ATI Fundamentals Proctored Exam | Questions and
Answers with Rationales
Funds Proctored Exam Rationales
1. A nurse is conducting an admission interview with a client. Which of the following pieces of
assessment information should the nurse collect during the introductory phase of the
interview?
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A. Clients level of comfort and ability to participate in the interview
-The nurse should assess the client’s level of comfort and establish a rapport during the
introductory or orientation phase. The nurse should engage in active listening and present a
relaxed attitude to place the client at ease and encourage client participation. This will assist the
nurse in gaining the necessary data to formulate appropriate nursing diagnoses and outcomes.
B. Previous illnesses and surgeries
-incorrect: The nurse should assess the client’s health history, including previous illnesses and
surgeries, during the working phase of the interview.
C. Events surrounding the client’s recent illness
-incorrect: The nurse should assess the client’s health history, including events surrounding the
recent or current illness, during the working phase of the interview.
D. Sociocultural history
-incorrect: The nurse should assess the client’s sociocultural history during the working phase of
the interview.
2. A nurse is performing an abdominal assessment of a client. Which of the following positions
should the nurse tell the client to assume for this examination?
A. Lithotomy
-incorrect: The lithotomy position is useful for gynecological examinations.
B. Lateral
-incorrect: The lateral recumbent, or side-lying position, limits access to the abdomen. This
position is useful when auscultating the heart to detect murmurs.
C. Supine
-The nurse should tell the client to assume the supine position to promote relaxation of the
abdominal muscles. Having the client bend the knees enhances relaxation of the stomach
muscles.
D. Sims
-incorrect: The Sims’ position limits access to the abdomen. This position is useful for rectal and
vaginal examinations.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following an abdominal surgery. Which of
the following actions should the nurse perform first after discovering the client’s wound has
eviscerated?
A. Cover the incision with a moist sterile dressing
- The nurse should apply the safety and risk-reduction priority-setting framework, which assigns
priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest safety risk to the client. When there are
several risks to client safety, the one posing the greatest threat is the highest priority. The nurse
should use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the ABC priority-setting framework, and/or nursing
knowledge to identify which risk poses the greatest threat to the client. An open wound
increases the risk of peritonitis, and any exposed organ tissue could dry out. Therefore, covering
the wound with a moist sterile dressing is the first action the nurse should take to protect the
client.
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B. Have the client lie on his back with his knees flexed
-incorrect: The nurse should use this position to reduce pressure on the incision. However, the
nurse should take another action first.
C. Call the client’s surgeon
-incorrect: The nurse should notify the surgeon or direct a colleague to notify the surgeon while
tending to the client’s immediate need. However, the nurse should take another action first.
D. Reassure the client
-incorrect: The nurse should respond to the client’s emotional needs. However, the nurse
should take another action first.
4. A nurse is preparing to insert an NG tube for a client who has a bowel obstruction. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Give the client a glass of water
-incorrect: The nurse should provide a glass of water to facilitate swallowing during tube
insertion of the NG tube. However, there is another action the nurse should take first.
B. Assist the client into a sitting position
-incorrect: The nurse should assist the client into a sitting position to insert the NG tube more
easily and allow gravity to help facilitate the passage of the tube. However, there is another
action the nurse should take first.
C. Explain the procedure to the client
-The nurse should apply the least invasive priority-setting framework when caring for this client,
which assigns priority to nursing interventions that are least invasive to the client, as long as
those interventions do not jeopardize client safety. The nurse should take interventions that are
not invasive to the client before interventions that are invasive. This reduces the number of
organisms introduced into the body, decreasing the number of facility-acquired infections.
Informing the client about the procedure reduces fear and assists in gaining the client’s
cooperation, which is important for NG tube insertion and is the priority nursing intervention.
D. Measure the length of tubing to be inserted
-incorrect: The nurse should measure the length of the tubing to be inserted to ensure proper
tube placement. However, there is another action the nurse should take first.
5. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who is recovering from lung cancer. The
provider instructed the client that he could resume lower-intensity activities of daily living.
Which of the following activities should the nurse recommend to the client?
A. Sweeping the floor
-incorrect: sweeping the floor is moderate-intensity activity
B. Shoveling snow
-incorrect: Shoveling snow is a high-intensity activity
C. Cleaning windows
-incorrect: Cleaning windows is a moderate-intensity activity
D. Washing dishes
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-Washing dishes requires a low level of activity and is appropriate for this client.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving dextrose 5% in water IV at 150 mL/hr and has
ingested 4 oz of water and ½ pint of milk. What is the total 8-hr fluid intake in milliliters that the
nurse should document for this client? (round to nearest whole number)
-1560
7. A nurse is performing a physical examination of a client. The nurse should use percussion to
evaluate which of the following parts of the client’s body?
A. Heart
-incorrect: The nurse uses inspection, palpation, and auscultation to evaluate the heart.
B. Lungs
-Percussion creates a vibration that helps the examiner determine the density of the underlying
tissue. The lungs are hollow organs that can produce sounds such as resonance (a hollow sound
over alveoli) or dullness (a dull sound over consolidated areas of the lungs or diaphragm). The
nurse also uses auscultation and palpation when evaluating the lungs.
C. Thyroid gland
-incorrect: The nurse uses inspection and palpation to evaluate the thyroid gland.
D. Skin
-incorrect: The nurse uses inspection and palpation to evaluate the skin.
8. A nurse is supervising a newly licensed nurse who is administering a controlled substance.
Which of the following actions by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
procedure?
A. Placing an unused portion of the medication in a sharps box
-incorrect: The nurse should not dispose of an unused portion of a controlled substance in the
sharps container because this action does not maintain safe control of the narcotic.
B. Asking another nurse to observe the disposal of an unused portion of the medication
-The nurse should ask another nurse to witness the disposal of a controlled substance to
maintain safe control of the narcotic.
C. Counting the inventory of the available narcotic after administering the medication
-incorrect: The nurse should count the inventory of the controlled substance before removing a
dosage to maintain safe control of the narcotic.
D. Ensuring that another nurse signs the control inventory form after disposal of an unused
portion of medication
-incorrect: Two nurses should sign the control inventory form after the disposal of a portion of a
narcotic to maintain safe control.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has acute renal failure. Which of the following assessments
provides the most accurate measure of the client’s fluid status?
A. Daily weight
-According to the evidence-based priority-setting framework, daily weight provides important
information about the client’s fluid status. A gain or loss of 1 kg (2.2 lb) indicates a gain or loss of
1 L of fluid; therefore, weighing the client daily will provide the most accurate fluid status
measurement.
B. Blood Pressure
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-incorrect: While blood pressure can indicate a client’s fluid gain or losses, it is not the most
accurate method of measuring fluid changes.
C. Specific gravity
-incorrect: Specific gravity reflects the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. While specific
gravity reflects client’s fluid gains or losses, it is not the most accurate method used to measure
fluid changes.
D. Intake and Output
-incorrect: Intake and output reflect a client’s fluid status. However, this is not the most accurate
method to measure fluid changes.
10. A nurse in a long-term care facility is admitting a client who is incontinent and smells
strongly of urine. His partner, who has been caring for him at home, is embarrassed and
apologizes for the smell. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. “A lot of clients who are cared for at home have the same problem”
-incorrect: This automatic response implies that caregivers in the home are not able to keep
client’s odor-free. It is a judgmental statement that is not therapeutic.
B. “Don’t worry about it. He will get a bath, and that will take care of the odor.”
-incorrect: Telling the partner not to worry blocks communication by devaluing her feelings and
her concern about the odor.
C. “It must be difficult to care for someone who is confined to bed.”
-This response addresses the feelings of the partner by reflecting her feelings, which facilitates
therapeutic communication because it is nonjudgmental and encourages the partner to express
her feelings.
D. “When was the last time that he had a bath?”
-incorrect: This response implies that the odor of urine has developed because she has not
bathed her husband for some time, which is judgmental and nontherapeutic.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who has bilateral cats on her hands. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take when assisting the client with feeding?
A. Sit at the bedside when feeding the client
-The nurse should avoid appearing to be in a hurry. Sitting at the bedside provides the client
with the nurse’s full attention during the feeding
B. Order pureed foods
-incorrect: Without any mouth or throat injuries that make chewing or swallowing difficult, the
client should be served foods of an appropriate variety of textures. Pureed foods are for clients
who cannot chew, have difficulty swallowing, or do not have teeth.
C. Make sure feedings are provided at room temperature
-incorrect: The nurse should ask the client if the food is the correct temperature
D. Offer the client a drink of fluid after every bite
-incorrect: If the client is unable to communicate, the nurse should offer the client fluids after
every 3 or 4 mouthfuls. However, there is no indication that this client is unable to
communicate. Therefore, the client should tell the nurse when she would like a drink.
12. A nurse is administering an IM injection to a 5-month-old infant. Which of the following
injection sites should the nurse use?
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A. Deltoid
-incorrect: The nurse can use the deltoid muscle for injecting small volumes of medication for
children 18 months of age or older, but its proximity to several nerves and arteries make it a
riskier choice.
B. Ventrogluteal
-incorrect: This is a safe site for IM injections for clients older than 7 months.
C. Vastus lateralis
-The nurse should use the vastus lateralis site over the anterior thigh for IM injections for infants
and children.
D. Dorsogluteal
-incorrect: This site is unsafe to use because of its proximity to the sciatic nerve and the superior
gluteal nerve and artery.
13. A nurse is caring for a client who has major fecal incontinence and reports irritation in the
perianal area. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Apply a fecal collection system
-incorrect: The nurse should apply a fecal collection system to divert the feces away from the
area of skin irritation; however, there is another action the nurse should take first.
B. Apply a barrier cream
-incorrect: The nurse should apply a barrier cream to decrease skin breakdown in the perianal
area from the feces; however, there is another action the nurse should take first.
C. Cleanse and dry the area
-incorrect: The nurse should cleanse and dry the perianal area to decrease skin irritation;
however, there is another action the nurse should take first.
D. Check the client’s perineum
-The nurse should apply the nursing process priority-setting framework to plan care and
prioritize nursing actions. Each step of the nursing process builds on the previous step,
beginning with an assessment or data collection. Before the nurse can formulate a plan of
action, implement a nursing intervention, or notify a provider of a change in the client’s status,
the nurse must first collect adequate data from the client. Assessing or collecting additional
data will provide the nurse with knowledge to make an appropriate decision. The priority
nursing action is for the nurse to collect more data by assessing the area of irritation.
14. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV therapy via a peripheral catheter. The nurse
should identify that which of the following findings is an indication of infiltration?
A. Redness at the infusion site
-incorrect: Redness at the infusion site is an indication of phlebitis or infection.
B. Edema at the infusion site
-Edema due to fluid entering subcutaneous tissue is an indication of infiltration.
C. Warmth at the infusion site
-incorrect: Warmth at the infusion site is an indication of phlebitis or infection.
D. Oozing of blood at the infusion site
-incorrect: Oozing of blood at the infusion site is an indication that the IV system is not intact.
15. A nurse is caring for a client who reports not sleeping at night, which interferes with her
ability to function during the day. Which of the following interventions should the nurse suggest
to this client?
A. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine
-Caffeine is a stimulant. The nurse should suggest that the client avoid caffeinated beverages.
B. Take a sleep medication regularly at bedtime
-incorrect: Sleep-promoting medication is a last resort. The nurse should not suggest this type of
medication for the client before recommending other nonpharmacological interventions.
C. Watch television for 30 minutes in bed to relax prior to falling asleep
-incorrect: Clients should associate going to bed with sleep. Therefore, the client should not get
into bed until she is sleepy.
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D. Advise the client to take several naps during the day
-incorrect: Napping in the daytime can prevent sound sleep at night
16. A nurse is providing teaching to a client regarding protein intake. Which of the following
foods should the nurse include as an example of an incomplete protein?
A. Eggs
-incorrect: this is a complete protein, contains all of the essential amino acids necessary for the
synthesis of protein in the body.
B. Soybeans
-incorrect: this is a complete protein, contains all of the essential amino acids necessary for the
synthesis of protein in the body.
C. Lentils
-Incomplete proteins are missing 1 or more of the essential amino acids necessary for the
synthesis of protein in the body. Examples of incomplete proteins include lentils, vegetables,
grains, nuts, and seeds.
D. Yogurt
-incorrect: this is a complete protein, contains all of the essential amino acids necessary for the
synthesis of protein in the body.
17. A nurse is planning to collect a stool specimen for ova and parasites from a client who has
diarrhea. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when collecting the specimen?
A. Instruct the client to defecate into the toilet bowl
-incorrect: The nurse should have the client defecate into a bedpan or a container for stool
collection. The toilet water can dilute and contaminate the liquid specimen.
B. Transfer the specimen to a sterile container
-incorrect: The nurse should place the stool specimen in a clean container using a tongue
depressor.