ATI PN Fundamentals Proctored Exam Comprehensive
Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
ATI PN Fundamentals Content Areas (Approximate Weighting):
• Management of Care (17–23%)
• Safety & Infection Control (9–15%)
• Health Promotion & Maintenance (6–12%)
• Psychosocial Integrity (6–12%)
• Basic Care & Comfort (6–12%)
• Pharmacological & Parenteral Therapies (12–18%)
• Reduction of Risk Potential (9–15%)
• Physiological Adaptation (11–17%)
Section 1: Management of Care (Q1–Q15)
Q1. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
A. Client requesting pain medication
B. Client with new onset confusion and restlessness
C. Client requesting assistance to the bathroom
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: New onset confusion and restlessness may indicate hypoxia,
hypoglycemia, infection, or neurological change. Using the ABC framework,
this client requires immediate assessment.
,Q2. Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to a nursing
assistant (UAP)?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Assessing a client's pain level
C. Assisting a client with ambulation
D. Teaching a client about a new medication
Answer: C
Rationale: Assisting with ambulation is within the UAP's scope of practice.
Medication administration, assessment, and teaching require a licensed
nurse.
Q3. A nurse is delegating to an LPN. Which task is appropriate?
A. Administering IV push medications
B. Performing an initial assessment
C. Administering oral medications to a stable client
D. Developing the plan of care
Answer: C
Rationale: LPNs can administer oral medications to stable clients. IV push
medications, initial assessments, and care plan development require RN
scope.
Q4. Which client should the nurse see first after receiving report?
A. Client with COPD reporting difficulty breathing
B. Client requesting a laxative
C. Client with a scheduled dressing change
D. Client asking about discharge
Answer: A
Rationale: Using the ABC framework, impaired oxygenation takes priority.
Q5. A nurse is assigning clients to staff. Which assignment is most
appropriate?
,A. UAP assigned to a client requiring frequent assessments
B. LPN assigned to a client requiring complex IV medications
C. RN assigned to a client with unstable vital signs
D. UAP assigned to a client requiring teaching
Answer: C
Rationale: Unstable clients require an RN due to the need for ongoing
assessment and clinical judgment.
Q6. What are the five rights of delegation?
A. Right task, circumstance, person, direction/communication, supervision
B. Right task, time, person, place, supervision
C. Right client, medication, dose, route, time
D. Right assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation
Answer: A
Rationale: The five rights of delegation are right task, right circumstance,
right person, right direction/communication, and right supervision.
Q7. A nurse is prioritizing care. Which client requires immediate
intervention?
A. Client with a blood pressure of 180/110 mm Hg and headache
B. Client with a temperature of 100.2°F
C. Client with a heart rate of 92/min
D. Client with a respiratory rate of 18/min
Answer: A
Rationale: Severe hypertension with headache may indicate hypertensive
crisis or impending stroke.
Q8. Which action demonstrates appropriate prioritization?
A. Completing all documentation before assessing clients
B. Assessing the most unstable client first
, C. Answering call lights in order received
D. Performing scheduled tasks before emergencies
Answer: B
Rationale: Prioritization requires assessing unstable clients first.
Q9. A nurse is delegating to a newly licensed nurse. Which client is
most appropriate to assign?
A. Client with a new tracheostomy
B. Client requiring a blood transfusion
C. Client with stable vital signs awaiting discharge
D. Client with chest pain
Answer: C
Rationale: Stable clients are appropriate for less experienced nurses.
Q10. Which is a contraindication to delegation?
A. Task is within the delegatee's scope
B. Task requires nursing judgment
C. Task is routine
D. Task is well-defined
Answer: B
Rationale: Tasks requiring nursing judgment, assessment, or teaching
cannot be delegated.
Q11. A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of diabetes.
Which action should the nurse delegate to the LPN?
A. Teaching the client about insulin administration
B. Administering insulin to the client
C. Developing the teaching plan
D. Assessing the client's understanding
Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
ATI PN Fundamentals Content Areas (Approximate Weighting):
• Management of Care (17–23%)
• Safety & Infection Control (9–15%)
• Health Promotion & Maintenance (6–12%)
• Psychosocial Integrity (6–12%)
• Basic Care & Comfort (6–12%)
• Pharmacological & Parenteral Therapies (12–18%)
• Reduction of Risk Potential (9–15%)
• Physiological Adaptation (11–17%)
Section 1: Management of Care (Q1–Q15)
Q1. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
A. Client requesting pain medication
B. Client with new onset confusion and restlessness
C. Client requesting assistance to the bathroom
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: New onset confusion and restlessness may indicate hypoxia,
hypoglycemia, infection, or neurological change. Using the ABC framework,
this client requires immediate assessment.
,Q2. Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to a nursing
assistant (UAP)?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Assessing a client's pain level
C. Assisting a client with ambulation
D. Teaching a client about a new medication
Answer: C
Rationale: Assisting with ambulation is within the UAP's scope of practice.
Medication administration, assessment, and teaching require a licensed
nurse.
Q3. A nurse is delegating to an LPN. Which task is appropriate?
A. Administering IV push medications
B. Performing an initial assessment
C. Administering oral medications to a stable client
D. Developing the plan of care
Answer: C
Rationale: LPNs can administer oral medications to stable clients. IV push
medications, initial assessments, and care plan development require RN
scope.
Q4. Which client should the nurse see first after receiving report?
A. Client with COPD reporting difficulty breathing
B. Client requesting a laxative
C. Client with a scheduled dressing change
D. Client asking about discharge
Answer: A
Rationale: Using the ABC framework, impaired oxygenation takes priority.
Q5. A nurse is assigning clients to staff. Which assignment is most
appropriate?
,A. UAP assigned to a client requiring frequent assessments
B. LPN assigned to a client requiring complex IV medications
C. RN assigned to a client with unstable vital signs
D. UAP assigned to a client requiring teaching
Answer: C
Rationale: Unstable clients require an RN due to the need for ongoing
assessment and clinical judgment.
Q6. What are the five rights of delegation?
A. Right task, circumstance, person, direction/communication, supervision
B. Right task, time, person, place, supervision
C. Right client, medication, dose, route, time
D. Right assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation
Answer: A
Rationale: The five rights of delegation are right task, right circumstance,
right person, right direction/communication, and right supervision.
Q7. A nurse is prioritizing care. Which client requires immediate
intervention?
A. Client with a blood pressure of 180/110 mm Hg and headache
B. Client with a temperature of 100.2°F
C. Client with a heart rate of 92/min
D. Client with a respiratory rate of 18/min
Answer: A
Rationale: Severe hypertension with headache may indicate hypertensive
crisis or impending stroke.
Q8. Which action demonstrates appropriate prioritization?
A. Completing all documentation before assessing clients
B. Assessing the most unstable client first
, C. Answering call lights in order received
D. Performing scheduled tasks before emergencies
Answer: B
Rationale: Prioritization requires assessing unstable clients first.
Q9. A nurse is delegating to a newly licensed nurse. Which client is
most appropriate to assign?
A. Client with a new tracheostomy
B. Client requiring a blood transfusion
C. Client with stable vital signs awaiting discharge
D. Client with chest pain
Answer: C
Rationale: Stable clients are appropriate for less experienced nurses.
Q10. Which is a contraindication to delegation?
A. Task is within the delegatee's scope
B. Task requires nursing judgment
C. Task is routine
D. Task is well-defined
Answer: B
Rationale: Tasks requiring nursing judgment, assessment, or teaching
cannot be delegated.
Q11. A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of diabetes.
Which action should the nurse delegate to the LPN?
A. Teaching the client about insulin administration
B. Administering insulin to the client
C. Developing the teaching plan
D. Assessing the client's understanding