ATI FUNDAMENTALS FOR NURSING MASTERY
EXAM PRE LATEST BLUEPRINT QUESTIONS
ITALICIZED ANSWERS AND DETAILED CLINICAL
RATIONALES
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is confused and at high risk
for falls. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
A. Request a full-time sitter
B. Apply a bed alarm
C. Move the client to a room near the nurses' station
D. Raise all four side rails
CorreCt Answer: B. Apply a bed alarm
rAtionAle: The nursing process dictates that the
least restrictive alternative must be prioritized first.
A bed alarm provides an immediate safety alert
without infringing on client autonomy or presenting
an entrapment hazard like four side rails.
2. A nurse is planning to administer an enteral feeding via a
nasogastric (NG) tube. Which of the following actions must
the nurse perform first?
A. Flush the NG tube with 30 mL of warm water
B. Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and
checking pH
C. Elevate the head of the bed to 90 degrees
D. Ensure the formula is warmed to body temperature
, CorreCt Answer: B. Verify tube placement by
aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
rAtionAle: Patient safety is the priority. The
nurse must verify proper tube placement before
introducing any formula or fluids to prevent
accidental pulmonary aspiration.
3. A nurse enters a client's room and notes that the client is
unresponsive to verbal or painful stimuli, has no
respirations, and is pulseless. What action should the nurse
take first?
A. Call the provider
B. Start chest compressions
C. Administer emergency oxygen
D. Document the time of the event
CorreCt Answer: B. Start chest compressions
rAtionAle: Following basic life support
algorithms (CAB), immediate chest compressions
are necessary to maintain perfusion when a client is
pulseless and apneic.
4. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has a
prescription for contact precautions due to a Clostridioides
difficile (C. diff) infection. Which personal protective
equipment (PPE) should the nurse don?
A. Surgical mask and gloves
B. Gown and gloves
C. N95 respirator and gown
D. Gloves only
, CorreCt Answer: B. Gown and gloves
rAtionAle: Contact precautions for organisms
like C. difficile require a gown and gloves to prevent
the transmission of highly infectious spores to the
environment or other clients.
5. A nurse is evaluating a client who is recovering from an
operational procedure and reports a pain level of 7 on a 0-to-
10 scale. Which action should the nurse prioritize?
A. Assist the client into a more comfortable position
B. Provide a non-pharmacological distraction technique
C. Administer the prescribed analgesic medication
D. Reassess the pain score in 30 minutes
CorreCt Answer: C. Administer the prescribed
analgesic medication
rAtionAle: Severe acute pain (7/10) requires
prompt pharmacological intervention.
Administering the prescribed analgesic is the
priority action to stabilize comfort before utilizing
complementary comfort strategies.
6. A nurse observes that an oncoming nurse has an odor of
alcohol and displays an unsteady gait during shift
assessment. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. File an immediate report with the State Board of Nursing
B. Confront the colleague directly regarding the behavior
C. Notify the oncoming nursing supervisor
D. Ask an assistive personnel to confirm the odor
, CorreCt Answer: C. Notify the oncoming nursing
supervisor
rAtionAle: The nurse's professional duty is to
safeguard client safety. Reporting the observation
directly to a supervisor ensures a formalized
administrative investigation takes place.
7. A nurse identifies that a client is failing to meet their daily
fluid intake goals. Which action should the nurse take next?
A. Demand the client drink a full glass of water immediately
B. Document that the client is non-compliant
C. Assess the underlying reasons why the client is avoiding
fluids
D. Request a formal dietary consultation
CorreCt Answer: C. Assess the underlying reasons
why the client is avoiding fluids
rAtionAle: The nursing process requires
assessment before intervention. The nurse must
explore potential barriers—such as difficulty
swallowing, taste preferences, or fear of
incontinence—to develop an effective care plan.
8. A nurse is evaluating vital signs for a group of clients. Which
of the following findings requires immediate clinical
intervention?
A. An oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of 93% on room air
B. An oral temperature reading of 100.8°F (38.2°C)
C. A respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute
D. A blood pressure reading of 138/88 mmHg
EXAM PRE LATEST BLUEPRINT QUESTIONS
ITALICIZED ANSWERS AND DETAILED CLINICAL
RATIONALES
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is confused and at high risk
for falls. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
A. Request a full-time sitter
B. Apply a bed alarm
C. Move the client to a room near the nurses' station
D. Raise all four side rails
CorreCt Answer: B. Apply a bed alarm
rAtionAle: The nursing process dictates that the
least restrictive alternative must be prioritized first.
A bed alarm provides an immediate safety alert
without infringing on client autonomy or presenting
an entrapment hazard like four side rails.
2. A nurse is planning to administer an enteral feeding via a
nasogastric (NG) tube. Which of the following actions must
the nurse perform first?
A. Flush the NG tube with 30 mL of warm water
B. Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and
checking pH
C. Elevate the head of the bed to 90 degrees
D. Ensure the formula is warmed to body temperature
, CorreCt Answer: B. Verify tube placement by
aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
rAtionAle: Patient safety is the priority. The
nurse must verify proper tube placement before
introducing any formula or fluids to prevent
accidental pulmonary aspiration.
3. A nurse enters a client's room and notes that the client is
unresponsive to verbal or painful stimuli, has no
respirations, and is pulseless. What action should the nurse
take first?
A. Call the provider
B. Start chest compressions
C. Administer emergency oxygen
D. Document the time of the event
CorreCt Answer: B. Start chest compressions
rAtionAle: Following basic life support
algorithms (CAB), immediate chest compressions
are necessary to maintain perfusion when a client is
pulseless and apneic.
4. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has a
prescription for contact precautions due to a Clostridioides
difficile (C. diff) infection. Which personal protective
equipment (PPE) should the nurse don?
A. Surgical mask and gloves
B. Gown and gloves
C. N95 respirator and gown
D. Gloves only
, CorreCt Answer: B. Gown and gloves
rAtionAle: Contact precautions for organisms
like C. difficile require a gown and gloves to prevent
the transmission of highly infectious spores to the
environment or other clients.
5. A nurse is evaluating a client who is recovering from an
operational procedure and reports a pain level of 7 on a 0-to-
10 scale. Which action should the nurse prioritize?
A. Assist the client into a more comfortable position
B. Provide a non-pharmacological distraction technique
C. Administer the prescribed analgesic medication
D. Reassess the pain score in 30 minutes
CorreCt Answer: C. Administer the prescribed
analgesic medication
rAtionAle: Severe acute pain (7/10) requires
prompt pharmacological intervention.
Administering the prescribed analgesic is the
priority action to stabilize comfort before utilizing
complementary comfort strategies.
6. A nurse observes that an oncoming nurse has an odor of
alcohol and displays an unsteady gait during shift
assessment. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. File an immediate report with the State Board of Nursing
B. Confront the colleague directly regarding the behavior
C. Notify the oncoming nursing supervisor
D. Ask an assistive personnel to confirm the odor
, CorreCt Answer: C. Notify the oncoming nursing
supervisor
rAtionAle: The nurse's professional duty is to
safeguard client safety. Reporting the observation
directly to a supervisor ensures a formalized
administrative investigation takes place.
7. A nurse identifies that a client is failing to meet their daily
fluid intake goals. Which action should the nurse take next?
A. Demand the client drink a full glass of water immediately
B. Document that the client is non-compliant
C. Assess the underlying reasons why the client is avoiding
fluids
D. Request a formal dietary consultation
CorreCt Answer: C. Assess the underlying reasons
why the client is avoiding fluids
rAtionAle: The nursing process requires
assessment before intervention. The nurse must
explore potential barriers—such as difficulty
swallowing, taste preferences, or fear of
incontinence—to develop an effective care plan.
8. A nurse is evaluating vital signs for a group of clients. Which
of the following findings requires immediate clinical
intervention?
A. An oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of 93% on room air
B. An oral temperature reading of 100.8°F (38.2°C)
C. A respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute
D. A blood pressure reading of 138/88 mmHg
