ATI Fundamentals: Basic Nursing Skills, Safety & Infection Control
Exam Practice 2026 |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene. According to evidence-based
practice, what is the minimum recommended time for scrubbing with soap and
water?
A. 5 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 10 seconds
D. 60 seconds
Answer: B
Rationale: The CDC recommends scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20
seconds to effectively remove microorganisms.
2. When preparing a sterile field, which part of the sterile drape is considered
contaminated?
A. The center of the drape
B. The top surface of the drape
C. The 1-inch (2.5 cm) border around the edge
D. The area where sterile items are placed
Answer: C
Rationale: The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered contaminated and may
be touched with clean hands.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for wrist restraints. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Ensure that two fingers can be inserted under the restraint
B. Tie the restraints to the side rails of the bed
C. Apply the restraints tightly to prevent any movement
D. Renew the prescription every 48 hours
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should ensure that two fingers can fit between the restraint and the
client’s wrist to prevent neurovascular injury. Restraints should be tied to the bed frame,
not the side rails.
4. In the event of a fire in a client’s room, which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Extinguish the fire
B. Pull the fire alarm
C. Close the doors and windows
D. Rescue the client from the room
Answer: D
Rationale: The RACE acronym (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish) dictates that the first
priority is to rescue and protect clients in immediate danger.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridium difficile. Which infection control
precaution is required?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Standard precautions only
D. Airborne precautions
Answer: A
, Rationale: C. diff requires contact precautions because it is spread by direct contact with
the client or contaminated surfaces.
6. Which of the following is an appropriate action when washing hands with
soap and water?
A. Keeping hands and forearms lower than the elbows
B. Using hot water to kill bacteria
C. Drying hands from the wrists down to the fingers
D. Turning off the faucet with bare hands
Answer: A
Rationale: Hands and forearms should be kept lower than the elbows so that water flows
from the least contaminated area (arms) to the most contaminated area (hands).
7. A nurse is preparing to move a client up in bed. Which principle of body
mechanics should the nurse use?
A. Tighten the abdominal muscles
B. Keep the feet close together
C. Position the bed at the lowest level
D. Bend at the waist
Answer: A
Rationale: Tightening abdominal and gluteal muscles helps stabilize the pelvis and
protects the back from injury during lifting or moving.
8. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse don first when
following standard precautions for a potential splash of body fluids?
A. Gloves
B. Gown
C. Mask
D. Goggles
Answer: B
Exam Practice 2026 |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene. According to evidence-based
practice, what is the minimum recommended time for scrubbing with soap and
water?
A. 5 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 10 seconds
D. 60 seconds
Answer: B
Rationale: The CDC recommends scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20
seconds to effectively remove microorganisms.
2. When preparing a sterile field, which part of the sterile drape is considered
contaminated?
A. The center of the drape
B. The top surface of the drape
C. The 1-inch (2.5 cm) border around the edge
D. The area where sterile items are placed
Answer: C
Rationale: The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered contaminated and may
be touched with clean hands.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for wrist restraints. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Ensure that two fingers can be inserted under the restraint
B. Tie the restraints to the side rails of the bed
C. Apply the restraints tightly to prevent any movement
D. Renew the prescription every 48 hours
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should ensure that two fingers can fit between the restraint and the
client’s wrist to prevent neurovascular injury. Restraints should be tied to the bed frame,
not the side rails.
4. In the event of a fire in a client’s room, which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Extinguish the fire
B. Pull the fire alarm
C. Close the doors and windows
D. Rescue the client from the room
Answer: D
Rationale: The RACE acronym (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish) dictates that the first
priority is to rescue and protect clients in immediate danger.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridium difficile. Which infection control
precaution is required?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Standard precautions only
D. Airborne precautions
Answer: A
, Rationale: C. diff requires contact precautions because it is spread by direct contact with
the client or contaminated surfaces.
6. Which of the following is an appropriate action when washing hands with
soap and water?
A. Keeping hands and forearms lower than the elbows
B. Using hot water to kill bacteria
C. Drying hands from the wrists down to the fingers
D. Turning off the faucet with bare hands
Answer: A
Rationale: Hands and forearms should be kept lower than the elbows so that water flows
from the least contaminated area (arms) to the most contaminated area (hands).
7. A nurse is preparing to move a client up in bed. Which principle of body
mechanics should the nurse use?
A. Tighten the abdominal muscles
B. Keep the feet close together
C. Position the bed at the lowest level
D. Bend at the waist
Answer: A
Rationale: Tightening abdominal and gluteal muscles helps stabilize the pelvis and
protects the back from injury during lifting or moving.
8. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse don first when
following standard precautions for a potential splash of body fluids?
A. Gloves
B. Gown
C. Mask
D. Goggles
Answer: B
