ATI RN FUNDAMENTALS CMS PROCTORED EXAM — 200
ORIGINAL PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026–
2027 STUDY GUIDE | DETAILED RATIONALES | EXAM
PREPARATION
SECTION ONE — QUESTIONS 1–100
1. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to hand
hygiene?
A) Wear gloves instead of washing hands
B) Wash only when hands appear dirty
C) Perform hand hygiene before and after client contact
D) Use sanitizer on visibly soiled hands
Correct Answer: C) Perform hand hygiene before and after client contact
Rationale: Hand hygiene interrupts organism transmission. Gloves do not replace hand
cleaning; visibly soiled hands require soap and water. Apply the facility's infection-prevention
protocol. The best option directly addresses hand hygiene in this routine care context, whereas
the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam takeaway is to
match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established care protocols.
2. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to contact
precautions?
A) Use an N95 respirator for every contact room
B) Keep the door closed for airborne isolation
C) Wear gown and gloves on entry as indicated
D) Reuse disposable gowns between clients
Correct Answer: C) Wear gown and gloves on entry as indicated
Rationale: Contact precautions reduce transmission by direct or indirect contact. Appropriate
gown and glove use prevents contamination; respiratory protection is determined by the
pathogen and transmission route. The best option directly addresses contact precautions in this
routine care context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable
risks. The exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety,
and established care protocols.
3. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to airborne
precautions?
A) Use only a surgical mask while inside
B) Place the client in a positive-pressure room
C) Rely on gloves without respiratory protection
D) Use a fit-tested respirator and airborne infection isolation room
,Correct Answer: D) Use a fit-tested respirator and airborne infection isolation room
Rationale: Airborne precautions address small infectious particles suspended in air. Negative-
pressure isolation and suitable respiratory protection are essential; surgical masks alone are
not equivalent to a fit-tested respirator. The correct action addresses the central safety
concern, whereas the alternatives create preventable risks. Match the intervention to the
client’s assessment and current nursing standards.
4. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to fall
prevention?
A) Raise all four side rails as routine restraint
B) Keep the bed low and call light within reach
C) Leave clutter near the bedside
D) Encourage unassisted walking after sedation
Correct Answer: B) Keep the bed low and call light within reach
Rationale: Fall prevention uses environmental controls and individualized assistance. Full side
rails may function as restraints and can increase injury; sedation raises the need for supervised
mobility. The best option directly addresses fall prevention in this routine care context, whereas
the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam takeaway is to
match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established care protocols.
5. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to two
identifiers?
A) Use the room number as the sole identifier
B) Ask a roommate to confirm identity
C) Confirm name and date of birth against the wristband and order
D) Rely only on recognition of the client's face
Correct Answer: C) Confirm name and date of birth against the wristband and order
Rationale: Two independent identifiers help prevent wrong-patient errors. Room numbers and
appearance are not reliable identifiers; verify identity before medications, specimens, and
treatments. The best option directly addresses two identifiers in this routine care context,
whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam
takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established
care protocols.
6. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
medication reconciliation?
A) Compare home medications with new orders at transitions of care
B) Assume the previous list is complete
C) Discontinue every over-the-counter product automatically
D) Wait until discharge to review discrepancies
Correct Answer: A) Compare home medications with new orders at transitions of care
,Rationale: Medication reconciliation detects omissions, duplications, and interactions at care
transitions. The nurse gathers an accurate list and clarifies discrepancies rather than making
unilateral prescribing decisions. The best option directly addresses medication reconciliation in
this routine care context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce
avoidable risks. The exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient
safety, and established care protocols.
7. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
medication error?
A) Conceal the event if no symptoms occur
B) Alter the administration record to match the order
C) Wait for the next shift to mention the error
D) Assess the client and report the error promptly according to policy
Correct Answer: D) Assess the client and report the error promptly according to policy
Rationale: Client assessment and timely escalation protect safety after an error. Accurate
documentation and incident reporting support treatment and systems improvement;
concealment or record alteration is unsafe. The best option directly addresses medication error
in this routine care context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce
avoidable risks. The exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient
safety, and established care protocols.
8. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to pain
assessment?
A) Infer pain solely from heart rate
B) Assume sleeping clients have no pain
C) Ask the client to rate and describe pain using an appropriate scale
D) Use the nurse's judgment instead of the client's report
Correct Answer: C) Ask the client to rate and describe pain using an appropriate scale
Rationale: Pain is subjective, so self-report is preferred when possible. Physiologic signs may
support assessment but cannot replace the client's description; reassessment follows an
intervention. The best option directly addresses pain assessment in this routine care context,
whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam
takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established
care protocols.
9. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
therapeutic communication?
A) Offer false reassurance that everything will be fine
B) Change the subject when emotions emerge
C) Use an open-ended invitation to describe concerns
D) Ask why the client feels that way in an accusatory tone
Correct Answer: C) Use an open-ended invitation to describe concerns
, Rationale: Open-ended questions promote expression and assessment. False reassurance and
abrupt topic changes can block communication; neutral, empathetic responses support trust.
The best option directly addresses therapeutic communication in this routine care context,
whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam
takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established
care protocols.
10. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to informed
consent?
A) Explain surgical risks in place of the proceduralist
B) Verify the signed consent and notify the provider about unanswered questions
C) Ask the family to sign for a competent adult
D) Witness a signature after sedating the client
Correct Answer: B) Verify the signed consent and notify the provider about unanswered
questions
Rationale: The proceduralist explains risks, benefits, and alternatives, while the nurse verifies
the process and witnesses as permitted. Questions or impaired capacity require clarification
before proceeding. The best option directly addresses informed consent in this routine care
context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The
exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and
established care protocols.
11. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
confidentiality?
A) Share details with curious visitors
B) Discuss client information only with authorized care-team members
C) Post a de-identified bedside photograph without review
D) Discuss the case in a public elevator
Correct Answer: B) Discuss client information only with authorized care-team members
Rationale: Confidentiality limits disclosure to authorized purposes. Public conversations and
social media can expose private information even without a name; follow privacy policy and
minimum-necessary access. The best option directly addresses confidentiality in this routine
care context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks.
The exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and
established care protocols.
12. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
delegation?
A) Delegate initial assessment of unstable symptoms
B) Delegate interpretation of new abnormal findings
C) Delegate patient education requiring nursing judgment
D) Delegate routine vital signs for a stable client to trained assistive personnel
ORIGINAL PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026–
2027 STUDY GUIDE | DETAILED RATIONALES | EXAM
PREPARATION
SECTION ONE — QUESTIONS 1–100
1. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to hand
hygiene?
A) Wear gloves instead of washing hands
B) Wash only when hands appear dirty
C) Perform hand hygiene before and after client contact
D) Use sanitizer on visibly soiled hands
Correct Answer: C) Perform hand hygiene before and after client contact
Rationale: Hand hygiene interrupts organism transmission. Gloves do not replace hand
cleaning; visibly soiled hands require soap and water. Apply the facility's infection-prevention
protocol. The best option directly addresses hand hygiene in this routine care context, whereas
the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam takeaway is to
match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established care protocols.
2. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to contact
precautions?
A) Use an N95 respirator for every contact room
B) Keep the door closed for airborne isolation
C) Wear gown and gloves on entry as indicated
D) Reuse disposable gowns between clients
Correct Answer: C) Wear gown and gloves on entry as indicated
Rationale: Contact precautions reduce transmission by direct or indirect contact. Appropriate
gown and glove use prevents contamination; respiratory protection is determined by the
pathogen and transmission route. The best option directly addresses contact precautions in this
routine care context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable
risks. The exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety,
and established care protocols.
3. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to airborne
precautions?
A) Use only a surgical mask while inside
B) Place the client in a positive-pressure room
C) Rely on gloves without respiratory protection
D) Use a fit-tested respirator and airborne infection isolation room
,Correct Answer: D) Use a fit-tested respirator and airborne infection isolation room
Rationale: Airborne precautions address small infectious particles suspended in air. Negative-
pressure isolation and suitable respiratory protection are essential; surgical masks alone are
not equivalent to a fit-tested respirator. The correct action addresses the central safety
concern, whereas the alternatives create preventable risks. Match the intervention to the
client’s assessment and current nursing standards.
4. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to fall
prevention?
A) Raise all four side rails as routine restraint
B) Keep the bed low and call light within reach
C) Leave clutter near the bedside
D) Encourage unassisted walking after sedation
Correct Answer: B) Keep the bed low and call light within reach
Rationale: Fall prevention uses environmental controls and individualized assistance. Full side
rails may function as restraints and can increase injury; sedation raises the need for supervised
mobility. The best option directly addresses fall prevention in this routine care context, whereas
the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam takeaway is to
match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established care protocols.
5. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to two
identifiers?
A) Use the room number as the sole identifier
B) Ask a roommate to confirm identity
C) Confirm name and date of birth against the wristband and order
D) Rely only on recognition of the client's face
Correct Answer: C) Confirm name and date of birth against the wristband and order
Rationale: Two independent identifiers help prevent wrong-patient errors. Room numbers and
appearance are not reliable identifiers; verify identity before medications, specimens, and
treatments. The best option directly addresses two identifiers in this routine care context,
whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam
takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established
care protocols.
6. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
medication reconciliation?
A) Compare home medications with new orders at transitions of care
B) Assume the previous list is complete
C) Discontinue every over-the-counter product automatically
D) Wait until discharge to review discrepancies
Correct Answer: A) Compare home medications with new orders at transitions of care
,Rationale: Medication reconciliation detects omissions, duplications, and interactions at care
transitions. The nurse gathers an accurate list and clarifies discrepancies rather than making
unilateral prescribing decisions. The best option directly addresses medication reconciliation in
this routine care context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce
avoidable risks. The exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient
safety, and established care protocols.
7. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
medication error?
A) Conceal the event if no symptoms occur
B) Alter the administration record to match the order
C) Wait for the next shift to mention the error
D) Assess the client and report the error promptly according to policy
Correct Answer: D) Assess the client and report the error promptly according to policy
Rationale: Client assessment and timely escalation protect safety after an error. Accurate
documentation and incident reporting support treatment and systems improvement;
concealment or record alteration is unsafe. The best option directly addresses medication error
in this routine care context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce
avoidable risks. The exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient
safety, and established care protocols.
8. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to pain
assessment?
A) Infer pain solely from heart rate
B) Assume sleeping clients have no pain
C) Ask the client to rate and describe pain using an appropriate scale
D) Use the nurse's judgment instead of the client's report
Correct Answer: C) Ask the client to rate and describe pain using an appropriate scale
Rationale: Pain is subjective, so self-report is preferred when possible. Physiologic signs may
support assessment but cannot replace the client's description; reassessment follows an
intervention. The best option directly addresses pain assessment in this routine care context,
whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam
takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established
care protocols.
9. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
therapeutic communication?
A) Offer false reassurance that everything will be fine
B) Change the subject when emotions emerge
C) Use an open-ended invitation to describe concerns
D) Ask why the client feels that way in an accusatory tone
Correct Answer: C) Use an open-ended invitation to describe concerns
, Rationale: Open-ended questions promote expression and assessment. False reassurance and
abrupt topic changes can block communication; neutral, empathetic responses support trust.
The best option directly addresses therapeutic communication in this routine care context,
whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The exam
takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and established
care protocols.
10. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to informed
consent?
A) Explain surgical risks in place of the proceduralist
B) Verify the signed consent and notify the provider about unanswered questions
C) Ask the family to sign for a competent adult
D) Witness a signature after sedating the client
Correct Answer: B) Verify the signed consent and notify the provider about unanswered
questions
Rationale: The proceduralist explains risks, benefits, and alternatives, while the nurse verifies
the process and witnesses as permitted. Questions or impaired capacity require clarification
before proceeding. The best option directly addresses informed consent in this routine care
context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks. The
exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and
established care protocols.
11. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
confidentiality?
A) Share details with curious visitors
B) Discuss client information only with authorized care-team members
C) Post a de-identified bedside photograph without review
D) Discuss the case in a public elevator
Correct Answer: B) Discuss client information only with authorized care-team members
Rationale: Confidentiality limits disclosure to authorized purposes. Public conversations and
social media can expose private information even without a name; follow privacy policy and
minimum-necessary access. The best option directly addresses confidentiality in this routine
care context, whereas the alternatives omit essential safeguards or introduce avoidable risks.
The exam takeaway is to match nursing actions to assessment findings, patient safety, and
established care protocols.
12. During morning care, which action best demonstrates safe practice related to
delegation?
A) Delegate initial assessment of unstable symptoms
B) Delegate interpretation of new abnormal findings
C) Delegate patient education requiring nursing judgment
D) Delegate routine vital signs for a stable client to trained assistive personnel
