ATI RN Fundamentals Exam
Cram 2026/2027: High-Yield
Review & Practice Questions
1. A nurse is assessing a client who reports shortness of breath.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain the client's temperature
B. Ask about the client's dietary intake
C. Assess oxygen saturation and respiratory effort
D. Review the client's discharge instructions
Answer: C
Rationale: Airway and breathing are immediate priorities. Assessing
oxygenation and respiratory effort helps determine the severity of
the client's condition.
2. Which action demonstrates the nurse's use of the nursing
process?
A. Administering medications without reassessment
B. Collecting data before identifying nursing problems
C. Implementing interventions before assessment
D. Documenting only abnormal findings
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment involves systematic collection of subjective
and objective data before nursing diagnoses, planning,
implementation, and evaluation.
,3. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
A. Client reporting pain of 6/10 after surgery
B. Client with oxygen saturation of 86% on room air
C. Client requesting assistance with bathing
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 86% indicates impaired
oxygenation and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
4. Which finding requires the nurse to intervene immediately?
A. Respiratory rate of 18/min
B. Heart rate of 82/min
C. Blood pressure of 118/72 mm Hg
D. New-onset confusion in an older adult
Answer: D
Rationale: Acute confusion can indicate hypoxia, infection,
medication effects, metabolic disturbances, or another acute
condition and requires prompt assessment.
5. Which nursing action is an example of evaluation?
A. Establishing a goal for pain relief
B. Administering an analgesic
C. Assessing pain 30 minutes after medication
D. Identifying acute pain as a nursing diagnosis
Answer: C
,Rationale: Evaluation determines whether an intervention achieved
the desired outcome.
6. Which goal is written correctly?
A. Client will feel better soon
B. Client will have improved mobility
C. Client will ambulate 50 meters with assistance by 1800
D. Nurse will encourage ambulation every shift
Answer: C
Rationale: The goal is specific, measurable, and time limited.
7. Which assessment finding should the nurse report immediately?
A. Mild fatigue after ambulation
B. Urine output of 35 mL/hr
C. Sudden unilateral weakness
D. Appetite decreased for one meal
Answer: C
Rationale: Sudden unilateral weakness can indicate an acute
neurologic event such as stroke and requires immediate evaluation.
8. Which statement best reflects client-centered care?
A. The nurse determines the client's goals
B. The nurse uses the same plan for all clients
C. The client participates in decisions about care
D. Family members make all health decisions
Answer: C
, Rationale: Client-centered care incorporates the client's preferences,
values, needs, and participation in decision-making.
9. Which action is most appropriate when a nurse identifies
conflicting assessment findings?
A. Ignore the discrepancy
B. Validate the data
C. Immediately document the findings as accurate
D. Ask another client about the finding
Answer: B
Rationale: Unexpected or conflicting information should be validated
through reassessment or another appropriate source.
10. A nurse uses ABC priorities when planning care. What does ABC
represent?
A. Activity, balance, circulation
B. Airway, breathing, circulation
C. Assessment, breathing, cognition
D. Airway, blood pressure, consciousness
Answer: B
Rationale: Airway, breathing, and circulation represent foundational
physiologic priorities.
11. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client with chronic arthritis pain
B. Client with a new tracheostomy who has noisy respirations
C. Client requesting a sleep medication
D. Client with a healing surgical incision
Cram 2026/2027: High-Yield
Review & Practice Questions
1. A nurse is assessing a client who reports shortness of breath.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain the client's temperature
B. Ask about the client's dietary intake
C. Assess oxygen saturation and respiratory effort
D. Review the client's discharge instructions
Answer: C
Rationale: Airway and breathing are immediate priorities. Assessing
oxygenation and respiratory effort helps determine the severity of
the client's condition.
2. Which action demonstrates the nurse's use of the nursing
process?
A. Administering medications without reassessment
B. Collecting data before identifying nursing problems
C. Implementing interventions before assessment
D. Documenting only abnormal findings
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment involves systematic collection of subjective
and objective data before nursing diagnoses, planning,
implementation, and evaluation.
,3. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
A. Client reporting pain of 6/10 after surgery
B. Client with oxygen saturation of 86% on room air
C. Client requesting assistance with bathing
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 86% indicates impaired
oxygenation and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
4. Which finding requires the nurse to intervene immediately?
A. Respiratory rate of 18/min
B. Heart rate of 82/min
C. Blood pressure of 118/72 mm Hg
D. New-onset confusion in an older adult
Answer: D
Rationale: Acute confusion can indicate hypoxia, infection,
medication effects, metabolic disturbances, or another acute
condition and requires prompt assessment.
5. Which nursing action is an example of evaluation?
A. Establishing a goal for pain relief
B. Administering an analgesic
C. Assessing pain 30 minutes after medication
D. Identifying acute pain as a nursing diagnosis
Answer: C
,Rationale: Evaluation determines whether an intervention achieved
the desired outcome.
6. Which goal is written correctly?
A. Client will feel better soon
B. Client will have improved mobility
C. Client will ambulate 50 meters with assistance by 1800
D. Nurse will encourage ambulation every shift
Answer: C
Rationale: The goal is specific, measurable, and time limited.
7. Which assessment finding should the nurse report immediately?
A. Mild fatigue after ambulation
B. Urine output of 35 mL/hr
C. Sudden unilateral weakness
D. Appetite decreased for one meal
Answer: C
Rationale: Sudden unilateral weakness can indicate an acute
neurologic event such as stroke and requires immediate evaluation.
8. Which statement best reflects client-centered care?
A. The nurse determines the client's goals
B. The nurse uses the same plan for all clients
C. The client participates in decisions about care
D. Family members make all health decisions
Answer: C
, Rationale: Client-centered care incorporates the client's preferences,
values, needs, and participation in decision-making.
9. Which action is most appropriate when a nurse identifies
conflicting assessment findings?
A. Ignore the discrepancy
B. Validate the data
C. Immediately document the findings as accurate
D. Ask another client about the finding
Answer: B
Rationale: Unexpected or conflicting information should be validated
through reassessment or another appropriate source.
10. A nurse uses ABC priorities when planning care. What does ABC
represent?
A. Activity, balance, circulation
B. Airway, breathing, circulation
C. Assessment, breathing, cognition
D. Airway, blood pressure, consciousness
Answer: B
Rationale: Airway, breathing, and circulation represent foundational
physiologic priorities.
11. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client with chronic arthritis pain
B. Client with a new tracheostomy who has noisy respirations
C. Client requesting a sleep medication
D. Client with a healing surgical incision
