ATI PN FUNDAMENTALS
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client expresses concern
about the procedure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to demonstrate
the ethical principle of autonomy?
A. Inform the client about the risks and benefits of the surgery.
B. Ensure the client has given informed consent voluntarily.
C. Ask the client’s family to help persuade the client to have the surgery.
D. Provide the client with information to make an informed decision.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Autonomy refers to the right of the client to make their own
decisions. Providing the necessary information for the client to decide is the best way to
support this principle.
,2. A nurse is preparing to administer an enteral feeding to a client via a nasogastric (NG) tube.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Warm the formula to room temperature.
B. Check the gastric residual volume.
C. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water.
D. Verify the placement of the NG tube.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The priority action before any enteral feeding is to verify the
correct placement of the NG tube to prevent aspiration.
3. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has a fluid volume deficit. Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN).
B. Decreased urine specific gravity.
C. Decreased serum sodium.
D. Increased hematocrit.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: In fluid volume deficit, the blood becomes more concentrated,
leading to an increase in hematocrit and other laboratory values like BUN and specific
gravity.
, 4. A nurse is teaching a client about a low-sodium diet. Which of the following food choices
by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. Canned soup with crackers.
B. Fresh turkey breast with steamed vegetables.
C. Pickled beets and ham.
D. Cheddar cheese and pretzels.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Fresh meats and vegetables are naturally lower in sodium
compared to processed, canned, or pickled foods.
5. A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving an IV infusion. The nurse notes that the site
is cool, pale, and swollen. Which of the following complications should the nurse suspect?
A. Phlebitis
B. Infection
C. Thrombosis
D. Infiltration
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Infiltration is characterized by coolness, pallor, and edema at the
IV site due to fluid leaking into the surrounding tissue.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client expresses concern
about the procedure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to demonstrate
the ethical principle of autonomy?
A. Inform the client about the risks and benefits of the surgery.
B. Ensure the client has given informed consent voluntarily.
C. Ask the client’s family to help persuade the client to have the surgery.
D. Provide the client with information to make an informed decision.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Autonomy refers to the right of the client to make their own
decisions. Providing the necessary information for the client to decide is the best way to
support this principle.
,2. A nurse is preparing to administer an enteral feeding to a client via a nasogastric (NG) tube.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Warm the formula to room temperature.
B. Check the gastric residual volume.
C. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water.
D. Verify the placement of the NG tube.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The priority action before any enteral feeding is to verify the
correct placement of the NG tube to prevent aspiration.
3. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has a fluid volume deficit. Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN).
B. Decreased urine specific gravity.
C. Decreased serum sodium.
D. Increased hematocrit.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: In fluid volume deficit, the blood becomes more concentrated,
leading to an increase in hematocrit and other laboratory values like BUN and specific
gravity.
, 4. A nurse is teaching a client about a low-sodium diet. Which of the following food choices
by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. Canned soup with crackers.
B. Fresh turkey breast with steamed vegetables.
C. Pickled beets and ham.
D. Cheddar cheese and pretzels.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Fresh meats and vegetables are naturally lower in sodium
compared to processed, canned, or pickled foods.
5. A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving an IV infusion. The nurse notes that the site
is cool, pale, and swollen. Which of the following complications should the nurse suspect?
A. Phlebitis
B. Infection
C. Thrombosis
D. Infiltration
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Infiltration is characterized by coolness, pallor, and edema at the
IV site due to fluid leaking into the surrounding tissue.
