ATI RN Fundamentals Practice Test Questions
and Answers
Fall 2025/2026 Update 100% Correct Latest
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer an enteral feeding to a client who has a nasogastric tube. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Check the residual gastric volume
B. Verify the placement of the tube
C. Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
D. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A: Checking residual gastric volume is important to assess gastric emptying and risk of aspiration,
but it is not the first action. Verifying tube placement takes priority to ensure the feeding is delivered
safely into the stomach.
Option B: CORRECT. Verifying placement of the nasogastric tube is the priority action before initiating
any enteral feeding to prevent accidental administration into the lungs or esophagus.
Option C: Elevating the head of the bed is an important safety measure to prevent aspiration, but
placement verification must occur first.
,Option D: Flushing the tube helps maintain patency but should occur after placement is confirmed.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and reports incisional pain. The nurse administers
morphine sulfate 2 mg IV. Which of the following findings indicates the medication was effective?
A. The client reports pain as a 3 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. The client's respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute
C. The client is sleeping quietly
D. The client's heart rate is 88 beats per minute
ANSWER: A
Rationale:
Option A: CORRECT. The most direct indicator of analgesic effectiveness is the client's self-report of pain
reduction. A pain score of 3 out of 10 indicates the medication has reduced pain.
Option B: Respiratory rate is an assessment of adverse effects, not effectiveness. A rate of 14 is within
normal limits but does not indicate pain relief.
Option C: Sleeping quietly may indicate pain relief but could also indicate oversedation or other factors.
Client self-report is the gold standard.
Option D: Heart rate is a physiologic indicator that may change with pain, but client self-report remains
the most reliable indicator of pain relief.
Question 3
A nurse is providing teaching to a client about the use of a cane. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
,A. Hold the cane on the unaffected side
B. Hold the cane on the affected side
C. Advance the cane 30 inches forward
D. Keep the cane 12 inches to the side of the body
ANSWER: A
Rationale:
Option A: CORRECT. The cane should be held on the unaffected (stronger) side to provide support and
reduce stress on the affected extremity during ambulation.
Option B: Holding the cane on the affected side would place more stress on the weak side and increase
the risk of falls.
Option C: The cane should be advanced 6 to 10 inches forward, not 30 inches, to maintain balance and
stability.
Option D: The cane should be held approximately 6 inches (15 cm) to the side of the body for proper
support.
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a client who has been on bed rest for several days. Which of the following findings is
an early indication of a pressure injury?
A. Stage II pressure injury with partial-thickness skin loss
B. Nonblanchable erythema of the skin
C. Full-thickness skin loss with visible bone
D. Intact skin with a fluid-filled blister
, ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A: Stage II pressure injury involves partial-thickness skin loss and is not an early indication but a
progressed stage.
Option B: CORRECT. Nonblanchable erythema (redness that does not turn white when pressure is
applied) is an early (Stage I) pressure injury and indicates tissue damage.
Option C: Full-thickness skin loss with visible bone describes a Stage IV pressure injury, which is a late,
severe finding.
Option D: A fluid-filled blister would indicate a Stage II pressure injury, which is not an early sign.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a tuberculin skin test to a client. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
A. Administer the injection at a 15-degree angle
B. Administer the injection into the deltoid muscle
C. Administer 0.1 mL of purified protein derivative
D. Administer the injection using a 25-gauge, 1-inch needle
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
and Answers
Fall 2025/2026 Update 100% Correct Latest
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer an enteral feeding to a client who has a nasogastric tube. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Check the residual gastric volume
B. Verify the placement of the tube
C. Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
D. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A: Checking residual gastric volume is important to assess gastric emptying and risk of aspiration,
but it is not the first action. Verifying tube placement takes priority to ensure the feeding is delivered
safely into the stomach.
Option B: CORRECT. Verifying placement of the nasogastric tube is the priority action before initiating
any enteral feeding to prevent accidental administration into the lungs or esophagus.
Option C: Elevating the head of the bed is an important safety measure to prevent aspiration, but
placement verification must occur first.
,Option D: Flushing the tube helps maintain patency but should occur after placement is confirmed.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and reports incisional pain. The nurse administers
morphine sulfate 2 mg IV. Which of the following findings indicates the medication was effective?
A. The client reports pain as a 3 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. The client's respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute
C. The client is sleeping quietly
D. The client's heart rate is 88 beats per minute
ANSWER: A
Rationale:
Option A: CORRECT. The most direct indicator of analgesic effectiveness is the client's self-report of pain
reduction. A pain score of 3 out of 10 indicates the medication has reduced pain.
Option B: Respiratory rate is an assessment of adverse effects, not effectiveness. A rate of 14 is within
normal limits but does not indicate pain relief.
Option C: Sleeping quietly may indicate pain relief but could also indicate oversedation or other factors.
Client self-report is the gold standard.
Option D: Heart rate is a physiologic indicator that may change with pain, but client self-report remains
the most reliable indicator of pain relief.
Question 3
A nurse is providing teaching to a client about the use of a cane. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include?
,A. Hold the cane on the unaffected side
B. Hold the cane on the affected side
C. Advance the cane 30 inches forward
D. Keep the cane 12 inches to the side of the body
ANSWER: A
Rationale:
Option A: CORRECT. The cane should be held on the unaffected (stronger) side to provide support and
reduce stress on the affected extremity during ambulation.
Option B: Holding the cane on the affected side would place more stress on the weak side and increase
the risk of falls.
Option C: The cane should be advanced 6 to 10 inches forward, not 30 inches, to maintain balance and
stability.
Option D: The cane should be held approximately 6 inches (15 cm) to the side of the body for proper
support.
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a client who has been on bed rest for several days. Which of the following findings is
an early indication of a pressure injury?
A. Stage II pressure injury with partial-thickness skin loss
B. Nonblanchable erythema of the skin
C. Full-thickness skin loss with visible bone
D. Intact skin with a fluid-filled blister
, ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A: Stage II pressure injury involves partial-thickness skin loss and is not an early indication but a
progressed stage.
Option B: CORRECT. Nonblanchable erythema (redness that does not turn white when pressure is
applied) is an early (Stage I) pressure injury and indicates tissue damage.
Option C: Full-thickness skin loss with visible bone describes a Stage IV pressure injury, which is a late,
severe finding.
Option D: A fluid-filled blister would indicate a Stage II pressure injury, which is not an early sign.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a tuberculin skin test to a client. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
A. Administer the injection at a 15-degree angle
B. Administer the injection into the deltoid muscle
C. Administer 0.1 mL of purified protein derivative
D. Administer the injection using a 25-gauge, 1-inch needle
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
