ATI RN Concept-Based Assessment Proctored Exam –
Level 1 Questions with Verified Answers
Fundamentals of Nursing: Safety, Basic Care, and
Clinical Judgment Complete Level 1 Question Bank
2026/2027 update
Q1. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client. Which
technique should the nurse use to perform this procedure safely?
Answer: Surgical aseptic technique.
Rationale: Indwelling catheter insertion requires sterile technique to prevent introducing
bacteria into the bladder and causing a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).
Q2. A client who is confused attempts to get out of bed frequently during the night. Which
action should the nurse take first to ensure this client's safety?
Answer: Assess the client's immediate needs such as pain or toileting.
Rationale: The nurse should first determine why the client is trying to get up, as addressing
the underlying cause (e.g., bathroom need) may prevent falls without using restraints.
Q3. A nurse discovers a small fire in a trash can inside a client's room. What is the priority
action the nurse must take according to the RACE protocol?
Answer: Rescue the client by removing them from the room immediately.
Rationale: RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. Rescuing the client from
the fire is always the first and most important step.
Q4. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a
metered-dose inhaler. Which statement by the client indicates correct understanding of the
medication's use?
Answer: "I will shake the inhaler well before each use and hold my breath for 10 seconds
after inhaling."
Rationale: Shaking disperses the medication evenly, and holding the breath allows more
medication to deposit in the lungs rather than being exhaled.
,Q5. A nurse is caring for a client who has a latex allergy and needs a urinary catheter
inserted. Which type of catheter should the nurse obtain to prevent an allergic reaction?
Answer: A silicone or latex-free urinary catheter.
Rationale: Clients with latex allergy must avoid all latex-containing products. Silicone
catheters are latex-free and safe for these clients.
Q6. A nurse is preparing to administer oral medications to a client who has dysphagia
following a stroke. Which action should the nurse take to prevent aspiration during
medication administration?
Answer: Crush the medications and mix them with a small amount of applesauce or
pudding.
Rationale: Thickened liquids or soft solids like applesauce help control the bolus and
reduce the risk of aspiration in clients with dysphagia.
Q7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Which type of transmission-based precaution should the nurse implement when providing
care for this client?
Answer: Contact precautions, including wearing a gown and gloves for all client
interactions.
Rationale: C. diff spreads via spores on contaminated surfaces and hands. Contact
precautions and hand washing with soap and water (not alcohol) are required.
Q8. A nurse is removing personal protective equipment after caring for a client on contact
precautions. Which item should the nurse remove first to avoid contaminating themselves?
Answer: Gloves, by grasping the outside of one glove with the opposite gloved hand.
Rationale: Gloves are the most contaminated PPE and must be removed first, followed by
goggles, gown, and mask last.
Q9. A nurse is teaching a client about the proper use of a cane after a hip replacement.
Which instruction should the nurse include to ensure safe ambulation with the cane?
Answer: Hold the cane on the strong side of the body and move the cane forward at the
same time as the weak leg.
Rationale: The cane provides support to the weak leg when moved together. Holding it on
the strong side maintains balance and reduces stress on the injured hip.
, Q10. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which action is most
important for the nurse to take before starting the transfusion to prevent a hemolytic
reaction?
Answer: Verify the client's identity and blood product compatibility with another licensed
nurse.
Rationale: Two nurses must verify the client's name, ID number, blood type, Rh factor, and
unit number to prevent fatal ABO incompatibility reactions.
Q11. A nurse is caring for a client who reports a pain level of 8 on a 0-to-10 scale. Which
action should the nurse take first to address this client's pain appropriately?
Answer: Assess the client's pain characteristics including location, quality, and duration.
Rationale: Assessment always precedes intervention. The nurse needs to know pain
details before selecting a treatment or notifying the provider.
Q12. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to an adult client in the
deltoid muscle. Which needle length and gauge are most appropriate for this injection site?
Answer: 1 to 1.5 inch needle with 22 to 25 gauge.
Rationale: The deltoid is a smaller muscle, so a shorter needle is used. Gauge 22-25 is
appropriate for most IM solutions.
Q13. A nurse is caring for a client who is on fall precautions after a recent fall with injury.
Which intervention should the nurse implement consistently to prevent another fall?
Answer: Keep the bed in the lowest position with side rails up and the call light within
reach.
Rationale: Low bed position reduces injury distance if the client falls. Side rails and call light
access allow the client to signal for assistance.
Q14. A nurse is providing oral care to an unconscious client. Which action is essential to
prevent aspiration during this procedure?
Answer: Position the client on their side with the head of the bed flat and use a small
amount of solution.
Rationale: Side-lying allows fluids to drain out of the mouth rather than down the airway,
preventing aspiration pneumonia.
Q15. A nurse is inserting a nasogastric tube for a client. Which finding indicates the tube is
correctly placed in the stomach before the nurse initiates feeding?
Level 1 Questions with Verified Answers
Fundamentals of Nursing: Safety, Basic Care, and
Clinical Judgment Complete Level 1 Question Bank
2026/2027 update
Q1. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client. Which
technique should the nurse use to perform this procedure safely?
Answer: Surgical aseptic technique.
Rationale: Indwelling catheter insertion requires sterile technique to prevent introducing
bacteria into the bladder and causing a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).
Q2. A client who is confused attempts to get out of bed frequently during the night. Which
action should the nurse take first to ensure this client's safety?
Answer: Assess the client's immediate needs such as pain or toileting.
Rationale: The nurse should first determine why the client is trying to get up, as addressing
the underlying cause (e.g., bathroom need) may prevent falls without using restraints.
Q3. A nurse discovers a small fire in a trash can inside a client's room. What is the priority
action the nurse must take according to the RACE protocol?
Answer: Rescue the client by removing them from the room immediately.
Rationale: RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. Rescuing the client from
the fire is always the first and most important step.
Q4. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a
metered-dose inhaler. Which statement by the client indicates correct understanding of the
medication's use?
Answer: "I will shake the inhaler well before each use and hold my breath for 10 seconds
after inhaling."
Rationale: Shaking disperses the medication evenly, and holding the breath allows more
medication to deposit in the lungs rather than being exhaled.
,Q5. A nurse is caring for a client who has a latex allergy and needs a urinary catheter
inserted. Which type of catheter should the nurse obtain to prevent an allergic reaction?
Answer: A silicone or latex-free urinary catheter.
Rationale: Clients with latex allergy must avoid all latex-containing products. Silicone
catheters are latex-free and safe for these clients.
Q6. A nurse is preparing to administer oral medications to a client who has dysphagia
following a stroke. Which action should the nurse take to prevent aspiration during
medication administration?
Answer: Crush the medications and mix them with a small amount of applesauce or
pudding.
Rationale: Thickened liquids or soft solids like applesauce help control the bolus and
reduce the risk of aspiration in clients with dysphagia.
Q7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Which type of transmission-based precaution should the nurse implement when providing
care for this client?
Answer: Contact precautions, including wearing a gown and gloves for all client
interactions.
Rationale: C. diff spreads via spores on contaminated surfaces and hands. Contact
precautions and hand washing with soap and water (not alcohol) are required.
Q8. A nurse is removing personal protective equipment after caring for a client on contact
precautions. Which item should the nurse remove first to avoid contaminating themselves?
Answer: Gloves, by grasping the outside of one glove with the opposite gloved hand.
Rationale: Gloves are the most contaminated PPE and must be removed first, followed by
goggles, gown, and mask last.
Q9. A nurse is teaching a client about the proper use of a cane after a hip replacement.
Which instruction should the nurse include to ensure safe ambulation with the cane?
Answer: Hold the cane on the strong side of the body and move the cane forward at the
same time as the weak leg.
Rationale: The cane provides support to the weak leg when moved together. Holding it on
the strong side maintains balance and reduces stress on the injured hip.
, Q10. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which action is most
important for the nurse to take before starting the transfusion to prevent a hemolytic
reaction?
Answer: Verify the client's identity and blood product compatibility with another licensed
nurse.
Rationale: Two nurses must verify the client's name, ID number, blood type, Rh factor, and
unit number to prevent fatal ABO incompatibility reactions.
Q11. A nurse is caring for a client who reports a pain level of 8 on a 0-to-10 scale. Which
action should the nurse take first to address this client's pain appropriately?
Answer: Assess the client's pain characteristics including location, quality, and duration.
Rationale: Assessment always precedes intervention. The nurse needs to know pain
details before selecting a treatment or notifying the provider.
Q12. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to an adult client in the
deltoid muscle. Which needle length and gauge are most appropriate for this injection site?
Answer: 1 to 1.5 inch needle with 22 to 25 gauge.
Rationale: The deltoid is a smaller muscle, so a shorter needle is used. Gauge 22-25 is
appropriate for most IM solutions.
Q13. A nurse is caring for a client who is on fall precautions after a recent fall with injury.
Which intervention should the nurse implement consistently to prevent another fall?
Answer: Keep the bed in the lowest position with side rails up and the call light within
reach.
Rationale: Low bed position reduces injury distance if the client falls. Side rails and call light
access allow the client to signal for assistance.
Q14. A nurse is providing oral care to an unconscious client. Which action is essential to
prevent aspiration during this procedure?
Answer: Position the client on their side with the head of the bed flat and use a small
amount of solution.
Rationale: Side-lying allows fluids to drain out of the mouth rather than down the airway,
preventing aspiration pneumonia.
Q15. A nurse is inserting a nasogastric tube for a client. Which finding indicates the tube is
correctly placed in the stomach before the nurse initiates feeding?
