ATI Fundamentals: Basic Nursing Skills, Safety & Infection Control
2026 |Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has a suspected diagnosis of
pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of the following precautions should the nurse
implement?
A. Contact precautions
B. Airborne precautions
C. Droplet precautions
D. Standard precautions only
Answer: B
Rationale: Airborne precautions are required for clients who have infections that are
transmitted by droplet nuclei smaller than 5 microns, such as tuberculosis, measles, and
varicella.
2. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take when using soap and water?
A. Rub hands together for at least 5 seconds
B. Use hot water to kill bacteria
C. Dry hands starting from the elbows and moving down to the fingers
D. Wash with friction for at least 15 to 20 seconds
Answer: D
Rationale: Effective handwashing requires friction for at least 15 to 20 seconds to remove
microorganisms. Warm water should be used, not hot, to prevent skin damage.
,3. A nurse is entering the room of a client who has a prescription for droplet
precautions. Which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment
(PPE) is required?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 respirator
C. Sterile gloves
D. Goggles
Answer: A
Rationale: Droplet precautions require a surgical mask when within 3 to 6 feet of the
client. An N95 is for airborne precautions.
4. A nurse discovers a small fire in a trash can in a client’s room. According to
the RACE acronym, which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Activate the fire alarm
B. Extinguish the fire
C. Confine the fire
D. Rescue the client
Answer: D
Rationale: The RACE acronym stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish. The
priority is always to rescue and protect the client from immediate danger.
5. Which of the following describes the correct order for donning PPE?
A. Mask, goggles, gown, gloves
B. Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
C. Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
D. Goggles, mask, gloves, gown
Answer: C
Rationale: The standard sequence for donning PPE is gown, mask (or respirator), goggles
(or face shield), and finally gloves.
, 6. A nurse is teaching an assistive personnel (AP) about the use of hand
sanitizer. Which of the following statements by the AP indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A. I will rub my hands together until they are dry.
B. I will use it after caring for a client with C. difficile.
C. I will use a nickel-sized amount of gel.
D. I will rinse my hands with water after using the gel.
Answer: A
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rub should be rubbed into all surfaces of the hands and
fingers until the product is completely dry. It is not effective against C. difficile spores.
7. When opening a sterile package, which flap should the nurse open first?
A. The flap furthest from the body
B. The right side flap
C. The left side flap
D. The flap closest to the body
Answer: A
Rationale: To maintain sterility, the nurse should first open the flap that folds away from
the body (the top flap) to avoid reaching over the sterile field later.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is at high risk for falls. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Keep all four side rails up at all times
B. Place the client’s bedside table far away to prevent clutter
C. Keep the bed in the highest position
D. Instruct the client to use the call light before getting out of bed
Answer: D
Rationale: Instructing the client to use the call light is a primary safety measure. Four side
rails are considered a restraint. The bed should be in the lowest position.
2026 |Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has a suspected diagnosis of
pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of the following precautions should the nurse
implement?
A. Contact precautions
B. Airborne precautions
C. Droplet precautions
D. Standard precautions only
Answer: B
Rationale: Airborne precautions are required for clients who have infections that are
transmitted by droplet nuclei smaller than 5 microns, such as tuberculosis, measles, and
varicella.
2. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take when using soap and water?
A. Rub hands together for at least 5 seconds
B. Use hot water to kill bacteria
C. Dry hands starting from the elbows and moving down to the fingers
D. Wash with friction for at least 15 to 20 seconds
Answer: D
Rationale: Effective handwashing requires friction for at least 15 to 20 seconds to remove
microorganisms. Warm water should be used, not hot, to prevent skin damage.
,3. A nurse is entering the room of a client who has a prescription for droplet
precautions. Which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment
(PPE) is required?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 respirator
C. Sterile gloves
D. Goggles
Answer: A
Rationale: Droplet precautions require a surgical mask when within 3 to 6 feet of the
client. An N95 is for airborne precautions.
4. A nurse discovers a small fire in a trash can in a client’s room. According to
the RACE acronym, which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Activate the fire alarm
B. Extinguish the fire
C. Confine the fire
D. Rescue the client
Answer: D
Rationale: The RACE acronym stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish. The
priority is always to rescue and protect the client from immediate danger.
5. Which of the following describes the correct order for donning PPE?
A. Mask, goggles, gown, gloves
B. Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
C. Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
D. Goggles, mask, gloves, gown
Answer: C
Rationale: The standard sequence for donning PPE is gown, mask (or respirator), goggles
(or face shield), and finally gloves.
, 6. A nurse is teaching an assistive personnel (AP) about the use of hand
sanitizer. Which of the following statements by the AP indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A. I will rub my hands together until they are dry.
B. I will use it after caring for a client with C. difficile.
C. I will use a nickel-sized amount of gel.
D. I will rinse my hands with water after using the gel.
Answer: A
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rub should be rubbed into all surfaces of the hands and
fingers until the product is completely dry. It is not effective against C. difficile spores.
7. When opening a sterile package, which flap should the nurse open first?
A. The flap furthest from the body
B. The right side flap
C. The left side flap
D. The flap closest to the body
Answer: A
Rationale: To maintain sterility, the nurse should first open the flap that folds away from
the body (the top flap) to avoid reaching over the sterile field later.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is at high risk for falls. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Keep all four side rails up at all times
B. Place the client’s bedside table far away to prevent clutter
C. Keep the bed in the highest position
D. Instruct the client to use the call light before getting out of bed
Answer: D
Rationale: Instructing the client to use the call light is a primary safety measure. Four side
rails are considered a restraint. The bed should be in the lowest position.
