2026
ATI Fundamentals Proctored Exam 2026:
Comprehensive Study Guide, Practice
Questions, and Test Bank Review
A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following tasks should the nurse
delegate to an assistive personnel?
a. Changing the dressing for a client who has a stage 3 pressure injury
b. Determining a client's response to a diuretic
c. Comparing radial pulses for a client who is postoperative
d. Providing postmortem care to a client
Correct answer: d
Rationale: Postmortem care is a non-invasive, routine task appropriate for assistive personnel.
Dressing changes for stage 3 wounds, medication evaluation, and assessment of pulses require
nursing judgment and cannot be delegated.
A nurse is conducting a health assessment for a client who takes herbal supplements. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the use of the supplements?
a. I take ginkgo biloba for a headache
b. I take echinacea to control my cholesterol
c. I use ginger when I get car sick
d. I use garlic for my menopausal symptoms
Correct answer: c
Rationale: Ginger is commonly used to treat nausea and motion sickness. Ginkgo is used for
memory, echinacea for immune support, and garlic for cardiovascular benefits, not menopausal
symptoms.
A nurse is caring for a client who has influenza and isolation precautions in place. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent the spread of infection?
a. Wear a mask when working within 3 feet of the client
b. Administer metronidazole
c. Don protective eyewear before entering the room
d. Place the client in a negative airflow room
,2026
Correct answer: a
Rationale: Influenza requires droplet precautions, including wearing a mask within close
proximity. Negative airflow rooms are for airborne infections, and medications or eyewear are
not primary preventive measures.
A nurse obtains a prescription for wrist restraints for a client who is trying to pull out an NG
tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Attach the restraints securely to the side rails of the client's bed
b. Apply the restraints to allow as little movement as possible
c. Allow room for two fingers to fit between the client’s skin and the restraints
d. Remove the restraints every 4 hours
Correct answer: c
Rationale: Two-finger spacing ensures circulation and prevents injury. Restraints should never
be tied to side rails, should allow movement, and must be removed at least every 2 hours.
A nurse is admitting a client who has tuberculosis. Which of the following types of transmission
precautions should the nurse plan to initiate?
a. Droplet
b. Airborne
c. Protective environment
d. Contact
Correct answer: b
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles and requires airborne
precautions with a negative-pressure room.
A nurse in a well-child clinic receives a call from a parent stating their child swallowed paint
thinner. The child is awake and alert. Which response should the nurse make?
a. Have your child drink one large glass of water
b. Hang up and call a poison control center hotline
c. Bring your child into the clinic later today
d. Induce vomiting with syrup of ipecac
Correct answer: a
,2026
Rationale: Drinking water helps dilute the substance. Inducing vomiting is contraindicated, and
immediate action should be taken rather than delayed evaluation.
A nurse is documenting a client’s medical record. Which entry should the nurse record?
a. Oral temperature slightly elevated at 0800
b. Administered pain medication
c. Incision without redness or drainage
d. Drank adequate amounts of fluid with meals
Correct answer: b
Rationale: Documentation must be objective and specific. “Administered pain medication”
reflects a completed action, while the other options are vague or subjective.
A nurse is providing oral care for an unconscious client. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Place the client in a side-lying position
b. Brush the client’s teeth daily
c. Apply mineral oil to the lips
d. Use an alcohol-based mouthwash
Correct answer: a
Rationale: Side-lying positioning reduces aspiration risk. Alcohol dries oral mucosa, and mineral
oil is unsafe if aspirated.
A nurse is collaborating with risk management about legal issues. Which situation is an example
of negligence?
a. Administering medication without identifying the client
b. Discussing client care in the cafeteria
c. Beginning a blood transfusion without consent
d. Preventing a client from leaving the facility
Correct answer: c
Rationale: Performing a procedure without informed consent is negligence. The other options
represent different legal violations.
, 2026
A nurse is collecting a sputum specimen for culture. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Wear sterile gloves
b. Offer oral hygiene after collection
c. Collect the specimen in the evening
d. Collect 1 mL of sputum
Correct answer: b
Rationale: Oral hygiene after collection improves comfort and reduces contamination.
Specimens are best collected in the morning, and clean gloves are sufficient.
A nurse is assessing an older adult. Which finding should the nurse expect?
a. Decreased sense of balance
b. Increased nighttime sleeping
c. Heightened sense of pain
d. Nighttime urinary incontinence
Correct answer: a
Rationale: Aging affects balance due to sensory and musculoskeletal changes. The other findings
are not expected normal changes.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching about ostomy care. Which instructions should be
included? (Select all that apply)
a. Cut the pouch opening 1/8 inch larger than the stoma
b. Place gauze over the stoma when changing the pouch
c. Use povidone-iodine to clean around the stoma
d. Empty the pouch when one-third full
e. Expect the stoma to turn purple-blue while healing
Correct answers: a, b, d
Rationale: Proper sizing prevents skin damage, gauze absorbs drainage, and emptying early
prevents leakage. Iodine is irritating, and a purple-blue stoma indicates compromised circulation.
A nurse is preparing to obtain informed consent from a client who speaks a different language.
Which action should the nurse take?
a. Use assistive personnel as an interpreter
b. Use proper medical terms
ATI Fundamentals Proctored Exam 2026:
Comprehensive Study Guide, Practice
Questions, and Test Bank Review
A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following tasks should the nurse
delegate to an assistive personnel?
a. Changing the dressing for a client who has a stage 3 pressure injury
b. Determining a client's response to a diuretic
c. Comparing radial pulses for a client who is postoperative
d. Providing postmortem care to a client
Correct answer: d
Rationale: Postmortem care is a non-invasive, routine task appropriate for assistive personnel.
Dressing changes for stage 3 wounds, medication evaluation, and assessment of pulses require
nursing judgment and cannot be delegated.
A nurse is conducting a health assessment for a client who takes herbal supplements. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the use of the supplements?
a. I take ginkgo biloba for a headache
b. I take echinacea to control my cholesterol
c. I use ginger when I get car sick
d. I use garlic for my menopausal symptoms
Correct answer: c
Rationale: Ginger is commonly used to treat nausea and motion sickness. Ginkgo is used for
memory, echinacea for immune support, and garlic for cardiovascular benefits, not menopausal
symptoms.
A nurse is caring for a client who has influenza and isolation precautions in place. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent the spread of infection?
a. Wear a mask when working within 3 feet of the client
b. Administer metronidazole
c. Don protective eyewear before entering the room
d. Place the client in a negative airflow room
,2026
Correct answer: a
Rationale: Influenza requires droplet precautions, including wearing a mask within close
proximity. Negative airflow rooms are for airborne infections, and medications or eyewear are
not primary preventive measures.
A nurse obtains a prescription for wrist restraints for a client who is trying to pull out an NG
tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Attach the restraints securely to the side rails of the client's bed
b. Apply the restraints to allow as little movement as possible
c. Allow room for two fingers to fit between the client’s skin and the restraints
d. Remove the restraints every 4 hours
Correct answer: c
Rationale: Two-finger spacing ensures circulation and prevents injury. Restraints should never
be tied to side rails, should allow movement, and must be removed at least every 2 hours.
A nurse is admitting a client who has tuberculosis. Which of the following types of transmission
precautions should the nurse plan to initiate?
a. Droplet
b. Airborne
c. Protective environment
d. Contact
Correct answer: b
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles and requires airborne
precautions with a negative-pressure room.
A nurse in a well-child clinic receives a call from a parent stating their child swallowed paint
thinner. The child is awake and alert. Which response should the nurse make?
a. Have your child drink one large glass of water
b. Hang up and call a poison control center hotline
c. Bring your child into the clinic later today
d. Induce vomiting with syrup of ipecac
Correct answer: a
,2026
Rationale: Drinking water helps dilute the substance. Inducing vomiting is contraindicated, and
immediate action should be taken rather than delayed evaluation.
A nurse is documenting a client’s medical record. Which entry should the nurse record?
a. Oral temperature slightly elevated at 0800
b. Administered pain medication
c. Incision without redness or drainage
d. Drank adequate amounts of fluid with meals
Correct answer: b
Rationale: Documentation must be objective and specific. “Administered pain medication”
reflects a completed action, while the other options are vague or subjective.
A nurse is providing oral care for an unconscious client. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Place the client in a side-lying position
b. Brush the client’s teeth daily
c. Apply mineral oil to the lips
d. Use an alcohol-based mouthwash
Correct answer: a
Rationale: Side-lying positioning reduces aspiration risk. Alcohol dries oral mucosa, and mineral
oil is unsafe if aspirated.
A nurse is collaborating with risk management about legal issues. Which situation is an example
of negligence?
a. Administering medication without identifying the client
b. Discussing client care in the cafeteria
c. Beginning a blood transfusion without consent
d. Preventing a client from leaving the facility
Correct answer: c
Rationale: Performing a procedure without informed consent is negligence. The other options
represent different legal violations.
, 2026
A nurse is collecting a sputum specimen for culture. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Wear sterile gloves
b. Offer oral hygiene after collection
c. Collect the specimen in the evening
d. Collect 1 mL of sputum
Correct answer: b
Rationale: Oral hygiene after collection improves comfort and reduces contamination.
Specimens are best collected in the morning, and clean gloves are sufficient.
A nurse is assessing an older adult. Which finding should the nurse expect?
a. Decreased sense of balance
b. Increased nighttime sleeping
c. Heightened sense of pain
d. Nighttime urinary incontinence
Correct answer: a
Rationale: Aging affects balance due to sensory and musculoskeletal changes. The other findings
are not expected normal changes.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching about ostomy care. Which instructions should be
included? (Select all that apply)
a. Cut the pouch opening 1/8 inch larger than the stoma
b. Place gauze over the stoma when changing the pouch
c. Use povidone-iodine to clean around the stoma
d. Empty the pouch when one-third full
e. Expect the stoma to turn purple-blue while healing
Correct answers: a, b, d
Rationale: Proper sizing prevents skin damage, gauze absorbs drainage, and emptying early
prevents leakage. Iodine is irritating, and a purple-blue stoma indicates compromised circulation.
A nurse is preparing to obtain informed consent from a client who speaks a different language.
Which action should the nurse take?
a. Use assistive personnel as an interpreter
b. Use proper medical terms
