ATI LEADERSHIP NURSING EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Management of Care
Safety and Infection Control
Prioritization and Delegation
Legal and Ethical Issues
Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
Resource Management
Quality Improvement and Performance
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Introduction
The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the competency of nursing students and professionals in the foundational
principles of leadership and management. This exam assesses critical skills such as clinical judgment, effective
communication, and the ability to coordinate patient care within complex healthcare systems. The structure consists of
multiple-choice and scenario-based questions designed to mimic the rigor of professional certification exams. Emphasis is
placed on real-world application, ethical decision-making, and the nurse's role as a leader in ensuring patient safety and high-
quality outcomes. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in navigating regulatory requirements and leading
interprofessional teams effectively.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A nurse manager is preparing an educational session about advocacy for a group of staff nurses. Which of the following
information should the manager include?
A. Advocacy is a leadership role that encourages subordinates to make their own decisions.
B. Advocacy requires the nurse to prioritize the hospital's policies over patient preferences.
,C. Advocacy is the process of supporting others to ensure their rights are protected.
D. Advocacy involves making decisions for patients who are unable to speak for themselves.
🟢 C. Advocacy is the process of supporting others to ensure their rights are protected.
🔴 RATIONALE: Advocacy is a core nursing responsibility that involves ensuring patients have the information they need to
make informed decisions and supporting those decisions to protect their rights and autonomy.
2. A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to the
AP?
A. Evaluating a patient's response to pain medication.
B. Performing a simple dressing change on a stable wound.
C. Providing post-mortem care to a deceased patient.
D. Teaching a patient how to use a glucose monitor.
🟢 C. Providing post-mortem care to a deceased patient.
🔴 RATIONALE: Post-mortem care is within the scope of practice for an AP because it follows a standard procedure and does
not require nursing judgment or assessment.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client expresses concern about the procedure and states,
"I'm not sure if I want to go through with this." Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Reassure the client that the surgeon is highly skilled.
B. Notify the provider about the client's concerns.
C. Proceed with the preoperative checklist as scheduled.
D. Ask the client's family to help convince the client.
🟢 B. Notify the provider about the client's concerns.
🔴 RATIONALE: It is the nurse's responsibility to advocate for the client. If a client expresses doubt about a procedure, the
provider must be notified to provide further clarification and ensure informed consent.
4. A nurse manager is implementing a new electronic health record system. Which of the following leadership styles is
characterized by the manager making all decisions without staff input?
,A. Democratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Autocratic
D. Transformational
🟢 C. Autocratic
🔴 RATIONALE: Autocratic leadership is characterized by individual control over all decisions and little input from group
members. This style is often used in emergency situations or when high-level control is required.
5. A charge nurse is overseeing a busy medical-surgical unit. Which of the following actions demonstrates effective time
management?
A. Completing high-priority tasks first.
B. Documenting all care at the end of the shift.
C. Saving complex tasks for the end of the day.
D. Performing routine tasks as they arise throughout the day.
🟢 A. Completing high-priority tasks first.
🔴 RATIONALE: Prioritization is a key element of time management. Addressing high-priority or urgent tasks first ensures that
essential patient needs are met efficiently.
6. A nurse is preparing to delegate the measurement of vital signs for a client who is 2 hours postoperative following an
appendectomy. Which of the following "rights of delegation" is the nurse exercising?
A. Right Person
B. Right Circumstance
C. Right Task
D. Right Supervision
🟢 B. Right Circumstance
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse must determine if the patient's condition is stable enough for delegation. A patient 2 hours post-op
is at risk for complications, making the "Right Circumstance" a critical consideration before delegating vital signs.
, 7. A nurse is reviewing the Code of Ethics for Nurses. Which of the following principles refers to the obligation to do no
harm?
A. Beneficence
B. Fidelity
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
🟢 C. Nonmaleficence
🔴 RATIONALE: Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of "do no harm." It requires nurses to protect patients from danger
and provide care that minimizes risk.
8. A nurse is assigned to care for four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?
A. A client who is 1 day postoperative and requesting pain medication.
B. A client with a respiratory rate of 28/min and an oxygen saturation of 89%.
C. A client who needs a discharge teaching for insulin administration.
D. A client with a broken leg who is requesting a bedpan.
🟢 B. A client with a respiratory rate of 28/min and an oxygen saturation of 89%.
🔴 RATIONALE: Using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework, the client with respiratory distress and low oxygen
saturation is the highest priority and must be assessed immediately.
9. A nurse manager is investigating a medication error. Which of the following actions should the manager take first?
A. Place a formal reprimand in the nurse's file.
B. Schedule a mandatory retraining session for all staff.
C. Interview the nurse involved in the error.
D. Report the incident to the Board of Nursing.
🟢 C. Interview the nurse involved in the error.
🔴 RATIONALE: The first step in addressing a medication error is to gather all relevant facts and understand the
circumstances surrounding the incident by interviewing the staff involved.
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Management of Care
Safety and Infection Control
Prioritization and Delegation
Legal and Ethical Issues
Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
Resource Management
Quality Improvement and Performance
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Introduction
The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the competency of nursing students and professionals in the foundational
principles of leadership and management. This exam assesses critical skills such as clinical judgment, effective
communication, and the ability to coordinate patient care within complex healthcare systems. The structure consists of
multiple-choice and scenario-based questions designed to mimic the rigor of professional certification exams. Emphasis is
placed on real-world application, ethical decision-making, and the nurse's role as a leader in ensuring patient safety and high-
quality outcomes. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in navigating regulatory requirements and leading
interprofessional teams effectively.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A nurse manager is preparing an educational session about advocacy for a group of staff nurses. Which of the following
information should the manager include?
A. Advocacy is a leadership role that encourages subordinates to make their own decisions.
B. Advocacy requires the nurse to prioritize the hospital's policies over patient preferences.
,C. Advocacy is the process of supporting others to ensure their rights are protected.
D. Advocacy involves making decisions for patients who are unable to speak for themselves.
🟢 C. Advocacy is the process of supporting others to ensure their rights are protected.
🔴 RATIONALE: Advocacy is a core nursing responsibility that involves ensuring patients have the information they need to
make informed decisions and supporting those decisions to protect their rights and autonomy.
2. A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to the
AP?
A. Evaluating a patient's response to pain medication.
B. Performing a simple dressing change on a stable wound.
C. Providing post-mortem care to a deceased patient.
D. Teaching a patient how to use a glucose monitor.
🟢 C. Providing post-mortem care to a deceased patient.
🔴 RATIONALE: Post-mortem care is within the scope of practice for an AP because it follows a standard procedure and does
not require nursing judgment or assessment.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client expresses concern about the procedure and states,
"I'm not sure if I want to go through with this." Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Reassure the client that the surgeon is highly skilled.
B. Notify the provider about the client's concerns.
C. Proceed with the preoperative checklist as scheduled.
D. Ask the client's family to help convince the client.
🟢 B. Notify the provider about the client's concerns.
🔴 RATIONALE: It is the nurse's responsibility to advocate for the client. If a client expresses doubt about a procedure, the
provider must be notified to provide further clarification and ensure informed consent.
4. A nurse manager is implementing a new electronic health record system. Which of the following leadership styles is
characterized by the manager making all decisions without staff input?
,A. Democratic
B. Laissez-faire
C. Autocratic
D. Transformational
🟢 C. Autocratic
🔴 RATIONALE: Autocratic leadership is characterized by individual control over all decisions and little input from group
members. This style is often used in emergency situations or when high-level control is required.
5. A charge nurse is overseeing a busy medical-surgical unit. Which of the following actions demonstrates effective time
management?
A. Completing high-priority tasks first.
B. Documenting all care at the end of the shift.
C. Saving complex tasks for the end of the day.
D. Performing routine tasks as they arise throughout the day.
🟢 A. Completing high-priority tasks first.
🔴 RATIONALE: Prioritization is a key element of time management. Addressing high-priority or urgent tasks first ensures that
essential patient needs are met efficiently.
6. A nurse is preparing to delegate the measurement of vital signs for a client who is 2 hours postoperative following an
appendectomy. Which of the following "rights of delegation" is the nurse exercising?
A. Right Person
B. Right Circumstance
C. Right Task
D. Right Supervision
🟢 B. Right Circumstance
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse must determine if the patient's condition is stable enough for delegation. A patient 2 hours post-op
is at risk for complications, making the "Right Circumstance" a critical consideration before delegating vital signs.
, 7. A nurse is reviewing the Code of Ethics for Nurses. Which of the following principles refers to the obligation to do no
harm?
A. Beneficence
B. Fidelity
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
🟢 C. Nonmaleficence
🔴 RATIONALE: Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of "do no harm." It requires nurses to protect patients from danger
and provide care that minimizes risk.
8. A nurse is assigned to care for four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?
A. A client who is 1 day postoperative and requesting pain medication.
B. A client with a respiratory rate of 28/min and an oxygen saturation of 89%.
C. A client who needs a discharge teaching for insulin administration.
D. A client with a broken leg who is requesting a bedpan.
🟢 B. A client with a respiratory rate of 28/min and an oxygen saturation of 89%.
🔴 RATIONALE: Using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework, the client with respiratory distress and low oxygen
saturation is the highest priority and must be assessed immediately.
9. A nurse manager is investigating a medication error. Which of the following actions should the manager take first?
A. Place a formal reprimand in the nurse's file.
B. Schedule a mandatory retraining session for all staff.
C. Interview the nurse involved in the error.
D. Report the incident to the Board of Nursing.
🟢 C. Interview the nurse involved in the error.
🔴 RATIONALE: The first step in addressing a medication error is to gather all relevant facts and understand the
circumstances surrounding the incident by interviewing the staff involved.
