ATI PN Fundamentals 2026 Proctored Exam Practice
Exam Details:
Total Questions: 100
Format: Multiple Choice, Select All That Apply (SATA), Fill-in-the-Blank, Matrix/Grid, and
Ordered Response.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the following is the priority
action by the nurse?
A. Check the client's armband.
B. Verify the medication with a second nurse.
C. Perform hand hygiene.
D. Assess the client's vital signs.
Answer: C
Rationale: The priority action is always to perform hand hygiene before any client contact to prevent the
spread of infection. While checking the armband and verifying the medication are critical steps in the
medication administration process, hand hygiene is the first and most fundamental action to ensure
patient and nurse safety.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for a clear liquid diet. Which of the following
items should the nurse offer to the client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Apple juice
,B. Vanilla ice cream
C. Chicken broth
D. Plain gelatin
E. Cream of mushroom soup
Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: A clear liquid diet consists of liquids that are transparent or translucent at room temperature.
Apple juice, chicken broth, and plain gelatin are all considered clear liquids. Vanilla ice cream and cream
of mushroom soup are full liquids because they contain milk products and are opaque.
3. A nurse is assessing a client's pain level. The client states, "The pain is the worst I've ever felt." The
nurse should document this as which of the following?
A. 0 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. 10 on a scale of 0 to 10
C. 5 on a scale of 0 to 10
D. The client's pain is mild.
Answer: B
Rationale: The client's statement indicates severe pain. On a numeric pain scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being
no pain and 10 being the worst pain imaginable, a report of the "worst pain ever" correlates with a 10.
4. A nurse is preparing to move a client who is unable to assist. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take to prevent injury?
A. Stand with feet close together.
B. Bend at the waist.
C. Use a mechanical lift.
D. Twist the torso while moving the client.
,Answer: C
Rationale: For a client who is unable to assist with movement, the safest method for both the client and
the nurse is to use a mechanical lift. This prevents musculoskeletal injuries to the nurse. The nurse
should stand with feet shoulder-width apart, bend at the knees (not the waist), and avoid twisting the
torso.
5. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of a cane. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include?
A. "Hold the cane on the weaker side."
B. "The cane should be level with your hip."
C. "Move the cane forward with your weaker leg."
D. "Hold the cane on the stronger side."
Answer: D
Rationale: The cane should be held on the client's stronger side to provide support to the weaker side.
The handle of the cane should be at the level of the client's greater trochanter (hip). The client should
move the cane forward at the same time as the weaker leg.
6. A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. Which of the following actions indicates a break in
sterile technique?
A. The nurse opens the sterile dressing package on a clean table.
B. The nurse holds the sterile dressing 6 inches above the wound.
C. The nurse's sterile glove touches the client's skin.
D. The nurse adds sterile solution to the dressing.
Answer: C
, Rationale: Any sterile object that touches a non-sterile surface is considered contaminated. If the nurse's
sterile glove touches the client's skin, which is not sterile, the glove is contaminated and the sterile
technique is broken. The nurse must change gloves.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Keep the bed in the lowest position.
B. Keep the side rails up.
C. Place the call light within reach.
D. Use a bed alarm.
E. Ensure the floor is dry.
Answer: A, C, D, E
Rationale: All of these are appropriate fall prevention measures. Keeping the bed low, the call light
within reach, using a bed alarm, and ensuring a dry floor are standard safety interventions. While side
rails are used, raising all side rails can be considered a restraint and is not always appropriate. The other
options are universally recommended.
8. A nurse is documenting in a client's medical record. Which of the following entries is appropriate?
A. "Client is being difficult and won't take his meds."
B. "Client refused medication, stating, 'I don't want to take it.'"
C. "Client seems to be in a bad mood today."
D. "Client is a pain in the neck."
Answer: B
Rationale: Documentation should be objective, factual, and non-judgmental. Quoting the client's exact
words is an objective way to document a refusal. The other options are subjective, judgmental, and
unprofessional.
Exam Details:
Total Questions: 100
Format: Multiple Choice, Select All That Apply (SATA), Fill-in-the-Blank, Matrix/Grid, and
Ordered Response.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the following is the priority
action by the nurse?
A. Check the client's armband.
B. Verify the medication with a second nurse.
C. Perform hand hygiene.
D. Assess the client's vital signs.
Answer: C
Rationale: The priority action is always to perform hand hygiene before any client contact to prevent the
spread of infection. While checking the armband and verifying the medication are critical steps in the
medication administration process, hand hygiene is the first and most fundamental action to ensure
patient and nurse safety.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for a clear liquid diet. Which of the following
items should the nurse offer to the client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Apple juice
,B. Vanilla ice cream
C. Chicken broth
D. Plain gelatin
E. Cream of mushroom soup
Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: A clear liquid diet consists of liquids that are transparent or translucent at room temperature.
Apple juice, chicken broth, and plain gelatin are all considered clear liquids. Vanilla ice cream and cream
of mushroom soup are full liquids because they contain milk products and are opaque.
3. A nurse is assessing a client's pain level. The client states, "The pain is the worst I've ever felt." The
nurse should document this as which of the following?
A. 0 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. 10 on a scale of 0 to 10
C. 5 on a scale of 0 to 10
D. The client's pain is mild.
Answer: B
Rationale: The client's statement indicates severe pain. On a numeric pain scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being
no pain and 10 being the worst pain imaginable, a report of the "worst pain ever" correlates with a 10.
4. A nurse is preparing to move a client who is unable to assist. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take to prevent injury?
A. Stand with feet close together.
B. Bend at the waist.
C. Use a mechanical lift.
D. Twist the torso while moving the client.
,Answer: C
Rationale: For a client who is unable to assist with movement, the safest method for both the client and
the nurse is to use a mechanical lift. This prevents musculoskeletal injuries to the nurse. The nurse
should stand with feet shoulder-width apart, bend at the knees (not the waist), and avoid twisting the
torso.
5. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of a cane. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include?
A. "Hold the cane on the weaker side."
B. "The cane should be level with your hip."
C. "Move the cane forward with your weaker leg."
D. "Hold the cane on the stronger side."
Answer: D
Rationale: The cane should be held on the client's stronger side to provide support to the weaker side.
The handle of the cane should be at the level of the client's greater trochanter (hip). The client should
move the cane forward at the same time as the weaker leg.
6. A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. Which of the following actions indicates a break in
sterile technique?
A. The nurse opens the sterile dressing package on a clean table.
B. The nurse holds the sterile dressing 6 inches above the wound.
C. The nurse's sterile glove touches the client's skin.
D. The nurse adds sterile solution to the dressing.
Answer: C
, Rationale: Any sterile object that touches a non-sterile surface is considered contaminated. If the nurse's
sterile glove touches the client's skin, which is not sterile, the glove is contaminated and the sterile
technique is broken. The nurse must change gloves.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Keep the bed in the lowest position.
B. Keep the side rails up.
C. Place the call light within reach.
D. Use a bed alarm.
E. Ensure the floor is dry.
Answer: A, C, D, E
Rationale: All of these are appropriate fall prevention measures. Keeping the bed low, the call light
within reach, using a bed alarm, and ensuring a dry floor are standard safety interventions. While side
rails are used, raising all side rails can be considered a restraint and is not always appropriate. The other
options are universally recommended.
8. A nurse is documenting in a client's medical record. Which of the following entries is appropriate?
A. "Client is being difficult and won't take his meds."
B. "Client refused medication, stating, 'I don't want to take it.'"
C. "Client seems to be in a bad mood today."
D. "Client is a pain in the neck."
Answer: B
Rationale: Documentation should be objective, factual, and non-judgmental. Quoting the client's exact
words is an objective way to document a refusal. The other options are subjective, judgmental, and
unprofessional.
