ATI PN Fundamentals Proctored Exam
Questions and Answers 2021/2022
Section 1: Health Care Delivery & the Nursing Process
1. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a newly admitted client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Develop a plan of care
B. Collect subjective and objective data
C. Implement nursing interventions
D. Evaluate the client's response to care
B. Collect subjective and objective data
Assessment is the first and foundational step of the nursing process. You cannot plan,
implement, or evaluate without first gathering data.
2. A nurse is reviewing the health care delivery system. Which of the following describes
primary prevention?
A. Screening for colon cancer
B. Immunization against influenza
C. Rehabilitation after a stroke
D. Physical therapy for arthritis
B. Immunization against influenza
Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs (immunizations, health
education). Screening is secondary prevention; rehabilitation is tertiary prevention.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a living will. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Follow the living will as a legal document reflecting the client's wishes
B. Ask the family to override the living will
C. Ignore the living will if the client is unresponsive
D. Have the provider sign the living will
A. Follow the living will as a legal document reflecting the client's wishes
A living will is an advance directive that legally documents a client's wishes regarding end-
of-life care and must be honored.
,4. Which of the following is an example of a nurse acting as a client advocate?
A. Administering a medication without explaining it
B. Reporting a suspected medication error to the provider
C. Delegating a sterile dressing change to a UAP
D. Documenting a colleague's opinion as fact
B. Reporting a suspected medication error to the provider
Advocacy means protecting the client's safety and rights. Reporting errors protects the
client from harm.
5. A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks. Which of the following tasks is appropriate to delegate
to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Performing an initial assessment
B. Administering oral medications
C. Measuring and recording vital signs
D. Teaching a client about a new diet
C. Measuring and recording vital signs
Taking vital signs on stable clients is within UAP scope. Assessment, medication
administration, and teaching require a licensed nurse.
6. A nurse is reviewing the components of a complete health history. Which of the following is
subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 132/84 mm Hg
B. Client reports "my head is pounding"
C. Temperature 38.1°C (100.6°F)
D. Urine output 400 mL/8 hr
B. Client reports "my head is pounding"
Subjective data is what the client states (symptoms). Objective data is measurable and
observed (signs).
7. A nurse is evaluating a client's outcome. Which statement best reflects the evaluation phase?
A. "The client will ambulate 50 feet by discharge."
B. "The client ambulated 50 feet without shortness of breath."
C. "The client has impaired mobility."
D. "The nurse will assist the client to ambulate."
B. "The client ambulated 50 feet without shortness of breath."
Evaluation compares actual outcomes with expected outcomes. Options A and D are
planning statements; C is a nursing diagnosis.
,8. Which of the following is the priority action when a nurse discovers a client is unresponsive
and not breathing?
A. Check the client's identification band
B. Call for help and begin CPR
C. Document the event
D. Notify the family
B. Call for help and begin CPR
Airway, breathing, and circulation take priority. Documentation and notification occur after
the client is stabilized.
9. A nurse is discussing continuity of care. Which of the following best describes the purpose of
a discharge plan?
A. To delay the client's discharge
B. To ensure ongoing care after leaving the facility
C. To replace the provider's orders
D. To document only medications
B. To ensure ongoing care after leaving the facility
Discharge planning ensures a smooth transition and continued care in the community or
home setting.
10. (SATA) Which of the following are components of the nursing process? Select all that apply.
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
F. Prescription
A, B, C, D, E
The five steps of the nursing process are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation,
and evaluation. Prescription is not a nursing process step.
11. A nurse is prioritizing care using Maslow's hierarchy. Which client need should the nurse
address first?
A. A client who is lonely and wants to talk
B. A client who is short of breath
C. A client who needs help with self-esteem
D. A client who wants to attend a religious service
, B. A client who is short of breath
Physiological needs (oxygen) take priority over safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-
actualization needs.
12. A nurse is reviewing a client's chart and notes a discrepancy between the client's report and
the medical record. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Ignore the discrepancy
B. Document the discrepancy and notify the provider
C. Erase the previous documentation
D. Ask the UAP to change the record
B. Document the discrepancy and notify the provider
The nurse must report and document discrepancies to ensure client safety and accurate
records.
Section 2: Safety, Infection Control & Precautions
13. A nurse is caring for a client on airborne precautions. Which of the following is required?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 respirator
C. Gown only
D. Gloves only
B. N95 respirator
Airborne precautions (e.g., tuberculosis, measles, varicella) require an N95 respirator or
powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), plus a negative-pressure room.
14. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which of the following is the most effective method to
reduce infection transmission?
A. Using alcohol-based hand rub for 10 seconds
B. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. Wearing gloves instead of washing hands
D. Rinsing hands with water only
B. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the gold standard, especially when hands are
visibly soiled or after contact with C. difficile.
15. A nurse is removing personal protective equipment (PPE). Which item should be removed
first?
Questions and Answers 2021/2022
Section 1: Health Care Delivery & the Nursing Process
1. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a newly admitted client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Develop a plan of care
B. Collect subjective and objective data
C. Implement nursing interventions
D. Evaluate the client's response to care
B. Collect subjective and objective data
Assessment is the first and foundational step of the nursing process. You cannot plan,
implement, or evaluate without first gathering data.
2. A nurse is reviewing the health care delivery system. Which of the following describes
primary prevention?
A. Screening for colon cancer
B. Immunization against influenza
C. Rehabilitation after a stroke
D. Physical therapy for arthritis
B. Immunization against influenza
Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs (immunizations, health
education). Screening is secondary prevention; rehabilitation is tertiary prevention.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a living will. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Follow the living will as a legal document reflecting the client's wishes
B. Ask the family to override the living will
C. Ignore the living will if the client is unresponsive
D. Have the provider sign the living will
A. Follow the living will as a legal document reflecting the client's wishes
A living will is an advance directive that legally documents a client's wishes regarding end-
of-life care and must be honored.
,4. Which of the following is an example of a nurse acting as a client advocate?
A. Administering a medication without explaining it
B. Reporting a suspected medication error to the provider
C. Delegating a sterile dressing change to a UAP
D. Documenting a colleague's opinion as fact
B. Reporting a suspected medication error to the provider
Advocacy means protecting the client's safety and rights. Reporting errors protects the
client from harm.
5. A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks. Which of the following tasks is appropriate to delegate
to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Performing an initial assessment
B. Administering oral medications
C. Measuring and recording vital signs
D. Teaching a client about a new diet
C. Measuring and recording vital signs
Taking vital signs on stable clients is within UAP scope. Assessment, medication
administration, and teaching require a licensed nurse.
6. A nurse is reviewing the components of a complete health history. Which of the following is
subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 132/84 mm Hg
B. Client reports "my head is pounding"
C. Temperature 38.1°C (100.6°F)
D. Urine output 400 mL/8 hr
B. Client reports "my head is pounding"
Subjective data is what the client states (symptoms). Objective data is measurable and
observed (signs).
7. A nurse is evaluating a client's outcome. Which statement best reflects the evaluation phase?
A. "The client will ambulate 50 feet by discharge."
B. "The client ambulated 50 feet without shortness of breath."
C. "The client has impaired mobility."
D. "The nurse will assist the client to ambulate."
B. "The client ambulated 50 feet without shortness of breath."
Evaluation compares actual outcomes with expected outcomes. Options A and D are
planning statements; C is a nursing diagnosis.
,8. Which of the following is the priority action when a nurse discovers a client is unresponsive
and not breathing?
A. Check the client's identification band
B. Call for help and begin CPR
C. Document the event
D. Notify the family
B. Call for help and begin CPR
Airway, breathing, and circulation take priority. Documentation and notification occur after
the client is stabilized.
9. A nurse is discussing continuity of care. Which of the following best describes the purpose of
a discharge plan?
A. To delay the client's discharge
B. To ensure ongoing care after leaving the facility
C. To replace the provider's orders
D. To document only medications
B. To ensure ongoing care after leaving the facility
Discharge planning ensures a smooth transition and continued care in the community or
home setting.
10. (SATA) Which of the following are components of the nursing process? Select all that apply.
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
F. Prescription
A, B, C, D, E
The five steps of the nursing process are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation,
and evaluation. Prescription is not a nursing process step.
11. A nurse is prioritizing care using Maslow's hierarchy. Which client need should the nurse
address first?
A. A client who is lonely and wants to talk
B. A client who is short of breath
C. A client who needs help with self-esteem
D. A client who wants to attend a religious service
, B. A client who is short of breath
Physiological needs (oxygen) take priority over safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-
actualization needs.
12. A nurse is reviewing a client's chart and notes a discrepancy between the client's report and
the medical record. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Ignore the discrepancy
B. Document the discrepancy and notify the provider
C. Erase the previous documentation
D. Ask the UAP to change the record
B. Document the discrepancy and notify the provider
The nurse must report and document discrepancies to ensure client safety and accurate
records.
Section 2: Safety, Infection Control & Precautions
13. A nurse is caring for a client on airborne precautions. Which of the following is required?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 respirator
C. Gown only
D. Gloves only
B. N95 respirator
Airborne precautions (e.g., tuberculosis, measles, varicella) require an N95 respirator or
powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), plus a negative-pressure room.
14. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which of the following is the most effective method to
reduce infection transmission?
A. Using alcohol-based hand rub for 10 seconds
B. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. Wearing gloves instead of washing hands
D. Rinsing hands with water only
B. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the gold standard, especially when hands are
visibly soiled or after contact with C. difficile.
15. A nurse is removing personal protective equipment (PPE). Which item should be removed
first?
