ATI RN Fundamentals Proctored Assessment:
NCLEX-Style Practice Questions 2026 Wth
Rationales EXAM PRACTICE 250
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS |DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM PREP GRADED
A+*INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1.
A nurse enters the room of a client who is on contact precautions.
Which action is appropriate?
A. Wear an N95 respirator before entering
B. Wear gloves and a gown when contact with the client or
environment is anticipated
C. Wear a surgical mask only
D. Wear sterile gloves for all client contact
Answer: B. Wear gloves and a gown when contact with the client or
environment is anticipated
Rationale: Contact precautions require appropriate barrier
protection, particularly gloves and a gown when direct contact or
environmental contamination is anticipated.
2.
Which action is most effective for preventing transmission of
infection in a healthcare setting?
A. Wearing gloves for every client interaction
B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate times
,C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Wearing a surgical mask during all client care
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate times
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the primary measure for reducing
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare environments.
3.
A nurse is caring for a client with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.
Which respiratory protection should the nurse use?
A. Surgical mask
B. Face shield
C. N95 or equivalent respirator
D. Procedure mask with goggles
Answer: C. N95 or equivalent respirator
Rationale: Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions, including a fit-
tested N95 respirator or equivalent.
4.
Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client requesting assistance with bathing
B. Client reporting sudden difficulty breathing
C. Client requesting a change of linens
D. Client asking when breakfast will arrive
Answer: B. Client reporting sudden difficulty breathing
Rationale: Airway and breathing problems take priority because they
can rapidly become life-threatening.
5.
A nurse discovers a fire in a client's room. What is the nurse's priority
action?
,A. Extinguish the fire
B. Activate the fire alarm
C. Remove the client from immediate danger
D. Close all unit doors
Answer: C. Remove the client from immediate danger
Rationale: RACE begins with Rescue clients from immediate danger,
followed by Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish/Evacuate.
6.
Which action should the nurse take when using a fire extinguisher?
A. Aim at the top of the flames
B. Aim at the base of the fire
C. Stand directly above the fire
D. Open all windows first
Answer: B. Aim at the base of the fire
Rationale: The extinguisher should be directed at the base of the
flames to remove the source of combustion.
7.
A nurse sustains a needlestick injury. What should the nurse do first?
A. Complete an incident report
B. Notify the supervisor
C. Wash the area with soap and water
D. Request laboratory testing
Answer: C. Wash the area with soap and water
Rationale: Immediate cleansing of the exposure site is the first action
after a needlestick injury.
8.
Which item requires sterilization rather than simple disinfection?
, A. Blood pressure cuff
B. Bedside table
C. Surgical instrument entering sterile tissue
D. Stethoscope
Answer: C. Surgical instrument entering sterile tissue
Rationale: Instruments entering sterile tissue or the vascular system
must be sterile.
9.
Which action contaminates a sterile field?
A. Keeping sterile objects above waist level
B. Opening a sterile package away from the body first
C. Reaching over the sterile field
D. Maintaining the sterile field within view
Answer: C. Reaching over the sterile field
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field risks dropping microorganisms
onto the field.
10.
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which area of the field is
considered contaminated?
A. Center
B. Outer 1-inch border
C. Entire surface
D. Area closest to the nurse
Answer: B. Outer 1-inch border
Rationale: The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered
contaminated.
11.
NCLEX-Style Practice Questions 2026 Wth
Rationales EXAM PRACTICE 250
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS |DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM PREP GRADED
A+*INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1.
A nurse enters the room of a client who is on contact precautions.
Which action is appropriate?
A. Wear an N95 respirator before entering
B. Wear gloves and a gown when contact with the client or
environment is anticipated
C. Wear a surgical mask only
D. Wear sterile gloves for all client contact
Answer: B. Wear gloves and a gown when contact with the client or
environment is anticipated
Rationale: Contact precautions require appropriate barrier
protection, particularly gloves and a gown when direct contact or
environmental contamination is anticipated.
2.
Which action is most effective for preventing transmission of
infection in a healthcare setting?
A. Wearing gloves for every client interaction
B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate times
,C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Wearing a surgical mask during all client care
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate times
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the primary measure for reducing
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare environments.
3.
A nurse is caring for a client with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.
Which respiratory protection should the nurse use?
A. Surgical mask
B. Face shield
C. N95 or equivalent respirator
D. Procedure mask with goggles
Answer: C. N95 or equivalent respirator
Rationale: Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions, including a fit-
tested N95 respirator or equivalent.
4.
Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client requesting assistance with bathing
B. Client reporting sudden difficulty breathing
C. Client requesting a change of linens
D. Client asking when breakfast will arrive
Answer: B. Client reporting sudden difficulty breathing
Rationale: Airway and breathing problems take priority because they
can rapidly become life-threatening.
5.
A nurse discovers a fire in a client's room. What is the nurse's priority
action?
,A. Extinguish the fire
B. Activate the fire alarm
C. Remove the client from immediate danger
D. Close all unit doors
Answer: C. Remove the client from immediate danger
Rationale: RACE begins with Rescue clients from immediate danger,
followed by Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish/Evacuate.
6.
Which action should the nurse take when using a fire extinguisher?
A. Aim at the top of the flames
B. Aim at the base of the fire
C. Stand directly above the fire
D. Open all windows first
Answer: B. Aim at the base of the fire
Rationale: The extinguisher should be directed at the base of the
flames to remove the source of combustion.
7.
A nurse sustains a needlestick injury. What should the nurse do first?
A. Complete an incident report
B. Notify the supervisor
C. Wash the area with soap and water
D. Request laboratory testing
Answer: C. Wash the area with soap and water
Rationale: Immediate cleansing of the exposure site is the first action
after a needlestick injury.
8.
Which item requires sterilization rather than simple disinfection?
, A. Blood pressure cuff
B. Bedside table
C. Surgical instrument entering sterile tissue
D. Stethoscope
Answer: C. Surgical instrument entering sterile tissue
Rationale: Instruments entering sterile tissue or the vascular system
must be sterile.
9.
Which action contaminates a sterile field?
A. Keeping sterile objects above waist level
B. Opening a sterile package away from the body first
C. Reaching over the sterile field
D. Maintaining the sterile field within view
Answer: C. Reaching over the sterile field
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field risks dropping microorganisms
onto the field.
10.
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which area of the field is
considered contaminated?
A. Center
B. Outer 1-inch border
C. Entire surface
D. Area closest to the nurse
Answer: B. Outer 1-inch border
Rationale: The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered
contaminated.
11.
