provide written instructions in English and ask the patient to read them back
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Professional medical interpreters are required for patients with limited English proficiency to ensure accurate
communication and maintain confidentiality. Using family members as interpreters may breach confidentiality and result in
miscommunication of medical information. While the teach-back method is important for confirming understanding, the first
priority is to establish effective communication through a qualified interpreter. ATI prioritizes patient safety and accurate
information exchange in therapeutic communication.
Q2: A nurse is providing end-of-life care for a patient with a terminal illness. The patient's family
asks about the difference between palliative care and hospice care. Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
A. Palliative care is only for patients who have less than six months to live
B. Hospice care focuses on curing the underlying disease while managing symptoms
C. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and focuses on symptom relief and
quality of life [CORRECT]
D. Hospice care requires the patient to be admitted to an inpatient facility for continuous care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness and focuses on relieving symptoms and improving
quality of life, whereas hospice care is specifically for patients with a prognosis of six months or less who have elected to
forgo curative treatment. Hospice care can be provided in various settings including the home, not just inpatient facilities. ATI
distinguishes clearly between palliative care and hospice care in end-of-life education.
Q3: A nurse is using the LEARN model to provide culturally competent care to a patient from a
different cultural background. Which action demonstrates the 'Negotiate' component of this model?
A. Listening actively to the patient's explanation of their health beliefs
B. Acknowledging and validating the patient's cultural health practices
C. Collaborating with the patient to find a mutually acceptable treatment plan [CORRECT]
D. Explaining the medical rationale for the recommended treatment approach
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The LEARN model stands for Listen, Explain, Acknowledge, Recommend, and Negotiate. The Negotiate
component involves collaborating with the patient to find a plan that integrates cultural preferences with evidence-based
medical care. Listening corresponds to the first step, Acknowledging validates the patient's perspective, and Explaining
provides the medical rationale. Negotiation is the final and most collaborative step in this cultural competence framework.
Q4: A nurse is assessing a patient's health literacy before providing discharge education. Which
technique is most appropriate to evaluate the patient's understanding?
, ATI RN Concept-Based Assessment Level 2 Proctored Exam 2026/2027
A. Ask the patient to complete a written comprehension test before providing education
B. Provide education at a college reading level to ensure thoroughness of content
C. Use the teach-back method by asking the patient to explain the instructions in their own words
[CORRECT]
D. Provide a detailed pamphlet and assume the patient will read it thoroughly at home
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The teach-back method is the recommended approach for assessing patient understanding and confirming that
education has been effective. The nurse asks the patient to explain or demonstrate what they have learned in their own words.
Patient education should be provided at a 5th- to 6th-grade reading level, not college level. Simply providing written materials
without assessing comprehension does not confirm understanding. ATI emphasizes the teach-back method as a best practice.
Q5: A nurse is caring for a patient who is grieving the recent loss of a spouse. Which therapeutic
communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the patient to express their feelings?
A. I know exactly how you feel; I lost my spouse too
B. It has been three months now; you should be starting to feel better
C. Can you tell me more about what you are experiencing right now? [CORRECT]
D. Don't worry; everything happens for a reason and things will get better
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Asking an open-ended question encourages the patient to share their feelings and is a therapeutic communication
technique. Stating 'I know exactly how you feel' minimizes the patient's unique experience and is non-therapeutic. Telling the
patient they should feel better is dismissive of their grief timeline. Saying 'everything happens for a reason' is false
reassurance, a non-therapeutic technique that minimizes feelings. ATI emphasizes recognizing and validating patient emotions
through open-ended exploration.
Q6: A nurse is communicating with a patient who appears anxious about an upcoming surgical
procedure. Which nursing response demonstrates the technique of reflecting?
A. You seem anxious about the surgery tomorrow; surgery can be stressful for many patients
[CORRECT]
B. Let me tell you about the procedure so you will understand what to expect
C. There is nothing to worry about; our surgical team is very experienced
D. Why are you so worried about this procedure?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reflecting is a therapeutic communication technique that directs the patient's feelings or thoughts back to them to
encourage further expression. By acknowledging the patient's anxiety and reflecting it back, the nurse validates the patient's
feelings and invites elaboration. Providing information does not constitute reflecting. False reassurance is non-therapeutic.
'Why' questions are non-therapeutic because they can make patients feel defensive. ATI emphasizes therapeutic
communication techniques.
Q7: A patient with a terminal diagnosis is experiencing dyspnea and anxiety at end of life. Which
intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Administer prescribed opioid analgesic to manage dyspnea and reduce anxiety [CORRECT]
B. Teach the patient deep breathing exercises to cope with breathlessness
C. Restrict fluid intake to reduce respiratory secretions
D. Position the patient flat to conserve energy
Verified Question Bank Page 2
