Page 1 of 52
ATI RN FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE EXAM
BANK: 100 QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
Nursing / clinical / Pharmacology
Exam coverage:
❖ Section 1 (Q1–15): Nursing process, ethics, legal principles,
informed consent, cultural competence, and delegation.
❖ Section 2 (Q16–30): Infection control, precautions, PPE,
sterile technique, fire safety, and hand hygiene.
❖ Section 3 (Q31–45): Nutrition, mobility, wound care,
elimination, and basic comfort measures.
❖ Section 4 (Q46–60): Medication administration, high-alert
medications, side effects, and transfusion safety.
❖ Section 5 (Q61–75): Risk reduction, laboratory values, DVT
prevention, and chest tube management.
❖ Section 6 (Q76–85): Physiological adaptation, fluid and
electrolyte balance, and emergency management.
❖ Section 7 (Q86–95): Psychosocial integrity, therapeutic
communication, crisis intervention, and mental health.
❖ Section 8 (Q96–100): Health promotion, maternal-newborn
care, pediatric milestones, and older adult safety.
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Section 1: Foundations of Practice – Nursing Process, Ethics
& Legal (Questions 1–15)
Question 1
A nurse is explaining the purpose of the nursing process to a
student nurse. Which of the following statements best
describes the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A. It is a task-oriented approach to complete nursing duties
efficiently.
B. It provides a systematic, patient-centered framework for
delivering holistic and effective nursing care.
C. It is used primarily for documentation and legal protection.
D. It replaces the need for clinical judgment in nursing practice.
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The nursing process is a systematic, patient-
centered framework that guides nurses through assessment,
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Option A
reduces it to task completion. Option C limits its purpose to
documentation. Option D is incorrect because the nursing
process supports, not replaces, clinical judgment.
Question 2
A nurse is explaining the difference between a medical
diagnosis and a nursing diagnosis to a student. Which of the
following statements is accurate?
A. A nursing diagnosis identifies a disease or pathology.
B. A medical diagnosis describes the client's response to a
health condition.
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C. A nursing diagnosis describes the client's response to a
health condition or life process.
D. A medical diagnosis is developed by the nurse independently.
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: A nursing diagnosis describes the client's response
to an actual or potential health condition or life process. Option
A is incorrect because nursing diagnoses do not identify
diseases. Option B is incorrect because medical diagnoses
identify diseases. Option D is incorrect because medical
diagnoses are made by providers.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who refuses a prescribed
medication. The nurse understands that the client has the right
to refuse. Which ethical principle supports the client's decision?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Autonomy respects the client's right to make
decisions about their own care, including the right to refuse
treatment. Beneficence (A) refers to doing good. Justice (C)
refers to fairness. Nonmaleficence (D) refers to doing no harm.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing a client for surgery. The client asks, "Will the
doctor be performing the surgery?" Which response by the
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nurse is appropriate?
A. "Yes, the doctor will be performing the surgery."
B. "The doctor will explain the procedure to you."
C. "You should ask the doctor that question."
D. "The surgeon will be assisted by a surgical team."
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The nurse's role in informed consent is to ensure
the client understands the information provided by the
healthcare provider and to witness the signature. The provider is
responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and
alternatives. Options A, C, and D do not fulfill the nurse's role in
facilitating informed consent.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of terminal
cancer and is considering hospice care. Which statement by the
nurse is appropriate?
A. "Hospice care means you will no longer receive any
treatments."
B. "Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life."
C. "You should continue aggressive treatment instead."
D. "Hospice care is only for the last few days of life."
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Hospice care focuses on comfort, pain
management, and quality of life for terminally ill clients. Option
A is incorrect because hospice may include palliative
ATI RN FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE EXAM
BANK: 100 QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
Nursing / clinical / Pharmacology
Exam coverage:
❖ Section 1 (Q1–15): Nursing process, ethics, legal principles,
informed consent, cultural competence, and delegation.
❖ Section 2 (Q16–30): Infection control, precautions, PPE,
sterile technique, fire safety, and hand hygiene.
❖ Section 3 (Q31–45): Nutrition, mobility, wound care,
elimination, and basic comfort measures.
❖ Section 4 (Q46–60): Medication administration, high-alert
medications, side effects, and transfusion safety.
❖ Section 5 (Q61–75): Risk reduction, laboratory values, DVT
prevention, and chest tube management.
❖ Section 6 (Q76–85): Physiological adaptation, fluid and
electrolyte balance, and emergency management.
❖ Section 7 (Q86–95): Psychosocial integrity, therapeutic
communication, crisis intervention, and mental health.
❖ Section 8 (Q96–100): Health promotion, maternal-newborn
care, pediatric milestones, and older adult safety.
, Page 2 of 52
Section 1: Foundations of Practice – Nursing Process, Ethics
& Legal (Questions 1–15)
Question 1
A nurse is explaining the purpose of the nursing process to a
student nurse. Which of the following statements best
describes the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A. It is a task-oriented approach to complete nursing duties
efficiently.
B. It provides a systematic, patient-centered framework for
delivering holistic and effective nursing care.
C. It is used primarily for documentation and legal protection.
D. It replaces the need for clinical judgment in nursing practice.
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The nursing process is a systematic, patient-
centered framework that guides nurses through assessment,
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Option A
reduces it to task completion. Option C limits its purpose to
documentation. Option D is incorrect because the nursing
process supports, not replaces, clinical judgment.
Question 2
A nurse is explaining the difference between a medical
diagnosis and a nursing diagnosis to a student. Which of the
following statements is accurate?
A. A nursing diagnosis identifies a disease or pathology.
B. A medical diagnosis describes the client's response to a
health condition.
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C. A nursing diagnosis describes the client's response to a
health condition or life process.
D. A medical diagnosis is developed by the nurse independently.
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: A nursing diagnosis describes the client's response
to an actual or potential health condition or life process. Option
A is incorrect because nursing diagnoses do not identify
diseases. Option B is incorrect because medical diagnoses
identify diseases. Option D is incorrect because medical
diagnoses are made by providers.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who refuses a prescribed
medication. The nurse understands that the client has the right
to refuse. Which ethical principle supports the client's decision?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Autonomy respects the client's right to make
decisions about their own care, including the right to refuse
treatment. Beneficence (A) refers to doing good. Justice (C)
refers to fairness. Nonmaleficence (D) refers to doing no harm.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing a client for surgery. The client asks, "Will the
doctor be performing the surgery?" Which response by the
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nurse is appropriate?
A. "Yes, the doctor will be performing the surgery."
B. "The doctor will explain the procedure to you."
C. "You should ask the doctor that question."
D. "The surgeon will be assisted by a surgical team."
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The nurse's role in informed consent is to ensure
the client understands the information provided by the
healthcare provider and to witness the signature. The provider is
responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and
alternatives. Options A, C, and D do not fulfill the nurse's role in
facilitating informed consent.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of terminal
cancer and is considering hospice care. Which statement by the
nurse is appropriate?
A. "Hospice care means you will no longer receive any
treatments."
B. "Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life."
C. "You should continue aggressive treatment instead."
D. "Hospice care is only for the last few days of life."
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Hospice care focuses on comfort, pain
management, and quality of life for terminally ill clients. Option
A is incorrect because hospice may include palliative
