ATI PROCTORED FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE
EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A nurse is teaching a group of older adults about expected changes of
aging. Which of the following statements by a group member indicates
that the teaching has been effective?
"I should expect my heart rate to take longer to return to normal after
exercise as I get older."
"Urinary incontinence is something I will have to live with as I grow
older."
"I can expect to have less ear wax as I get older."
"My stomach will empty more quickly after meals as I grow older.".
Answer: "I should expect my heart rate to take longer to return to normal
after exercise as I get older."
Rationale:
,Older adults experience decreased cardiac output, which causes
increased pulse rate during exercise. The pulse rate also takes longer to
return to normal after exercise.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has paralytic
ileus. Which of the following abdominal assessments should the nurse
expect?
Frequent bowel sounds with flatus
Absent bowel sounds with distention
Hyperactive bowel sounds with diarrhea
Normal bowel sounds with increased peristalsis. Answer: Absent bowel
sounds with distention
Rationale:
Paralytic ileus is an immobile bowel. With this disorder, bowel sounds
are absent and the abdomen is distended.
◉ A nurse is planning care for a client who reports abdominal pain. An
assessment by the nurse reveals the client has a temperature of 39.2° C
(102.6° F), heart rate of 105/min, a soft nontender abdomen, and menses
,overdue by 2 days. Which of the following findings should be the nurse's
priority?
Heart rate 105/min
Soft, nontender abdomen
Temperature
Overdue menses. Answer: Temperature
Rationale:
Elevated temperature is an emergent physiological need, which requires
priority intervention by the nurse. The nurse should consider Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs, which includes five levels of priority. The first level
consists of physiological needs; the second level consists of safety and
security needs; the third level consists of love and belonging needs; the
fourth level consists of personal achievement and self-esteem needs; and
the fifth level consists of achieving full potential and the ability to
problem solve and cope with life situations. When applying Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs, the nurse should review physiological needs first.
The nurse should then address the client's needs by following the
remaining four hierarchal levels. However, it is important for the nurse
to consider all contributing client factors, as higher levels of the pyramid
can compete with those at the lower levels, depending on the situation.
, ◉ A nurse is caring for a child who is postoperative following a
tonsillectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Encourage the child to cough frequently to clear congestion from
anesthesia.
Place a heating pad at the child's neck for comfort.
Administer analgesics to the child on a routine schedule throughout the
day and night.
Provide the child with ice cream when oral intake is initiated. Answer:
Administer analgesics to the child on a routine schedule throughout the
day and night.
Rationale:
To soothe the client's throat following a tonsillectomy, the nurse should
administer pain medication routinely around the clock. The nurse can
provide the medication rectally or intravenously to avoid the oral route.
◉ A nurse is assessing the heart sounds of a client who has developed
chest pain that becomes worse with inspiration. The nurse auscultates a
high-pitched scratching sound during both systole and diastole with the
diaphragm of the stethoscope positioned at the left sternal border. Which
of the following heart sounds should the nurse document?
EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A nurse is teaching a group of older adults about expected changes of
aging. Which of the following statements by a group member indicates
that the teaching has been effective?
"I should expect my heart rate to take longer to return to normal after
exercise as I get older."
"Urinary incontinence is something I will have to live with as I grow
older."
"I can expect to have less ear wax as I get older."
"My stomach will empty more quickly after meals as I grow older.".
Answer: "I should expect my heart rate to take longer to return to normal
after exercise as I get older."
Rationale:
,Older adults experience decreased cardiac output, which causes
increased pulse rate during exercise. The pulse rate also takes longer to
return to normal after exercise.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has paralytic
ileus. Which of the following abdominal assessments should the nurse
expect?
Frequent bowel sounds with flatus
Absent bowel sounds with distention
Hyperactive bowel sounds with diarrhea
Normal bowel sounds with increased peristalsis. Answer: Absent bowel
sounds with distention
Rationale:
Paralytic ileus is an immobile bowel. With this disorder, bowel sounds
are absent and the abdomen is distended.
◉ A nurse is planning care for a client who reports abdominal pain. An
assessment by the nurse reveals the client has a temperature of 39.2° C
(102.6° F), heart rate of 105/min, a soft nontender abdomen, and menses
,overdue by 2 days. Which of the following findings should be the nurse's
priority?
Heart rate 105/min
Soft, nontender abdomen
Temperature
Overdue menses. Answer: Temperature
Rationale:
Elevated temperature is an emergent physiological need, which requires
priority intervention by the nurse. The nurse should consider Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs, which includes five levels of priority. The first level
consists of physiological needs; the second level consists of safety and
security needs; the third level consists of love and belonging needs; the
fourth level consists of personal achievement and self-esteem needs; and
the fifth level consists of achieving full potential and the ability to
problem solve and cope with life situations. When applying Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs, the nurse should review physiological needs first.
The nurse should then address the client's needs by following the
remaining four hierarchal levels. However, it is important for the nurse
to consider all contributing client factors, as higher levels of the pyramid
can compete with those at the lower levels, depending on the situation.
, ◉ A nurse is caring for a child who is postoperative following a
tonsillectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Encourage the child to cough frequently to clear congestion from
anesthesia.
Place a heating pad at the child's neck for comfort.
Administer analgesics to the child on a routine schedule throughout the
day and night.
Provide the child with ice cream when oral intake is initiated. Answer:
Administer analgesics to the child on a routine schedule throughout the
day and night.
Rationale:
To soothe the client's throat following a tonsillectomy, the nurse should
administer pain medication routinely around the clock. The nurse can
provide the medication rectally or intravenously to avoid the oral route.
◉ A nurse is assessing the heart sounds of a client who has developed
chest pain that becomes worse with inspiration. The nurse auscultates a
high-pitched scratching sound during both systole and diastole with the
diaphragm of the stethoscope positioned at the left sternal border. Which
of the following heart sounds should the nurse document?
