ATI Leadership CMS Proctored Exam – ATI
(2025/2026) | Actual Exam | 100% Verified
Questions and Correct Answers | Grade A
Instructions: This exam contains 70 multiple-choice questions covering leadership and
management principles in nursing. Each question includes four answer choices, the correct
answer in RED, and a detailed rationale explaining why the correct answer is right and why the
others are incorrect. Questions are separated by horizontal lines for clarity.
Question 1
A nurse manager is reviewing the incident reports from the past month. Which type of event
should the nurse manager prioritize for immediate investigation?
A. A client received the wrong medication dosage
B. A client complained about the food quality
C. A staff member was late for their shift
D. A supply cart was misplaced
Correct Answer: A. A client received the wrong medication dosage
Rationale: Medication errors pose immediate risk to client safety and require immediate
investigation to prevent harm and identify system issues. Food complaints (B), tardiness (C), and
misplaced supplies (D) are important but not life-threatening.
Question 2
The nurse manager is developing a plan to improve staff satisfaction. Which action should the
nurse manager take first?
A. Implement mandatory overtime
B. Conduct a staff survey
C. Increase documentation requirements
D. Reduce break times
Correct Answer: B. Conduct a staff survey
Rationale: Assessing staff needs through a survey is the first step to identify issues affecting
satisfaction. Mandatory overtime (A), increased documentation (C), and reduced breaks (D)
would likely worsen satisfaction.
Question 3
A charge nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is
appropriate for delegation?
A. Assessing a client's pain level
,B. Administering IV medications
C. Taking vital signs
D. Developing a care plan
Correct Answer: C. Taking vital signs
Rationale: Vital signs are routine measurements that UAP are trained to perform. Assessing pain
(A), administering IV meds (B), and developing care plans (D) require nursing judgment and are
not delegable.
Question 4
The nurse manager is preparing for a Joint Commission survey. Which action demonstrates
compliance with standards?
A. Locking medication carts during rounds
B. Allowing staff to use personal cell phones
C. Storing clean and dirty linens in the same area
D. Posting client census daily
Correct Answer: A. Locking medication carts during rounds
Rationale: Locking medication carts ensures security and compliance with safety standards. Cell
phones (B) risk infection; mixed linens (C) violate infection control; posting census (D) is
administrative but not a key standard.
Question 5
A nurse manager is addressing a conflict between two staff members. Which conflict resolution
strategy should the nurse manager use?
A. Avoidance
B. Collaboration
C. Competition
D. Accommodation
Correct Answer: B. Collaboration
Rationale: Collaboration involves working together to find a mutually beneficial solution,
promoting team unity. Avoidance (A) ignores the issue, competition (C) escalates conflict, and
accommodation (D) may lead to resentment.
Question 6
The nurse manager is evaluating the unit's budget. Which expense should the nurse manager
prioritize for cost-saving?
A. Reducing staff education hours
B. Eliminating supply waste
C. Cutting client meal portions
D. Shortening shift lengths
Correct Answer: B. Eliminating supply waste
, Rationale: Eliminating waste optimizes resources without compromising care quality. Reducing
education (A) risks competency, cutting meals (C) affects nutrition, and shortening shifts (D)
impacts staffing.
Question 7
A charge nurse is assigning clients to staff. Which principle should guide the assignment?
A. Assign the most acute client to the newest nurse
B. Match client needs with nurse expertise
C. Assign all male clients to one nurse
D. Base assignments on seniority only
Correct Answer: B. Match client needs with nurse expertise
Rationale: Matching needs to expertise ensures safe, effective care. Assigning acute clients to
new nurses (A) risks errors, gender-based (C) is discriminatory, and seniority-only (D) ignores
skills.
Question 8
The nurse manager is implementing a quality improvement project. Which step is first in the
process?
A. Implement changes
B. Evaluate outcomes
C. Identify the problem
D. Collect data
Correct Answer: C. Identify the problem
Rationale: The PDSA cycle begins with identifying the problem. Data collection (D) follows
identification, implementation (A) and evaluation (B) come later.
Question 9
A nurse manager is conducting a performance appraisal. Which approach promotes staff
development?
A. Focusing only on weaknesses
B. Providing constructive feedback
C. Avoiding discussion of goals
D. Comparing to peers
Correct Answer: B. Providing constructive feedback
Rationale: Constructive feedback balances strengths and areas for improvement, fostering
growth. Focusing on weaknesses (A) demotivates, avoiding goals (C) limits direction, and
comparisons (D) breed resentment.
(2025/2026) | Actual Exam | 100% Verified
Questions and Correct Answers | Grade A
Instructions: This exam contains 70 multiple-choice questions covering leadership and
management principles in nursing. Each question includes four answer choices, the correct
answer in RED, and a detailed rationale explaining why the correct answer is right and why the
others are incorrect. Questions are separated by horizontal lines for clarity.
Question 1
A nurse manager is reviewing the incident reports from the past month. Which type of event
should the nurse manager prioritize for immediate investigation?
A. A client received the wrong medication dosage
B. A client complained about the food quality
C. A staff member was late for their shift
D. A supply cart was misplaced
Correct Answer: A. A client received the wrong medication dosage
Rationale: Medication errors pose immediate risk to client safety and require immediate
investigation to prevent harm and identify system issues. Food complaints (B), tardiness (C), and
misplaced supplies (D) are important but not life-threatening.
Question 2
The nurse manager is developing a plan to improve staff satisfaction. Which action should the
nurse manager take first?
A. Implement mandatory overtime
B. Conduct a staff survey
C. Increase documentation requirements
D. Reduce break times
Correct Answer: B. Conduct a staff survey
Rationale: Assessing staff needs through a survey is the first step to identify issues affecting
satisfaction. Mandatory overtime (A), increased documentation (C), and reduced breaks (D)
would likely worsen satisfaction.
Question 3
A charge nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is
appropriate for delegation?
A. Assessing a client's pain level
,B. Administering IV medications
C. Taking vital signs
D. Developing a care plan
Correct Answer: C. Taking vital signs
Rationale: Vital signs are routine measurements that UAP are trained to perform. Assessing pain
(A), administering IV meds (B), and developing care plans (D) require nursing judgment and are
not delegable.
Question 4
The nurse manager is preparing for a Joint Commission survey. Which action demonstrates
compliance with standards?
A. Locking medication carts during rounds
B. Allowing staff to use personal cell phones
C. Storing clean and dirty linens in the same area
D. Posting client census daily
Correct Answer: A. Locking medication carts during rounds
Rationale: Locking medication carts ensures security and compliance with safety standards. Cell
phones (B) risk infection; mixed linens (C) violate infection control; posting census (D) is
administrative but not a key standard.
Question 5
A nurse manager is addressing a conflict between two staff members. Which conflict resolution
strategy should the nurse manager use?
A. Avoidance
B. Collaboration
C. Competition
D. Accommodation
Correct Answer: B. Collaboration
Rationale: Collaboration involves working together to find a mutually beneficial solution,
promoting team unity. Avoidance (A) ignores the issue, competition (C) escalates conflict, and
accommodation (D) may lead to resentment.
Question 6
The nurse manager is evaluating the unit's budget. Which expense should the nurse manager
prioritize for cost-saving?
A. Reducing staff education hours
B. Eliminating supply waste
C. Cutting client meal portions
D. Shortening shift lengths
Correct Answer: B. Eliminating supply waste
, Rationale: Eliminating waste optimizes resources without compromising care quality. Reducing
education (A) risks competency, cutting meals (C) affects nutrition, and shortening shifts (D)
impacts staffing.
Question 7
A charge nurse is assigning clients to staff. Which principle should guide the assignment?
A. Assign the most acute client to the newest nurse
B. Match client needs with nurse expertise
C. Assign all male clients to one nurse
D. Base assignments on seniority only
Correct Answer: B. Match client needs with nurse expertise
Rationale: Matching needs to expertise ensures safe, effective care. Assigning acute clients to
new nurses (A) risks errors, gender-based (C) is discriminatory, and seniority-only (D) ignores
skills.
Question 8
The nurse manager is implementing a quality improvement project. Which step is first in the
process?
A. Implement changes
B. Evaluate outcomes
C. Identify the problem
D. Collect data
Correct Answer: C. Identify the problem
Rationale: The PDSA cycle begins with identifying the problem. Data collection (D) follows
identification, implementation (A) and evaluation (B) come later.
Question 9
A nurse manager is conducting a performance appraisal. Which approach promotes staff
development?
A. Focusing only on weaknesses
B. Providing constructive feedback
C. Avoiding discussion of goals
D. Comparing to peers
Correct Answer: B. Providing constructive feedback
Rationale: Constructive feedback balances strengths and areas for improvement, fostering
growth. Focusing on weaknesses (A) demotivates, avoiding goals (C) limits direction, and
comparisons (D) breed resentment.
