ATI FUNDAMENTALS NURSING FINAL TEST EXAM
REVIEW 2026 COMPLETE STUDY QUESTION WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTION — 190 Questions and Answers Already
Graded A+ Premium Exam Tested And Verified
Subject Area Nursing Fundamentals - ATI Content Mastery Series
Description This comprehensive exam covers foundational nursing concepts including safety,
infection control, vital signs, pharmacology, elimination, nutrition, mobility,
perioperative care, and ethical/legal principles. It is designed to assess the
student's ability to apply critical thinking and evidence-based practice in
simulated clinical scenarios.
Expected Grade A+
Total Questions 190
Duration 3 hours
Learning Outcomes 1. Apply the nursing process to prioritize patient care across diverse clinical
situations.
2. Integrate principles of safety, infection prevention, and pharmacology into
patient management.
3. Demonstrate accurate interpretation of clinical data and appropriate nursing
interventions.
Accreditation This examination adheres to the standards of the Commission on Collegiate
Nursing Education (CCNE) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
(NCSBN) for pre-licensure nursing education.
Page 1
,1. A nurse is assessing a patient who has been receiving a continuous IV infusion of
0.9% sodium chloride at 125 mL/hr for the past 8 hours. The patient's urine output
for the last 4 hours is 150 mL. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
A. Decrease the IV infusion rate to 75 mL/hr.
B. Administer a bolus of 0.9% sodium chloride 500 mL.
C. Check the patient's blood pressure and heart rate.
D. Notify the provider of the urine output.
Answer: C. Check the patient's blood pressure and heart rate.
The patient's urine output is less than 30 mL/hr (expected is at least 30 mL/hr),
indicating possible hypovolemia or decreased kidney perfusion. The nurse should first
assess hemodynamic status (BP and HR) before making any changes or notifying the
provider. Decreasing the rate or giving a bolus without assessment could be harmful.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a transdermal nitroglycerin patch to a patient
with stable angina. Which of the following actions is most appropriate?
A. Apply the patch to a hairy area to enhance absorption.
B. Remove the old patch and apply the new patch to a different site.
C. Massage the patch after application to ensure adhesion.
D. Cut the patch in half if a lower dose is needed.
Answer: B. Remove the old patch and apply the new patch to a different site.
Transdermal patches should be applied to a clean, dry, hairless area to promote
adhesion and consistent absorption. Rotating sites prevents skin irritation. Massaging
can alter absorption, and cutting patches can disrupt the drug reservoir, leading to
inaccurate dosing. Old patches must be removed to avoid overdose.
Page 2
,3. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a nasogastric tube set to low intermittent
suction. The nurse notes that the drainage is green and measures 400 mL over the
past 8 hours. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Irrigate the tube with 30 mL of normal saline.
B. Replace drainage with an equal amount of 0.9% sodium chloride IV.
C. Document the output and continue monitoring.
D. Reposition the patient on their left side.
Answer: C. Document the output and continue monitoring.
Green drainage is normal for gastric contents due to bile. The output of 400 mL over 8
hours (50 mL/hr) is within expected range (up to 100 mL/hr). No intervention is
needed; the nurse should document and monitor. Irrigation is not indicated unless
obstruction is suspected. Fluid replacement is not necessary based on this output alone.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer an IM injection of an antibiotic to a patient.
The medication is available in a 2 mL vial containing 500 mg/mL. The prescribed
dose is 750 mg. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 1.0 mL
B. 1.5 mL
C. 2.0 mL
D. 0.5 mL
Answer: B. 1.5 mL
The concentration is 500 mg/mL. To get 750 mg, divide 750 by 500 = 1.5 mL. This is a
straightforward dose calculation. The nurse should verify the maximum volume for IM
injection (usually 3 mL for a large muscle) and choose an appropriate site.
Page 3
, 5. A nurse is evaluating a patient's understanding of a low-sodium diet. Which of the
following meal choices indicates the patient understands the teaching?
A. Grilled chicken breast with steamed rice and a side of canned green beans.
B. Baked salmon with a baked potato and a fresh garden salad with oil and vinegar.
C. Turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with a pickle and potato chips.
D. Vegetable stir-fry with soy sauce and a bowl of miso soup.
Answer: B. Baked salmon with a baked potato and a fresh garden salad with oil
and vinegar.
A low-sodium diet avoids processed foods, canned vegetables, pickles, chips, soy sauce,
and miso soup, which are high in sodium. Option B includes fresh, unprocessed foods
with no added salt. Canned green beans (option A) often contain added sodium. Option
C has pickles and chips. Option D has soy sauce and miso, both high in sodium.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient who has a chest tube connected to a water seal
drainage system. The nurse notes that the water in the water seal chamber rises and
falls with the patient's respirations. Which of the following is the correct
interpretation of this finding?
A. The chest tube is obstructed.
B. The system is functioning correctly.
C. There is a leak in the system.
D. The patient has a tension pneumothorax.
Answer: B. The system is functioning correctly.
Tidaling (rise and fall of water in the water seal chamber with respirations) is normal
and indicates that the chest tube is patent and the system is intact. It reflects changes in
intrapleural pressure. Obstruction would show no fluctuation. A leak would produce
continuous bubbling. Tension pneumothorax would cause respiratory distress and
mediastinal shift.
Page 4
REVIEW 2026 COMPLETE STUDY QUESTION WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTION — 190 Questions and Answers Already
Graded A+ Premium Exam Tested And Verified
Subject Area Nursing Fundamentals - ATI Content Mastery Series
Description This comprehensive exam covers foundational nursing concepts including safety,
infection control, vital signs, pharmacology, elimination, nutrition, mobility,
perioperative care, and ethical/legal principles. It is designed to assess the
student's ability to apply critical thinking and evidence-based practice in
simulated clinical scenarios.
Expected Grade A+
Total Questions 190
Duration 3 hours
Learning Outcomes 1. Apply the nursing process to prioritize patient care across diverse clinical
situations.
2. Integrate principles of safety, infection prevention, and pharmacology into
patient management.
3. Demonstrate accurate interpretation of clinical data and appropriate nursing
interventions.
Accreditation This examination adheres to the standards of the Commission on Collegiate
Nursing Education (CCNE) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
(NCSBN) for pre-licensure nursing education.
Page 1
,1. A nurse is assessing a patient who has been receiving a continuous IV infusion of
0.9% sodium chloride at 125 mL/hr for the past 8 hours. The patient's urine output
for the last 4 hours is 150 mL. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
A. Decrease the IV infusion rate to 75 mL/hr.
B. Administer a bolus of 0.9% sodium chloride 500 mL.
C. Check the patient's blood pressure and heart rate.
D. Notify the provider of the urine output.
Answer: C. Check the patient's blood pressure and heart rate.
The patient's urine output is less than 30 mL/hr (expected is at least 30 mL/hr),
indicating possible hypovolemia or decreased kidney perfusion. The nurse should first
assess hemodynamic status (BP and HR) before making any changes or notifying the
provider. Decreasing the rate or giving a bolus without assessment could be harmful.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a transdermal nitroglycerin patch to a patient
with stable angina. Which of the following actions is most appropriate?
A. Apply the patch to a hairy area to enhance absorption.
B. Remove the old patch and apply the new patch to a different site.
C. Massage the patch after application to ensure adhesion.
D. Cut the patch in half if a lower dose is needed.
Answer: B. Remove the old patch and apply the new patch to a different site.
Transdermal patches should be applied to a clean, dry, hairless area to promote
adhesion and consistent absorption. Rotating sites prevents skin irritation. Massaging
can alter absorption, and cutting patches can disrupt the drug reservoir, leading to
inaccurate dosing. Old patches must be removed to avoid overdose.
Page 2
,3. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a nasogastric tube set to low intermittent
suction. The nurse notes that the drainage is green and measures 400 mL over the
past 8 hours. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Irrigate the tube with 30 mL of normal saline.
B. Replace drainage with an equal amount of 0.9% sodium chloride IV.
C. Document the output and continue monitoring.
D. Reposition the patient on their left side.
Answer: C. Document the output and continue monitoring.
Green drainage is normal for gastric contents due to bile. The output of 400 mL over 8
hours (50 mL/hr) is within expected range (up to 100 mL/hr). No intervention is
needed; the nurse should document and monitor. Irrigation is not indicated unless
obstruction is suspected. Fluid replacement is not necessary based on this output alone.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer an IM injection of an antibiotic to a patient.
The medication is available in a 2 mL vial containing 500 mg/mL. The prescribed
dose is 750 mg. How many milliliters should the nurse administer?
A. 1.0 mL
B. 1.5 mL
C. 2.0 mL
D. 0.5 mL
Answer: B. 1.5 mL
The concentration is 500 mg/mL. To get 750 mg, divide 750 by 500 = 1.5 mL. This is a
straightforward dose calculation. The nurse should verify the maximum volume for IM
injection (usually 3 mL for a large muscle) and choose an appropriate site.
Page 3
, 5. A nurse is evaluating a patient's understanding of a low-sodium diet. Which of the
following meal choices indicates the patient understands the teaching?
A. Grilled chicken breast with steamed rice and a side of canned green beans.
B. Baked salmon with a baked potato and a fresh garden salad with oil and vinegar.
C. Turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with a pickle and potato chips.
D. Vegetable stir-fry with soy sauce and a bowl of miso soup.
Answer: B. Baked salmon with a baked potato and a fresh garden salad with oil
and vinegar.
A low-sodium diet avoids processed foods, canned vegetables, pickles, chips, soy sauce,
and miso soup, which are high in sodium. Option B includes fresh, unprocessed foods
with no added salt. Canned green beans (option A) often contain added sodium. Option
C has pickles and chips. Option D has soy sauce and miso, both high in sodium.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient who has a chest tube connected to a water seal
drainage system. The nurse notes that the water in the water seal chamber rises and
falls with the patient's respirations. Which of the following is the correct
interpretation of this finding?
A. The chest tube is obstructed.
B. The system is functioning correctly.
C. There is a leak in the system.
D. The patient has a tension pneumothorax.
Answer: B. The system is functioning correctly.
Tidaling (rise and fall of water in the water seal chamber with respirations) is normal
and indicates that the chest tube is patent and the system is intact. It reflects changes in
intrapleural pressure. Obstruction would show no fluctuation. A leak would produce
continuous bubbling. Tension pneumothorax would cause respiratory distress and
mediastinal shift.
Page 4
