ATI Fundamentals Proctored Exam 2019 & 2025 –
Practice Questions, Study Guide, and Detailed
Rationales for Guaranteed Success
1. Assessment of Abdominal Pain
Q: A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who reports right lower
quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting for the past 48 hours. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
a. Offer pain medication
b. Palpate the abdomen
c. Auscultate bowel sounds
d. Administer an antiemetic
Rationale: Auscultating bowel sounds is part of the initial physical assessment and
should be done before palpation or administering any medication, to avoid altering
the physical findings. Palpation can stimulate or alter bowel activity.
2. Maladaptive Coping – Terminal Illness
Q: A nurse is caring for a client who recently received a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
Which of the following statements by the client’s partner indicates maladaptive coping?
a. "I don’t know if I will be able to meet his physical needs."
b. "I will take things one day at a time."
c. "I’m doing my best to stay strong for him."
d. "I’ve been reading about what to expect as the disease progresses."
Rationale: The partner’s expression of doubt in their ability to cope or meet the
client’s needs reflects maladaptive coping. It indicates feelings of being overwhelmed
or unprepared.
3. Pressure Ulcer Dressing Selection
Q: A nurse is planning care for a client who has a stage 1 pressure ulcer on the right
heel. Which of the following dressings should the nurse anticipate?
a. Dry gauze
b. Transparent dressing
,c. Calcium alginate
d. Hydrogel
Rationale: Transparent dressings are appropriate for stage 1 pressure ulcers as they
protect the area while allowing visualization and oxygen exchange, promoting healing.
4. Therapeutic Communication – Hospice Care
Q: A nurse is caring for a client who has brain cancer and is transferring to hospice care.
The client’s son tells the nurse, "I don’t know what to tell my dad if he asks how he is
going to die." What is the appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "Let’s discuss your concerns about your father."
b. "Just reassure him that everything will be okay."
c. "You should avoid that topic unless he brings it up."
d. "It’s not your responsibility to explain that to him."
Rationale: This therapeutic response acknowledges the family member’s emotional
distress and opens the door to supportive communication, respecting their need for
guidance.
5. Foot Care for Older Adults with Diabetes
Q: A nurse is teaching an older adult client who has type 2 diabetes mellitus about how
to care for corns and calluses. Which of the following client statements indicates
understanding of the teaching?
a. "I can apply lotion to soften the calluses as long as I don’t put lotion between my
toes."
b. "I can place an oval corn pad over toes that have corns as long as I remove the pad
weekly."
c. "I should soak my feet in warm water daily to soften corns and calluses."
d. "I should use an over-the-counter liquid medication to remove corns."
Rationale: Lotion can be used to keep skin soft, but should not be applied between
the toes due to the risk of fungal infections. OTC treatments and soaking are
discouraged due to the risk of skin breakdown and burns.
6. Use of Restraints
Q: A nurse is caring for a client who has wrist restraints after an episode of violent
behavior. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Tie the restraints to the side rail
,b. Secure restraints with a square knot
c. Remove one restraint at a time
d. Remove the restraints every 3 hours
Rationale: To promote safety and circulation, restraints should be removed one at a
time at regular intervals (usually every 2 hours). Restraints should never be tied to side
rails or with square knots.
7. Infection Control – C. difficile
Q: A nurse is admitting a client who has a Clostridium difficile infection. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply)
a. Use an N95 respirator while providing client care
b. Wear a gown and gloves when providing client care
c. Assign the client to a private room with positive airflow
d. Wash hands with soap and water after contact with the client
e. Ensure the client does not receive fresh fruits
Rationale:
• b. Contact precautions (gown and gloves) are essential.
• d. C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol; handwashing with soap and water
is required.
• a & c. N95 and positive airflow are not indicated (used for airborne precautions).
• e. Fresh fruit is not contraindicated for C. difficile unless immunocompromised.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has latex allergy and is scheduled for surgery.
Which of the following actions is appropriate to include in the clients plan of care?
a. Schedule the client as the first surgical procedure of the day
b. Cleanse the stoppers with primidone iodine for withdrawing medication
c. Remove the stop stocks from iv tubing
d.Ensure the gloves in the surgical suite are powdered gloves - - correct ans- -a
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who does not speak the same
language as the nurse. Which of the following action should the nurse take?
a. direct verbal discharge instruction to the interpreter - - correct ans- -a
, A nurse is teaching a client how to self-administer daily low dose heparin injections.
Which of the following factors is most likely to increase the clients motivation to learn?
a. The client's belief that his needs will be met through education
b. The nurse explaining the need for education to the client
c. The client seeking family approval by agreeing to a teaching plan
d. The nurse's empathy about the client having to self-inject - - correct ans- -aa
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous enteral feedings through
gastrostomy tubes. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Heat the formula to 105 degrees Fahrenheit
b. Flush the tubing with 10 ml of water every 2 hours
c. Change the tubing every 72 hours
d. Aspirate residual volume every 4 hours (Every 4-8 hours is correct) - - correct ans- -d
A nurse is caring for a client who has an incisional wound and a prescription for wound
care. Which of the following answers indicates the proper method of cleaning a wound
site?
a. use a different sterile swab for each stroke - - correct ans- -a
A nurse is teaching a client who requires maximum support about how to use a two
wheeled walker. Which of the following actions by the client indicates an understanding
of teaching?
a. The client picks up the walker with each step
b. The client stoops slightly forward when moving the walker
c. The client stands with her elbows slightly flexed while holding the walker
d. The client moves the walker ahead 10 inches with each step (Incorrect b/c 6 inches
max) - - correct ans- -c
Practice Questions, Study Guide, and Detailed
Rationales for Guaranteed Success
1. Assessment of Abdominal Pain
Q: A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a client who reports right lower
quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting for the past 48 hours. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
a. Offer pain medication
b. Palpate the abdomen
c. Auscultate bowel sounds
d. Administer an antiemetic
Rationale: Auscultating bowel sounds is part of the initial physical assessment and
should be done before palpation or administering any medication, to avoid altering
the physical findings. Palpation can stimulate or alter bowel activity.
2. Maladaptive Coping – Terminal Illness
Q: A nurse is caring for a client who recently received a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
Which of the following statements by the client’s partner indicates maladaptive coping?
a. "I don’t know if I will be able to meet his physical needs."
b. "I will take things one day at a time."
c. "I’m doing my best to stay strong for him."
d. "I’ve been reading about what to expect as the disease progresses."
Rationale: The partner’s expression of doubt in their ability to cope or meet the
client’s needs reflects maladaptive coping. It indicates feelings of being overwhelmed
or unprepared.
3. Pressure Ulcer Dressing Selection
Q: A nurse is planning care for a client who has a stage 1 pressure ulcer on the right
heel. Which of the following dressings should the nurse anticipate?
a. Dry gauze
b. Transparent dressing
,c. Calcium alginate
d. Hydrogel
Rationale: Transparent dressings are appropriate for stage 1 pressure ulcers as they
protect the area while allowing visualization and oxygen exchange, promoting healing.
4. Therapeutic Communication – Hospice Care
Q: A nurse is caring for a client who has brain cancer and is transferring to hospice care.
The client’s son tells the nurse, "I don’t know what to tell my dad if he asks how he is
going to die." What is the appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "Let’s discuss your concerns about your father."
b. "Just reassure him that everything will be okay."
c. "You should avoid that topic unless he brings it up."
d. "It’s not your responsibility to explain that to him."
Rationale: This therapeutic response acknowledges the family member’s emotional
distress and opens the door to supportive communication, respecting their need for
guidance.
5. Foot Care for Older Adults with Diabetes
Q: A nurse is teaching an older adult client who has type 2 diabetes mellitus about how
to care for corns and calluses. Which of the following client statements indicates
understanding of the teaching?
a. "I can apply lotion to soften the calluses as long as I don’t put lotion between my
toes."
b. "I can place an oval corn pad over toes that have corns as long as I remove the pad
weekly."
c. "I should soak my feet in warm water daily to soften corns and calluses."
d. "I should use an over-the-counter liquid medication to remove corns."
Rationale: Lotion can be used to keep skin soft, but should not be applied between
the toes due to the risk of fungal infections. OTC treatments and soaking are
discouraged due to the risk of skin breakdown and burns.
6. Use of Restraints
Q: A nurse is caring for a client who has wrist restraints after an episode of violent
behavior. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Tie the restraints to the side rail
,b. Secure restraints with a square knot
c. Remove one restraint at a time
d. Remove the restraints every 3 hours
Rationale: To promote safety and circulation, restraints should be removed one at a
time at regular intervals (usually every 2 hours). Restraints should never be tied to side
rails or with square knots.
7. Infection Control – C. difficile
Q: A nurse is admitting a client who has a Clostridium difficile infection. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply)
a. Use an N95 respirator while providing client care
b. Wear a gown and gloves when providing client care
c. Assign the client to a private room with positive airflow
d. Wash hands with soap and water after contact with the client
e. Ensure the client does not receive fresh fruits
Rationale:
• b. Contact precautions (gown and gloves) are essential.
• d. C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol; handwashing with soap and water
is required.
• a & c. N95 and positive airflow are not indicated (used for airborne precautions).
• e. Fresh fruit is not contraindicated for C. difficile unless immunocompromised.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has latex allergy and is scheduled for surgery.
Which of the following actions is appropriate to include in the clients plan of care?
a. Schedule the client as the first surgical procedure of the day
b. Cleanse the stoppers with primidone iodine for withdrawing medication
c. Remove the stop stocks from iv tubing
d.Ensure the gloves in the surgical suite are powdered gloves - - correct ans- -a
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who does not speak the same
language as the nurse. Which of the following action should the nurse take?
a. direct verbal discharge instruction to the interpreter - - correct ans- -a
, A nurse is teaching a client how to self-administer daily low dose heparin injections.
Which of the following factors is most likely to increase the clients motivation to learn?
a. The client's belief that his needs will be met through education
b. The nurse explaining the need for education to the client
c. The client seeking family approval by agreeing to a teaching plan
d. The nurse's empathy about the client having to self-inject - - correct ans- -aa
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving continuous enteral feedings through
gastrostomy tubes. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Heat the formula to 105 degrees Fahrenheit
b. Flush the tubing with 10 ml of water every 2 hours
c. Change the tubing every 72 hours
d. Aspirate residual volume every 4 hours (Every 4-8 hours is correct) - - correct ans- -d
A nurse is caring for a client who has an incisional wound and a prescription for wound
care. Which of the following answers indicates the proper method of cleaning a wound
site?
a. use a different sterile swab for each stroke - - correct ans- -a
A nurse is teaching a client who requires maximum support about how to use a two
wheeled walker. Which of the following actions by the client indicates an understanding
of teaching?
a. The client picks up the walker with each step
b. The client stoops slightly forward when moving the walker
c. The client stands with her elbows slightly flexed while holding the walker
d. The client moves the walker ahead 10 inches with each step (Incorrect b/c 6 inches
max) - - correct ans- -c
