ATI Comprehensive Predictor | Fundamentals Review Practice Exam
Q&A + Rationales | U.S. Nursing 2026/2027
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a surgical procedure. The
nurse is witnessing the signature on the informed consent form. What is the
nurse’s primary responsibility in this role?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Ensuring the client understands the alternatives
C. Describing the steps of the surgical intervention
D. Verifying that the signature is authentic and voluntary
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse’s role in witnessing informed consent is to verify that the client is
competent to sign, the signature is authentic, and the consent was given voluntarily.
Explaining risks and benefits is the surgeon’s responsibility.
2. A nurse is responding to a fire on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the
following actions should the nurse perform first according to the RACE
acronym?
A. Activate the fire alarm system
B. Rescue and move clients to a safe area
C. Extinguish the fire with a portable extinguisher
D. Confine the fire by closing doors
Answer: B
Rationale: The RACE acronym stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish. The
priority action is to remove clients from immediate danger.
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer a liquid medication to an infant. Which of
the following methods is safest for administration?
A. Mix the medication with a full bottle of formula
B. Use a teaspoon to pour the medication into the infant’s mouth
C. Administer the medication using a plastic needleless syringe in the side of the mouth
D. Add the medication to the infant’s baby food
Answer: C
Rationale: Using a syringe directed toward the side of the mouth prevents aspiration and
ensures the infant receives the full dose. Medication should not be mixed with essential
foods like formula in case the infant does not finish it.
4. A nurse is providing oral care for a client who is unconscious. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Turn the client’s head to the side (lateral position)
B. Use a thumb and index finger to keep the mouth open
C. Place the client in a supine position
D. Use a firm toothbrush to clean the gums
Answer: A
Rationale: The lateral position allows secretions to drain out of the mouth, significantly
reducing the risk of aspiration during oral care for an unconscious client.
5. A nurse is assessing a client’s radial pulse and notes that the rhythm is
irregular. Which of the following actions should the nurse take next?
A. Assess the pulse for a full minute
B. Document the finding and notify the provider
C. Measure the apical pulse for 60 seconds
D. Use a Doppler ultrasound to check the pulse
Answer: C
, Rationale: If a peripheral pulse is irregular, the nurse should assess the apical pulse for a
full minute to determine the actual heart rate and rhythm.
6. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female
client. Which of the following actions is a component of surgical asepsis?
A. Wearing clean gloves to clean the perineum
B. Cleaning the labia from the bottom to the top
C. Maintaining a 1-inch (2.5 cm) border around the sterile field
D. Dropping sterile items onto the center of the field from 10 inches away
Answer: C
Rationale: The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered contaminated. All sterile
items must be kept within the center of the field to maintain surgical asepsis.
7. A nurse is performing a skin assessment on a client and notes a non-
blanchable reddened area over the sacrum. This should be documented as
which stage of pressure injury?
A. Unstageable
B. Stage II
C. Stage III
D. Stage I
Answer: D
Rationale: A Stage I pressure injury is characterized by intact skin with localized, non-
blanchable erythema (redness).
Q&A + Rationales | U.S. Nursing 2026/2027
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a surgical procedure. The
nurse is witnessing the signature on the informed consent form. What is the
nurse’s primary responsibility in this role?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Ensuring the client understands the alternatives
C. Describing the steps of the surgical intervention
D. Verifying that the signature is authentic and voluntary
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse’s role in witnessing informed consent is to verify that the client is
competent to sign, the signature is authentic, and the consent was given voluntarily.
Explaining risks and benefits is the surgeon’s responsibility.
2. A nurse is responding to a fire on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the
following actions should the nurse perform first according to the RACE
acronym?
A. Activate the fire alarm system
B. Rescue and move clients to a safe area
C. Extinguish the fire with a portable extinguisher
D. Confine the fire by closing doors
Answer: B
Rationale: The RACE acronym stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish. The
priority action is to remove clients from immediate danger.
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer a liquid medication to an infant. Which of
the following methods is safest for administration?
A. Mix the medication with a full bottle of formula
B. Use a teaspoon to pour the medication into the infant’s mouth
C. Administer the medication using a plastic needleless syringe in the side of the mouth
D. Add the medication to the infant’s baby food
Answer: C
Rationale: Using a syringe directed toward the side of the mouth prevents aspiration and
ensures the infant receives the full dose. Medication should not be mixed with essential
foods like formula in case the infant does not finish it.
4. A nurse is providing oral care for a client who is unconscious. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Turn the client’s head to the side (lateral position)
B. Use a thumb and index finger to keep the mouth open
C. Place the client in a supine position
D. Use a firm toothbrush to clean the gums
Answer: A
Rationale: The lateral position allows secretions to drain out of the mouth, significantly
reducing the risk of aspiration during oral care for an unconscious client.
5. A nurse is assessing a client’s radial pulse and notes that the rhythm is
irregular. Which of the following actions should the nurse take next?
A. Assess the pulse for a full minute
B. Document the finding and notify the provider
C. Measure the apical pulse for 60 seconds
D. Use a Doppler ultrasound to check the pulse
Answer: C
, Rationale: If a peripheral pulse is irregular, the nurse should assess the apical pulse for a
full minute to determine the actual heart rate and rhythm.
6. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female
client. Which of the following actions is a component of surgical asepsis?
A. Wearing clean gloves to clean the perineum
B. Cleaning the labia from the bottom to the top
C. Maintaining a 1-inch (2.5 cm) border around the sterile field
D. Dropping sterile items onto the center of the field from 10 inches away
Answer: C
Rationale: The outer 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered contaminated. All sterile
items must be kept within the center of the field to maintain surgical asepsis.
7. A nurse is performing a skin assessment on a client and notes a non-
blanchable reddened area over the sacrum. This should be documented as
which stage of pressure injury?
A. Unstageable
B. Stage II
C. Stage III
D. Stage I
Answer: D
Rationale: A Stage I pressure injury is characterized by intact skin with localized, non-
blanchable erythema (redness).
