ATI PN Management Exam Review | Questions with 100%
Verified Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: A practical nurse (PN) is caring for four clients on a medical-
surgical unit. Which client should the PN assess first?
A. A client with heart failure who reports increasing fatigue.
B. A client who received insulin 2 hours ago and is diaphoretic.
C. A client scheduled for discharge requesting medication
teaching.
D. A client with chronic COPD requesting assistance to the
bathroom.
E. A client awaiting routine dressing change.
Answer: B. A client who received insulin 2 hours ago and is diaphoretic.
Rationale: Diaphoresis following insulin administration suggests hypoglycemia, which is
an immediate life-threatening condition requiring prompt assessment and intervention.
Question: During shift report, the PN receives assignments for five
clients. Which assignment should the PN question?
A. Stable postoperative client requiring vital signs every 4
hours.
B. Client with pneumonia receiving scheduled oral antibiotics.
C. Client experiencing new-onset chest pain without RN
evaluation.
D. Client recovering from cellulitis awaiting discharge.
E. Client requiring reinforcement of diabetic diet education.
Answer: C. Client experiencing new-onset chest pain without RN evaluation.
Rationale: New-onset chest pain requires immediate comprehensive assessment by the
RN and healthcare provider.
Question: Which task is appropriate for the PN to delegate to an
experienced unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Assess pain following morphine administration.
B. Reinforce discharge teaching.
C. Obtain routine blood glucose using a glucometer.
D. Evaluate effectiveness of oxygen therapy.
E. Perform admission assessment.
Answer: C. Obtain routine blood glucose using a glucometer.
Rationale: Obtaining blood glucose is within the scope of trained UAP in many facilities.
,Question: A PN observes a UAP transferring a client without locking the
wheelchair brakes. What is the PN's priority action?
A. Document the incident.
B. Report the UAP immediately.
C. Stop the transfer and ensure client safety.
D. Wait until the transfer is complete before intervening.
E. Inform the charge nurse after the shift.
Answer: C. Stop the transfer and ensure client safety.
Rationale: Immediate intervention prevents injury. Client safety always takes priority over
documentation or disciplinary actions.
Question: Which client can be safely assigned to the PN?
A. Client with septic shock receiving vasopressors.
B. Newly admitted client requiring initial assessment.
C. Stable client with diabetes requiring routine insulin
administration.
D. Client with acute stroke receiving thrombolytics.
E. Client requiring titration of IV nitroglycerin.
Answer: C. Stable client with diabetes requiring routine insulin administration.
Rationale: Stable clients with predictable outcomes are appropriate assignments for the
PN.
Question: The charge nurse asks the PN to assist during a disaster drill.
Which action demonstrates appropriate disaster triage?
A. Treat clients with minor injuries first.
B. Prioritize clients requiring the most resources.
C. Prioritize clients with greatest likelihood of survival.
D. Provide care on a first-come, first-served basis.
E. Transport all unconscious clients first.
Answer: C. Prioritize clients with greatest likelihood of survival.
Rationale: Disaster triage focuses on maximizing survival by directing resources toward
clients most likely to benefit from immediate intervention.
Question: A provider gives a verbal order for a high-alert medication
during an emergency. Which action by the PN is appropriate?
A. Administer immediately without verification.
B. Ask another nurse to interpret the order.
C. Read back the order to verify accuracy.
D. Wait until the provider documents it later.
E. Ignore the order until written.
Answer: C. Read back the order to verify accuracy.
Rationale: Read-back verification reduces medication errors and is a recognized patient
safety practice for verbal orders.
, Question: Which action by the PN best demonstrates effective time
management?
A. Completing easy tasks before urgent tasks.
B. Delaying medication administration until documentation is
complete.
C. Prioritizing interventions using client acuity.
D. Documenting all care at the end of the shift.
E. Answering every call light personally.
Answer: C. Prioritizing interventions using client acuity.
Rationale: Effective prioritization is based on client condition and urgency, not
convenience or task simplicity.
Question: Which statement made by the PN indicates understanding of
informed consent?
A. "I can explain the surgical procedure in detail."
B. "I am responsible for obtaining the client's signature."
C. "I can witness the client's signature after confirming the
provider explained the procedure."
D. "Family members may sign if they request."
E. "Consent can be obtained after premedication."
Answer: C. I can witness the client's signature after confirming the provider explained the
procedure.
Rationale: The provider is responsible for obtaining informed consent. The PN may
witness the signature and verify that the client appears informed.
Question: Which client situation requires completion of an incident
report?
A. Client refuses morning medications.
B. Client receives prescribed medication one hour late.
C. Client falls without injury while ambulating.
D. Client requests early discharge.
E. Client refuses physical therapy.
Answer: C. Client falls without injury while ambulating.
Rationale: Any unexpected event affecting client safety, including falls without injury,
requires an incident report for quality improvement and risk management.
Question: The PN is caring for four clients. Which task should be
completed first?
A. Reinforce discharge teaching for a client with hypertension.
B. Administer a scheduled stool softener.
C. Assess a client whose oxygen saturation has decreased
from 96% to 88%.
D. Change a postoperative dressing due in one hour.
E. Complete documentation for the previous client.
Answer: C. Assess a client whose oxygen saturation has decreased from 96% to 88%.
Rationale: A sudden decrease in oxygen saturation indicates impaired oxygenation, an
ABC priority requiring immediate assessment.
Verified Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: A practical nurse (PN) is caring for four clients on a medical-
surgical unit. Which client should the PN assess first?
A. A client with heart failure who reports increasing fatigue.
B. A client who received insulin 2 hours ago and is diaphoretic.
C. A client scheduled for discharge requesting medication
teaching.
D. A client with chronic COPD requesting assistance to the
bathroom.
E. A client awaiting routine dressing change.
Answer: B. A client who received insulin 2 hours ago and is diaphoretic.
Rationale: Diaphoresis following insulin administration suggests hypoglycemia, which is
an immediate life-threatening condition requiring prompt assessment and intervention.
Question: During shift report, the PN receives assignments for five
clients. Which assignment should the PN question?
A. Stable postoperative client requiring vital signs every 4
hours.
B. Client with pneumonia receiving scheduled oral antibiotics.
C. Client experiencing new-onset chest pain without RN
evaluation.
D. Client recovering from cellulitis awaiting discharge.
E. Client requiring reinforcement of diabetic diet education.
Answer: C. Client experiencing new-onset chest pain without RN evaluation.
Rationale: New-onset chest pain requires immediate comprehensive assessment by the
RN and healthcare provider.
Question: Which task is appropriate for the PN to delegate to an
experienced unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Assess pain following morphine administration.
B. Reinforce discharge teaching.
C. Obtain routine blood glucose using a glucometer.
D. Evaluate effectiveness of oxygen therapy.
E. Perform admission assessment.
Answer: C. Obtain routine blood glucose using a glucometer.
Rationale: Obtaining blood glucose is within the scope of trained UAP in many facilities.
,Question: A PN observes a UAP transferring a client without locking the
wheelchair brakes. What is the PN's priority action?
A. Document the incident.
B. Report the UAP immediately.
C. Stop the transfer and ensure client safety.
D. Wait until the transfer is complete before intervening.
E. Inform the charge nurse after the shift.
Answer: C. Stop the transfer and ensure client safety.
Rationale: Immediate intervention prevents injury. Client safety always takes priority over
documentation or disciplinary actions.
Question: Which client can be safely assigned to the PN?
A. Client with septic shock receiving vasopressors.
B. Newly admitted client requiring initial assessment.
C. Stable client with diabetes requiring routine insulin
administration.
D. Client with acute stroke receiving thrombolytics.
E. Client requiring titration of IV nitroglycerin.
Answer: C. Stable client with diabetes requiring routine insulin administration.
Rationale: Stable clients with predictable outcomes are appropriate assignments for the
PN.
Question: The charge nurse asks the PN to assist during a disaster drill.
Which action demonstrates appropriate disaster triage?
A. Treat clients with minor injuries first.
B. Prioritize clients requiring the most resources.
C. Prioritize clients with greatest likelihood of survival.
D. Provide care on a first-come, first-served basis.
E. Transport all unconscious clients first.
Answer: C. Prioritize clients with greatest likelihood of survival.
Rationale: Disaster triage focuses on maximizing survival by directing resources toward
clients most likely to benefit from immediate intervention.
Question: A provider gives a verbal order for a high-alert medication
during an emergency. Which action by the PN is appropriate?
A. Administer immediately without verification.
B. Ask another nurse to interpret the order.
C. Read back the order to verify accuracy.
D. Wait until the provider documents it later.
E. Ignore the order until written.
Answer: C. Read back the order to verify accuracy.
Rationale: Read-back verification reduces medication errors and is a recognized patient
safety practice for verbal orders.
, Question: Which action by the PN best demonstrates effective time
management?
A. Completing easy tasks before urgent tasks.
B. Delaying medication administration until documentation is
complete.
C. Prioritizing interventions using client acuity.
D. Documenting all care at the end of the shift.
E. Answering every call light personally.
Answer: C. Prioritizing interventions using client acuity.
Rationale: Effective prioritization is based on client condition and urgency, not
convenience or task simplicity.
Question: Which statement made by the PN indicates understanding of
informed consent?
A. "I can explain the surgical procedure in detail."
B. "I am responsible for obtaining the client's signature."
C. "I can witness the client's signature after confirming the
provider explained the procedure."
D. "Family members may sign if they request."
E. "Consent can be obtained after premedication."
Answer: C. I can witness the client's signature after confirming the provider explained the
procedure.
Rationale: The provider is responsible for obtaining informed consent. The PN may
witness the signature and verify that the client appears informed.
Question: Which client situation requires completion of an incident
report?
A. Client refuses morning medications.
B. Client receives prescribed medication one hour late.
C. Client falls without injury while ambulating.
D. Client requests early discharge.
E. Client refuses physical therapy.
Answer: C. Client falls without injury while ambulating.
Rationale: Any unexpected event affecting client safety, including falls without injury,
requires an incident report for quality improvement and risk management.
Question: The PN is caring for four clients. Which task should be
completed first?
A. Reinforce discharge teaching for a client with hypertension.
B. Administer a scheduled stool softener.
C. Assess a client whose oxygen saturation has decreased
from 96% to 88%.
D. Change a postoperative dressing due in one hour.
E. Complete documentation for the previous client.
Answer: C. Assess a client whose oxygen saturation has decreased from 96% to 88%.
Rationale: A sudden decrease in oxygen saturation indicates impaired oxygenation, an
ABC priority requiring immediate assessment.
