ATI Fundamentals Proctored Exam 2025/2026 |
190+ Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
& Complete Fundamentals of Nursing Study
Guide
1. A patient presents with shortness of breath and a history of COPD. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer a bronchodilator
B) Assess lung sounds
C) Place the patient in a high-Fowler’s position CORRECCT
D) Encourage deep breathing exercises
Rationale: Placing the patient in a high-Fowler's position maximizes lung expansion and
eases breathing, making it a priority intervention in acute respiratory distress.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes who has a blood glucose level of 50
mg/dL. What is the appropriate action?
A) Administer insulin
B) Provide a fast-acting carbohydrate CORRECCT
C) Call the physician
D) Recheck the blood glucose in one hour
Rationale: A blood glucose level of 50 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia. Administering a
fast-acting carbohydrate is essential for quickly raising blood sugar levels.
3. During a medication administration round, a nurse discovers that a patient has
not received their scheduled anticoagulant. What should the nurse do first?
A) Document the missed dose
B) Assess the patient for any signs of clotting or bleeding CORRECCT
C) Administer the medication immediately
D) Notify the healthcare provider
Rationale: Assessing the patient for signs of clotting or bleeding is crucial to determine
the urgency of administering the missed anticoagulant and ensuring patient safety.
4. A patient with heart failure is prescribed a diuretic. Which assessment finding is
most important for the nurse to monitor?
A) Blood pressure
B) Heart rate
C) Daily weight CORRECCT
D) Respiratory rate
,Rationale: Monitoring daily weight is essential in patients receiving diuretics to assess
fluid status and prevent complications related to fluid overload or dehydration.
5. A nurse is educating a patient about the importance of adhering to prescribed
antihypertensive medication. What is the best rationale to provide?
A) It will prevent all future health issues
B) It is necessary for weight loss
C) It helps maintain blood pressure within a normal range and prevents
complications CORRECCT
D) It will cure hypertension
Rationale: Educating patients about the importance of maintaining blood pressure
within a normal range helps them understand the need for adherence to prevent serious
complications such as stroke or heart attack.
6. A nurse is preparing to discharge a patient who has undergone surgery for a hip
replacement. What is the most critical teaching point to include?
A) Avoid physical therapy
B) Use assistive devices for mobility CORRECCT
C) Resume normal activities immediately
D) Limit fluid intake
Rationale: Teaching the patient to use assistive devices for mobility is critical to prevent
falls and ensure safe recovery post-surgery.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient’s pain using a numerical pain scale. The patient
rates their pain as a 7. What is the best initial action?
A) Administer pain medication
B) Ask the patient to describe the pain CORRECCT
C) Document the pain level
D) Ignore the pain rating
Rationale: Understanding the nature of the pain is essential before administering
medication, as it aids in delivering appropriate and effective pain management.
8. A patient with renal failure is on a potassium-restricted diet. Which food choice
should the nurse discourage?
A) Apples
B) Bananas CORRECCT
,C) Carrots
D) Chicken
Rationale: Bananas are high in potassium and should be avoided by patients with renal
failure to prevent hyperkalemia, which can lead to serious cardiac complications.
9. A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of seizures. Which intervention is a
priority during a seizure?
A) Restrain the patient
B) Place a tongue blade in the mouth
C) Protect the patient from injury CORRECCT
D) Call for help
Rationale: Protecting the patient from injury during a seizure is the primary concern, as
restraining the patient or placing objects in their mouth can cause harm.
10. A patient diagnosed with pneumonia is receiving antibiotics. What is the best
indicator of treatment effectiveness?
A) Reduced cough
B) Improved appetite
C) Normalization of temperature CORRECCT
D) Increased energy levels
Rationale: Normalization of temperature indicates that the infection is resolving, which
is a direct measure of the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment.
11. A nurse is planning care for a patient with a newly diagnosed myocardial
infarction. What is the most critical nursing action?
A) Encourage rest
B) Monitor dietary intake
C) Administer prescribed medications promptly CORRECCT
D) Schedule a follow-up appointment
Rationale: Administering prescribed medications promptly is critical in managing a
myocardial infarction to reduce myocardial damage and improve outcomes.
12. A nurse is performing a skin assessment on a patient. What finding requires
immediate intervention?
A) Dry skin
B) Minor abrasions
, C) A large, reddened area over a bony prominence CORRECCT
D) Scattered moles
Rationale: A large, reddened area over a bony prominence is indicative of potential
pressure ulcer formation and requires immediate intervention to prevent skin
breakdown.
13. A patient with a history of asthma reports increasing difficulty breathing. What
should the nurse assess first?
A) Lung sounds
B) Oxygen saturation
C) Peak expiratory flow rate CORRECCT
D) Blood pressure
Rationale: Assessing peak expiratory flow rate provides objective data on the patient’s
respiratory status and helps determine the severity of the asthma exacerbation.
14. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). What is
the most critical nursing intervention?
A) Monitor weight weekly
B) Check blood glucose levels frequently CORRECCT
C) Assess temperature daily
D) Administer diuretics
Rationale: Monitoring blood glucose levels is crucial in patients receiving TPN, as the
high dextrose content can lead to hyperglycemia.
15. A nurse is teaching a patient about the side effects of a new medication. Which
side effect should the nurse emphasize for a beta-blocker?
A) Weight gain
B) Diarrhea
C) Bradycardia CORRECCT
D) Insomnia
Rationale: Emphasizing bradycardia as a potential side effect of beta-blockers is
important for patient safety, as it can lead to significant cardiovascular issues.
16. During a health assessment, a nurse notes a patient has a blood pressure of
160/100 mmHg. What is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis?
190+ Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
& Complete Fundamentals of Nursing Study
Guide
1. A patient presents with shortness of breath and a history of COPD. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer a bronchodilator
B) Assess lung sounds
C) Place the patient in a high-Fowler’s position CORRECCT
D) Encourage deep breathing exercises
Rationale: Placing the patient in a high-Fowler's position maximizes lung expansion and
eases breathing, making it a priority intervention in acute respiratory distress.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes who has a blood glucose level of 50
mg/dL. What is the appropriate action?
A) Administer insulin
B) Provide a fast-acting carbohydrate CORRECCT
C) Call the physician
D) Recheck the blood glucose in one hour
Rationale: A blood glucose level of 50 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia. Administering a
fast-acting carbohydrate is essential for quickly raising blood sugar levels.
3. During a medication administration round, a nurse discovers that a patient has
not received their scheduled anticoagulant. What should the nurse do first?
A) Document the missed dose
B) Assess the patient for any signs of clotting or bleeding CORRECCT
C) Administer the medication immediately
D) Notify the healthcare provider
Rationale: Assessing the patient for signs of clotting or bleeding is crucial to determine
the urgency of administering the missed anticoagulant and ensuring patient safety.
4. A patient with heart failure is prescribed a diuretic. Which assessment finding is
most important for the nurse to monitor?
A) Blood pressure
B) Heart rate
C) Daily weight CORRECCT
D) Respiratory rate
,Rationale: Monitoring daily weight is essential in patients receiving diuretics to assess
fluid status and prevent complications related to fluid overload or dehydration.
5. A nurse is educating a patient about the importance of adhering to prescribed
antihypertensive medication. What is the best rationale to provide?
A) It will prevent all future health issues
B) It is necessary for weight loss
C) It helps maintain blood pressure within a normal range and prevents
complications CORRECCT
D) It will cure hypertension
Rationale: Educating patients about the importance of maintaining blood pressure
within a normal range helps them understand the need for adherence to prevent serious
complications such as stroke or heart attack.
6. A nurse is preparing to discharge a patient who has undergone surgery for a hip
replacement. What is the most critical teaching point to include?
A) Avoid physical therapy
B) Use assistive devices for mobility CORRECCT
C) Resume normal activities immediately
D) Limit fluid intake
Rationale: Teaching the patient to use assistive devices for mobility is critical to prevent
falls and ensure safe recovery post-surgery.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient’s pain using a numerical pain scale. The patient
rates their pain as a 7. What is the best initial action?
A) Administer pain medication
B) Ask the patient to describe the pain CORRECCT
C) Document the pain level
D) Ignore the pain rating
Rationale: Understanding the nature of the pain is essential before administering
medication, as it aids in delivering appropriate and effective pain management.
8. A patient with renal failure is on a potassium-restricted diet. Which food choice
should the nurse discourage?
A) Apples
B) Bananas CORRECCT
,C) Carrots
D) Chicken
Rationale: Bananas are high in potassium and should be avoided by patients with renal
failure to prevent hyperkalemia, which can lead to serious cardiac complications.
9. A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of seizures. Which intervention is a
priority during a seizure?
A) Restrain the patient
B) Place a tongue blade in the mouth
C) Protect the patient from injury CORRECCT
D) Call for help
Rationale: Protecting the patient from injury during a seizure is the primary concern, as
restraining the patient or placing objects in their mouth can cause harm.
10. A patient diagnosed with pneumonia is receiving antibiotics. What is the best
indicator of treatment effectiveness?
A) Reduced cough
B) Improved appetite
C) Normalization of temperature CORRECCT
D) Increased energy levels
Rationale: Normalization of temperature indicates that the infection is resolving, which
is a direct measure of the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment.
11. A nurse is planning care for a patient with a newly diagnosed myocardial
infarction. What is the most critical nursing action?
A) Encourage rest
B) Monitor dietary intake
C) Administer prescribed medications promptly CORRECCT
D) Schedule a follow-up appointment
Rationale: Administering prescribed medications promptly is critical in managing a
myocardial infarction to reduce myocardial damage and improve outcomes.
12. A nurse is performing a skin assessment on a patient. What finding requires
immediate intervention?
A) Dry skin
B) Minor abrasions
, C) A large, reddened area over a bony prominence CORRECCT
D) Scattered moles
Rationale: A large, reddened area over a bony prominence is indicative of potential
pressure ulcer formation and requires immediate intervention to prevent skin
breakdown.
13. A patient with a history of asthma reports increasing difficulty breathing. What
should the nurse assess first?
A) Lung sounds
B) Oxygen saturation
C) Peak expiratory flow rate CORRECCT
D) Blood pressure
Rationale: Assessing peak expiratory flow rate provides objective data on the patient’s
respiratory status and helps determine the severity of the asthma exacerbation.
14. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). What is
the most critical nursing intervention?
A) Monitor weight weekly
B) Check blood glucose levels frequently CORRECCT
C) Assess temperature daily
D) Administer diuretics
Rationale: Monitoring blood glucose levels is crucial in patients receiving TPN, as the
high dextrose content can lead to hyperglycemia.
15. A nurse is teaching a patient about the side effects of a new medication. Which
side effect should the nurse emphasize for a beta-blocker?
A) Weight gain
B) Diarrhea
C) Bradycardia CORRECCT
D) Insomnia
Rationale: Emphasizing bradycardia as a potential side effect of beta-blockers is
important for patient safety, as it can lead to significant cardiovascular issues.
16. During a health assessment, a nurse notes a patient has a blood pressure of
160/100 mmHg. What is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis?
