ATI Fundamentals | Week 6 NGN Study Guide (Documentation, Legal
& Ethics) 2026/2027 Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who decides to leave the hospital against medical
advice (AMA). Which of the following ethical principles is the nurse supporting
by respecting the client’s decision?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of the client to make their own personal decisions, even if
those decisions might not be in their best interest.
2. Which documentation format uses the components of Subjective data,
Objective data, Assessment, and Plan?
A. PIE charting
B. SOAP notes
C. Focus charting (DAR)
D. Narrative charting
Answer: B
Rationale: SOAP is an acronym for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan, which
organizes documentation around specific client problems.
,3. A nurse is explaining the principle of nonmaleficence to a student nurse.
Which of the following statements by the student indicates understanding?
A. It means I should always act in the client’s best interest.
B. It means I must be fair in the distribution of resources.
C. It means I must fulfill my promises to the client.
D. It means I must do no harm to the client.
Answer: D
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical obligation to avoid causing harm to the client.
4. A nurse observes another staff member taking a photo of a client in bed. This
action is a violation of which legal concept?
A. Defamation of character
B. Invasion of privacy
C. False imprisonment
D. Assault
Answer: B
Rationale: Invasion of privacy involves the intrusion into a client’s private affairs,
including taking unauthorized photos or sharing confidential information.
5. A nurse is documenting care for a client. Which of the following entries is the
most objective?
A. The client seems to be in a lot of pain today.
B. The client ate a good amount of their breakfast.
C. Client’s skin is warm and dry; pedal pulses 2+ bilaterally.
D. The client was very difficult and uncooperative during the dressing change.
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective documentation describes facts that can be measured or observed
without personal bias or judgment.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client states, ‘I
am not sure I want to go through with this.’ Which of the following is the
nurse’s priority action?
A. Encourage the client to talk more about their concerns.
B. Tell the client that the surgery is necessary for their recovery.
C. Inform the surgeon that the client has questions about the procedure.
D. Provide the client with a pamphlet explaining the procedure.
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse’s role in informed consent is to witness the signature. If the client
does not understand the procedure or expresses doubt, the nurse must notify the provider
to clarify.
7. Which of the following legal terms describes a nurse’s failure to provide the
standard of care that a reasonably prudent nurse would provide in a similar
situation?
A. Battery
B. Negligence
C. Slander
D. Libel
Answer: B
Rationale: Negligence is the failure to provide the expected standard of care, which results
in potential or actual harm.
& Ethics) 2026/2027 Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who decides to leave the hospital against medical
advice (AMA). Which of the following ethical principles is the nurse supporting
by respecting the client’s decision?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of the client to make their own personal decisions, even if
those decisions might not be in their best interest.
2. Which documentation format uses the components of Subjective data,
Objective data, Assessment, and Plan?
A. PIE charting
B. SOAP notes
C. Focus charting (DAR)
D. Narrative charting
Answer: B
Rationale: SOAP is an acronym for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan, which
organizes documentation around specific client problems.
,3. A nurse is explaining the principle of nonmaleficence to a student nurse.
Which of the following statements by the student indicates understanding?
A. It means I should always act in the client’s best interest.
B. It means I must be fair in the distribution of resources.
C. It means I must fulfill my promises to the client.
D. It means I must do no harm to the client.
Answer: D
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical obligation to avoid causing harm to the client.
4. A nurse observes another staff member taking a photo of a client in bed. This
action is a violation of which legal concept?
A. Defamation of character
B. Invasion of privacy
C. False imprisonment
D. Assault
Answer: B
Rationale: Invasion of privacy involves the intrusion into a client’s private affairs,
including taking unauthorized photos or sharing confidential information.
5. A nurse is documenting care for a client. Which of the following entries is the
most objective?
A. The client seems to be in a lot of pain today.
B. The client ate a good amount of their breakfast.
C. Client’s skin is warm and dry; pedal pulses 2+ bilaterally.
D. The client was very difficult and uncooperative during the dressing change.
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective documentation describes facts that can be measured or observed
without personal bias or judgment.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client states, ‘I
am not sure I want to go through with this.’ Which of the following is the
nurse’s priority action?
A. Encourage the client to talk more about their concerns.
B. Tell the client that the surgery is necessary for their recovery.
C. Inform the surgeon that the client has questions about the procedure.
D. Provide the client with a pamphlet explaining the procedure.
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse’s role in informed consent is to witness the signature. If the client
does not understand the procedure or expresses doubt, the nurse must notify the provider
to clarify.
7. Which of the following legal terms describes a nurse’s failure to provide the
standard of care that a reasonably prudent nurse would provide in a similar
situation?
A. Battery
B. Negligence
C. Slander
D. Libel
Answer: B
Rationale: Negligence is the failure to provide the expected standard of care, which results
in potential or actual harm.
