ATI RN Fundamentals Edition 11.0 Test Bank: Chapters 1–58
Practice Questions & Clinical Rationales
This definitive nursing test-preparation resource provides a comprehensive practice
question bank, verified answers, and detailed clinical rationales covering all 58 chapters
of the ATI RN Fundamentals Edition 11.0 curriculum. It systematically covers core
foundational nursing concepts, including patient safety protocols, infection control,
wound care management, dosage calculations, and the fundamental steps of the
nursing process. Pre-licensure nursing students will master critical client care
prioritization strategies, fluid and electrolyte baselines, and clinical judgment models to
ensure a high proficiency score on their proctored assessment.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via a nasogastric tube. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A) Crush the medication into a fine powder
B) Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
C) Mix the medication with 30 mL of water
D) Flush the tube with 10 mL of air
Rationale: Verifying tube placement is the priority before administering any medication to
prevent aspiration or instillation into the lungs.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for a potassium IV
infusion. Which action is appropriate?
A) Administer the potassium as a bolus
B) Infuse the potassium via an infusion pump at a rate not exceeding 10 mEq/hr
,C) Add potassium to a blood transfusion
D) Give the potassium IV push
Rationale: IV potassium must be diluted and infused slowly via pump; never give as a
bolus or IV push because it can cause cardiac arrest.
3. A nurse is documenting a client's intake and output. The client drank 4 oz of
coffee, 6 oz of juice, and 2 oz of water. What is the total intake in mL?
A) 240 mL
B) 360 mL
C) 480 mL
D) 600 mL
Rationale: 4 + 6 + 2 = 12 oz × 30 mL/oz = 360 mL.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery.
Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A) Serous drainage on the dressing
B) Wound edges separating with visible fascia
C) Mild incisional pain
D) Temperature 99.2°F
Rationale: Wound dehiscence with visible fascia indicates a surgical emergency and
requires immediate notification of the provider.
,5. A nurse is teaching a client about using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A) Inhale rapidly and deeply
B) Hold breath for 10 seconds after inhaling
C) Exhale forcefully before using the inhaler
D) Use the inhaler without a spacer
Rationale: Holding the breath for 10 seconds allows the medication to deposit in the
airways.
6. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action is
correct?
A) Use clean technique
B) Perform hand hygiene and use sterile technique
C) Lubricate the catheter with petroleum jelly
D) Inflate the balloon before insertion
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique to prevent CAUTI.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which intervention is
priority?
A) Apply restraints
B) Keep the call light within reach
C) Keep the bed in the highest position
D) Dim the lights
, Rationale: Keeping the call light within reach promotes safety and allows the client to call
for assistance.
8. A nurse is assessing a client's pain. Which finding indicates the client is
experiencing acute pain?
A) Pain lasting 6 months
B) Pain associated with tachycardia and diaphoresis
C) Pain described as dull and achy
D) Pain without physical signs
Rationale: Acute pain activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing tachycardia,
diaphoresis, and elevated blood pressure.
9. A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. Which action indicates a break
in sterile technique?
A) Opening the sterile package away from the body
B) Touching the sterile dressing with ungloved hands
C) Placing sterile supplies on the sterile field
D) Using sterile gloves
Rationale: Touching sterile items with ungloved hands contaminates the field.
10. A nurse is preparing to administer an enema. Which position is appropriate for
the client?
Practice Questions & Clinical Rationales
This definitive nursing test-preparation resource provides a comprehensive practice
question bank, verified answers, and detailed clinical rationales covering all 58 chapters
of the ATI RN Fundamentals Edition 11.0 curriculum. It systematically covers core
foundational nursing concepts, including patient safety protocols, infection control,
wound care management, dosage calculations, and the fundamental steps of the
nursing process. Pre-licensure nursing students will master critical client care
prioritization strategies, fluid and electrolyte baselines, and clinical judgment models to
ensure a high proficiency score on their proctored assessment.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via a nasogastric tube. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A) Crush the medication into a fine powder
B) Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
C) Mix the medication with 30 mL of water
D) Flush the tube with 10 mL of air
Rationale: Verifying tube placement is the priority before administering any medication to
prevent aspiration or instillation into the lungs.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for a potassium IV
infusion. Which action is appropriate?
A) Administer the potassium as a bolus
B) Infuse the potassium via an infusion pump at a rate not exceeding 10 mEq/hr
,C) Add potassium to a blood transfusion
D) Give the potassium IV push
Rationale: IV potassium must be diluted and infused slowly via pump; never give as a
bolus or IV push because it can cause cardiac arrest.
3. A nurse is documenting a client's intake and output. The client drank 4 oz of
coffee, 6 oz of juice, and 2 oz of water. What is the total intake in mL?
A) 240 mL
B) 360 mL
C) 480 mL
D) 600 mL
Rationale: 4 + 6 + 2 = 12 oz × 30 mL/oz = 360 mL.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery.
Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A) Serous drainage on the dressing
B) Wound edges separating with visible fascia
C) Mild incisional pain
D) Temperature 99.2°F
Rationale: Wound dehiscence with visible fascia indicates a surgical emergency and
requires immediate notification of the provider.
,5. A nurse is teaching a client about using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A) Inhale rapidly and deeply
B) Hold breath for 10 seconds after inhaling
C) Exhale forcefully before using the inhaler
D) Use the inhaler without a spacer
Rationale: Holding the breath for 10 seconds allows the medication to deposit in the
airways.
6. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action is
correct?
A) Use clean technique
B) Perform hand hygiene and use sterile technique
C) Lubricate the catheter with petroleum jelly
D) Inflate the balloon before insertion
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique to prevent CAUTI.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which intervention is
priority?
A) Apply restraints
B) Keep the call light within reach
C) Keep the bed in the highest position
D) Dim the lights
, Rationale: Keeping the call light within reach promotes safety and allows the client to call
for assistance.
8. A nurse is assessing a client's pain. Which finding indicates the client is
experiencing acute pain?
A) Pain lasting 6 months
B) Pain associated with tachycardia and diaphoresis
C) Pain described as dull and achy
D) Pain without physical signs
Rationale: Acute pain activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing tachycardia,
diaphoresis, and elevated blood pressure.
9. A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. Which action indicates a break
in sterile technique?
A) Opening the sterile package away from the body
B) Touching the sterile dressing with ungloved hands
C) Placing sterile supplies on the sterile field
D) Using sterile gloves
Rationale: Touching sterile items with ungloved hands contaminates the field.
10. A nurse is preparing to administer an enema. Which position is appropriate for
the client?
