ATI PN Fundamentals. 2026/2027
Practical Nursing (PN/LPN) Verified
Questions and Answers Elaborate
Rationales GRADE A+
DOMAIN 1: SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL (Questions 1-25)
Q1. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female
client. Which of the following actions demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Opens the catheter kit facing away from the body
B) Places the sterile drape with the non-absorbent side down
C) Maintains the dominant hand as sterile after donning sterile gloves
D) Uses clean gloves to handle the catheter after sterile gloves are removed
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C) Maintains the dominant hand as sterile after donning
sterile gloves
Rationale: The dominant hand remains sterile throughout catheter insertion.
Option A is incorrect; the kit should open toward the body. Option B is wrong; the
absorbent side goes down. Option D breaks sterility .
Q2. A client with a nasogastric (NG) tube for continuous enteral feeding has a
new order for oral medications. Which action should the nurse take first?
,A) Flush the tube with 30 mL of water after each medication
B) Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
C) Crush all enteric-coated tablets before administering
D) Clamp the tube for 30 minutes after medications
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: B) Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents
and checking pH
Rationale: Verifying placement is the priority to prevent aspiration and ensure
medication reaches the stomach. Enteric-coated tablets should never be crushed .
Q3. A nurse is assessing a client's IV site. Which finding indicates phlebitis?
(Select all that apply)
A) Redness along the vein
B) Cool, pale skin
C) Palpable hard cord
D) Edema at the insertion site
E) Purulent drainage
Correct ,,,,answer,,,s: A, C, D
Rationale: Phlebitis signs include redness, a cord-like vein, and edema. Option B
indicates infiltration. Option E indicates infection .
Q4. A client who is 2 days post-operative reports pain of 8 on a 0-10 scale. The
nurse administers morphine 2 mg IV. Thirty minutes later, the client's
respiratory rate is 8/min. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer naloxone per protocol
B) Call the provider
C) Place the client in high-Fowler's position
D) Encourage deep breathing
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,: A) Administer naloxone per protocol
Rationale: Respiratory depression (RR <10) post-opioid requires naloxone.
Calling the provider may delay emergency action .
Q5. A nurse is responding to a call light and finds a client lying on the
bathroom floor. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Call for additional staff assistance
B) Check the client for injuries
C) Help the client back to bed
D) Complete an incident report
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: B) Check the client for injuries
Rationale: Primary survey for injury is the first priority after a fall .
Q6. A nurse is admitting a client who has an abdominal wound with a large
amount of purulent drainage. Which of the following types of transmission
precautions should the nurse initiate?
A) Airborne precautions
B) Droplet precautions
C) Contact precautions
D) Protective environment
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C) Contact precautions
Rationale: Purulent drainage requires contact precautions to prevent transmission.
Gloves and gown are required for all client interactions .
Q7. A nurse is preparing to apply a restraint to a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
, A) Apply the restraint tightly to ensure the client cannot move
B) Tie the restraint to the side rail of the bed
C) Obtain a prescription from the provider within 24 hours
D) Remove the restraint every 2 hours for range of motion
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: D) Remove the restraint every 2 hours for range of
motion
Rationale: Restraints must be removed every 2 hours to allow for range of motion,
toileting, and skin assessment. Prescriptions are time-limited and require frequent
renewal .
Q8. A nurse is caring for a client who has Clostridium difficile infection.
Which of the following hand hygiene methods should the nurse use?
A) Alcohol-based hand rub
B) Soap and water
C) Chlorhexidine wipes
D) Hand sanitizer with emollients
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: B) Soap and water
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rubs are ineffective against C. diff spores. Soap
and water with friction are required for mechanical removal of spores .
Q9. A nurse is preparing a change-of-shift report. Which of the following tools
should the nurse use to communicate continuity of care?
A) Critical pathway
B) Flow sheet
C) SBAR
D) Medication administration record
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C) SBAR
Practical Nursing (PN/LPN) Verified
Questions and Answers Elaborate
Rationales GRADE A+
DOMAIN 1: SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL (Questions 1-25)
Q1. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female
client. Which of the following actions demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Opens the catheter kit facing away from the body
B) Places the sterile drape with the non-absorbent side down
C) Maintains the dominant hand as sterile after donning sterile gloves
D) Uses clean gloves to handle the catheter after sterile gloves are removed
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C) Maintains the dominant hand as sterile after donning
sterile gloves
Rationale: The dominant hand remains sterile throughout catheter insertion.
Option A is incorrect; the kit should open toward the body. Option B is wrong; the
absorbent side goes down. Option D breaks sterility .
Q2. A client with a nasogastric (NG) tube for continuous enteral feeding has a
new order for oral medications. Which action should the nurse take first?
,A) Flush the tube with 30 mL of water after each medication
B) Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
C) Crush all enteric-coated tablets before administering
D) Clamp the tube for 30 minutes after medications
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: B) Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents
and checking pH
Rationale: Verifying placement is the priority to prevent aspiration and ensure
medication reaches the stomach. Enteric-coated tablets should never be crushed .
Q3. A nurse is assessing a client's IV site. Which finding indicates phlebitis?
(Select all that apply)
A) Redness along the vein
B) Cool, pale skin
C) Palpable hard cord
D) Edema at the insertion site
E) Purulent drainage
Correct ,,,,answer,,,s: A, C, D
Rationale: Phlebitis signs include redness, a cord-like vein, and edema. Option B
indicates infiltration. Option E indicates infection .
Q4. A client who is 2 days post-operative reports pain of 8 on a 0-10 scale. The
nurse administers morphine 2 mg IV. Thirty minutes later, the client's
respiratory rate is 8/min. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer naloxone per protocol
B) Call the provider
C) Place the client in high-Fowler's position
D) Encourage deep breathing
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,: A) Administer naloxone per protocol
Rationale: Respiratory depression (RR <10) post-opioid requires naloxone.
Calling the provider may delay emergency action .
Q5. A nurse is responding to a call light and finds a client lying on the
bathroom floor. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Call for additional staff assistance
B) Check the client for injuries
C) Help the client back to bed
D) Complete an incident report
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: B) Check the client for injuries
Rationale: Primary survey for injury is the first priority after a fall .
Q6. A nurse is admitting a client who has an abdominal wound with a large
amount of purulent drainage. Which of the following types of transmission
precautions should the nurse initiate?
A) Airborne precautions
B) Droplet precautions
C) Contact precautions
D) Protective environment
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C) Contact precautions
Rationale: Purulent drainage requires contact precautions to prevent transmission.
Gloves and gown are required for all client interactions .
Q7. A nurse is preparing to apply a restraint to a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
, A) Apply the restraint tightly to ensure the client cannot move
B) Tie the restraint to the side rail of the bed
C) Obtain a prescription from the provider within 24 hours
D) Remove the restraint every 2 hours for range of motion
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: D) Remove the restraint every 2 hours for range of
motion
Rationale: Restraints must be removed every 2 hours to allow for range of motion,
toileting, and skin assessment. Prescriptions are time-limited and require frequent
renewal .
Q8. A nurse is caring for a client who has Clostridium difficile infection.
Which of the following hand hygiene methods should the nurse use?
A) Alcohol-based hand rub
B) Soap and water
C) Chlorhexidine wipes
D) Hand sanitizer with emollients
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: B) Soap and water
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rubs are ineffective against C. diff spores. Soap
and water with friction are required for mechanical removal of spores .
Q9. A nurse is preparing a change-of-shift report. Which of the following tools
should the nurse use to communicate continuity of care?
A) Critical pathway
B) Flow sheet
C) SBAR
D) Medication administration record
Correct ,,,,answer,,,: C) SBAR
