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VATI FUNDAMENTALS PRE-ASSESSMENT EXAM REVIEW HIGH-
YIELD EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
EDITION
VATI Fundamentals Pre-Assessment Exam Review
Questions with Answers and Rationales
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing & The Nursing Process (Questions 1–40)
1. A nurse is caring for a patient recovering from a stroke and uses evidence-based
practice to guide interventions. Which of the following best describes evidence-based
practice?
A) Using traditional methods of care passed down through generations
B) Making clinical decisions based on the best available research evidence, clinical expertise,
and patient preferences
C) Providing only preventive care services
D) Following physician orders without question
Answer: B
Evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences and values. It is a problem-solving approach to clinical
decision-making that improves patient outcomes.
2. A client with heart failure is on a fluid restriction of 1500 mL/day. The nurse notes
intake of 1200 mL at 2 PM. What should the nurse do?
A) Give extra 500 mL because the client is thirsty
B) Restrict all fluids after 2 PM
C) Remove the restriction
D) Allow 300 mL more for the remainder of the day
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Answer: D
Fluid restriction must be divided across the shift. 1500 – 1200 = 300 mL remaining. The
nurse must still monitor intake.
3. Which nursing action best prevents pressure injury in a bedridden client?
A) Use a donut cushion
B) Keep the head of the bed at 90 degrees
C) Reposition every 2 hours
D) Massage reddened bony prominences
Answer: C
Repositioning every 2 hours relieves pressure. Massaging reddened areas damages tissue, a
high head-of-bed angle increases shear, and donut cushions increase pressure.
4. The nurse is preparing to administer enteral feeding. What should be checked first?
A) The client's weight
B) The residual volume
C) The feeding tube placement
D) The client's blood glucose
Answer: C
Verifying feeding tube placement is the priority before administering enteral feeding to
prevent aspiration and ensure the tube is in the stomach or small intestine.
5. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. Which task should the nurse delegate
to an assistive personnel (AP)?
A) Changing the dressing for a client who has a Stage 3 pressure injury
B) Determining a client's response to a diuretic
C) Comparing radial pulses for a client who is postoperative
D) Providing postmortem care to a client
Answer: D
Providing postmortem care is within the scope of an AP. Wound care, assessing response to
medications, and comparing pulses require nursing judgment.
6. A nurse is preparing to mix short-acting and intermediate-acting insulin in one
syringe. Identify the sequence the nurse should follow.
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A) Inject air into the intermediate-acting vial, then into the short-acting vial; withdraw short-
acting first
B) Inject air into the short-acting vial, then into the intermediate-acting vial; withdraw
intermediate-acting first
C) Inject air into the intermediate-acting vial, then into the short-acting vial; withdraw
intermediate-acting first
D) Inject air into both vials, then withdraw both types at once
Answer: A
The correct sequence is: inject air into the intermediate-acting (cloudy) vial, then into the
short-acting (clear) vial; withdraw the short-acting (clear) insulin first to prevent
contamination.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a prescribed medication. The nurse
respects the patient's decision and explores the reasons. This is an example of which
nursing role?
A) Caregiver
B) Educator
C) Advocate
D) Manager
Answer: C
The advocate role involves protecting the patient's rights and supporting their decisions,
including the right to refuse treatment.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient with a new diagnosis of diabetes. The nurse provides
education on diet, exercise, and blood glucose monitoring. This is an example of which
nursing role?
A) Caregiver
B) Educator
C) Advocate
D) Manager
Answer: B
The educator role involves providing health education to patients and families to promote
health and manage illness.
, Page 4 of 83
9. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A) To diagnose medical conditions
B) To provide a systematic framework for delivering nursing care
C) To prescribe medications
D) To perform surgery
Answer: B
The nursing process (ADPIE) provides a systematic, patient-centered framework for
delivering nursing care through assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation.
10. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing sudden confusion. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Perform a neurological assessment
B) Administer a sedative
C) Restrain the client
D) Document the finding
Answer: A
Sudden confusion can indicate a neurological emergency (e.g., stroke, hypoxia). A
neurological assessment is the priority to identify the cause.
11. Which of the following best reflects the core of professional nursing?
A) Registered nurses assist physicians in providing medical treatments
B) Registered nurses use the nursing process to promote health and prevent illness
C) Registered nurses are responsible for administering medications and taking vital signs
D) Registered nurses follow orders and provide basic care
Answer: B
Professional nursing uses the nursing process to promote health, prevent illness, and care for
patients. It is not limited to task-based functions.
12. A nurse is caring for a patient who requires a sterile dressing change. Which action
demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Wearing clean gloves
B) Wearing sterile gloves and maintaining a sterile field
VATI FUNDAMENTALS PRE-ASSESSMENT EXAM REVIEW HIGH-
YIELD EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
EDITION
VATI Fundamentals Pre-Assessment Exam Review
Questions with Answers and Rationales
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing & The Nursing Process (Questions 1–40)
1. A nurse is caring for a patient recovering from a stroke and uses evidence-based
practice to guide interventions. Which of the following best describes evidence-based
practice?
A) Using traditional methods of care passed down through generations
B) Making clinical decisions based on the best available research evidence, clinical expertise,
and patient preferences
C) Providing only preventive care services
D) Following physician orders without question
Answer: B
Evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences and values. It is a problem-solving approach to clinical
decision-making that improves patient outcomes.
2. A client with heart failure is on a fluid restriction of 1500 mL/day. The nurse notes
intake of 1200 mL at 2 PM. What should the nurse do?
A) Give extra 500 mL because the client is thirsty
B) Restrict all fluids after 2 PM
C) Remove the restriction
D) Allow 300 mL more for the remainder of the day
, Page 2 of 83
Answer: D
Fluid restriction must be divided across the shift. 1500 – 1200 = 300 mL remaining. The
nurse must still monitor intake.
3. Which nursing action best prevents pressure injury in a bedridden client?
A) Use a donut cushion
B) Keep the head of the bed at 90 degrees
C) Reposition every 2 hours
D) Massage reddened bony prominences
Answer: C
Repositioning every 2 hours relieves pressure. Massaging reddened areas damages tissue, a
high head-of-bed angle increases shear, and donut cushions increase pressure.
4. The nurse is preparing to administer enteral feeding. What should be checked first?
A) The client's weight
B) The residual volume
C) The feeding tube placement
D) The client's blood glucose
Answer: C
Verifying feeding tube placement is the priority before administering enteral feeding to
prevent aspiration and ensure the tube is in the stomach or small intestine.
5. A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. Which task should the nurse delegate
to an assistive personnel (AP)?
A) Changing the dressing for a client who has a Stage 3 pressure injury
B) Determining a client's response to a diuretic
C) Comparing radial pulses for a client who is postoperative
D) Providing postmortem care to a client
Answer: D
Providing postmortem care is within the scope of an AP. Wound care, assessing response to
medications, and comparing pulses require nursing judgment.
6. A nurse is preparing to mix short-acting and intermediate-acting insulin in one
syringe. Identify the sequence the nurse should follow.
, Page 3 of 83
A) Inject air into the intermediate-acting vial, then into the short-acting vial; withdraw short-
acting first
B) Inject air into the short-acting vial, then into the intermediate-acting vial; withdraw
intermediate-acting first
C) Inject air into the intermediate-acting vial, then into the short-acting vial; withdraw
intermediate-acting first
D) Inject air into both vials, then withdraw both types at once
Answer: A
The correct sequence is: inject air into the intermediate-acting (cloudy) vial, then into the
short-acting (clear) vial; withdraw the short-acting (clear) insulin first to prevent
contamination.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a prescribed medication. The nurse
respects the patient's decision and explores the reasons. This is an example of which
nursing role?
A) Caregiver
B) Educator
C) Advocate
D) Manager
Answer: C
The advocate role involves protecting the patient's rights and supporting their decisions,
including the right to refuse treatment.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient with a new diagnosis of diabetes. The nurse provides
education on diet, exercise, and blood glucose monitoring. This is an example of which
nursing role?
A) Caregiver
B) Educator
C) Advocate
D) Manager
Answer: B
The educator role involves providing health education to patients and families to promote
health and manage illness.
, Page 4 of 83
9. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A) To diagnose medical conditions
B) To provide a systematic framework for delivering nursing care
C) To prescribe medications
D) To perform surgery
Answer: B
The nursing process (ADPIE) provides a systematic, patient-centered framework for
delivering nursing care through assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation.
10. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing sudden confusion. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Perform a neurological assessment
B) Administer a sedative
C) Restrain the client
D) Document the finding
Answer: A
Sudden confusion can indicate a neurological emergency (e.g., stroke, hypoxia). A
neurological assessment is the priority to identify the cause.
11. Which of the following best reflects the core of professional nursing?
A) Registered nurses assist physicians in providing medical treatments
B) Registered nurses use the nursing process to promote health and prevent illness
C) Registered nurses are responsible for administering medications and taking vital signs
D) Registered nurses follow orders and provide basic care
Answer: B
Professional nursing uses the nursing process to promote health, prevent illness, and care for
patients. It is not limited to task-based functions.
12. A nurse is caring for a patient who requires a sterile dressing change. Which action
demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Wearing clean gloves
B) Wearing sterile gloves and maintaining a sterile field
