ATI Comprehensive Predictor: Delegation and Assignment Practice
Pack 2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following tasks
should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?
A. Explaining the side effects of a new medication to a client.
B. Assisting a client who is 2 days post-operative with ambulation.
C. Performing a sterile dressing change on a post-operative wound.
D. Updating a client’s plan of care based on recent laboratory results.
Answer: B
Rationale: Assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as ambulation for a stable
client is within the scope of practice for an AP. Teaching, sterile procedures, and care
planning require the judgment of a licensed nurse.
2. A charge nurse is making assignments for the upcoming shift. Which client
should be assigned to a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
A. A client who was just admitted with chest pain and needs a diagnostic workup.
B. A client who requires teaching on how to manage a new insulin pump.
C. A client who is scheduled for an immediate emergency surgery.
D. A client with a chronic tracheostomy who requires routine suctioning.
Answer: D
Rationale: LPNs can care for stable clients with predictable outcomes. Routine suctioning
of a chronic tracheostomy is within their scope. New admissions, unstable clients, and
complex teaching require an RN.
,3. Which of the following is one of the ‘Five Rights’ of delegation?
A. Right Supervision/Evaluation
B. Right Compensation
C. Right Physician Order
D. Right Family Consent
Answer: A
Rationale: The Five Rights of Delegation are Right Task, Right Circumstance, Right Person,
Right Direction/Communication, and Right Supervision/Evaluation.
4. A nurse delegates a task to an AP. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take to ensure the task was completed correctly?
A. Ask the client if the AP did a good job.
B. Follow up with the AP and review the documented results.
C. Assume the task was done if the AP does not report any issues.
D. Instruct another AP to check the work of the first AP.
Answer: B
Rationale: The delegating nurse retains accountability for the task and must supervise and
evaluate the outcome by communicating with the AP and checking documentation.
5. An RN is assigning tasks to an LPN. Which task is appropriate for the LPN to
perform?
A. Administering a scheduled oral antibiotic to a stable client.
B. Performing an admission assessment on a new patient.
C. Administering an initial dose of IV chemotherapy.
D. Developing a discharge plan for a client with complex needs.
Answer: A
Rationale: LPNs are trained to administer oral medications to stable clients. IV
chemotherapy, initial assessments, and discharge planning require RN-level clinical
judgment.
, 6. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with COPD who has an oxygen saturation of 90%.
B. A client who is 1 day post-op and reporting a pain level of 7 out of 10.
C. A client who needs a dressing change before being discharged.
D. A client with heart failure who has developed sudden shortness of breath and pink frothy sputum.
Answer: D
Rationale: Using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) priority framework, the client
with pink frothy sputum and sudden dyspnea is showing signs of acute pulmonary edema,
a life-threatening emergency.
7. A nurse is delegating a task to an AP. Which of the following instructions
represents the ‘Right Direction/Communication’?
A. ‘Please take some vital signs when you have a moment.’
B. ‘I need you to help with some baths today.’
C. ‘Tell me if Mr. Smith’s systolic blood pressure is higher than 140 or lower than 90.’
D. ‘Can you check on the patient in room 402?’
Answer: C
Rationale: Right Direction involves clear, concise, and specific instructions, including the
task to be performed, the specific time frame, and specific parameters for reporting back.
8. Which of the following clients should the charge nurse assign to a newly
licensed RN?
A. A client who is 4 hours post-operative following a total hip arthroplasty.
B. A client who is receiving a continuous infusion of a vasopressor.
C. A client with a chest tube who is experiencing a new air leak.
D. A client who is being transferred to the ICU for respiratory failure.
Answer: A
Pack 2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following tasks
should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?
A. Explaining the side effects of a new medication to a client.
B. Assisting a client who is 2 days post-operative with ambulation.
C. Performing a sterile dressing change on a post-operative wound.
D. Updating a client’s plan of care based on recent laboratory results.
Answer: B
Rationale: Assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as ambulation for a stable
client is within the scope of practice for an AP. Teaching, sterile procedures, and care
planning require the judgment of a licensed nurse.
2. A charge nurse is making assignments for the upcoming shift. Which client
should be assigned to a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
A. A client who was just admitted with chest pain and needs a diagnostic workup.
B. A client who requires teaching on how to manage a new insulin pump.
C. A client who is scheduled for an immediate emergency surgery.
D. A client with a chronic tracheostomy who requires routine suctioning.
Answer: D
Rationale: LPNs can care for stable clients with predictable outcomes. Routine suctioning
of a chronic tracheostomy is within their scope. New admissions, unstable clients, and
complex teaching require an RN.
,3. Which of the following is one of the ‘Five Rights’ of delegation?
A. Right Supervision/Evaluation
B. Right Compensation
C. Right Physician Order
D. Right Family Consent
Answer: A
Rationale: The Five Rights of Delegation are Right Task, Right Circumstance, Right Person,
Right Direction/Communication, and Right Supervision/Evaluation.
4. A nurse delegates a task to an AP. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take to ensure the task was completed correctly?
A. Ask the client if the AP did a good job.
B. Follow up with the AP and review the documented results.
C. Assume the task was done if the AP does not report any issues.
D. Instruct another AP to check the work of the first AP.
Answer: B
Rationale: The delegating nurse retains accountability for the task and must supervise and
evaluate the outcome by communicating with the AP and checking documentation.
5. An RN is assigning tasks to an LPN. Which task is appropriate for the LPN to
perform?
A. Administering a scheduled oral antibiotic to a stable client.
B. Performing an admission assessment on a new patient.
C. Administering an initial dose of IV chemotherapy.
D. Developing a discharge plan for a client with complex needs.
Answer: A
Rationale: LPNs are trained to administer oral medications to stable clients. IV
chemotherapy, initial assessments, and discharge planning require RN-level clinical
judgment.
, 6. A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with COPD who has an oxygen saturation of 90%.
B. A client who is 1 day post-op and reporting a pain level of 7 out of 10.
C. A client who needs a dressing change before being discharged.
D. A client with heart failure who has developed sudden shortness of breath and pink frothy sputum.
Answer: D
Rationale: Using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) priority framework, the client
with pink frothy sputum and sudden dyspnea is showing signs of acute pulmonary edema,
a life-threatening emergency.
7. A nurse is delegating a task to an AP. Which of the following instructions
represents the ‘Right Direction/Communication’?
A. ‘Please take some vital signs when you have a moment.’
B. ‘I need you to help with some baths today.’
C. ‘Tell me if Mr. Smith’s systolic blood pressure is higher than 140 or lower than 90.’
D. ‘Can you check on the patient in room 402?’
Answer: C
Rationale: Right Direction involves clear, concise, and specific instructions, including the
task to be performed, the specific time frame, and specific parameters for reporting back.
8. Which of the following clients should the charge nurse assign to a newly
licensed RN?
A. A client who is 4 hours post-operative following a total hip arthroplasty.
B. A client who is receiving a continuous infusion of a vasopressor.
C. A client with a chest tube who is experiencing a new air leak.
D. A client who is being transferred to the ICU for respiratory failure.
Answer: A
