ATI Fundamentals CMS Proctored Exam
2026/27 Actual – 50+ Verified Test Bank
Questions with Correct Answers | Graded A+
Foundations of Nursing (Questions 1–20)
Q1: A nurse is caring for a patient who has been placed on Contact Precautions for a methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) wound infection. Which PPE is required before entering the
room?
A. N95 respirator and goggles
B. Gown and gloves
C. Surgical mask and gloves
D. Gloves only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. MRSA spreads through direct contact with infected wounds or
contaminated surfaces, so a gown and gloves are all you need—no mask or respirator is required since
it's not an airborne or droplet pathogen. Remember that contact precautions always mean gown and
gloves, and you must remove and discard this PPE before leaving the room to prevent carrying the
bacteria to other areas.
Q2: A nurse is caring for a patient with new-onset confusion who keeps trying to get out of bed
unassisted. The bed alarm sounds repeatedly. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Apply a vest restraint to keep the patient safe in bed
B. Lower the bed to the lowest position and place the call light within reach
C. Move the patient to a room next to the nurses' station
D. Administer a PRN sedative to decrease agitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Environmental safety modifications are always your first line of
defense—lowering the bed minimizes fall distance, and keeping the call light accessible empowers the
patient to summon help. Remember that restraints and sedatives are last-resort measures after less
restrictive interventions have been tried; simple changes to the environment often prevent falls without
compromising the patient's dignity or freedom.
,Q3: A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks on a busy medical-surgical unit. Which task is most
appropriate to assign to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Assessing a postoperative patient's incision for signs of infection
B. Obtaining a blood glucose reading using a glucometer
C. Administering a scheduled oral antibiotic to a stable patient
D. Teaching a newly diagnosed diabetic patient about foot care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. UAPs can perform glucometer checks under RN supervision because
this is a task that doesn't require nursing judgment, assessment, or teaching. Remember that delegation
follows the principle that you delegate tasks, not accountability—assessment, medication
administration, and patient teaching remain within the RN's scope of practice and cannot be delegated
to unlicensed staff.
Q4: A nurse is reviewing a physician's order that reads: "Heparin 5,000 units subcutaneous every 12
hours." The nurse should administer this medication using which needle size and length?
A. 18-gauge, 1½-inch needle
B. 25-gauge, 5/8-inch needle
C. 21-gauge, 1-inch needle
D. 22-gauge, 1½-inch needle
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Subcutaneous heparin is given with a small, short needle—21-gauge, 1
inch is standard because it reaches the subcutaneous tissue without penetrating into muscle. Remember
that subcutaneous injections require shorter needles than intramuscular injections, and heparin
specifically should never be given IM because it causes hematomas and unpredictable absorption; the
abdomen is the preferred site, injected at least 2 inches from the umbilicus.
Q5: A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min. The patient's
oxygen saturation is 91%. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Increase the oxygen flow to 6 L/min immediately
B. Assess the patient's respiratory status and notify the provider
C. Change to a simple face mask
D. Encourage the patient to take deeper breaths
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. An SpO2 of 91% on 2 L/min is below the target of 92% or higher, so you
need to assess the whole clinical picture—respiratory rate, effort, lung sounds, and work of breathing—
before making any changes to oxygen delivery. Remember that oxygen is a medication requiring
provider authorization for changes, and simply turning up the flow without understanding why the
, patient is desaturating could mask a deteriorating condition or suppress respiratory drive in certain
populations.
Q6: A nurse is performing hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub. According to CDC guidelines,
how long should the nurse rub their hands together?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15–20 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 1 minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Alcohol-based hand rub requires 15–20 seconds of thorough rubbing
covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers until the product is completely dry—this is the evidence-
based standard for effective hand hygiene. Remember that if your hands are visibly soiled, you must use
soap and water instead, but for routine decontamination between patients, alcohol rub is faster and
more effective against most pathogens when done with proper technique and adequate duration.
Q7: A nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day 1 following a cholecystectomy. The patient
reports incisional pain rated 8/10. The nurse checks the MAR and sees morphine 4 mg IV every 4 hours
PRN for pain. The patient's last dose was 2 hours ago. What is the nurse's best action?
A. Administer the morphine now since the patient is in severe pain
B. Offer nonpharmacological techniques and reassess in 1 hour
C. Check the patient's vital signs, pain characteristics, and sedation level before administering
D. Notify the provider that the current pain regimen is inadequate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Before giving any PRN opioid, you must complete a full assessment—
vital signs, pain quality and location, sedation level, and respiratory status—to ensure safe
administration and determine whether the medication is truly indicated or if other issues are present.
Remember that pain assessment is multidimensional; a high pain score alone doesn't justify medication
if the patient is oversedated, hypotensive, or showing signs of a complication that needs a different
intervention.
Q8: A nurse is caring for a patient who has been placed in Droplet Precautions for influenza. Which PPE
should the nurse don before entering the room?
A. Gown, gloves, and a surgical mask
B. Gown, gloves, and an N95 respirator
C. Gloves and goggles only
2026/27 Actual – 50+ Verified Test Bank
Questions with Correct Answers | Graded A+
Foundations of Nursing (Questions 1–20)
Q1: A nurse is caring for a patient who has been placed on Contact Precautions for a methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) wound infection. Which PPE is required before entering the
room?
A. N95 respirator and goggles
B. Gown and gloves
C. Surgical mask and gloves
D. Gloves only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. MRSA spreads through direct contact with infected wounds or
contaminated surfaces, so a gown and gloves are all you need—no mask or respirator is required since
it's not an airborne or droplet pathogen. Remember that contact precautions always mean gown and
gloves, and you must remove and discard this PPE before leaving the room to prevent carrying the
bacteria to other areas.
Q2: A nurse is caring for a patient with new-onset confusion who keeps trying to get out of bed
unassisted. The bed alarm sounds repeatedly. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Apply a vest restraint to keep the patient safe in bed
B. Lower the bed to the lowest position and place the call light within reach
C. Move the patient to a room next to the nurses' station
D. Administer a PRN sedative to decrease agitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Environmental safety modifications are always your first line of
defense—lowering the bed minimizes fall distance, and keeping the call light accessible empowers the
patient to summon help. Remember that restraints and sedatives are last-resort measures after less
restrictive interventions have been tried; simple changes to the environment often prevent falls without
compromising the patient's dignity or freedom.
,Q3: A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks on a busy medical-surgical unit. Which task is most
appropriate to assign to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Assessing a postoperative patient's incision for signs of infection
B. Obtaining a blood glucose reading using a glucometer
C. Administering a scheduled oral antibiotic to a stable patient
D. Teaching a newly diagnosed diabetic patient about foot care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. UAPs can perform glucometer checks under RN supervision because
this is a task that doesn't require nursing judgment, assessment, or teaching. Remember that delegation
follows the principle that you delegate tasks, not accountability—assessment, medication
administration, and patient teaching remain within the RN's scope of practice and cannot be delegated
to unlicensed staff.
Q4: A nurse is reviewing a physician's order that reads: "Heparin 5,000 units subcutaneous every 12
hours." The nurse should administer this medication using which needle size and length?
A. 18-gauge, 1½-inch needle
B. 25-gauge, 5/8-inch needle
C. 21-gauge, 1-inch needle
D. 22-gauge, 1½-inch needle
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Subcutaneous heparin is given with a small, short needle—21-gauge, 1
inch is standard because it reaches the subcutaneous tissue without penetrating into muscle. Remember
that subcutaneous injections require shorter needles than intramuscular injections, and heparin
specifically should never be given IM because it causes hematomas and unpredictable absorption; the
abdomen is the preferred site, injected at least 2 inches from the umbilicus.
Q5: A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min. The patient's
oxygen saturation is 91%. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Increase the oxygen flow to 6 L/min immediately
B. Assess the patient's respiratory status and notify the provider
C. Change to a simple face mask
D. Encourage the patient to take deeper breaths
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. An SpO2 of 91% on 2 L/min is below the target of 92% or higher, so you
need to assess the whole clinical picture—respiratory rate, effort, lung sounds, and work of breathing—
before making any changes to oxygen delivery. Remember that oxygen is a medication requiring
provider authorization for changes, and simply turning up the flow without understanding why the
, patient is desaturating could mask a deteriorating condition or suppress respiratory drive in certain
populations.
Q6: A nurse is performing hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub. According to CDC guidelines,
how long should the nurse rub their hands together?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15–20 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 1 minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Alcohol-based hand rub requires 15–20 seconds of thorough rubbing
covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers until the product is completely dry—this is the evidence-
based standard for effective hand hygiene. Remember that if your hands are visibly soiled, you must use
soap and water instead, but for routine decontamination between patients, alcohol rub is faster and
more effective against most pathogens when done with proper technique and adequate duration.
Q7: A nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day 1 following a cholecystectomy. The patient
reports incisional pain rated 8/10. The nurse checks the MAR and sees morphine 4 mg IV every 4 hours
PRN for pain. The patient's last dose was 2 hours ago. What is the nurse's best action?
A. Administer the morphine now since the patient is in severe pain
B. Offer nonpharmacological techniques and reassess in 1 hour
C. Check the patient's vital signs, pain characteristics, and sedation level before administering
D. Notify the provider that the current pain regimen is inadequate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Before giving any PRN opioid, you must complete a full assessment—
vital signs, pain quality and location, sedation level, and respiratory status—to ensure safe
administration and determine whether the medication is truly indicated or if other issues are present.
Remember that pain assessment is multidimensional; a high pain score alone doesn't justify medication
if the patient is oversedated, hypotensive, or showing signs of a complication that needs a different
intervention.
Q8: A nurse is caring for a patient who has been placed in Droplet Precautions for influenza. Which PPE
should the nurse don before entering the room?
A. Gown, gloves, and a surgical mask
B. Gown, gloves, and an N95 respirator
C. Gloves and goggles only
