ATI Leadership: Delegation and Scope of Practice Exam 2026
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. Which of the following tasks should a Registered Nurse (RN) delegate to an
Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)?
A. Adjusting the rate of an infusion pump
B. Providing discharge instructions to a client
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication
D. Measuring and recording a client’s intake and output
Answer: D
Rationale: Measuring and recording I&O is a routine task within the scope of practice for
UAPs. RNs must perform evaluation, education, and tasks requiring clinical judgment.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following an
appendectomy. Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to a
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?
A. Administering a prescribed subcutaneous anticoagulant
B. Creating a plan of care for the client
C. Initial assessment of the surgical site
D. Teaching the client about postoperative complications
Answer: A
Rationale: LPNs can administer medications via subcutaneous, intramuscular, and oral
routes. Initial assessments, care planning, and primary education are RN responsibilities.
,3. Which of the following is one of the ‘Five Rights of Delegation’?
A. Right Time
B. Right Physician
C. Right Cost
D. Right Supervision
Answer: D
Rationale: The Five Rights of Delegation include Right Task, Right Circumstance, Right
Person, Right Direction/Communication, and Right Supervision/Evaluation.
4. An RN is leading a team on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the
RN assign to an LPN?
A. A client who was just admitted with chest pain and diaphoresis
B. A client who is 3 days postoperative and requires a sterile dressing change
C. A client who has a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
D. A client whose blood pressure has dropped to 80/50 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: LPNs are suited for stable clients requiring routine procedures like sterile
dressing changes. Unstable clients or those needing initial teaching require an RN.
5. A UAP is assigned to assist a client with a bed bath. The UAP reports to the RN
that the client has a new area of redness on the sacrum. Which action should
the RN take?
A. Instruct the UAP to apply a barrier cream
B. Personally assess the client’s skin
C. Delegate the LPN to document the finding
D. Ask the UAP to re-evaluate the area in two hours
Answer: B
Rationale: The RN is responsible for assessment. When a change in status or a new finding
is reported by a UAP, the RN must validate it through a personal assessment.
, 6. Which task can be safely delegated to a UAP for a client who is recovering
from a stroke?
A. Teaching the client how to use a reacher tool
B. Assessing the client’s gag reflex before feeding
C. Assisting the client to use a walker during ambulation
D. Monitoring the client for signs of increased intracranial pressure
Answer: C
Rationale: UAPs can assist with ambulation for stable clients. Assessments and teaching
are RN tasks.
7. A nurse is delegating tasks to a team. Which of the following is a requirement
for ‘Right Direction/Communication’?
A. The nurse provides a clear, concise description of the task, including its limits
B. The nurse ensures the UAP has at least 2 years of experience
C. The nurse checks the vital signs before delegating the task
D. The nurse performs the task once to show the LPN how it’s done
Answer: A
Rationale: Right Direction/Communication involves giving specific instructions, expected
results, and timeframes for reporting back.
8. Which of the following clients would be most appropriate for an LPN?
A. A client with an evolving myocardial infarction
B. A client who requires frequent titration of a nitroprusside drip
C. A client in the early stages of a blood transfusion reaction
D. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who needs a routine nebulizer treatment
Answer: D
Rationale: Stable clients with routine treatments like nebulizers are appropriate for LPNs.
Acute, unstable, or complex IV titration requires an RN.
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. Which of the following tasks should a Registered Nurse (RN) delegate to an
Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)?
A. Adjusting the rate of an infusion pump
B. Providing discharge instructions to a client
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication
D. Measuring and recording a client’s intake and output
Answer: D
Rationale: Measuring and recording I&O is a routine task within the scope of practice for
UAPs. RNs must perform evaluation, education, and tasks requiring clinical judgment.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following an
appendectomy. Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to a
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?
A. Administering a prescribed subcutaneous anticoagulant
B. Creating a plan of care for the client
C. Initial assessment of the surgical site
D. Teaching the client about postoperative complications
Answer: A
Rationale: LPNs can administer medications via subcutaneous, intramuscular, and oral
routes. Initial assessments, care planning, and primary education are RN responsibilities.
,3. Which of the following is one of the ‘Five Rights of Delegation’?
A. Right Time
B. Right Physician
C. Right Cost
D. Right Supervision
Answer: D
Rationale: The Five Rights of Delegation include Right Task, Right Circumstance, Right
Person, Right Direction/Communication, and Right Supervision/Evaluation.
4. An RN is leading a team on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the
RN assign to an LPN?
A. A client who was just admitted with chest pain and diaphoresis
B. A client who is 3 days postoperative and requires a sterile dressing change
C. A client who has a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
D. A client whose blood pressure has dropped to 80/50 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: LPNs are suited for stable clients requiring routine procedures like sterile
dressing changes. Unstable clients or those needing initial teaching require an RN.
5. A UAP is assigned to assist a client with a bed bath. The UAP reports to the RN
that the client has a new area of redness on the sacrum. Which action should
the RN take?
A. Instruct the UAP to apply a barrier cream
B. Personally assess the client’s skin
C. Delegate the LPN to document the finding
D. Ask the UAP to re-evaluate the area in two hours
Answer: B
Rationale: The RN is responsible for assessment. When a change in status or a new finding
is reported by a UAP, the RN must validate it through a personal assessment.
, 6. Which task can be safely delegated to a UAP for a client who is recovering
from a stroke?
A. Teaching the client how to use a reacher tool
B. Assessing the client’s gag reflex before feeding
C. Assisting the client to use a walker during ambulation
D. Monitoring the client for signs of increased intracranial pressure
Answer: C
Rationale: UAPs can assist with ambulation for stable clients. Assessments and teaching
are RN tasks.
7. A nurse is delegating tasks to a team. Which of the following is a requirement
for ‘Right Direction/Communication’?
A. The nurse provides a clear, concise description of the task, including its limits
B. The nurse ensures the UAP has at least 2 years of experience
C. The nurse checks the vital signs before delegating the task
D. The nurse performs the task once to show the LPN how it’s done
Answer: A
Rationale: Right Direction/Communication involves giving specific instructions, expected
results, and timeframes for reporting back.
8. Which of the following clients would be most appropriate for an LPN?
A. A client with an evolving myocardial infarction
B. A client who requires frequent titration of a nitroprusside drip
C. A client in the early stages of a blood transfusion reaction
D. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who needs a routine nebulizer treatment
Answer: D
Rationale: Stable clients with routine treatments like nebulizers are appropriate for LPNs.
Acute, unstable, or complex IV titration requires an RN.
