ATI Fundamentals Retake Exam ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 | 75 Exam-Style Questions
Detailed Rationales | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Foundations of Safe & Effective Care (Questions 1–20)
Q1: A nurse enters a patient's room and notes that the patient has pulled out their IV line and is
bleeding from the site. The patient is confused and agitated. What is the nurse's first priority action?
A. Apply a restraint to prevent the patient from pulling out any other lines
B. Apply direct pressure to the bleeding site and call for assistance
C. Document the incident in the medical record
D. Notify the provider of the patient's behavior
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. When a patient is actively bleeding, your first job is to control that
bleeding with direct pressure while getting help—this is an immediate safety issue that takes priority
over restraints, documentation, or provider notification. Remember that in any emergency, you stabilize
the patient first and handle the paperwork later.
Q2: A nurse is caring for a patient on Contact Precautions for a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) wound infection. Which PPE is required before entering the room?
A. N95 respirator and goggles
B. Gown and gloves
C. Surgical mask and gloves
D. Gloves only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. MRSA spreads through direct contact with infected wounds or
contaminated surfaces, so a gown and gloves are all you need—no mask or respirator required since it's
not airborne or droplet. Remember that contact precautions always mean gown and gloves, and you
discard them before leaving the room to prevent spreading the bacteria.
,Q3: A nurse is reviewing a physician's order that reads: "Heparin 5,000 units subcutaneous every 12
hours." The nurse should administer this medication using which needle size and length?
A. 18-gauge, 1½-inch needle
B. 25-gauge, 5/8-inch needle
C. 21-gauge, 1-inch needle
D. 22-gauge, 1½-inch needle
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Subcutaneous heparin is given with a small, short needle—21-gauge, 1
inch is standard because you need to reach the subcutaneous tissue without going into muscle.
Remember that subcutaneous injections use shorter needles than IM injections, and heparin specifically
should never be given IM because it can cause hematomas and erratic absorption.
Q4: A nurse is caring for a patient who has been placed in restraints due to self-harm risk. According to
facility policy and The Joint Commission standards, how often must the nurse assess and document the
patient's condition while in restraints?
A. Every 15 minutes
B. Every 30 minutes
C. Every 1 hour
D. Every 2 hours
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The best answer is A. Restrained patients require assessment every 15 minutes for
circulation, skin integrity, hydration, and toileting needs—this is a strict safety standard because
restraints can cause serious harm if not monitored closely. Remember that restraints are a last resort,
and the more frequent the monitoring, the safer the patient.
Q5: A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks on a busy medical-surgical unit. Which task is most
appropriate to assign to a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
A. Developing a plan of care for a newly admitted patient with heart failure
B. Administering an oral antibiotic to a stable patient per the MAR
C. Performing the initial assessment on a patient transferred from the ICU
D. Teaching a patient about wound care before discharge
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. LPNs can administer oral medications to stable patients under RN
supervision, but they cannot perform initial assessments, develop care plans, or do discharge teaching—
, these require RN-level judgment and scope of practice. Remember that delegation follows the rule:
LPNs handle tasks, RNs handle thinking, teaching, and assessing.
Q6: A nurse is caring for a patient with new-onset confusion who keeps trying to get out of bed. The
bed alarm is sounding repeatedly. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Apply a vest restraint to keep the patient safe in bed
B. Lower the bed to the lowest position and place the call light within reach
C. Move the patient to a room right next to the nurses' station
D. Administer a sedative to decrease agitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Environmental safety comes first—lowering the bed reduces fall
distance, and keeping the call light accessible empowers the patient to ask for help. Remember that
restraints and sedatives are last-resort measures; simple environmental modifications often prevent
falls without restricting the patient's freedom.
Q7: A nurse is performing hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub. How long should the nurse
rub their hands together until the product dries?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15–20 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 1 minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Alcohol-based hand rub requires 15–20 seconds of thorough rubbing
covering all hand surfaces until completely dry—this is the CDC standard for effective hand hygiene.
Remember that if your hands are visibly soiled, you need soap and water instead, but for routine
decontamination, alcohol rub is faster and more effective against most pathogens when done correctly.
Q8: A nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day 1 following a cholecystectomy. The patient
reports severe incisional pain rated 8/10. The nurse checks the MAR and sees morphine 4 mg IV every 4
hours PRN for pain. The patient's last dose was 2 hours ago. What is the nurse's best action?
A. Administer the morphine now since the patient is in severe pain
B. Offer nonpharmacological pain relief techniques and reassess in 1 hour
C. Check the patient's vital signs, pain characteristics, and sedation level before administering
D. Notify the provider that the current pain regimen is inadequate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Before giving any PRN opioid, you assess the whole picture—vitals, pain
EXAM 2026/2027 | 75 Exam-Style Questions
Detailed Rationales | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Foundations of Safe & Effective Care (Questions 1–20)
Q1: A nurse enters a patient's room and notes that the patient has pulled out their IV line and is
bleeding from the site. The patient is confused and agitated. What is the nurse's first priority action?
A. Apply a restraint to prevent the patient from pulling out any other lines
B. Apply direct pressure to the bleeding site and call for assistance
C. Document the incident in the medical record
D. Notify the provider of the patient's behavior
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. When a patient is actively bleeding, your first job is to control that
bleeding with direct pressure while getting help—this is an immediate safety issue that takes priority
over restraints, documentation, or provider notification. Remember that in any emergency, you stabilize
the patient first and handle the paperwork later.
Q2: A nurse is caring for a patient on Contact Precautions for a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) wound infection. Which PPE is required before entering the room?
A. N95 respirator and goggles
B. Gown and gloves
C. Surgical mask and gloves
D. Gloves only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. MRSA spreads through direct contact with infected wounds or
contaminated surfaces, so a gown and gloves are all you need—no mask or respirator required since it's
not airborne or droplet. Remember that contact precautions always mean gown and gloves, and you
discard them before leaving the room to prevent spreading the bacteria.
,Q3: A nurse is reviewing a physician's order that reads: "Heparin 5,000 units subcutaneous every 12
hours." The nurse should administer this medication using which needle size and length?
A. 18-gauge, 1½-inch needle
B. 25-gauge, 5/8-inch needle
C. 21-gauge, 1-inch needle
D. 22-gauge, 1½-inch needle
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Subcutaneous heparin is given with a small, short needle—21-gauge, 1
inch is standard because you need to reach the subcutaneous tissue without going into muscle.
Remember that subcutaneous injections use shorter needles than IM injections, and heparin specifically
should never be given IM because it can cause hematomas and erratic absorption.
Q4: A nurse is caring for a patient who has been placed in restraints due to self-harm risk. According to
facility policy and The Joint Commission standards, how often must the nurse assess and document the
patient's condition while in restraints?
A. Every 15 minutes
B. Every 30 minutes
C. Every 1 hour
D. Every 2 hours
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The best answer is A. Restrained patients require assessment every 15 minutes for
circulation, skin integrity, hydration, and toileting needs—this is a strict safety standard because
restraints can cause serious harm if not monitored closely. Remember that restraints are a last resort,
and the more frequent the monitoring, the safer the patient.
Q5: A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks on a busy medical-surgical unit. Which task is most
appropriate to assign to a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
A. Developing a plan of care for a newly admitted patient with heart failure
B. Administering an oral antibiotic to a stable patient per the MAR
C. Performing the initial assessment on a patient transferred from the ICU
D. Teaching a patient about wound care before discharge
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. LPNs can administer oral medications to stable patients under RN
supervision, but they cannot perform initial assessments, develop care plans, or do discharge teaching—
, these require RN-level judgment and scope of practice. Remember that delegation follows the rule:
LPNs handle tasks, RNs handle thinking, teaching, and assessing.
Q6: A nurse is caring for a patient with new-onset confusion who keeps trying to get out of bed. The
bed alarm is sounding repeatedly. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Apply a vest restraint to keep the patient safe in bed
B. Lower the bed to the lowest position and place the call light within reach
C. Move the patient to a room right next to the nurses' station
D. Administer a sedative to decrease agitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Environmental safety comes first—lowering the bed reduces fall
distance, and keeping the call light accessible empowers the patient to ask for help. Remember that
restraints and sedatives are last-resort measures; simple environmental modifications often prevent
falls without restricting the patient's freedom.
Q7: A nurse is performing hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub. How long should the nurse
rub their hands together until the product dries?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15–20 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 1 minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Alcohol-based hand rub requires 15–20 seconds of thorough rubbing
covering all hand surfaces until completely dry—this is the CDC standard for effective hand hygiene.
Remember that if your hands are visibly soiled, you need soap and water instead, but for routine
decontamination, alcohol rub is faster and more effective against most pathogens when done correctly.
Q8: A nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day 1 following a cholecystectomy. The patient
reports severe incisional pain rated 8/10. The nurse checks the MAR and sees morphine 4 mg IV every 4
hours PRN for pain. The patient's last dose was 2 hours ago. What is the nurse's best action?
A. Administer the morphine now since the patient is in severe pain
B. Offer nonpharmacological pain relief techniques and reassess in 1 hour
C. Check the patient's vital signs, pain characteristics, and sedation level before administering
D. Notify the provider that the current pain regimen is inadequate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Before giving any PRN opioid, you assess the whole picture—vitals, pain
