ATI Fundamentals
Practice A Exam
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer medication through a nasogastric (NG) tube to a
client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water.
B. Verify the placement of the NG tube.
C. Administer the medication.
D. Pinch the tube to prevent air entry.
Answer: B. Verify the placement of the NG tube
Rationale:
The first step before administering anything through an NG tube is to verify
placement to prevent aspiration and ensure the tube is in the stomach, not the
lungs.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client with a prescription for 2 liters of oxygen via nasal
cannula. Which of the following interventions is appropriate?
A. Use petroleum jelly to prevent nasal dryness.
,B. Check the client’s oxygen saturation frequently.
C. Set the oxygen flow meter at 10 L/min.
D. Encourage the client to breathe through the mouth.
Answer: B. Check the client’s oxygen saturation frequently
Rationale:
Oxygen therapy should be monitored closely by checking oxygen saturation and
respiratory status. Petroleum jelly should be avoided as it is flammable; use a water-
soluble lubricant instead.
Question 3
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take to maintain surgical asepsis?
A. Place the catheter kit on a clean bedside table.
B. Maintain the sterile field at or above waist level.
C. Don clean gloves before inserting the catheter.
D. Lubricate the catheter tip after insertion.
Answer: B. Maintain the sterile field at or above waist level
Rationale:
Maintaining a sterile field at or above waist level is essential to prevent
contamination during invasive procedures like catheter insertion.
Question 4
A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client. Which of the following values
requires immediate intervention?
,A. Potassium 5.8 mEq/L
B. Sodium 138 mEq/L
C. Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
D. Calcium 9.2 mg/dL
Answer: A. Potassium 5.8 mEq/L
Rationale:
The normal potassium range is 3.5 – 5.0 mEq/L. A level of 5.8 is elevated and can
lead to cardiac dysrhythmias, requiring urgent attention.
Question 5
A nurse enters a client’s room and sees smoke coming from the trash can. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
B. Close the door to the client’s room.
C. Move the client to a safe location.
D. Activate the fire alarm.
Answer: C. Move the client to a safe location
Rationale:
Follow RACE protocol: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. The nurse should first
rescue the client by moving them to safety.
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a client about self-administration of insulin. Which of the
following statements indicates understanding?
, A. "I will store my insulin in the freezer."
B. "I will rotate injection sites to prevent tissue damage."
C. "I will massage the site after injecting insulin."
D. "I will shake the vial before drawing up insulin."
Answer: B. "I will rotate injection sites to prevent tissue damage."
Rationale:
Rotating sites prevents lipodystrophy and tissue damage. Insulin should not be
frozen, and vials should be rolled gently, not shaken.
Question 7
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with a new prescription for
warfarin. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Increase intake of foods high in vitamin K.
B. Avoid using a soft-bristle toothbrush.
C. Notify the provider of any signs of bleeding.
D. Take aspirin for mild headaches.
Answer: C. Notify the provider of any signs of bleeding
Rationale:
Warfarin increases the risk of bleeding, so the client should report unusual bruising,
bleeding gums, or blood in stool or urine immediately.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse implement?
Practice A Exam
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer medication through a nasogastric (NG) tube to a
client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water.
B. Verify the placement of the NG tube.
C. Administer the medication.
D. Pinch the tube to prevent air entry.
Answer: B. Verify the placement of the NG tube
Rationale:
The first step before administering anything through an NG tube is to verify
placement to prevent aspiration and ensure the tube is in the stomach, not the
lungs.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client with a prescription for 2 liters of oxygen via nasal
cannula. Which of the following interventions is appropriate?
A. Use petroleum jelly to prevent nasal dryness.
,B. Check the client’s oxygen saturation frequently.
C. Set the oxygen flow meter at 10 L/min.
D. Encourage the client to breathe through the mouth.
Answer: B. Check the client’s oxygen saturation frequently
Rationale:
Oxygen therapy should be monitored closely by checking oxygen saturation and
respiratory status. Petroleum jelly should be avoided as it is flammable; use a water-
soluble lubricant instead.
Question 3
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take to maintain surgical asepsis?
A. Place the catheter kit on a clean bedside table.
B. Maintain the sterile field at or above waist level.
C. Don clean gloves before inserting the catheter.
D. Lubricate the catheter tip after insertion.
Answer: B. Maintain the sterile field at or above waist level
Rationale:
Maintaining a sterile field at or above waist level is essential to prevent
contamination during invasive procedures like catheter insertion.
Question 4
A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client. Which of the following values
requires immediate intervention?
,A. Potassium 5.8 mEq/L
B. Sodium 138 mEq/L
C. Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
D. Calcium 9.2 mg/dL
Answer: A. Potassium 5.8 mEq/L
Rationale:
The normal potassium range is 3.5 – 5.0 mEq/L. A level of 5.8 is elevated and can
lead to cardiac dysrhythmias, requiring urgent attention.
Question 5
A nurse enters a client’s room and sees smoke coming from the trash can. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
B. Close the door to the client’s room.
C. Move the client to a safe location.
D. Activate the fire alarm.
Answer: C. Move the client to a safe location
Rationale:
Follow RACE protocol: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. The nurse should first
rescue the client by moving them to safety.
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a client about self-administration of insulin. Which of the
following statements indicates understanding?
, A. "I will store my insulin in the freezer."
B. "I will rotate injection sites to prevent tissue damage."
C. "I will massage the site after injecting insulin."
D. "I will shake the vial before drawing up insulin."
Answer: B. "I will rotate injection sites to prevent tissue damage."
Rationale:
Rotating sites prevents lipodystrophy and tissue damage. Insulin should not be
frozen, and vials should be rolled gently, not shaken.
Question 7
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with a new prescription for
warfarin. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Increase intake of foods high in vitamin K.
B. Avoid using a soft-bristle toothbrush.
C. Notify the provider of any signs of bleeding.
D. Take aspirin for mild headaches.
Answer: C. Notify the provider of any signs of bleeding
Rationale:
Warfarin increases the risk of bleeding, so the client should report unusual bruising,
bleeding gums, or blood in stool or urine immediately.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse implement?
