ATI Fundamentals: Basic Nursing Skills, Safety & Infection Control
Practice Exam 2026 |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Which of the
following infection control measures is most appropriate?
A. Wash hands with soap and water after patient contact
B. Wear an N95 respirator mask when providing care
C. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after leaving the room
D. Maintain the client in a room with negative pressure
Answer: A
Rationale: C. diff spores are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers. Handwashing with soap
and water is necessary to mechanically remove the spores from the hands.
2. A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from a bed to a chair. Which of the
following actions demonstrates proper body mechanics?
A. Spread the feet apart to provide a wide base of support
B. Bend at the waist to get closer to the client
C. Keep the knees straight and locked while lifting
D. Twist at the torso while moving the client
Answer: A
Rationale: A wide base of support provides better stability and balance. The nurse should
bend at the knees and hips, not the waist, and avoid twisting.
,3. In the event of a hospital fire, which action should the nurse perform first
according to the RACE acronym?
A. Activate the fire alarm system
B. Rescue and move clients to a safe area
C. Extinguish the fire using a portable extinguisher
D. Confine the fire by closing all doors
Answer: B
Rationale: RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish. The first priority is
always the safety of the clients.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who requires physical restraints. Which of the
following is a correct nursing intervention?
A. Tie the restraint to the side rail of the bed
B. Check the restraint every 4 hours for circulation
C. Secure the restraint with a quick-release knot
D. Request a PRN order for restraints from the provider
Answer: C
Rationale: Restraints must be secured with a quick-release knot to allow for rapid removal
in an emergency. They should be tied to the bed frame, not the side rails, and checked every
15-30 minutes.
5. Which of the following clients should the nurse place on Airborne
Precautions?
A. A client with Mycoplasma pneumoniae
B. A client with Disseminated Herpes Zoster
C. A client with Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)
D. A client with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Answer: B
, Rationale: Airborne precautions are required for measles, varicella, and disseminated
herpes zoster, as well as tuberculosis.
6. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. How long should the nurse scrub their
hands with soap?
A. At least 5 seconds
B. At least 15 to 20 seconds
C. At least 1 minute
D. At least 2 minutes
Answer: B
Rationale: Effective handwashing requires friction and scrubbing for at least 15 to 20
seconds to remove microorganisms.
7. A nurse is assisting a client with a cane. On which side should the client hold
the cane?
A. On the weaker side
B. It depends on the client’s height
C. On the side the client prefers
D. On the stronger side
Answer: D
Rationale: The cane should be held on the stronger (unaffected) side to provide support to
the weaker limb while walking.
8. A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which of the following actions would
contaminate the field?
A. Dropping a sterile item onto the center of the field
B. Spilling sterile saline onto the sterile drape
C. Keeping the sterile field within eyesight
D. Opening the top flap away from the body
Answer: B
Practice Exam 2026 |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Which of the
following infection control measures is most appropriate?
A. Wash hands with soap and water after patient contact
B. Wear an N95 respirator mask when providing care
C. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after leaving the room
D. Maintain the client in a room with negative pressure
Answer: A
Rationale: C. diff spores are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers. Handwashing with soap
and water is necessary to mechanically remove the spores from the hands.
2. A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from a bed to a chair. Which of the
following actions demonstrates proper body mechanics?
A. Spread the feet apart to provide a wide base of support
B. Bend at the waist to get closer to the client
C. Keep the knees straight and locked while lifting
D. Twist at the torso while moving the client
Answer: A
Rationale: A wide base of support provides better stability and balance. The nurse should
bend at the knees and hips, not the waist, and avoid twisting.
,3. In the event of a hospital fire, which action should the nurse perform first
according to the RACE acronym?
A. Activate the fire alarm system
B. Rescue and move clients to a safe area
C. Extinguish the fire using a portable extinguisher
D. Confine the fire by closing all doors
Answer: B
Rationale: RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish. The first priority is
always the safety of the clients.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who requires physical restraints. Which of the
following is a correct nursing intervention?
A. Tie the restraint to the side rail of the bed
B. Check the restraint every 4 hours for circulation
C. Secure the restraint with a quick-release knot
D. Request a PRN order for restraints from the provider
Answer: C
Rationale: Restraints must be secured with a quick-release knot to allow for rapid removal
in an emergency. They should be tied to the bed frame, not the side rails, and checked every
15-30 minutes.
5. Which of the following clients should the nurse place on Airborne
Precautions?
A. A client with Mycoplasma pneumoniae
B. A client with Disseminated Herpes Zoster
C. A client with Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)
D. A client with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Answer: B
, Rationale: Airborne precautions are required for measles, varicella, and disseminated
herpes zoster, as well as tuberculosis.
6. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. How long should the nurse scrub their
hands with soap?
A. At least 5 seconds
B. At least 15 to 20 seconds
C. At least 1 minute
D. At least 2 minutes
Answer: B
Rationale: Effective handwashing requires friction and scrubbing for at least 15 to 20
seconds to remove microorganisms.
7. A nurse is assisting a client with a cane. On which side should the client hold
the cane?
A. On the weaker side
B. It depends on the client’s height
C. On the side the client prefers
D. On the stronger side
Answer: D
Rationale: The cane should be held on the stronger (unaffected) side to provide support to
the weaker limb while walking.
8. A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which of the following actions would
contaminate the field?
A. Dropping a sterile item onto the center of the field
B. Spilling sterile saline onto the sterile drape
C. Keeping the sterile field within eyesight
D. Opening the top flap away from the body
Answer: B
