ATI RN Fundamentals Practice Exam Study Guide 2026 | Questions & Answers

ATI RN FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE
TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 {3 VERSIONS}
Fall Update | 100% Correct | Latest Version
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and reports a pain level of
8 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?

A. Administer the prescribed analgesic.
B. Reposition the client for comfort.
C. Assess the client's vital signs.
D. Ask the client to rate the pain again in 30 minutes.

*Correct Answer: C. Assess the client's vital signs. *

Rationale: Before administering an analgesic, the nurse should first assess the
client's vital signs to evaluate for any contraindications or changes in
condition. Pain is subjective, but vital signs provide objective data about the
client's physiological response. After assessment, the nurse can administer the
analgesic and then reposition the client for comfort.




Question 2
A nurse is preparing to remove a client's surgical staples. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?

A. Remove every other staple initially.
B. Remove all staples in a continuous motion.

,C. Use sterile technique.
D. Apply pressure to the wound after staple removal.

*Correct Answer: A. Remove every other staple initially. *

Rationale: When removing surgical staples, the nurse should remove every
other staple first to maintain wound approximation and prevent wound
dehiscence. After assessing that the wound edges remain approximated, the
remaining staples can be removed. Sterile technique is not required for staple
removal (clean technique is acceptable), but the staple remover should be
sterile.




Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client who has a fecal impaction. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Frequent liquid stools.
B. Constipation with no bowel movement for 3 days.
C. Abdominal cramping.
D. All of the above.

*Correct Answer: D. All of the above. *

Rationale: Fecal impaction often presents with paradoxical diarrhea (frequent
liquid stools that leak around the impaction), constipation, and abdominal
cramping. The nurse may also palpate a hard mass in the abdomen. Digital
disimpaction may be necessary but requires a provider's order.




Question 4
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a prescription for a

,mechanical soft diet. Which of the following foods should the nurse include
in the teaching?

A. Ground meat.
B. Whole wheat bread.
C. Raw carrots.
D. Nuts.

*Correct Answer: A. Ground meat. *

Rationale: A mechanical soft diet includes foods that are soft and easy to
chew, such as ground meat, mashed potatoes, and cooked vegetables. Whole
wheat bread, raw carrots, and nuts are not appropriate for a mechanical soft
diet as they require more chewing effort.




Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new ileostomy. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

A. Liquid stool.
B. A stoma that is pink and moist.
C. Output of 800 mL in 24 hours.
D. A stoma that is dark purple in color.

*Correct Answer: D. A stoma that is dark purple in color. *

Rationale: A dark purple stoma indicates ischemia and should be reported to
the provider immediately. A healthy stoma should be pink and moist.
Ileostomy output is typically liquid and can range from 500-1500 mL per day,
so 800 mL is expected.

, Question 6
A nurse is assessing a client who has just returned from surgery with a
patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?

A. Assess the client's pain level every 4 hours.
B. Instruct the client's family to press the PCA button if the client is asleep.
C. Assess the client's respiratory rate.
D. Program the PCA pump to deliver a continuous infusion.

*Correct Answer: C. Assess the client's respiratory rate. *

Rationale: The nurse should assess the client's respiratory rate frequently
(every 1-2 hours) because opioid analgesia can cause respiratory depression.
Only the client should press the PCA button, and the pump is programmed by
the provider or pharmacist, not the nurse.




Question 7
A nurse is preparing to administer a cleansing enema to a client. Which of
the following positions should the nurse place the client in?

A. Left lateral (Sims) position.
B. Right lateral position.
C. Supine position.
D. Prone position.

*Correct Answer: A. Left lateral (Sims) position. *

Rationale: The left lateral (Sims) position is the preferred position for
administering an enema because it follows the natural curve of the sigmoid
colon and allows gravity to assist with the flow of the enema solution. The
client should remain in this position for 5-10 minutes after the enema.