ATI Fundamentals CMS Proctored Exam
2026/2027 | Newly Released
70 Verified Questions, Answers and detailed Rationales
Graded A+ | 100% Correct | Guaranteed Pass
Q1: A nurse is planning care for a client who has dysphagia following a stroke. Which of
the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Encourage the client to drink thin liquids.
B. Place the client in a supine position during meals.
C. Provide oral care before meals.
D. Instruct the client to tilt their head forward when swallowing.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because tilting the head forward (chin tuck) helps protect the
airway by closing the epiglottis and facilitating safe swallowing. Thin liquids increase the
risk of aspiration, the client should be upright (high Fowler's), and oral care stimulates
the appetite but does not prevent aspiration during the act of swallowing.
Q2: A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving heparin therapy via continuous IV
infusion. The nurse reviews the client's aPTT result and finds it to be 90 seconds. The
control aPTT is 30 seconds. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer a bolus of heparin as per protocol.
B. Continue the infusion at the current rate.
C. Stop the infusion and notify the provider.
D. Increase the infusion rate by 2 units/hr.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because an aPTT of 90 seconds (3 times the control) indicates that
the client is at high risk for bleeding due to excessive anticoagulation. The nurse should
,stop the infusion immediately to prevent hemorrhage and notify the provider for further
instructions regarding protamine sulfate.
Q3: A nurse on a medical unit is receiving report on four clients. Which of the following
clients should the nurse assess first?
A. A client who has diabetes mellitus and reports feeling lightheaded.
B. A client who has a fractured femur and reports pain of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10.
C. A client who has pneumonia and has a temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F).
D. A client who has hypertension and has a blood pressure of 150/90 mm Hg.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because lightheadedness in a client with diabetes mellitus may
indicate hypoglycemia, which is a physiological crisis that requires immediate
intervention to prevent seizures or coma. Pain, fever, and elevated blood pressure, while
requiring attention, are not immediately life-threatening compared to severe
hypoglycemia.
Q4: A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for simvastatin.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I should take this medication in the morning."
B. "I will avoid drinking grapefruit juice."
C. "I may take this medication with antacids if I get heartburn."
D. "I should expect my muscles to ache slightly."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because grapefruit juice inhibits the metabolism of simvastatin,
leading to increased plasma concentrations and a higher risk of adverse effects such as
myopathy. Simvastatin is usually taken in the evening, muscle aches should be reported
immediately, and it should not be taken with certain antacids that bind the drug.
, Q5: A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent infection?
A. Irrigate the catheter with sterile saline every 8 hours.
B. Cleanse the meatus with alcohol swabs twice daily.
C. Keep the drainage bag below the level of the bladder.
D. Clamp the catheter periodically to maintain bladder tone.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder
prevents reflux of urine back into the bladder, which reduces the risk of urinary tract
infection. Routine irrigation is not recommended, alcohol is too harsh for the meatus
(use soap and water), and clamping is not a standard infection prevention practice.
Q6: A nurse is observing an assistive personnel (AP) performing hand hygiene. Which of
the following actions by the AP indicates a need for further teaching?
A. The AP uses warm water.
B. The AP washes for 15 seconds.
C. The AP turns off the faucet with a paper towel.
D. The AP holds the hands upward under the water.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because holding the hands upward allows water to flow from the
least contaminated area (wrists) down to the most contaminated area (fingertips),
potentially recontaminating the hands. Hands should be held downward so water flows
from clean to dirty areas.
Q7: A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection using the Z -track
method. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Use a 25-gauge needle.
B. Pull the skin laterally or downward before inserting the needle.
C. Massage the site after injection.
D. Aspirate for 10 seconds before injecting the medication.
2026/2027 | Newly Released
70 Verified Questions, Answers and detailed Rationales
Graded A+ | 100% Correct | Guaranteed Pass
Q1: A nurse is planning care for a client who has dysphagia following a stroke. Which of
the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Encourage the client to drink thin liquids.
B. Place the client in a supine position during meals.
C. Provide oral care before meals.
D. Instruct the client to tilt their head forward when swallowing.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because tilting the head forward (chin tuck) helps protect the
airway by closing the epiglottis and facilitating safe swallowing. Thin liquids increase the
risk of aspiration, the client should be upright (high Fowler's), and oral care stimulates
the appetite but does not prevent aspiration during the act of swallowing.
Q2: A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving heparin therapy via continuous IV
infusion. The nurse reviews the client's aPTT result and finds it to be 90 seconds. The
control aPTT is 30 seconds. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer a bolus of heparin as per protocol.
B. Continue the infusion at the current rate.
C. Stop the infusion and notify the provider.
D. Increase the infusion rate by 2 units/hr.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because an aPTT of 90 seconds (3 times the control) indicates that
the client is at high risk for bleeding due to excessive anticoagulation. The nurse should
,stop the infusion immediately to prevent hemorrhage and notify the provider for further
instructions regarding protamine sulfate.
Q3: A nurse on a medical unit is receiving report on four clients. Which of the following
clients should the nurse assess first?
A. A client who has diabetes mellitus and reports feeling lightheaded.
B. A client who has a fractured femur and reports pain of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10.
C. A client who has pneumonia and has a temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F).
D. A client who has hypertension and has a blood pressure of 150/90 mm Hg.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because lightheadedness in a client with diabetes mellitus may
indicate hypoglycemia, which is a physiological crisis that requires immediate
intervention to prevent seizures or coma. Pain, fever, and elevated blood pressure, while
requiring attention, are not immediately life-threatening compared to severe
hypoglycemia.
Q4: A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for simvastatin.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I should take this medication in the morning."
B. "I will avoid drinking grapefruit juice."
C. "I may take this medication with antacids if I get heartburn."
D. "I should expect my muscles to ache slightly."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because grapefruit juice inhibits the metabolism of simvastatin,
leading to increased plasma concentrations and a higher risk of adverse effects such as
myopathy. Simvastatin is usually taken in the evening, muscle aches should be reported
immediately, and it should not be taken with certain antacids that bind the drug.
, Q5: A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent infection?
A. Irrigate the catheter with sterile saline every 8 hours.
B. Cleanse the meatus with alcohol swabs twice daily.
C. Keep the drainage bag below the level of the bladder.
D. Clamp the catheter periodically to maintain bladder tone.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder
prevents reflux of urine back into the bladder, which reduces the risk of urinary tract
infection. Routine irrigation is not recommended, alcohol is too harsh for the meatus
(use soap and water), and clamping is not a standard infection prevention practice.
Q6: A nurse is observing an assistive personnel (AP) performing hand hygiene. Which of
the following actions by the AP indicates a need for further teaching?
A. The AP uses warm water.
B. The AP washes for 15 seconds.
C. The AP turns off the faucet with a paper towel.
D. The AP holds the hands upward under the water.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because holding the hands upward allows water to flow from the
least contaminated area (wrists) down to the most contaminated area (fingertips),
potentially recontaminating the hands. Hands should be held downward so water flows
from clean to dirty areas.
Q7: A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection using the Z -track
method. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Use a 25-gauge needle.
B. Pull the skin laterally or downward before inserting the needle.
C. Massage the site after injection.
D. Aspirate for 10 seconds before injecting the medication.
