Page 1 of 105
ATI FUNDAMENTALS PROCTORED ASSESSMENT EXAM 2026 SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
ATI Fundamentals Proctored Assessment:
QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS & CRITICAL THINKING (Questions 1–25)
1. A nurse is explaining the primary purpose of the nursing process to a newly licensed
practical nurse during orientation. Which statement by the nurse accurately describes
the nursing process?
A. "It is a task-oriented approach designed to complete nursing duties efficiently."
B. "It provides a systematic, patient-centered framework for delivering holistic and
effective nursing care."
C. "It is used primarily for documentation and legal purposes in the medical record."
D. "It replaces the need for clinical judgment and critical thinking in nursing practice."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, patient-centered framework that guides
nurses through assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation to
deliver holistic care. Option A is incorrect because the nursing process is not merely
task-oriented; it is a comprehensive problem-solving approach. Option C is incorrect
because documentation is a byproduct, not the primary purpose. Option D is incorrect
because the nursing process enhances, rather than replaces, clinical judgment.
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2. A nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted with shortness of breath and
crackles in the lung bases. Which phase of the nursing process is the nurse currently
performing when auscultating the client's lungs?
A. Planning
B. Implementation
C. Assessment
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Auscultating lung sounds is a data collection activity that falls within the
assessment phase of the nursing process. Assessment is the first and most critical step
because all subsequent phases depend on accurate data collection. Planning involves
developing goals and interventions. Implementation involves carrying out the plan.
Evaluation involves determining whether goals were met.
3. A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has been diagnosed with
impaired mobility. Which action demonstrates the planning phase of the nursing
process?
A. Turning the client every two hours to prevent pressure injuries.
B. Establishing a goal that the client will ambulate 50 feet by discharge.
C. Documenting that the client's skin remains intact after repositioning.
D. Asking the client to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Establishing a goal is a hallmark of the planning phase, where the nurse
prioritizes problems, formulates goals, and selects interventions. Turning the client (A)
is implementation. Documenting skin integrity (C) is evaluation. Asking about pain (D) is
assessment.
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4. A nurse is explaining the difference between a medical diagnosis and a nursing
diagnosis to a nursing student. Which statement by the student indicates correct
understanding?
A. "A nursing diagnosis identifies a disease or pathology that requires medical
treatment."
B. "A medical diagnosis describes a client's response to an actual or potential health
problem."
C. "A nursing diagnosis describes a client's response to a health condition, whereas a
medical diagnosis identifies the disease itself."
D. "A nursing diagnosis and a medical diagnosis are interchangeable terms used in
clinical documentation."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A medical diagnosis identifies a disease or pathology (e.g., pneumonia),
whereas a nursing diagnosis describes the human response to that condition (e.g.,
impaired gas exchange). Option A reverses the definitions. Option B also reverses them.
Option D is incorrect because the two are distinct and serve different purposes in the
care plan.
5. A nurse is prioritizing care for four clients at the beginning of a shift. Which client
should the nurse assess first based on the ABC priority framework?
A. A client who is scheduled for discharge and needs teaching about wound care.
B. A client who reports new onset of chest pain and shortness of breath.
C. A client who is requesting pain medication for chronic back pain.
D. A client who needs assistance with ambulation to the bathroom.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ABC framework prioritizes Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. New-
onset chest pain and shortness of breath represent potential compromise of breathing
and circulation, making this the highest priority. Discharge teaching (A), chronic pain
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management (C), and ambulation assistance (D) are important but not immediately life-
threatening.
6. A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of a client's care plan. Which action by the
nurse best demonstrates the evaluation phase of the nursing process?
A. Revising the client's care plan based on new assessment data.
B. Administering the prescribed pain medication to the client.
C. Collecting a urine specimen for laboratory analysis.
D. Documenting the client's vital signs in the electronic health record.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Evaluation involves determining whether the client's goals have been met
and revising the plan as needed. Administering medication (B) is implementation.
Collecting a specimen (C) is assessment. Documenting vital signs (D) is a component
of assessment or implementation, not evaluation.
7. A nurse is using Maslow's hierarchy of needs to prioritize client care. Which client
need should the nurse address first?
A. A client who is lonely and requests a visit from the chaplain.
B. A client who is experiencing urinary urgency and needs toileting assistance.
C. A client who feels unsafe because their call light is not working.
D. A client who needs education about a new medication regimen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy prioritizes physiological needs first. Urinary urgency is a
physiological need that must be addressed before safety (C), love/belonging (A), or self-
actualization/education (D).
ATI FUNDAMENTALS PROCTORED ASSESSMENT EXAM 2026 SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
ATI Fundamentals Proctored Assessment:
QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS & CRITICAL THINKING (Questions 1–25)
1. A nurse is explaining the primary purpose of the nursing process to a newly licensed
practical nurse during orientation. Which statement by the nurse accurately describes
the nursing process?
A. "It is a task-oriented approach designed to complete nursing duties efficiently."
B. "It provides a systematic, patient-centered framework for delivering holistic and
effective nursing care."
C. "It is used primarily for documentation and legal purposes in the medical record."
D. "It replaces the need for clinical judgment and critical thinking in nursing practice."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, patient-centered framework that guides
nurses through assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation to
deliver holistic care. Option A is incorrect because the nursing process is not merely
task-oriented; it is a comprehensive problem-solving approach. Option C is incorrect
because documentation is a byproduct, not the primary purpose. Option D is incorrect
because the nursing process enhances, rather than replaces, clinical judgment.
, Page 2 of 105
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted with shortness of breath and
crackles in the lung bases. Which phase of the nursing process is the nurse currently
performing when auscultating the client's lungs?
A. Planning
B. Implementation
C. Assessment
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Auscultating lung sounds is a data collection activity that falls within the
assessment phase of the nursing process. Assessment is the first and most critical step
because all subsequent phases depend on accurate data collection. Planning involves
developing goals and interventions. Implementation involves carrying out the plan.
Evaluation involves determining whether goals were met.
3. A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has been diagnosed with
impaired mobility. Which action demonstrates the planning phase of the nursing
process?
A. Turning the client every two hours to prevent pressure injuries.
B. Establishing a goal that the client will ambulate 50 feet by discharge.
C. Documenting that the client's skin remains intact after repositioning.
D. Asking the client to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Establishing a goal is a hallmark of the planning phase, where the nurse
prioritizes problems, formulates goals, and selects interventions. Turning the client (A)
is implementation. Documenting skin integrity (C) is evaluation. Asking about pain (D) is
assessment.
, Page 3 of 105
4. A nurse is explaining the difference between a medical diagnosis and a nursing
diagnosis to a nursing student. Which statement by the student indicates correct
understanding?
A. "A nursing diagnosis identifies a disease or pathology that requires medical
treatment."
B. "A medical diagnosis describes a client's response to an actual or potential health
problem."
C. "A nursing diagnosis describes a client's response to a health condition, whereas a
medical diagnosis identifies the disease itself."
D. "A nursing diagnosis and a medical diagnosis are interchangeable terms used in
clinical documentation."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A medical diagnosis identifies a disease or pathology (e.g., pneumonia),
whereas a nursing diagnosis describes the human response to that condition (e.g.,
impaired gas exchange). Option A reverses the definitions. Option B also reverses them.
Option D is incorrect because the two are distinct and serve different purposes in the
care plan.
5. A nurse is prioritizing care for four clients at the beginning of a shift. Which client
should the nurse assess first based on the ABC priority framework?
A. A client who is scheduled for discharge and needs teaching about wound care.
B. A client who reports new onset of chest pain and shortness of breath.
C. A client who is requesting pain medication for chronic back pain.
D. A client who needs assistance with ambulation to the bathroom.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ABC framework prioritizes Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. New-
onset chest pain and shortness of breath represent potential compromise of breathing
and circulation, making this the highest priority. Discharge teaching (A), chronic pain
, Page 4 of 105
management (C), and ambulation assistance (D) are important but not immediately life-
threatening.
6. A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of a client's care plan. Which action by the
nurse best demonstrates the evaluation phase of the nursing process?
A. Revising the client's care plan based on new assessment data.
B. Administering the prescribed pain medication to the client.
C. Collecting a urine specimen for laboratory analysis.
D. Documenting the client's vital signs in the electronic health record.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Evaluation involves determining whether the client's goals have been met
and revising the plan as needed. Administering medication (B) is implementation.
Collecting a specimen (C) is assessment. Documenting vital signs (D) is a component
of assessment or implementation, not evaluation.
7. A nurse is using Maslow's hierarchy of needs to prioritize client care. Which client
need should the nurse address first?
A. A client who is lonely and requests a visit from the chaplain.
B. A client who is experiencing urinary urgency and needs toileting assistance.
C. A client who feels unsafe because their call light is not working.
D. A client who needs education about a new medication regimen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy prioritizes physiological needs first. Urinary urgency is a
physiological need that must be addressed before safety (C), love/belonging (A), or self-
actualization/education (D).
