ATI RN CONCEPT-BASED ASSESSMENT LEVEL 2 PROCTORED
EXAM 2026-2027
Questions | 10 Clinical Sections | Detailed Rationales
Section 1: Patient-Centered Care and Communication
Q1: A nurse is admitting a patient who practices a faith that prohibits blood transfusions. The
patient is scheduled for surgery and expresses anxiety about the possibility of needing blood.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Reassure the patient that blood transfusions are rarely needed
B. Document the patient's religious beliefs and notify the surgical team [CORRECT]
C. Tell the patient that saving their life is more important than religious beliefs
D. Ask the patient's family to convince them to accept blood products
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first document the patient's religious beliefs and notify the surgical
team to ensure the patient's autonomy and religious rights are respected. Reassuring the patient
that transfusions are rarely needed provides false reassurance. Telling the patient that life is
more important dismisses their beliefs. Asking family to convince the patient violates patient
,autonomy. ATI emphasizes respect for cultural and religious preferences in patient-centered
care.
Q2: A nurse is caring for a patient who has just received a diagnosis of cancer. The patient
states, "I don't understand why this is happening to me." Which response by the nurse is most
therapeutic?
A. "Everything happens for a reason."
B. "You should focus on the treatment options available."
C. "It sounds like you're struggling to make sense of this news." [CORRECT]
D. "Would you like me to call your family to help you?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Option C uses the therapeutic communication technique of reflecting feelings, which
acknowledges the patient's emotional state and encourages further expression. Option A
provides false reassurance. Option B dismisses the patient's feelings and redirects prematurely.
Option D may be helpful but does not address the patient's immediate emotional need. ATI
emphasizes therapeutic communication that validates patient emotions.
Q3: A nurse is using the RESPECT model for culturally competent care. Which action
demonstrates the "Empathy" component?
A. Asking the patient about their cultural health practices
B. Validating the patient's feelings and experiences [CORRECT]
C. Explaining the medical rationale for treatment
D. Collaborating with the patient on treatment decisions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The RESPECT model includes Rapport, Empathy, Support, Partnership, Explanations,
Cultural competence, and Trust. Empathy involves understanding and validating the patient's
feelings and experiences. Asking about cultural practices relates to cultural competence.
Explaining medical rationale relates to Explanations. Collaborating relates to Partnership. ATI
emphasizes culturally competent communication.
,Q4: A nurse is providing discharge education to a patient with low health literacy. Which
strategy should the nurse implement?
A. Provide written materials at a college reading level
B. Use simple language and visual aids [CORRECT]
C. Provide all information in a single session
D. Ask the patient to sign a form confirming understanding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using simple language and visual aids enhances understanding for patients with low
health literacy. Materials should be at a 5th- to 6th-grade reading level. Information should be
provided in multiple sessions with teach-back. Signing a form does not confirm understanding.
ATI emphasizes health literacy considerations in patient education.
Q5: A nurse is caring for a patient who is crying after receiving bad news. Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Leave the patient alone to process their emotions
B. Offer tissues and sit quietly with the patient [CORRECT]
C. Tell the patient that everything will be okay
D. Distract the patient by changing the subject
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Offering tissues and sitting quietly with the patient provides silent support and
acknowledges their emotional state without being intrusive. Leaving the patient alone may
increase feelings of isolation. False reassurance is non-therapeutic. Distracting the patient
dismisses their feelings. ATI emphasizes therapeutic presence.
Q6: A nurse is communicating with a patient who has aphasia following a stroke. Which action
should the nurse take?
A. Speak loudly to ensure the patient hears
B. Use yes/no questions and allow time for responses [CORRECT]
C. Complete sentences for the patient to save time
D. Avoid communication to prevent frustration
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Using yes/no questions and allowing adequate time for responses facilitates
communication for patients with aphasia. Speaking loudly does not help if the patient has
difficulty processing language. Completing sentences can frustrate the patient. Avoiding
communication increases isolation. ATI emphasizes adaptive communication strategies.
Q7: A nurse is preparing to provide education about a new medication to a patient who speaks
limited English. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Provide written instructions in English
B. Use a professional medical interpreter [CORRECT]
C. Ask a bilingual staff member from another department
D. Use gestures to explain the medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional medical interpreters ensure accurate and confidential communication.
Written instructions in English do not address the language barrier. Using staff members who
are not trained interpreters may lead to errors and confidentiality breaches. Gestures are
insufficient for complex medical information. ATI emphasizes qualified interpreter use.
Q8: A nurse is caring for a patient who expresses distrust of the healthcare system. Which action
should the nurse take?
A. Ignore the patient's concerns and focus on care
B. Acknowledge the patient's concerns and build rapport [CORRECT]
C. Tell the patient that their concerns are unfounded
D. Transfer the patient to another nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's concerns and building rapport establishes trust and
improves the therapeutic relationship. Ignoring concerns or dismissing them is non-therapeutic.
Transferring the patient does not address the underlying issue. ATI emphasizes building trust
with patients.
EXAM 2026-2027
Questions | 10 Clinical Sections | Detailed Rationales
Section 1: Patient-Centered Care and Communication
Q1: A nurse is admitting a patient who practices a faith that prohibits blood transfusions. The
patient is scheduled for surgery and expresses anxiety about the possibility of needing blood.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Reassure the patient that blood transfusions are rarely needed
B. Document the patient's religious beliefs and notify the surgical team [CORRECT]
C. Tell the patient that saving their life is more important than religious beliefs
D. Ask the patient's family to convince them to accept blood products
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first document the patient's religious beliefs and notify the surgical
team to ensure the patient's autonomy and religious rights are respected. Reassuring the patient
that transfusions are rarely needed provides false reassurance. Telling the patient that life is
more important dismisses their beliefs. Asking family to convince the patient violates patient
,autonomy. ATI emphasizes respect for cultural and religious preferences in patient-centered
care.
Q2: A nurse is caring for a patient who has just received a diagnosis of cancer. The patient
states, "I don't understand why this is happening to me." Which response by the nurse is most
therapeutic?
A. "Everything happens for a reason."
B. "You should focus on the treatment options available."
C. "It sounds like you're struggling to make sense of this news." [CORRECT]
D. "Would you like me to call your family to help you?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Option C uses the therapeutic communication technique of reflecting feelings, which
acknowledges the patient's emotional state and encourages further expression. Option A
provides false reassurance. Option B dismisses the patient's feelings and redirects prematurely.
Option D may be helpful but does not address the patient's immediate emotional need. ATI
emphasizes therapeutic communication that validates patient emotions.
Q3: A nurse is using the RESPECT model for culturally competent care. Which action
demonstrates the "Empathy" component?
A. Asking the patient about their cultural health practices
B. Validating the patient's feelings and experiences [CORRECT]
C. Explaining the medical rationale for treatment
D. Collaborating with the patient on treatment decisions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The RESPECT model includes Rapport, Empathy, Support, Partnership, Explanations,
Cultural competence, and Trust. Empathy involves understanding and validating the patient's
feelings and experiences. Asking about cultural practices relates to cultural competence.
Explaining medical rationale relates to Explanations. Collaborating relates to Partnership. ATI
emphasizes culturally competent communication.
,Q4: A nurse is providing discharge education to a patient with low health literacy. Which
strategy should the nurse implement?
A. Provide written materials at a college reading level
B. Use simple language and visual aids [CORRECT]
C. Provide all information in a single session
D. Ask the patient to sign a form confirming understanding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using simple language and visual aids enhances understanding for patients with low
health literacy. Materials should be at a 5th- to 6th-grade reading level. Information should be
provided in multiple sessions with teach-back. Signing a form does not confirm understanding.
ATI emphasizes health literacy considerations in patient education.
Q5: A nurse is caring for a patient who is crying after receiving bad news. Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Leave the patient alone to process their emotions
B. Offer tissues and sit quietly with the patient [CORRECT]
C. Tell the patient that everything will be okay
D. Distract the patient by changing the subject
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Offering tissues and sitting quietly with the patient provides silent support and
acknowledges their emotional state without being intrusive. Leaving the patient alone may
increase feelings of isolation. False reassurance is non-therapeutic. Distracting the patient
dismisses their feelings. ATI emphasizes therapeutic presence.
Q6: A nurse is communicating with a patient who has aphasia following a stroke. Which action
should the nurse take?
A. Speak loudly to ensure the patient hears
B. Use yes/no questions and allow time for responses [CORRECT]
C. Complete sentences for the patient to save time
D. Avoid communication to prevent frustration
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Using yes/no questions and allowing adequate time for responses facilitates
communication for patients with aphasia. Speaking loudly does not help if the patient has
difficulty processing language. Completing sentences can frustrate the patient. Avoiding
communication increases isolation. ATI emphasizes adaptive communication strategies.
Q7: A nurse is preparing to provide education about a new medication to a patient who speaks
limited English. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Provide written instructions in English
B. Use a professional medical interpreter [CORRECT]
C. Ask a bilingual staff member from another department
D. Use gestures to explain the medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional medical interpreters ensure accurate and confidential communication.
Written instructions in English do not address the language barrier. Using staff members who
are not trained interpreters may lead to errors and confidentiality breaches. Gestures are
insufficient for complex medical information. ATI emphasizes qualified interpreter use.
Q8: A nurse is caring for a patient who expresses distrust of the healthcare system. Which action
should the nurse take?
A. Ignore the patient's concerns and focus on care
B. Acknowledge the patient's concerns and build rapport [CORRECT]
C. Tell the patient that their concerns are unfounded
D. Transfer the patient to another nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's concerns and building rapport establishes trust and
improves the therapeutic relationship. Ignoring concerns or dismissing them is non-therapeutic.
Transferring the patient does not address the underlying issue. ATI emphasizes building trust
with patients.
