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ATI FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
ATI FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE EXAM
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: SAFE & EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT (Questions 1-60)
1. A charge nurse is making client assignments on a medical-surgical unit. Which client
is most appropriate to assign to a newly licensed registered nurse?
A. A client who is 2 days post-operative following a total hip replacement and is stable.
B. A client who has a new diagnosis of heart failure and is receiving IV diuretics.
C. A client who is receiving a continuous infusion of heparin for a pulmonary embolism.
D. A client who has a chest tube in place following a thoracotomy for lung cancer.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The newly licensed RN should be assigned to a stable client with predictable
outcomes and standard interventions. A post-operative total hip replacement client is stable
and requires standard post-operative care. The other clients are unstable or require specialized
care, which is more appropriate for an experienced RN.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the following is
the most important action to prevent a medication error?
A. Verifying the client's identity using two identifiers.
B. Checking the client's room number.
C. Asking the client their date of birth only.
D. Reviewing the client's diagnosis.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most important action to prevent a medication error is verifying the client's
identity using two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth). The Joint Commission requires
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this practice. Room number (B) is not an acceptable identifier. Asking only the date of birth
(C) does not meet the two-identifier requirement. Diagnosis (D) is not a client identifier.
3. A nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric (NG) tube for gastric decompression.
Which action is most important to ensure proper tube placement before initiating the
feeding?
A. Auscultate for a "whoosh" sound while injecting air into the tube.
B. Aspirate gastric contents and check the pH level of the aspirate.
C. Measure the length of the tube from the client's nose to the earlobe to the xiphoid process.
D. Verify the tube placement with an abdominal x-ray.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An abdominal x-ray is the gold standard for confirming NG tube placement and is
the most definitive method to ensure the tube is in the stomach and not the lungs. While
auscultation (A) and pH testing (B) are used, they are not as reliable. Measuring the tube (C)
is done before insertion, but x-ray verification is the most important safety step before
feeding.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is on contact precautions. Which of the following
personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse wear when entering the client's
room?
A. Mask and goggles.
B. Gown and gloves.
C. N95 respirator.
D. Face shield only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Contact precautions are implemented to prevent the spread of organisms
transmitted by direct or indirect contact. The required PPE for contact precautions is a gown
and gloves. Masks and eye protection (A) are for droplet precautions. An N95 respirator (C)
is for airborne precautions. A face shield only (D) is insufficient.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse implement to promote client safety?
A. Place the client in a room closest to the nurses' station for close observation.
B. Keep the bed in the lowest position and ensure the call light is within the client's reach.
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C. Apply wrist restraints to the client to prevent them from getting out of bed.
D. Raise all four side rails to prevent the client from falling out of bed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Keeping the bed in the lowest position and ensuring the call light and personal
items are within reach are the most effective and least restrictive interventions to prevent
falls. Restraints (C) and side rails (D) require a specific prescription and should be avoided.
Placing the client near the nurses' station (A) is helpful but does not directly prevent falls.
6. A nurse discovers that a colleague has documented a blood glucose result in the
client's electronic health record before the test was actually performed. What is the
nurse's most appropriate initial action?
A. Report the colleague to the state board of nursing immediately.
B. Discuss the issue with the colleague privately and remind them of the importance of
accurate documentation.
C. Document the discrepancy in the client's chart and notify the nurse manager.
D. Ignore the incident to avoid creating conflict with the colleague.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first address the issue directly with the colleague in a private,
professional manner to reinforce the importance of accurate documentation. This is a peer-to-
peer accountability issue. If the behavior continues, the nurse should then escalate to the
nurse manager (C). Reporting to the board (A) is premature, and ignoring the incident (D) is
unsafe and unprofessional.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which action is
most critical to prevent a life-threatening transfusion reaction?
A. Obtaining the client's baseline vital signs before the transfusion.
B. Pre-medicating the client with diphenhydramine to prevent allergic reactions.
C. Verifying the client's identity and blood product compatibility with another licensed nurse.
D. Ensuring the blood is infused within 4 hours to prevent bacterial growth.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most critical action to prevent a fatal hemolytic transfusion reaction is to
verify the client's identity and blood product compatibility with another licensed nurse. This
ensures the correct blood is given to the correct client. Pre-medication (B) can mask signs of
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a reaction, and verifying vital signs (A) and infusion time (D) are important but secondary to
verification.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is post-operative and has a prescription for patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine. The client's family member expresses
concern that the client is sleeping and asks the nurse if they should press the button for
the client. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "It's important for your family member to rest, so it's fine for you to press the button if
they are asleep."
B. "The pump is programmed to deliver medication automatically, so there is no need for you
to press the button."
C. "Only the client should press the button to ensure safety and prevent accidental overdose."
D. "You can press the button if the client is experiencing pain, but only if they give you
permission."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The PCA pump is designed for the client to self-administer medication when they
experience pain. Only the client should press the button to prevent accidental overdose and
respiratory depression. The pump does not automatically administer medication (B), and
family members should not press the button (A, D).
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a terminal illness and a Do Not Resuscitate
(DNR) order. The client's family is insisting that "everything be done" to save the
client's life. What is the nurse's most appropriate initial response?
A. "I understand your concern. Let me ask the client if they would like to discuss their wishes
with you."
B. "The DNR order is a legal document and cannot be changed, so we cannot perform CPR."
C. "You have the right to override the DNR order as the client's family."
D. "Let me call the hospital ethics committee to resolve this conflict."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should advocate for the client's autonomy and facilitate communication
between the client and the family. Asking the client if they would like to discuss their DNR
decision with the family respects the client's right to self-determination. The DNR order is
legally binding and should not be overridden by the family (C). Escalating to the ethics
committee (D) is not the first step.
ATI FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
ATI FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE EXAM
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: SAFE & EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT (Questions 1-60)
1. A charge nurse is making client assignments on a medical-surgical unit. Which client
is most appropriate to assign to a newly licensed registered nurse?
A. A client who is 2 days post-operative following a total hip replacement and is stable.
B. A client who has a new diagnosis of heart failure and is receiving IV diuretics.
C. A client who is receiving a continuous infusion of heparin for a pulmonary embolism.
D. A client who has a chest tube in place following a thoracotomy for lung cancer.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The newly licensed RN should be assigned to a stable client with predictable
outcomes and standard interventions. A post-operative total hip replacement client is stable
and requires standard post-operative care. The other clients are unstable or require specialized
care, which is more appropriate for an experienced RN.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the following is
the most important action to prevent a medication error?
A. Verifying the client's identity using two identifiers.
B. Checking the client's room number.
C. Asking the client their date of birth only.
D. Reviewing the client's diagnosis.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most important action to prevent a medication error is verifying the client's
identity using two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth). The Joint Commission requires
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this practice. Room number (B) is not an acceptable identifier. Asking only the date of birth
(C) does not meet the two-identifier requirement. Diagnosis (D) is not a client identifier.
3. A nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric (NG) tube for gastric decompression.
Which action is most important to ensure proper tube placement before initiating the
feeding?
A. Auscultate for a "whoosh" sound while injecting air into the tube.
B. Aspirate gastric contents and check the pH level of the aspirate.
C. Measure the length of the tube from the client's nose to the earlobe to the xiphoid process.
D. Verify the tube placement with an abdominal x-ray.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An abdominal x-ray is the gold standard for confirming NG tube placement and is
the most definitive method to ensure the tube is in the stomach and not the lungs. While
auscultation (A) and pH testing (B) are used, they are not as reliable. Measuring the tube (C)
is done before insertion, but x-ray verification is the most important safety step before
feeding.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is on contact precautions. Which of the following
personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse wear when entering the client's
room?
A. Mask and goggles.
B. Gown and gloves.
C. N95 respirator.
D. Face shield only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Contact precautions are implemented to prevent the spread of organisms
transmitted by direct or indirect contact. The required PPE for contact precautions is a gown
and gloves. Masks and eye protection (A) are for droplet precautions. An N95 respirator (C)
is for airborne precautions. A face shield only (D) is insufficient.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse implement to promote client safety?
A. Place the client in a room closest to the nurses' station for close observation.
B. Keep the bed in the lowest position and ensure the call light is within the client's reach.
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C. Apply wrist restraints to the client to prevent them from getting out of bed.
D. Raise all four side rails to prevent the client from falling out of bed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Keeping the bed in the lowest position and ensuring the call light and personal
items are within reach are the most effective and least restrictive interventions to prevent
falls. Restraints (C) and side rails (D) require a specific prescription and should be avoided.
Placing the client near the nurses' station (A) is helpful but does not directly prevent falls.
6. A nurse discovers that a colleague has documented a blood glucose result in the
client's electronic health record before the test was actually performed. What is the
nurse's most appropriate initial action?
A. Report the colleague to the state board of nursing immediately.
B. Discuss the issue with the colleague privately and remind them of the importance of
accurate documentation.
C. Document the discrepancy in the client's chart and notify the nurse manager.
D. Ignore the incident to avoid creating conflict with the colleague.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first address the issue directly with the colleague in a private,
professional manner to reinforce the importance of accurate documentation. This is a peer-to-
peer accountability issue. If the behavior continues, the nurse should then escalate to the
nurse manager (C). Reporting to the board (A) is premature, and ignoring the incident (D) is
unsafe and unprofessional.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which action is
most critical to prevent a life-threatening transfusion reaction?
A. Obtaining the client's baseline vital signs before the transfusion.
B. Pre-medicating the client with diphenhydramine to prevent allergic reactions.
C. Verifying the client's identity and blood product compatibility with another licensed nurse.
D. Ensuring the blood is infused within 4 hours to prevent bacterial growth.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most critical action to prevent a fatal hemolytic transfusion reaction is to
verify the client's identity and blood product compatibility with another licensed nurse. This
ensures the correct blood is given to the correct client. Pre-medication (B) can mask signs of
, Page 4 of 86
a reaction, and verifying vital signs (A) and infusion time (D) are important but secondary to
verification.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is post-operative and has a prescription for patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine. The client's family member expresses
concern that the client is sleeping and asks the nurse if they should press the button for
the client. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "It's important for your family member to rest, so it's fine for you to press the button if
they are asleep."
B. "The pump is programmed to deliver medication automatically, so there is no need for you
to press the button."
C. "Only the client should press the button to ensure safety and prevent accidental overdose."
D. "You can press the button if the client is experiencing pain, but only if they give you
permission."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The PCA pump is designed for the client to self-administer medication when they
experience pain. Only the client should press the button to prevent accidental overdose and
respiratory depression. The pump does not automatically administer medication (B), and
family members should not press the button (A, D).
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has a terminal illness and a Do Not Resuscitate
(DNR) order. The client's family is insisting that "everything be done" to save the
client's life. What is the nurse's most appropriate initial response?
A. "I understand your concern. Let me ask the client if they would like to discuss their wishes
with you."
B. "The DNR order is a legal document and cannot be changed, so we cannot perform CPR."
C. "You have the right to override the DNR order as the client's family."
D. "Let me call the hospital ethics committee to resolve this conflict."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should advocate for the client's autonomy and facilitate communication
between the client and the family. Asking the client if they would like to discuss their DNR
decision with the family respects the client's right to self-determination. The DNR order is
legally binding and should not be overridden by the family (C). Escalating to the ethics
committee (D) is not the first step.
