ATI Fundamentals
Exam Prep 2026/2027:
Assessment,
Documentation &
Nursing Skills
1. A nurse is performing an initial assessment of a client. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain the client's family history
B. Review the client's laboratory results
C. Establish the client's immediate safety and physiological status
D. Ask the client about previous hospitalizations
Answer: C. Establish the client's immediate safety and physiological
status
Rationale: The nurse should first identify immediate threats to
airway, breathing, circulation, neurological status, and safety before
completing a comprehensive history.
2. Which finding should the nurse recognize as subjective data?
,A. Blood pressure of 148/88 mm Hg
B. Temperature of 38.2°C (100.8°F)
C. Client reports feeling nauseated
D. Respiratory rate of 24/min
Answer: C. Client reports feeling nauseated
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms or experiences reported by
the client. Vital signs and observable findings are objective data.
3. Which finding is objective data?
A. "My pain is a 7 out of 10."
B. "I feel dizzy."
C. "I am anxious."
D. Oxygen saturation is 91%.
Answer: D. Oxygen saturation is 91%.
Rationale: Objective data can be observed, measured, or verified by
the nurse.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's pain. Which question is most
appropriate for determining pain intensity?
A. "Where does the pain radiate?"
B. "What makes the pain worse?"
C. "How would you rate your pain from 0 to 10?"
D. "When did the pain begin?"
Answer: C. "How would you rate your pain from 0 to 10?"
Rationale: A numeric rating scale assesses pain intensity. Location,
aggravating factors, and onset assess other components of the pain
assessment.
,5. Which assessment technique should the nurse use first when
examining the abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Auscultation
D. Inspection
Answer: D. Inspection
Rationale: Abdominal assessment follows the sequence inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation because touching the
abdomen can alter bowel sounds.
6. Which sequence is generally used for a physical assessment?
A. Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
D. Auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
Answer: C. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Rationale: This is the standard sequence for most body systems. The
abdomen is the major exception.
7. A nurse notes that a client's skin is cool, pale, and diaphoretic.
Which action is the priority?
A. Document the finding
B. Assess the client's circulation and vital signs
C. Apply moisturizing lotion
D. Encourage oral fluids
Answer: B. Assess the client's circulation and vital signs
, Rationale: Cool, pale, diaphoretic skin can indicate impaired
perfusion or another acute physiological problem. Further
assessment is necessary immediately.
8. Which finding requires immediate follow-up?
A. Pulse 78/min
B. Respirations 16/min
C. Oxygen saturation 86%
D. Temperature 37.1°C (98.8°F)
Answer: C. Oxygen saturation 86%
Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 86% is significantly below the
expected range and may indicate hypoxemia requiring prompt
intervention.
9. Which pulse characteristic should the nurse document?
A. Regularity
B. Color
C. Temperature
D. Moisture
Answer: A. Regularity
Rationale: Pulse assessment includes rate, rhythm, strength, and
sometimes equality between extremities.
10. A nurse is counting respirations. Which technique is
appropriate?
A. Tell the client to breathe normally after counting the pulse
B. Count respirations immediately after measuring the pulse
Exam Prep 2026/2027:
Assessment,
Documentation &
Nursing Skills
1. A nurse is performing an initial assessment of a client. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain the client's family history
B. Review the client's laboratory results
C. Establish the client's immediate safety and physiological status
D. Ask the client about previous hospitalizations
Answer: C. Establish the client's immediate safety and physiological
status
Rationale: The nurse should first identify immediate threats to
airway, breathing, circulation, neurological status, and safety before
completing a comprehensive history.
2. Which finding should the nurse recognize as subjective data?
,A. Blood pressure of 148/88 mm Hg
B. Temperature of 38.2°C (100.8°F)
C. Client reports feeling nauseated
D. Respiratory rate of 24/min
Answer: C. Client reports feeling nauseated
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms or experiences reported by
the client. Vital signs and observable findings are objective data.
3. Which finding is objective data?
A. "My pain is a 7 out of 10."
B. "I feel dizzy."
C. "I am anxious."
D. Oxygen saturation is 91%.
Answer: D. Oxygen saturation is 91%.
Rationale: Objective data can be observed, measured, or verified by
the nurse.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's pain. Which question is most
appropriate for determining pain intensity?
A. "Where does the pain radiate?"
B. "What makes the pain worse?"
C. "How would you rate your pain from 0 to 10?"
D. "When did the pain begin?"
Answer: C. "How would you rate your pain from 0 to 10?"
Rationale: A numeric rating scale assesses pain intensity. Location,
aggravating factors, and onset assess other components of the pain
assessment.
,5. Which assessment technique should the nurse use first when
examining the abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Auscultation
D. Inspection
Answer: D. Inspection
Rationale: Abdominal assessment follows the sequence inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation because touching the
abdomen can alter bowel sounds.
6. Which sequence is generally used for a physical assessment?
A. Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
D. Auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
Answer: C. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Rationale: This is the standard sequence for most body systems. The
abdomen is the major exception.
7. A nurse notes that a client's skin is cool, pale, and diaphoretic.
Which action is the priority?
A. Document the finding
B. Assess the client's circulation and vital signs
C. Apply moisturizing lotion
D. Encourage oral fluids
Answer: B. Assess the client's circulation and vital signs
, Rationale: Cool, pale, diaphoretic skin can indicate impaired
perfusion or another acute physiological problem. Further
assessment is necessary immediately.
8. Which finding requires immediate follow-up?
A. Pulse 78/min
B. Respirations 16/min
C. Oxygen saturation 86%
D. Temperature 37.1°C (98.8°F)
Answer: C. Oxygen saturation 86%
Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 86% is significantly below the
expected range and may indicate hypoxemia requiring prompt
intervention.
9. Which pulse characteristic should the nurse document?
A. Regularity
B. Color
C. Temperature
D. Moisture
Answer: A. Regularity
Rationale: Pulse assessment includes rate, rhythm, strength, and
sometimes equality between extremities.
10. A nurse is counting respirations. Which technique is
appropriate?
A. Tell the client to breathe normally after counting the pulse
B. Count respirations immediately after measuring the pulse
