ATI PN Fundamentals Proctored Exam - Full Practice
Test
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.
Section 1: Safe and Effective Care Environment
1. A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a client. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take to verify the client's identity?
A) Ask the client to state their name and date of birth
B) Check the client's room number
C) Ask the client's roommate to confirm the client's identity
D) Verify the client's identity using only the wristband
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should use at least two client identifiers, such as the client's name and date of
birth, as recommended by The Joint Commission. The client should be asked to state their identity
rather than confirming a name provided by the nurse, as this helps ensure accuracy. Room numbers
are not reliable identifiers, and relying only on the wristband or asking a roommate does not meet
safety standards.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for oxygen therapy at 2 L/min via nasal
cannula. Which of the following safety measures should the nurse implement?
A) Place a "No Smoking" sign on the client's door
B) Apply petroleum jelly to the client's nares
C) Remove the client's cotton blankets from the room
D) Place the oxygen tank in the client's bathroom
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Oxygen supports combustion, so a "No Smoking" sign should be placed prominently to alert
staff and visitors of the fire risk. Petroleum jelly should not be used as it is flammable; water-based
lubricants are preferred. Cotton blankets do not pose a significant fire risk with oxygen use, and
oxygen tanks should be secured in a stand, not stored in the bathroom where moisture and confined
space create additional hazards.
,3. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client. Which of the
following actions demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Opening the sterile kit and placing it on the client's bed
B) Wearing sterile gloves and touching only the sterile field
C) Cleansing the meatus from the anal area toward the pubic area
D) Maintaining the sterile catheter in the sterile package until use
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The sterile catheter should remain in its sterile package until the moment of insertion to
maintain sterility. The sterile field should be placed on a clean, dry surface, not directly on the bed.
While wearing sterile gloves, the nurse must maintain sterility by keeping gloved hands above waist
level. Cleansing should be performed from the pubic area toward the anal area (front to back) to
prevent contamination from the anal area.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a continuous IV infusion. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent infection?
A) Change the IV tubing every 72 hours
B) Apply a transparent dressing over the IV site
C) Wear clean gloves when inserting the IV catheter
D) Clean the IV site with alcohol in a circular motion outward
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cleaning the IV site with alcohol in a circular motion from the center outward helps remove
microorganisms and prevents recontamination of the cleaned area. IV tubing should typically be
changed every 24 hours for blood products and lipid emulsions, and every 72-96 hours for other
solutions. Sterile, not clean, gloves are required for IV insertion. The dressing should be changed per
facility protocol, typically every 24-48 hours.
5. A nurse is receiving a telephone prescription from a provider for a client. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A) Write the prescription on the client's chart and sign it
B) Ask the provider to spell the medication name
C) Repeat the prescription back to the provider
D) Administer the medication immediately after writing it
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: The nurse should repeat the prescription back to the provider to verify accuracy. This is a
critical safety measure to prevent errors. The nurse should write the prescription, including the date
and time, read it back, and obtain verification. The provider should be asked to sign the prescription as
soon as possible. Administering immediately without verification is unsafe.
Section 2: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include?
A) "You may eat a light breakfast the morning of the procedure"
B) "You will need to drink all of the prescribed bowel preparation solution"
C) "You may resume your regular medications, including blood thinners"
D) "You can drive yourself home after the procedure"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The client must drink the entire bowel preparation solution as prescribed to ensure the
colon is completely cleansed for visualization. Clients should have nothing by mouth (NPO) after
midnight or follow specific fasting instructions. Blood thinners may need to be held prior to the
procedure, as directed by the provider. The client will need a ride home due to the effects of sedation.
7. A nurse is providing teaching about immunizations to a group of older adult clients. Which of the
following vaccines should the nurse recommend for clients 65 years and older?
A) MMR vaccine
B) Pneumococcal vaccine
C) Varicella vaccine
D) Hepatitis B vaccine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV23 and/or PCV13) is recommended for all adults 65 years
and older to prevent pneumococcal disease, which can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. The
MMR vaccine is typically given in childhood or as an adult booster for certain populations. Varicella
vaccine is recommended for adults without evidence of immunity but is not specifically indicated
based on age alone. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for high-risk adults, not all older adults.
8. A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 days postoperative. The client reports pain of 8 on a scale of 0
to 10. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Test
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.
Section 1: Safe and Effective Care Environment
1. A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a client. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take to verify the client's identity?
A) Ask the client to state their name and date of birth
B) Check the client's room number
C) Ask the client's roommate to confirm the client's identity
D) Verify the client's identity using only the wristband
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should use at least two client identifiers, such as the client's name and date of
birth, as recommended by The Joint Commission. The client should be asked to state their identity
rather than confirming a name provided by the nurse, as this helps ensure accuracy. Room numbers
are not reliable identifiers, and relying only on the wristband or asking a roommate does not meet
safety standards.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for oxygen therapy at 2 L/min via nasal
cannula. Which of the following safety measures should the nurse implement?
A) Place a "No Smoking" sign on the client's door
B) Apply petroleum jelly to the client's nares
C) Remove the client's cotton blankets from the room
D) Place the oxygen tank in the client's bathroom
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Oxygen supports combustion, so a "No Smoking" sign should be placed prominently to alert
staff and visitors of the fire risk. Petroleum jelly should not be used as it is flammable; water-based
lubricants are preferred. Cotton blankets do not pose a significant fire risk with oxygen use, and
oxygen tanks should be secured in a stand, not stored in the bathroom where moisture and confined
space create additional hazards.
,3. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female client. Which of the
following actions demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Opening the sterile kit and placing it on the client's bed
B) Wearing sterile gloves and touching only the sterile field
C) Cleansing the meatus from the anal area toward the pubic area
D) Maintaining the sterile catheter in the sterile package until use
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The sterile catheter should remain in its sterile package until the moment of insertion to
maintain sterility. The sterile field should be placed on a clean, dry surface, not directly on the bed.
While wearing sterile gloves, the nurse must maintain sterility by keeping gloved hands above waist
level. Cleansing should be performed from the pubic area toward the anal area (front to back) to
prevent contamination from the anal area.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a continuous IV infusion. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent infection?
A) Change the IV tubing every 72 hours
B) Apply a transparent dressing over the IV site
C) Wear clean gloves when inserting the IV catheter
D) Clean the IV site with alcohol in a circular motion outward
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cleaning the IV site with alcohol in a circular motion from the center outward helps remove
microorganisms and prevents recontamination of the cleaned area. IV tubing should typically be
changed every 24 hours for blood products and lipid emulsions, and every 72-96 hours for other
solutions. Sterile, not clean, gloves are required for IV insertion. The dressing should be changed per
facility protocol, typically every 24-48 hours.
5. A nurse is receiving a telephone prescription from a provider for a client. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A) Write the prescription on the client's chart and sign it
B) Ask the provider to spell the medication name
C) Repeat the prescription back to the provider
D) Administer the medication immediately after writing it
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: The nurse should repeat the prescription back to the provider to verify accuracy. This is a
critical safety measure to prevent errors. The nurse should write the prescription, including the date
and time, read it back, and obtain verification. The provider should be asked to sign the prescription as
soon as possible. Administering immediately without verification is unsafe.
Section 2: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is scheduled for a colonoscopy. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include?
A) "You may eat a light breakfast the morning of the procedure"
B) "You will need to drink all of the prescribed bowel preparation solution"
C) "You may resume your regular medications, including blood thinners"
D) "You can drive yourself home after the procedure"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The client must drink the entire bowel preparation solution as prescribed to ensure the
colon is completely cleansed for visualization. Clients should have nothing by mouth (NPO) after
midnight or follow specific fasting instructions. Blood thinners may need to be held prior to the
procedure, as directed by the provider. The client will need a ride home due to the effects of sedation.
7. A nurse is providing teaching about immunizations to a group of older adult clients. Which of the
following vaccines should the nurse recommend for clients 65 years and older?
A) MMR vaccine
B) Pneumococcal vaccine
C) Varicella vaccine
D) Hepatitis B vaccine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV23 and/or PCV13) is recommended for all adults 65 years
and older to prevent pneumococcal disease, which can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. The
MMR vaccine is typically given in childhood or as an adult booster for certain populations. Varicella
vaccine is recommended for adults without evidence of immunity but is not specifically indicated
based on age alone. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for high-risk adults, not all older adults.
8. A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 days postoperative. The client reports pain of 8 on a scale of 0
to 10. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
