ATI PN CAPSTONE PROCTORED 2026
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT Verified
Questions, Answers, and Rationales
Section 1: Delegation, Assignment, & Leadership (Q1–Q21)
Q1. Delegation to AP
Which of the following tasks can a nurse safely delegate to an assistive personnel
(AP)? (Select all that apply)
A) Feeding a client with dysphagia
B) Ambulating a stable client
C) Administering a PRN pain medication
D) Obtaining vital signs on a stable client
E) Assessing a client's post-operative pain level
Correct Answer: B & D
Rationale: The "Five Rights of Delegation" are critical: right task, right circumstance,
right person, right direction/communication, and right supervision. Tasks that are
routine and have a predictable outcome, such as ambulating a stable client and
obtaining routine vital signs, can be delegated. Assessing pain and administering
medication require nursing judgment and cannot be delegated .
Q2. Assignment to AP
A nurse on a med-surg unit has received change-of-shift report and will care for four
clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse assign to an AP?
A) A client who was admitted 24 hours ago with aspiration pneumonia
B) A client who is learning to walk with a quad cane
C) A client who needs a condom catheter reapplied
D) A client who needs a sterile dressing to a pressure ulcer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reapplying a condom catheter is a routine, non-sterile procedure that
,falls within the scope of practice for an AP after proper training and validation. The
other options involve assessment, sterile technique, or reinforcing teaching, which
require licensed nursing judgment .
Q3. Delegation Communication
A nurse is delegating the ambulation of a client who had a knee arthroplasty 5 days
ago to an AP. Which of the following information should the nurse share with the
AP? (Select all that apply)
A) The client's roommate is up independently
B) The client ambulates with his slippers on over his antiembolic stockings
C) The client uses a front-wheeled walker when ambulating
D) The client had pain meds 30 minutes ago
E) The client is allergic to codeine
Correct Answer: B, C & D
Rationale: The nurse must provide clear directions and information to the AP. This
includes how the client ambulates (walker, footwear), the client's pain status, and
any specific safety concerns. Information about the roommate and allergies is not
directly relevant to the task of ambulation .
Q4. LPN Assignment Question
An RN is making assignments for client care to an LPN at the beginning of the shift.
Which of the following assignments should the LPN question?
A) Assisting a 24-hour post-op client to use an incentive spirometer
B) Collecting a clean-catch urine specimen from a client admitted on the previous
shift
C) Providing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a client who has pneumonia
D) Replacing the cartridge and tubing on a PCA pump
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: LPN/LVN scope of practice generally does not include the initial setup,
programming, or management of Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pumps. This is
a complex intervention requiring RN-level assessment and monitoring. Reinforcing
teaching, collecting specimens, and performing suctioning are often within
LPN/LVN practice .
, Q5. Post-Op Assignment
A nurse manager is assigning care responsibilities for the oncoming shift. A client is
waiting for transfer from the PACU following thoracic surgery. To which staff
member should the nurse assign this client?
A) Charge nurse
B) RN
C) LPN
D) AP
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A client fresh from the PACU, especially after thoracic surgery, is
unstable and requires comprehensive assessment and critical thinking. An RN has
the education and scope of practice to manage this complex, unstable client. The
charge nurse has other supervisory duties, and LPNs/APs cannot perform the initial
post-op assessment .
Q6. Nursing Leadership Style
A nurse manager posts the daily assignment sheet and tells the staff, "I expect you
to follow this exactly as written without question." Which type of leadership style is
this manager demonstrating?
A) Democratic
B) Laissez-faire
C) Authoritarian
D) Transformational
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Authoritarian (autocratic) leaders make decisions independently,
communicate directives downward, and motivate through structure and
consequences. This style is efficient in crisis or bureaucratic settings .
Q7. Delegation Supervision
A nurse has delegated several tasks to an AP. What is the nurse's responsibility
regarding supervision?
A) The AP is solely responsible for the tasks once delegated
B) The nurse must ensure the tasks are completed correctly and provide feedback
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT Verified
Questions, Answers, and Rationales
Section 1: Delegation, Assignment, & Leadership (Q1–Q21)
Q1. Delegation to AP
Which of the following tasks can a nurse safely delegate to an assistive personnel
(AP)? (Select all that apply)
A) Feeding a client with dysphagia
B) Ambulating a stable client
C) Administering a PRN pain medication
D) Obtaining vital signs on a stable client
E) Assessing a client's post-operative pain level
Correct Answer: B & D
Rationale: The "Five Rights of Delegation" are critical: right task, right circumstance,
right person, right direction/communication, and right supervision. Tasks that are
routine and have a predictable outcome, such as ambulating a stable client and
obtaining routine vital signs, can be delegated. Assessing pain and administering
medication require nursing judgment and cannot be delegated .
Q2. Assignment to AP
A nurse on a med-surg unit has received change-of-shift report and will care for four
clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse assign to an AP?
A) A client who was admitted 24 hours ago with aspiration pneumonia
B) A client who is learning to walk with a quad cane
C) A client who needs a condom catheter reapplied
D) A client who needs a sterile dressing to a pressure ulcer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reapplying a condom catheter is a routine, non-sterile procedure that
,falls within the scope of practice for an AP after proper training and validation. The
other options involve assessment, sterile technique, or reinforcing teaching, which
require licensed nursing judgment .
Q3. Delegation Communication
A nurse is delegating the ambulation of a client who had a knee arthroplasty 5 days
ago to an AP. Which of the following information should the nurse share with the
AP? (Select all that apply)
A) The client's roommate is up independently
B) The client ambulates with his slippers on over his antiembolic stockings
C) The client uses a front-wheeled walker when ambulating
D) The client had pain meds 30 minutes ago
E) The client is allergic to codeine
Correct Answer: B, C & D
Rationale: The nurse must provide clear directions and information to the AP. This
includes how the client ambulates (walker, footwear), the client's pain status, and
any specific safety concerns. Information about the roommate and allergies is not
directly relevant to the task of ambulation .
Q4. LPN Assignment Question
An RN is making assignments for client care to an LPN at the beginning of the shift.
Which of the following assignments should the LPN question?
A) Assisting a 24-hour post-op client to use an incentive spirometer
B) Collecting a clean-catch urine specimen from a client admitted on the previous
shift
C) Providing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a client who has pneumonia
D) Replacing the cartridge and tubing on a PCA pump
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: LPN/LVN scope of practice generally does not include the initial setup,
programming, or management of Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pumps. This is
a complex intervention requiring RN-level assessment and monitoring. Reinforcing
teaching, collecting specimens, and performing suctioning are often within
LPN/LVN practice .
, Q5. Post-Op Assignment
A nurse manager is assigning care responsibilities for the oncoming shift. A client is
waiting for transfer from the PACU following thoracic surgery. To which staff
member should the nurse assign this client?
A) Charge nurse
B) RN
C) LPN
D) AP
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A client fresh from the PACU, especially after thoracic surgery, is
unstable and requires comprehensive assessment and critical thinking. An RN has
the education and scope of practice to manage this complex, unstable client. The
charge nurse has other supervisory duties, and LPNs/APs cannot perform the initial
post-op assessment .
Q6. Nursing Leadership Style
A nurse manager posts the daily assignment sheet and tells the staff, "I expect you
to follow this exactly as written without question." Which type of leadership style is
this manager demonstrating?
A) Democratic
B) Laissez-faire
C) Authoritarian
D) Transformational
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Authoritarian (autocratic) leaders make decisions independently,
communicate directives downward, and motivate through structure and
consequences. This style is efficient in crisis or bureaucratic settings .
Q7. Delegation Supervision
A nurse has delegated several tasks to an AP. What is the nurse's responsibility
regarding supervision?
A) The AP is solely responsible for the tasks once delegated
B) The nurse must ensure the tasks are completed correctly and provide feedback
