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ATI RN 2026 Actual & Retake Proctored Exams Bundle — 100 Questions with Answers
Section 1: Fundamentals of Nursing (Questions 1–10)
1. A nurse is planning care for a client with decreased sensation and mobility in the lower
extremities. Which actions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply)
A) Reposition the client every 2 hours
B) Place the client on a donut-shaped cushion
C) Request a consult with a registered dietitian
D) Provide a pressure-reduction surface
E) Perform range-of-motion exercises daily
F) Elevate the head of the bed to 45°
Answer: A, C, D, E
Repositioning every 2 hours relieves pressure. A dietitian consult optimizes nutrition for
tissue repair. A pressure-reduction surface distributes weight. ROM exercises maintain joint
mobility and circulation. Donut cushions are contraindicated (impair blood flow), and HOB
elevation increases shear forces on the sacrum.
2. A charge nurse is teaching about Clostridium difficile infection. Which information
should the nurse include?
A) Assign the client to a negative airflow room
B) Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when leaving the room
C) Clean surfaces with a phenol solution
D) Have family members wear a gown and gloves when visiting
Answer: D
C. difficile requires Contact Precautions. Anyone entering the room, including family, must
wear gown and gloves. Alcohol does not kill C. diff spores; soap and water must be used.
Bleach (chlorine-based) is preferred over phenol for disinfection.
3. A nurse manager should intervene due to a HIPAA violation in which situation?
A) A nurse reviews a client's chart with a nursing student working with the nurse
B) A nurse asks a nurse from another unit to assist with documentation for a client
C) A nurse returns a call to the person appointed in the health care proxy
D) A nurse discusses a client's status with the physical therapist caring for the client
Answer: B
A nurse from another unit who is not involved in the client's care does not have a legitimate
need to access the client's protected health information.
4. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client. Which
action maintains surgical aseptic technique?
A) Set up the sterile field as close to the time of use as possible
B) Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of handwashing
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C) Allow the sterile field to become moist
D) Wear a mask only if the client has an infection
Answer: A
A sterile field should be set up as close to the time of use as possible to minimize
contamination risk. Moisture contaminates the sterile field.
5. A nurse enters a client's room and discovers a fire in a trash can. Which action should
the nurse take first?
A) Extinguish the fire
B) Activate the alarm
C) Remove the client from the room
D) Contain the fire by closing the door
Answer: C
Using the RACE protocol: Rescue (remove the client), Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. Client
safety is always the priority.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. Which finding requires immediate
action?
A) Tidaling in the water seal chamber
B) Continuous bubbling in the suction control chamber
C) Constant bubbling in the water seal chamber
D) Drainage of 50 mL/hr initially
Answer: C
Constant (continuous) bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak. Tidaling is
normal. Bubbling in the suction control chamber is expected.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer a tuberculin skin test. At which angle should the
needle be inserted?
A) 15 degrees
B) 45 degrees
C) 90 degrees
D) 5 to 15 degrees
Answer: D
A tuberculin skin test is an intradermal injection, administered at a 5- to 15-degree angle
with the bevel up to create a wheal.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for transdermal patches. Which
statement indicates the client understands the instructions?
A) "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
B) "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab before applying the patch."
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C) "I will rotate the application sites weekly."
D) "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch."
Answer: A
Transdermal patches should be applied to hairless, intact skin. Sites should be rotated (not
weekly, but with each application). The old patch should be removed before applying a new
one at a different site.
9. A nurse is completing discharge teaching for a client with a new colostomy. Which
statement indicates readiness for home care?
A) "I'll never get used to this."
B) "My wife can change the bag for me."
C) "I can cut the wafer to fit around my stoma."
D) "I'll wait until it leaks to change it."
Answer: C
Demonstrating correct self-care knowledge (cutting the wafer to fit the stoma) indicates
readiness. Waiting until leakage increases skin breakdown risk.
10. A nurse is preparing to transfer a client to a long-term care facility. Which
documentation is legally required?
A) Copy of the client's will
B) Transfer summary including current medications
C) Family consent for transfer
D) Advance directive
Answer: B
Continuity of care requires a transfer summary including diagnosis, current medications, and
recent treatments.
Section 2: Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing (Questions 11–20)
11. A nurse receives report on four clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A) A client 2 days after hip arthroplasty reporting pain of 7/10
B) A client with COPD whose SpO2 decreased from 94% to 90% while sleeping
C) A client 6 hours after thyroidectomy who is restless and has new inspiratory stridor
D) A client with heart failure who gained 1 kg since yesterday
Answer: C
New inspiratory stridor after thyroidectomy indicates potential airway obstruction—a life-
threatening emergency requiring immediate assessment.
12. A nurse is caring for a client receiving continuous IV heparin. The client's aPTT is 110
seconds. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Administer the next scheduled dose
B) Decrease the infusion rate by 50%
ATI RN 2026 Actual & Retake Proctored Exams Bundle — 100 Questions with Answers
Section 1: Fundamentals of Nursing (Questions 1–10)
1. A nurse is planning care for a client with decreased sensation and mobility in the lower
extremities. Which actions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply)
A) Reposition the client every 2 hours
B) Place the client on a donut-shaped cushion
C) Request a consult with a registered dietitian
D) Provide a pressure-reduction surface
E) Perform range-of-motion exercises daily
F) Elevate the head of the bed to 45°
Answer: A, C, D, E
Repositioning every 2 hours relieves pressure. A dietitian consult optimizes nutrition for
tissue repair. A pressure-reduction surface distributes weight. ROM exercises maintain joint
mobility and circulation. Donut cushions are contraindicated (impair blood flow), and HOB
elevation increases shear forces on the sacrum.
2. A charge nurse is teaching about Clostridium difficile infection. Which information
should the nurse include?
A) Assign the client to a negative airflow room
B) Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when leaving the room
C) Clean surfaces with a phenol solution
D) Have family members wear a gown and gloves when visiting
Answer: D
C. difficile requires Contact Precautions. Anyone entering the room, including family, must
wear gown and gloves. Alcohol does not kill C. diff spores; soap and water must be used.
Bleach (chlorine-based) is preferred over phenol for disinfection.
3. A nurse manager should intervene due to a HIPAA violation in which situation?
A) A nurse reviews a client's chart with a nursing student working with the nurse
B) A nurse asks a nurse from another unit to assist with documentation for a client
C) A nurse returns a call to the person appointed in the health care proxy
D) A nurse discusses a client's status with the physical therapist caring for the client
Answer: B
A nurse from another unit who is not involved in the client's care does not have a legitimate
need to access the client's protected health information.
4. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client. Which
action maintains surgical aseptic technique?
A) Set up the sterile field as close to the time of use as possible
B) Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of handwashing
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C) Allow the sterile field to become moist
D) Wear a mask only if the client has an infection
Answer: A
A sterile field should be set up as close to the time of use as possible to minimize
contamination risk. Moisture contaminates the sterile field.
5. A nurse enters a client's room and discovers a fire in a trash can. Which action should
the nurse take first?
A) Extinguish the fire
B) Activate the alarm
C) Remove the client from the room
D) Contain the fire by closing the door
Answer: C
Using the RACE protocol: Rescue (remove the client), Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. Client
safety is always the priority.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. Which finding requires immediate
action?
A) Tidaling in the water seal chamber
B) Continuous bubbling in the suction control chamber
C) Constant bubbling in the water seal chamber
D) Drainage of 50 mL/hr initially
Answer: C
Constant (continuous) bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak. Tidaling is
normal. Bubbling in the suction control chamber is expected.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer a tuberculin skin test. At which angle should the
needle be inserted?
A) 15 degrees
B) 45 degrees
C) 90 degrees
D) 5 to 15 degrees
Answer: D
A tuberculin skin test is an intradermal injection, administered at a 5- to 15-degree angle
with the bevel up to create a wheal.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for transdermal patches. Which
statement indicates the client understands the instructions?
A) "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
B) "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab before applying the patch."
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C) "I will rotate the application sites weekly."
D) "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch."
Answer: A
Transdermal patches should be applied to hairless, intact skin. Sites should be rotated (not
weekly, but with each application). The old patch should be removed before applying a new
one at a different site.
9. A nurse is completing discharge teaching for a client with a new colostomy. Which
statement indicates readiness for home care?
A) "I'll never get used to this."
B) "My wife can change the bag for me."
C) "I can cut the wafer to fit around my stoma."
D) "I'll wait until it leaks to change it."
Answer: C
Demonstrating correct self-care knowledge (cutting the wafer to fit the stoma) indicates
readiness. Waiting until leakage increases skin breakdown risk.
10. A nurse is preparing to transfer a client to a long-term care facility. Which
documentation is legally required?
A) Copy of the client's will
B) Transfer summary including current medications
C) Family consent for transfer
D) Advance directive
Answer: B
Continuity of care requires a transfer summary including diagnosis, current medications, and
recent treatments.
Section 2: Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing (Questions 11–20)
11. A nurse receives report on four clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A) A client 2 days after hip arthroplasty reporting pain of 7/10
B) A client with COPD whose SpO2 decreased from 94% to 90% while sleeping
C) A client 6 hours after thyroidectomy who is restless and has new inspiratory stridor
D) A client with heart failure who gained 1 kg since yesterday
Answer: C
New inspiratory stridor after thyroidectomy indicates potential airway obstruction—a life-
threatening emergency requiring immediate assessment.
12. A nurse is caring for a client receiving continuous IV heparin. The client's aPTT is 110
seconds. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Administer the next scheduled dose
B) Decrease the infusion rate by 50%
