ATI RN Fundamentals 2026/2027
Proctored Exam Prep Practice
Questions, Verified Answers &
Rationales Complete Package
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer an enteral feeding to a client via a nasogastric
(NG) tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Flush the tube with 30 mL of warm water.
B) Verify the placement of the tube by checking the gastric pH.
C) Warm the formula to room temperature.
D) Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees.
Verified Answer: B
Explanation: The nurse's first action must always be safety-focused.
Verifying proper tube placement prevents accidental administration of
,formula into the lungs, which can cause severe aspiration pneumonia.
Checking the gastric pH (which should be 5 or less) or obtaining an X-ray are
verified methods for confirming placement before any fluid or feeding is
introduced.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who is post-operative and reports a pain level of 7
on a scale of 0 to 10. The nurse administers an opioid analgesic. Which of the
following adverse effects is the priority for the nurse to monitor?
A) Urinary retention
B) Constipation
C) Bradypnea
D) Pruritus
Verified Answer: C
Explanation: Bradypnea (respiratory depression) is a life-threatening adverse
effect of opioid medications. Utilizing the ABC (Airway, Breathing,
Circulation) framework, respiratory depression is the highest priority
complication. While constipation, urinary retention, and pruritus are common
side effects of opioids, they are not immediately fatal.
Question 3
,A nurse is reinforcing teaching about a low-sodium diet with a client who has
hypertension. Which of the following food choices by the client indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A) Canned tomato soup
B) Fresh turkey breast slice
C) Smoked salmon
D) Cheddar cheese
Verified Answer: B
Explanation: Fresh meats, such as fresh turkey breast, naturally contain very
low amounts of sodium. In contrast, processed, canned, smoked, and aged
foods like canned soup, smoked salmon, and cheese are heavily preserved
with sodium and must be avoided on a sodium-restricted diet.
Question 4
A nurse is performing a sterile wound irrigation for a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to maintain the sterile field?
A) Hold the irrigation bottle 5 cm (2 in) above the wound.
B) Pour the sterile solution with the bottle label facing away from the palm.
C) Open the outermost flap of the sterile kit away from the body first.
D) Place the sterile bowl within the 1.27 cm (0.5 in) border of the sterile field.
Verified Answer: C
Explanation: When opening a sterile package, the top/outermost flap must be
opened away from the body first to prevent the nurse's unsterile arm from
crossing over the exposed sterile contents later. Labels should face the palm to
avoid smudging, containers should be held higher (about 4 inches) during
, pouring, and the outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered
contaminated.
Question 5
A nurse is evaluating an assistive personnel (AP) who is changing the linens for
a client on contact precautions. Which of the following actions by the AP
requires intervention by the nurse?
A) Shaking the clean linens to fully extend them over the bed.
B) Placing dirty linens directly into a designated biohazard bag.
C) Disinfecting the mattress after removing the soiled sheets.
D) Removing gloves and performing hand hygiene before leaving the room.
Verified Answer: A
Explanation: Shaking linens creates air currents that can lift and disperse
microorganisms and pathogens throughout the room environment. This is a
severe breach of infection control, especially under contact precautions.
Linens should be carefully rolled inwards without shaking.
Question 6
A nurse is assessing a client who has a prescription for mechanical restraints.
Which of the following findings should the nurse document as justification for
the continuing use of restraints?
A) The client is refusing to eat their breakfast.
Proctored Exam Prep Practice
Questions, Verified Answers &
Rationales Complete Package
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer an enteral feeding to a client via a nasogastric
(NG) tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Flush the tube with 30 mL of warm water.
B) Verify the placement of the tube by checking the gastric pH.
C) Warm the formula to room temperature.
D) Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees.
Verified Answer: B
Explanation: The nurse's first action must always be safety-focused.
Verifying proper tube placement prevents accidental administration of
,formula into the lungs, which can cause severe aspiration pneumonia.
Checking the gastric pH (which should be 5 or less) or obtaining an X-ray are
verified methods for confirming placement before any fluid or feeding is
introduced.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who is post-operative and reports a pain level of 7
on a scale of 0 to 10. The nurse administers an opioid analgesic. Which of the
following adverse effects is the priority for the nurse to monitor?
A) Urinary retention
B) Constipation
C) Bradypnea
D) Pruritus
Verified Answer: C
Explanation: Bradypnea (respiratory depression) is a life-threatening adverse
effect of opioid medications. Utilizing the ABC (Airway, Breathing,
Circulation) framework, respiratory depression is the highest priority
complication. While constipation, urinary retention, and pruritus are common
side effects of opioids, they are not immediately fatal.
Question 3
,A nurse is reinforcing teaching about a low-sodium diet with a client who has
hypertension. Which of the following food choices by the client indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A) Canned tomato soup
B) Fresh turkey breast slice
C) Smoked salmon
D) Cheddar cheese
Verified Answer: B
Explanation: Fresh meats, such as fresh turkey breast, naturally contain very
low amounts of sodium. In contrast, processed, canned, smoked, and aged
foods like canned soup, smoked salmon, and cheese are heavily preserved
with sodium and must be avoided on a sodium-restricted diet.
Question 4
A nurse is performing a sterile wound irrigation for a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to maintain the sterile field?
A) Hold the irrigation bottle 5 cm (2 in) above the wound.
B) Pour the sterile solution with the bottle label facing away from the palm.
C) Open the outermost flap of the sterile kit away from the body first.
D) Place the sterile bowl within the 1.27 cm (0.5 in) border of the sterile field.
Verified Answer: C
Explanation: When opening a sterile package, the top/outermost flap must be
opened away from the body first to prevent the nurse's unsterile arm from
crossing over the exposed sterile contents later. Labels should face the palm to
avoid smudging, containers should be held higher (about 4 inches) during
, pouring, and the outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered
contaminated.
Question 5
A nurse is evaluating an assistive personnel (AP) who is changing the linens for
a client on contact precautions. Which of the following actions by the AP
requires intervention by the nurse?
A) Shaking the clean linens to fully extend them over the bed.
B) Placing dirty linens directly into a designated biohazard bag.
C) Disinfecting the mattress after removing the soiled sheets.
D) Removing gloves and performing hand hygiene before leaving the room.
Verified Answer: A
Explanation: Shaking linens creates air currents that can lift and disperse
microorganisms and pathogens throughout the room environment. This is a
severe breach of infection control, especially under contact precautions.
Linens should be carefully rolled inwards without shaking.
Question 6
A nurse is assessing a client who has a prescription for mechanical restraints.
Which of the following findings should the nurse document as justification for
the continuing use of restraints?
A) The client is refusing to eat their breakfast.
