ATI CONTENT MASTERY FUNDAMENTALS
PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES 2026
EDITION
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an injection to a client
who requires airborne precautions. Which of the following
personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse don
before entering the room?
A) Surgical mask
B) N95 respirator
C) Face shield
D) Gown and goggles
CorreCt Answer: B) N95 respirator
rAtionAle: Airborne precautions protect against
infectious agents that remain suspended in the air.
Healthcare workers must wear a fit-tested N95
respirator or higher level of protection when
entering the room.
2. A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has a
prescription for physical restraints. Which of the following
actions must the nurse take?
A) Secure the restraint straps to the side rails of the bed.
B) Assess the client's skin and circulation every 2 hours.
C) Ensure the restraint prescription is renewed every 24
hours.
D) Tie the restraints using a tight, secure square knot.
, CorreCt Answer: B) Assess the client's skin and
circulation every 2 hours.
rAtionAle: The nurse must remove restraints at
least every 2 hours to evaluate neurovascular status,
check skin integrity, and provide range-of-motion
exercises. Restraints must be secured to the bed
frame (not side rails) using a quick-release knot.
3. A nurse is planning to perform hand hygiene after providing
care to a client who has a Clostridioides difficile infection.
Which of the following methods is appropriate?
A) Clean hands with an alcohol-based hand rub for 15
seconds.
B) Wash hands thoroughly using soap and warm water.
C) Use an antimicrobial sanitizing wipe on visibly clean skin.
D) Rinse hands under running hot water without soap
friction.
CorreCt Answer: B) Wash hands thoroughly using
soap and warm water.
rAtionAle: Clostridioides difficile forms spores
that are highly resistant to alcohol. Mechanical
friction with soap and running water is required to
physically remove these spores from the hands.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is actively refusing a
prescribed blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. Which
of the following ethical principles is the nurse demonstrating
by supporting this decision?
A) Beneficence
B) Veracity
, C) Autonomy
D) Justice
CorreCt Answer: C) Autonomy
rAtionAle: The principle of autonomy recognizes
a client's moral and legal right to self-
determination, which includes making personal
decisions about their own healthcare, even if it
contradicts the provider's advice.
5. A nurse is documenting a client's fluid balance at the end of
an 8-hour shift. The client consumed 4 oz of juice, 6 oz of
broth, 200 mL of water, and had 450 mL of urine output.
What is the client's total fluid intake in milliliters?
A) 300 mL
B) 500 mL
C) 650 mL
D) 750 mL
CorreCt Answer: B) 500 mL
rAtionAle: To convert fluid ounces to milliliters,
multiply by 30 (1 oz = 30 mL). Therefore, 4 oz of
juice = 120 mL and 6 oz of broth = 180 mL. Adding
the 200 mL of water gives a total fluid intake of 500
mL (120 + 180 + 200 = 500). Urine output is not
factored into intake calculation.
6. A nurse is preparing to insert a peripheral intravenous (IV)
catheter into a client's arm. Which of the following actions
should the nurse plan to take?
A) Shave the excess hair at the chosen insertion site.
B) Place the tourniquet 10 to 12 inches above the selected
, vein.
C) Cleanse the site with chlorhexidine using a back-and-forth
friction rub.
D) Insert the IV catheter at a 45-degree angle with the bevel
down.
CorreCt Answer: C) Cleanse the site with
chlorhexidine using a back-and-forth friction rub.
rAtionAle: Chlorhexidine should be applied
using a vigorous back-and-forth friction rub for at
least 30 seconds to clean the skin surface. Excess
hair should be clipped rather than shaved to prevent
micro-abrasions that increase infection risk.
7. A nurse is assessing a client's radial pulse and notices that
the rhythm is irregular. Which of the following interventions
should the nurse perform next?
A) Reassess the radial pulse using a Doppler ultrasound
stethoscope.
B) Document the pulse as irregular and notify the provider at
the end of the shift.
C) Measure the client's apical pulse rate for 1 full minute.
D) Administer a prescribed cardiac medication immediately.
CorreCt Answer: C) Measure the client's apical
pulse rate for 1 full minute.
rAtionAle: If a peripheral pulse is irregular, the
nurse must assess the apical pulse for a full 60
seconds to accurately determine the heart rate and
evaluate the nature of the dysrhythmia.
PRACTICE EXAM WITH RATIONALES 2026
EDITION
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an injection to a client
who requires airborne precautions. Which of the following
personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse don
before entering the room?
A) Surgical mask
B) N95 respirator
C) Face shield
D) Gown and goggles
CorreCt Answer: B) N95 respirator
rAtionAle: Airborne precautions protect against
infectious agents that remain suspended in the air.
Healthcare workers must wear a fit-tested N95
respirator or higher level of protection when
entering the room.
2. A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has a
prescription for physical restraints. Which of the following
actions must the nurse take?
A) Secure the restraint straps to the side rails of the bed.
B) Assess the client's skin and circulation every 2 hours.
C) Ensure the restraint prescription is renewed every 24
hours.
D) Tie the restraints using a tight, secure square knot.
, CorreCt Answer: B) Assess the client's skin and
circulation every 2 hours.
rAtionAle: The nurse must remove restraints at
least every 2 hours to evaluate neurovascular status,
check skin integrity, and provide range-of-motion
exercises. Restraints must be secured to the bed
frame (not side rails) using a quick-release knot.
3. A nurse is planning to perform hand hygiene after providing
care to a client who has a Clostridioides difficile infection.
Which of the following methods is appropriate?
A) Clean hands with an alcohol-based hand rub for 15
seconds.
B) Wash hands thoroughly using soap and warm water.
C) Use an antimicrobial sanitizing wipe on visibly clean skin.
D) Rinse hands under running hot water without soap
friction.
CorreCt Answer: B) Wash hands thoroughly using
soap and warm water.
rAtionAle: Clostridioides difficile forms spores
that are highly resistant to alcohol. Mechanical
friction with soap and running water is required to
physically remove these spores from the hands.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is actively refusing a
prescribed blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. Which
of the following ethical principles is the nurse demonstrating
by supporting this decision?
A) Beneficence
B) Veracity
, C) Autonomy
D) Justice
CorreCt Answer: C) Autonomy
rAtionAle: The principle of autonomy recognizes
a client's moral and legal right to self-
determination, which includes making personal
decisions about their own healthcare, even if it
contradicts the provider's advice.
5. A nurse is documenting a client's fluid balance at the end of
an 8-hour shift. The client consumed 4 oz of juice, 6 oz of
broth, 200 mL of water, and had 450 mL of urine output.
What is the client's total fluid intake in milliliters?
A) 300 mL
B) 500 mL
C) 650 mL
D) 750 mL
CorreCt Answer: B) 500 mL
rAtionAle: To convert fluid ounces to milliliters,
multiply by 30 (1 oz = 30 mL). Therefore, 4 oz of
juice = 120 mL and 6 oz of broth = 180 mL. Adding
the 200 mL of water gives a total fluid intake of 500
mL (120 + 180 + 200 = 500). Urine output is not
factored into intake calculation.
6. A nurse is preparing to insert a peripheral intravenous (IV)
catheter into a client's arm. Which of the following actions
should the nurse plan to take?
A) Shave the excess hair at the chosen insertion site.
B) Place the tourniquet 10 to 12 inches above the selected
, vein.
C) Cleanse the site with chlorhexidine using a back-and-forth
friction rub.
D) Insert the IV catheter at a 45-degree angle with the bevel
down.
CorreCt Answer: C) Cleanse the site with
chlorhexidine using a back-and-forth friction rub.
rAtionAle: Chlorhexidine should be applied
using a vigorous back-and-forth friction rub for at
least 30 seconds to clean the skin surface. Excess
hair should be clipped rather than shaved to prevent
micro-abrasions that increase infection risk.
7. A nurse is assessing a client's radial pulse and notices that
the rhythm is irregular. Which of the following interventions
should the nurse perform next?
A) Reassess the radial pulse using a Doppler ultrasound
stethoscope.
B) Document the pulse as irregular and notify the provider at
the end of the shift.
C) Measure the client's apical pulse rate for 1 full minute.
D) Administer a prescribed cardiac medication immediately.
CorreCt Answer: C) Measure the client's apical
pulse rate for 1 full minute.
rAtionAle: If a peripheral pulse is irregular, the
nurse must assess the apical pulse for a full 60
seconds to accurately determine the heart rate and
evaluate the nature of the dysrhythmia.
