ATI PN Fundamentals 2023 Proctored
Exam: Practice Questions with
Rationales
SECTION 1: SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL (Questions 1-30)
1. A client with tuberculosis is admitted. Which type of precautions
should the nurse initiate?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Standard precautions
Correct Answer: C. Airborne precautions
Rationale: Tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted via small airborne particle nuclei
that remain suspended in the air. Airborne precautions require a negative-
pressure room, an N95 respirator, and the client should wear a surgical
mask when leaving the room. Contact and droplet precautions are used for
different types of organisms; standard precautions alone are insufficient for
TB.
2. A confused client with carbon monoxide poisoning experiences
dizziness when ambulating to the bathroom. What should the nurse do
first?
, A. Put all four side rails up on the bed
B. Ask the UAP to place wrist restraints
C. Request the roommate to use the call light
D. Check on the client at regular intervals
Correct Answer: D. Check on the client at regular intervals
Rationale: The nurse must assess the client first to determine the need for
interventions. Using all four side rails is considered a restraint, and
restraints require a prescription. Regular checks and assessment are the
appropriate initial actions.
3. The nurse notes bright red emesis from a client's NG tube on
continuous suction. What should the nurse do first?
A. Notify the provider immediately
B. Document the finding
C. Stop the suction
D. Aspirate the NG tube to check for blood
Correct Answer: C. Stop the suction
Rationale: The nurse should first stop continuous suction to prevent
further gastric trauma and bleeding. Only after stopping suction should the
nurse assess further, then document and notify the provider as needed.
,4. A nurse is caring for a client with an indwelling urinary catheter.
Which action is most important to prevent catheter-associated urinary
tract infection (CAUTI)?
A. Irrigate the catheter daily with normal saline
B. Empty the drainage bag every shift
C. Secure the catheter to the client's thigh
D. Maintain a closed drainage system
Correct Answer: D. Maintain a closed drainage system
Rationale: A closed drainage system is the primary defense against
bacterial entry into the bladder. Breaking the closed system significantly
increases infection risk. Irrigation and securing are not primary CAUTI
prevention methods; emptying is standard care.
5. A nurse discovers smoke coming from a wastebasket. According to
fire safety principles, what is the first action?
A. Rescue anyone in immediate danger
B. Activate the fire alarm
C. Confine the fire by closing doors
D. Extinguish the fire
Correct Answer: A. Rescue anyone in immediate danger
Rationale: The RACE acronym guides fire safety response: Rescue anyone
in immediate danger, Alert/Activate alarm, Confine
fire, Extinguish/Evacuate. Rescuing those in immediate danger is the
priority action.
, 6. A nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric tube. In which position
should the client be placed?
A. Supine with head flat
B. Left lateral recumbent
C. High Fowler's position with head flexed forward
D. Trendelenburg position
Correct Answer: C. High Fowler's position with head flexed forward
Rationale: This position aligns the esophagus and reduces the risk of
aspiration during insertion. The head flexed forward (chin to chest) helps
open the esophagus and facilitates swallowing of the tube. Supine and
Trendelenburg positions increase aspiration risk.
7. A nurse observes an assistive personnel (AP) reprimanding a client
for not using the urinal properly and threatening to put a diaper on
the client. Which tort is the AP committing?
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. False imprisonment
D. Negligence
Correct Answer: B. Assault
Rationale: Assault is the threat of harmful or offensive contact without
consent. The AP is threatening the client with a diaper, which constitutes
Exam: Practice Questions with
Rationales
SECTION 1: SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL (Questions 1-30)
1. A client with tuberculosis is admitted. Which type of precautions
should the nurse initiate?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Standard precautions
Correct Answer: C. Airborne precautions
Rationale: Tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted via small airborne particle nuclei
that remain suspended in the air. Airborne precautions require a negative-
pressure room, an N95 respirator, and the client should wear a surgical
mask when leaving the room. Contact and droplet precautions are used for
different types of organisms; standard precautions alone are insufficient for
TB.
2. A confused client with carbon monoxide poisoning experiences
dizziness when ambulating to the bathroom. What should the nurse do
first?
, A. Put all four side rails up on the bed
B. Ask the UAP to place wrist restraints
C. Request the roommate to use the call light
D. Check on the client at regular intervals
Correct Answer: D. Check on the client at regular intervals
Rationale: The nurse must assess the client first to determine the need for
interventions. Using all four side rails is considered a restraint, and
restraints require a prescription. Regular checks and assessment are the
appropriate initial actions.
3. The nurse notes bright red emesis from a client's NG tube on
continuous suction. What should the nurse do first?
A. Notify the provider immediately
B. Document the finding
C. Stop the suction
D. Aspirate the NG tube to check for blood
Correct Answer: C. Stop the suction
Rationale: The nurse should first stop continuous suction to prevent
further gastric trauma and bleeding. Only after stopping suction should the
nurse assess further, then document and notify the provider as needed.
,4. A nurse is caring for a client with an indwelling urinary catheter.
Which action is most important to prevent catheter-associated urinary
tract infection (CAUTI)?
A. Irrigate the catheter daily with normal saline
B. Empty the drainage bag every shift
C. Secure the catheter to the client's thigh
D. Maintain a closed drainage system
Correct Answer: D. Maintain a closed drainage system
Rationale: A closed drainage system is the primary defense against
bacterial entry into the bladder. Breaking the closed system significantly
increases infection risk. Irrigation and securing are not primary CAUTI
prevention methods; emptying is standard care.
5. A nurse discovers smoke coming from a wastebasket. According to
fire safety principles, what is the first action?
A. Rescue anyone in immediate danger
B. Activate the fire alarm
C. Confine the fire by closing doors
D. Extinguish the fire
Correct Answer: A. Rescue anyone in immediate danger
Rationale: The RACE acronym guides fire safety response: Rescue anyone
in immediate danger, Alert/Activate alarm, Confine
fire, Extinguish/Evacuate. Rescuing those in immediate danger is the
priority action.
, 6. A nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric tube. In which position
should the client be placed?
A. Supine with head flat
B. Left lateral recumbent
C. High Fowler's position with head flexed forward
D. Trendelenburg position
Correct Answer: C. High Fowler's position with head flexed forward
Rationale: This position aligns the esophagus and reduces the risk of
aspiration during insertion. The head flexed forward (chin to chest) helps
open the esophagus and facilitates swallowing of the tube. Supine and
Trendelenburg positions increase aspiration risk.
7. A nurse observes an assistive personnel (AP) reprimanding a client
for not using the urinal properly and threatening to put a diaper on
the client. Which tort is the AP committing?
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. False imprisonment
D. Negligence
Correct Answer: B. Assault
Rationale: Assault is the threat of harmful or offensive contact without
consent. The AP is threatening the client with a diaper, which constitutes
