ATI FUNDAMENTALS 2025 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW: PRACTICE QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS, AND DETAILED RATIONALES
A nurse in a health clinic is caring for a 21-year-old client who tells the nurse that their last
physical exam was in high school. Which of the following health screenings should the nurse
expect the provider to perform for this client?
A Testicular Examination
B Blood Glucose
C Fecal Occult Blood
D Prostate-specific antigen
A. Testicular examination
The nurse should identify that starting at puberty, the client should have examinations for
testicular cancer, along with blood pressure and body mass index, and cholesterol measurements.
Testicular cancer is most common in males 15 to 34 years of age.
Blood glucose testing begins at age 45.
Testing for fecal occult blood usually begins at age 45.
Testing for prostate-specific antigen usually begins at age 55.
The client is experiencing difficulty swallowing. Which of the following cranial nerves controls
swallowing?
A. Glossopharyngeal
B. Trigeminal
C. Trochlear
D. Hypoglossal
A. Glossopharyngeal
When analyzing cues, the nurse should identify that the glossopharyngeal nerve controls
swallowing. The nurse tests the ability of the client to swallow by checking the client's gag
reflex.
A nurse is assessing a client's musculoskeletal system as part of a comprehensive physical
examination. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Concave thoracic
B. Exaggerated lumbar curvature
C. Concave lumbar spine posteriorly
D. Exaggerated thoracic curvature
E. Muscles slightly larger on the dominant side
,C&E
Concave lumbar spine posteriorly
Muscles slightly larger on the dominant side
A nurse is performing a neurologic examination for a client. Which of the following assessments
should the nurse perform to test the client's balance?
A. Romberg Test
B. Weber's Test
C. Rosenbaum Test
D. Snellen Test
A. Romberg Test
When taking actions, the nurse should identify that the Romberg test is used to assess balance.
The client stands with their eyes closed, arms at both side, and feet together. The nurse verifies
balance if the client can stand with minimal swaying for at least 5 seconds.
A nurse is assessing a client's sensory function. The nurse asks the client to close their eyes.
Match the nursing action to the associated sensory function.
A nurse is assessing a client's sensory function. The nurse asks the client to close their eyes.
Match the nursing action to associated sensory function.
Light Touch
Discrimination
Vibration
Position
Ask the client to report when they feel a cotton ball on their skin.
Ask the client to report when the feel the movement of a tuning fork on their skin.
Reposition the client's arm and ask the client to report whether it is positioned up or down.
Trace a number on the client's palm with the blunt end of a pencil and ask them to identify it.
Light Touch - Ask the client to report when they feel a cotton ball on their skin.
Discrimination - Trace a number on the client's palm with the blunt end of a pencil and ask them
to identify it.
Vibration - Ask the client to report when they feel the movement of a tuning fork on their skin.
Position - Reposition the client's arm and
A nurse at a provider's office is talking about routine screenings with a 45-year-old female client
who has no specific family history of cancer or diabetes mellitus. Which of the following client
statements indicates that the client understands how to proceed?
A. "I'll need a colonoscopy in 5 years."
B. "For now, I should continue to have a clinical breast exam each year."
C. "Because the doctor just did a Pap smear, I'll come back next year for another one."
D. "I had my blood glucose test last year, so I won't need it again for 4 years."
,B. "For now, I should continue to have a clinical breast exam each year."
The female client who is between the ages of 40 and 49 should have a clinical breast exam
annually, and they should consult with their provider about the frequency of mammograms.
The nurse should identify that the female client who has no specific family or personal history of
colorectal cancer should have a colonoscopy every 10 years beginning at age 45.
The female client who is between the ages of 30 and 65, with no family or personal history of
cervical cancer, should have either a Pap smear and human papilloma virus test every 5 years, or
a Pap test every 3 years.
The client who is age 45 should have a blood glucose test at least every 3 years. Unless there is a
specific family or personal history of diabetes mellitus, annual blood glucose determinations are
not necessary.
A nurse is caring for a young adult at a college health clinic. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first?
A. Give the client information about immunization against meningitis.
B. Tell the client to have a TB skin test every 2 years.
C. Determine the client's health risks.
D. Teach the client about exercise recommendations.
C. Determine the client's health risks.
The first action that should be taken using the nursing process is assessment. Talk with the client
first to determine what risk factors the client might have before initiating the health promotion
and disease prevention measures.
A. The nurse should plan to give the client information on the meningococcal vaccine as part of
the primary disease prevention; however, there is another action the nurse should take first.
B. The nurse should recommend TB screening depending on the client's occupation and exposure
to TB as part of secondary disease prevention; however, there is another action the nurse should
take first.
D. The nurse should instruct the client about exercise and activity recommendations as part of
health promotion; however, there is another action the nurse should take first.
A nurse at a health department is planning strategies related to heart disease. Which of the
following activities should the nurse include as part of primary prevention?
A. Providing cholesterol screening
B. Teaching about a healthy diet
C. Providing information about antihypertensive medications
D. Developing a list of cardiac rehabilitation programs
B. Teaching about a healthy diet
Primary prevention encompasses strategies that help prevent illness or injury. This level of
prevention includes health information about nutrition, exercise, stress management, and
protection from injuries and illness.
, Cholesterol screening is an example of secondary prevention.
Taking medication to lower blood pressure is part of secondary prevention.
Cardiac rehabilitation is an example of tertiary prevention.
A nurse is teaching a class about expected changes associated with aging. What information
should the nurse include?
When recognizing cues, the nurse should instruct that expected changes that can occur with
aging can include reduced muscle mass, decline in speed, strength, resistance to fatigue, reaction
time, and coordination, Decalcification of bones can lead to loss of bone mass and height, and an
increasing risk for osteoporosis. Other changes that can occur include minimal decline in short-
term memory, decreased vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.
Cranial Nerves for the Ears, Nose Mouth, and Throat
I - Olfactory: smell
VIII - Auditory: hearing and balance
IX - Glossopharyngeal:
Sensory: Taste (sour/bitter) on posterior third of the tongue
Motor: Swallowing, speech sounds, gag reflex
X - Vagus
Sensory: Gag Reflex
Motor: Swallowing, speech quality
XII - Hypoglossal: Motor - Tongue movement
Cranial Nerves for Just the Eyes
II - Optic: Sensory: Visual acuity, visual fields
III - Oculomotor: PERRLA, six cardinal positions of gaze
IV - Trochlear: Also, PERRLA
VI - Abducens: Also, Perrla
Cranial nerves just for the head and neck
V - Trigeminal - Sensory: light touch sensation to the face
Motor: jaw opening, clenching, chewing
VII - Facial - Sensory: Tast (salt/sweet) on anterior 2/3 of tongue
Motor: Jaw opening, clenching, chewing
XI - Spinal accessory - Motor: Turning head, shrugging shoulders
The nurse is performing a cranial nerve assessment on the client. Match the assessment method
to the associated cranial nerve.
IX Glossopharyngeal nerve
ANSWERS, AND DETAILED RATIONALES
A nurse in a health clinic is caring for a 21-year-old client who tells the nurse that their last
physical exam was in high school. Which of the following health screenings should the nurse
expect the provider to perform for this client?
A Testicular Examination
B Blood Glucose
C Fecal Occult Blood
D Prostate-specific antigen
A. Testicular examination
The nurse should identify that starting at puberty, the client should have examinations for
testicular cancer, along with blood pressure and body mass index, and cholesterol measurements.
Testicular cancer is most common in males 15 to 34 years of age.
Blood glucose testing begins at age 45.
Testing for fecal occult blood usually begins at age 45.
Testing for prostate-specific antigen usually begins at age 55.
The client is experiencing difficulty swallowing. Which of the following cranial nerves controls
swallowing?
A. Glossopharyngeal
B. Trigeminal
C. Trochlear
D. Hypoglossal
A. Glossopharyngeal
When analyzing cues, the nurse should identify that the glossopharyngeal nerve controls
swallowing. The nurse tests the ability of the client to swallow by checking the client's gag
reflex.
A nurse is assessing a client's musculoskeletal system as part of a comprehensive physical
examination. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Concave thoracic
B. Exaggerated lumbar curvature
C. Concave lumbar spine posteriorly
D. Exaggerated thoracic curvature
E. Muscles slightly larger on the dominant side
,C&E
Concave lumbar spine posteriorly
Muscles slightly larger on the dominant side
A nurse is performing a neurologic examination for a client. Which of the following assessments
should the nurse perform to test the client's balance?
A. Romberg Test
B. Weber's Test
C. Rosenbaum Test
D. Snellen Test
A. Romberg Test
When taking actions, the nurse should identify that the Romberg test is used to assess balance.
The client stands with their eyes closed, arms at both side, and feet together. The nurse verifies
balance if the client can stand with minimal swaying for at least 5 seconds.
A nurse is assessing a client's sensory function. The nurse asks the client to close their eyes.
Match the nursing action to the associated sensory function.
A nurse is assessing a client's sensory function. The nurse asks the client to close their eyes.
Match the nursing action to associated sensory function.
Light Touch
Discrimination
Vibration
Position
Ask the client to report when they feel a cotton ball on their skin.
Ask the client to report when the feel the movement of a tuning fork on their skin.
Reposition the client's arm and ask the client to report whether it is positioned up or down.
Trace a number on the client's palm with the blunt end of a pencil and ask them to identify it.
Light Touch - Ask the client to report when they feel a cotton ball on their skin.
Discrimination - Trace a number on the client's palm with the blunt end of a pencil and ask them
to identify it.
Vibration - Ask the client to report when they feel the movement of a tuning fork on their skin.
Position - Reposition the client's arm and
A nurse at a provider's office is talking about routine screenings with a 45-year-old female client
who has no specific family history of cancer or diabetes mellitus. Which of the following client
statements indicates that the client understands how to proceed?
A. "I'll need a colonoscopy in 5 years."
B. "For now, I should continue to have a clinical breast exam each year."
C. "Because the doctor just did a Pap smear, I'll come back next year for another one."
D. "I had my blood glucose test last year, so I won't need it again for 4 years."
,B. "For now, I should continue to have a clinical breast exam each year."
The female client who is between the ages of 40 and 49 should have a clinical breast exam
annually, and they should consult with their provider about the frequency of mammograms.
The nurse should identify that the female client who has no specific family or personal history of
colorectal cancer should have a colonoscopy every 10 years beginning at age 45.
The female client who is between the ages of 30 and 65, with no family or personal history of
cervical cancer, should have either a Pap smear and human papilloma virus test every 5 years, or
a Pap test every 3 years.
The client who is age 45 should have a blood glucose test at least every 3 years. Unless there is a
specific family or personal history of diabetes mellitus, annual blood glucose determinations are
not necessary.
A nurse is caring for a young adult at a college health clinic. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first?
A. Give the client information about immunization against meningitis.
B. Tell the client to have a TB skin test every 2 years.
C. Determine the client's health risks.
D. Teach the client about exercise recommendations.
C. Determine the client's health risks.
The first action that should be taken using the nursing process is assessment. Talk with the client
first to determine what risk factors the client might have before initiating the health promotion
and disease prevention measures.
A. The nurse should plan to give the client information on the meningococcal vaccine as part of
the primary disease prevention; however, there is another action the nurse should take first.
B. The nurse should recommend TB screening depending on the client's occupation and exposure
to TB as part of secondary disease prevention; however, there is another action the nurse should
take first.
D. The nurse should instruct the client about exercise and activity recommendations as part of
health promotion; however, there is another action the nurse should take first.
A nurse at a health department is planning strategies related to heart disease. Which of the
following activities should the nurse include as part of primary prevention?
A. Providing cholesterol screening
B. Teaching about a healthy diet
C. Providing information about antihypertensive medications
D. Developing a list of cardiac rehabilitation programs
B. Teaching about a healthy diet
Primary prevention encompasses strategies that help prevent illness or injury. This level of
prevention includes health information about nutrition, exercise, stress management, and
protection from injuries and illness.
, Cholesterol screening is an example of secondary prevention.
Taking medication to lower blood pressure is part of secondary prevention.
Cardiac rehabilitation is an example of tertiary prevention.
A nurse is teaching a class about expected changes associated with aging. What information
should the nurse include?
When recognizing cues, the nurse should instruct that expected changes that can occur with
aging can include reduced muscle mass, decline in speed, strength, resistance to fatigue, reaction
time, and coordination, Decalcification of bones can lead to loss of bone mass and height, and an
increasing risk for osteoporosis. Other changes that can occur include minimal decline in short-
term memory, decreased vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.
Cranial Nerves for the Ears, Nose Mouth, and Throat
I - Olfactory: smell
VIII - Auditory: hearing and balance
IX - Glossopharyngeal:
Sensory: Taste (sour/bitter) on posterior third of the tongue
Motor: Swallowing, speech sounds, gag reflex
X - Vagus
Sensory: Gag Reflex
Motor: Swallowing, speech quality
XII - Hypoglossal: Motor - Tongue movement
Cranial Nerves for Just the Eyes
II - Optic: Sensory: Visual acuity, visual fields
III - Oculomotor: PERRLA, six cardinal positions of gaze
IV - Trochlear: Also, PERRLA
VI - Abducens: Also, Perrla
Cranial nerves just for the head and neck
V - Trigeminal - Sensory: light touch sensation to the face
Motor: jaw opening, clenching, chewing
VII - Facial - Sensory: Tast (salt/sweet) on anterior 2/3 of tongue
Motor: Jaw opening, clenching, chewing
XI - Spinal accessory - Motor: Turning head, shrugging shoulders
The nurse is performing a cranial nerve assessment on the client. Match the assessment method
to the associated cranial nerve.
IX Glossopharyngeal nerve
