ATI Leadership | Exam 4 Study Guide Patient Safety Q&A + Rationales
| U.S. Nursing 2026/2027
1. A nurse is reviewing the Code of Ethics for Nurses. Which of the following
ethical principles refers to the nurse’s obligation to be faithful to commitments
and promises?
A. Autonomy
B. Fidelity
C. Beneficence
D. Justice
Answer: B
Rationale: Fidelity is the agreement to keep promises and the obligation of an individual to
be faithful to commitments made to self and others.
2. A nurse manager is explaining the purpose of a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to a
new nurse. Which of the following statements should the nurse manager
include?
A. The purpose of an RCA is to determine which staff member is at fault.
B. An RCA is conducted to justify the termination of an employee after an error.
C. The goal of an RCA is to identify system failures that contributed to an adverse event.
D. An RCA is completed only when a patient files a legal lawsuit.
Answer: C
Rationale: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) focuses on identifying the underlying system or
process failures that led to an error, rather than blaming individuals.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client states, ‘I
am not sure what the doctor meant when he said he would fix my valve.’ Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Inform the surgeon that the client needs further clarification.
B. Explain the surgical procedure to the client in simple terms.
C. Reassure the client that the surgeon is very experienced.
D. Ask the client’s family to explain the procedure.
Answer: A
Rationale: It is the provider’s responsibility to explain the procedure and obtain informed
consent. The nurse’s role is to witness the signature and advocate for the client if they don’t
understand.
4. A nurse is delegating tasks to an Assistive Personnel (AP). Which of the
following tasks is appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Performing a sterile dressing change on a post-operative wound.
B. Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication.
C. Instructing a client on the use of a glucose monitor.
D. Assisting a stable client with ambulation after surgery.
Answer: D
Rationale: AP can perform routine, non-invasive tasks for stable clients, such as
ambulation. Assessment, education, and sterile procedures are nursing responsibilities.
5. A nurse discovers a fire in a client’s room. According to the RACE mnemonic,
which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Activate the fire alarm system.
B. Confine the fire by closing the door.
C. Rescue the client from the room.
D. Extinguish the fire using a portable extinguisher.
Answer: C
, Rationale: The RACE mnemonic stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and
Extinguish/Evacuate. The first priority is to move the client to safety.
6. A nurse is filling out an incident report after a client fell. Which of the
following information should the nurse include?
A. Factual description of the event and the client’s status.
B. Documentation in the medical record that an incident report was filed.
C. The nurse’s opinion on why the client fell.
D. Names of the client’s family members who were not present.
Answer: A
Rationale: Incident reports should contain objective, factual information about the event.
The report itself should never be mentioned in the client’s medical record.
7. A charge nurse is managing a conflict between two staff nurses. The charge
nurse asks both nurses to give up something to reach a solution. Which of the
following conflict resolution strategies is being used?
A. Collaborating
B. Compromising
C. Smoothing
D. Competing
Answer: B
Rationale: Compromising involves each party giving up something of value to reach a
mutually acceptable agreement.
| U.S. Nursing 2026/2027
1. A nurse is reviewing the Code of Ethics for Nurses. Which of the following
ethical principles refers to the nurse’s obligation to be faithful to commitments
and promises?
A. Autonomy
B. Fidelity
C. Beneficence
D. Justice
Answer: B
Rationale: Fidelity is the agreement to keep promises and the obligation of an individual to
be faithful to commitments made to self and others.
2. A nurse manager is explaining the purpose of a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to a
new nurse. Which of the following statements should the nurse manager
include?
A. The purpose of an RCA is to determine which staff member is at fault.
B. An RCA is conducted to justify the termination of an employee after an error.
C. The goal of an RCA is to identify system failures that contributed to an adverse event.
D. An RCA is completed only when a patient files a legal lawsuit.
Answer: C
Rationale: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) focuses on identifying the underlying system or
process failures that led to an error, rather than blaming individuals.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client states, ‘I
am not sure what the doctor meant when he said he would fix my valve.’ Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Inform the surgeon that the client needs further clarification.
B. Explain the surgical procedure to the client in simple terms.
C. Reassure the client that the surgeon is very experienced.
D. Ask the client’s family to explain the procedure.
Answer: A
Rationale: It is the provider’s responsibility to explain the procedure and obtain informed
consent. The nurse’s role is to witness the signature and advocate for the client if they don’t
understand.
4. A nurse is delegating tasks to an Assistive Personnel (AP). Which of the
following tasks is appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Performing a sterile dressing change on a post-operative wound.
B. Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication.
C. Instructing a client on the use of a glucose monitor.
D. Assisting a stable client with ambulation after surgery.
Answer: D
Rationale: AP can perform routine, non-invasive tasks for stable clients, such as
ambulation. Assessment, education, and sterile procedures are nursing responsibilities.
5. A nurse discovers a fire in a client’s room. According to the RACE mnemonic,
which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Activate the fire alarm system.
B. Confine the fire by closing the door.
C. Rescue the client from the room.
D. Extinguish the fire using a portable extinguisher.
Answer: C
, Rationale: The RACE mnemonic stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and
Extinguish/Evacuate. The first priority is to move the client to safety.
6. A nurse is filling out an incident report after a client fell. Which of the
following information should the nurse include?
A. Factual description of the event and the client’s status.
B. Documentation in the medical record that an incident report was filed.
C. The nurse’s opinion on why the client fell.
D. Names of the client’s family members who were not present.
Answer: A
Rationale: Incident reports should contain objective, factual information about the event.
The report itself should never be mentioned in the client’s medical record.
7. A charge nurse is managing a conflict between two staff nurses. The charge
nurse asks both nurses to give up something to reach a solution. Which of the
following conflict resolution strategies is being used?
A. Collaborating
B. Compromising
C. Smoothing
D. Competing
Answer: B
Rationale: Compromising involves each party giving up something of value to reach a
mutually acceptable agreement.
