ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
Practice Questions with Answers and Rationale
Topics Covered
1. Nutrition & GI
2. Infection Control & Immunity
3. Vital Signs & Focused Assessment
4. IV Therapy & Infusion Complications
5. Older Adult Care
6. Medication Administration & Dosage Calculation
7. Safety & Emergency Response
8. Mobility & Safe Transfers
9. Developmental & Pediatric Care
10. Psychosocial & End-of-Life Care
11. Documentation, Legal & Ethical Practice
12. Wound & Skin Care
13. Elimination & Catheter Care
14. Diabetes, Respiratory & Chronic Disease Teaching
15. Sensory & Communication
16. Discharge & Transfer Planning
17. Infection Control (Additional)
18. Safety (Additional)
19. Skin Integrity (Additional)
20. Vital Signs (Additional)
21. Medication Safety (Additional)
22. Communication & Delegation (Additional)
Page 1
, ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
Nutrition & GI
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has dysphagia. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Have the client remain upright for 1 hr following meals
B. Encourage the client to take large bites to reduce the number of
swallows
C. Offer thin liquids to make swallowing easier
D. Have the client tilt the head back while swallowing
Correct Answer: A. Have the client remain upright for 1 hr following
meals
Rationale: Remaining upright (at least 45-90 degrees) for about an hour
after eating uses gravity to help move food through the esophagus and
reduces the risk of aspiration and reflux, which is a priority for clients with
dysphagia.
2. A nurse is assisting with meal planning for a client who has been
prescribed a mechanical soft diet. The nurse should instruct the client to
avoid which of the following foods?
A. Orange slices
B. Mashed potatoes
C. Scrambled eggs
D. Canned pears
Correct Answer: A. Orange slices
Rationale: A mechanical soft diet excludes foods that are tough, fibrous,
or difficult to chew, such as orange slices with their fibrous membranes;
soft, moist foods like mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs are
appropriate.
3. A nurse is monitoring a client who has been receiving intermittent
enteral tube feedings. Which of the following findings should the nurse
identify as an intolerance to the feeding?
Page 2
, ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
A. Nausea
B. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
C. Bowel sounds present in all quadrants
D. Residual volume within facility protocol
Correct Answer: A. Nausea
Rationale: Nausea (along with vomiting, abdominal distention, cramping,
or a high gastric residual volume) is a classic sign of feeding intolerance
and should prompt the nurse to slow or stop the feeding and notify the
provider.
Page 3
, ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
Infection Control & Immunity
4. A nurse is teaching new nurses about immunity. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include as a description of active immunity?
A. The body produces antibodies in response to exposure to an antigen
B. Antibodies are transferred from mother to infant through breast milk
C. A client receives a temporary injection of pre-formed antibodies
D. Immunity develops immediately without prior antigen exposure
Correct Answer: A. The body produces antibodies in response to exposure
to an antigen
Rationale: Active immunity develops when the body's own immune
system produces antibodies after exposure to an antigen (through natural
infection or vaccination), providing long-lasting protection, unlike passive
immunity, which is temporary and involves antibodies from an outside
source.
5. A nurse is teaching a group of assistive personnel about risk factors that
increase an older adult client's risk of developing an infection. Which of the
following should the nurse include?
A. Lowered immune system function
B. Increased production of antibodies
C. Thicker, more resilient skin
D. Faster wound healing
Correct Answer: A. Lowered immune system function
Rationale: Aging is associated with immunosenescence—a natural decline
in immune system function—along with thinner skin and slower wound
healing, all of which increase an older adult's susceptibility to infection.
6. A nurse is admitting a client who has meningococcal meningitis. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Initiate droplet precautions
B. Initiate airborne precautions
Page 4
ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
Practice Questions with Answers and Rationale
Topics Covered
1. Nutrition & GI
2. Infection Control & Immunity
3. Vital Signs & Focused Assessment
4. IV Therapy & Infusion Complications
5. Older Adult Care
6. Medication Administration & Dosage Calculation
7. Safety & Emergency Response
8. Mobility & Safe Transfers
9. Developmental & Pediatric Care
10. Psychosocial & End-of-Life Care
11. Documentation, Legal & Ethical Practice
12. Wound & Skin Care
13. Elimination & Catheter Care
14. Diabetes, Respiratory & Chronic Disease Teaching
15. Sensory & Communication
16. Discharge & Transfer Planning
17. Infection Control (Additional)
18. Safety (Additional)
19. Skin Integrity (Additional)
20. Vital Signs (Additional)
21. Medication Safety (Additional)
22. Communication & Delegation (Additional)
Page 1
, ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
Nutrition & GI
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has dysphagia. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Have the client remain upright for 1 hr following meals
B. Encourage the client to take large bites to reduce the number of
swallows
C. Offer thin liquids to make swallowing easier
D. Have the client tilt the head back while swallowing
Correct Answer: A. Have the client remain upright for 1 hr following
meals
Rationale: Remaining upright (at least 45-90 degrees) for about an hour
after eating uses gravity to help move food through the esophagus and
reduces the risk of aspiration and reflux, which is a priority for clients with
dysphagia.
2. A nurse is assisting with meal planning for a client who has been
prescribed a mechanical soft diet. The nurse should instruct the client to
avoid which of the following foods?
A. Orange slices
B. Mashed potatoes
C. Scrambled eggs
D. Canned pears
Correct Answer: A. Orange slices
Rationale: A mechanical soft diet excludes foods that are tough, fibrous,
or difficult to chew, such as orange slices with their fibrous membranes;
soft, moist foods like mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs are
appropriate.
3. A nurse is monitoring a client who has been receiving intermittent
enteral tube feedings. Which of the following findings should the nurse
identify as an intolerance to the feeding?
Page 2
, ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
A. Nausea
B. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
C. Bowel sounds present in all quadrants
D. Residual volume within facility protocol
Correct Answer: A. Nausea
Rationale: Nausea (along with vomiting, abdominal distention, cramping,
or a high gastric residual volume) is a classic sign of feeding intolerance
and should prompt the nurse to slow or stop the feeding and notify the
provider.
Page 3
, ATI Capstone Fundamentals Assessment
Infection Control & Immunity
4. A nurse is teaching new nurses about immunity. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include as a description of active immunity?
A. The body produces antibodies in response to exposure to an antigen
B. Antibodies are transferred from mother to infant through breast milk
C. A client receives a temporary injection of pre-formed antibodies
D. Immunity develops immediately without prior antigen exposure
Correct Answer: A. The body produces antibodies in response to exposure
to an antigen
Rationale: Active immunity develops when the body's own immune
system produces antibodies after exposure to an antigen (through natural
infection or vaccination), providing long-lasting protection, unlike passive
immunity, which is temporary and involves antibodies from an outside
source.
5. A nurse is teaching a group of assistive personnel about risk factors that
increase an older adult client's risk of developing an infection. Which of the
following should the nurse include?
A. Lowered immune system function
B. Increased production of antibodies
C. Thicker, more resilient skin
D. Faster wound healing
Correct Answer: A. Lowered immune system function
Rationale: Aging is associated with immunosenescence—a natural decline
in immune system function—along with thinner skin and slower wound
healing, all of which increase an older adult's susceptibility to infection.
6. A nurse is admitting a client who has meningococcal meningitis. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Initiate droplet precautions
B. Initiate airborne precautions
Page 4
