ATI Capstone Maternal Newborn
Assessment 2023 LATEST UPDATED
TEST 2026
Antepartum (Prenatal) Care
1. A nurse in a prenatal clinic is caring for a client at 10 weeks of gestation who
reports experiencing nausea and vomiting every morning. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse recommend……………….?
A. Drink a glass of whole milk before getting out of bed.
B. Eat three large meals per day to ensure adequate nutrition.
C. Keep crackers at the bedside to eat before rising.
D. Brush teeth immediately after eating to prevent vomiting.
Answer💜💜: C. Keep crackers at the bedside to eat before rising.
Rationale: Eating dry crackers or toast before getting out of bed can help alleviate
nausea by settling the stomach and absorbing gastric acid. It is recommended to
eat small, frequent meals rather than large ones, and to avoid strong flavors and
brushing teeth immediately after eating, which can stimulate the gag reflex .
2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is at 8 weeks of gestation
and has a BMI of 32. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
an understanding of the teaching regarding total weight gain during
pregnancy…………………….?
, A. "I should gain between 28 and 40 pounds during my pregnancy."
B. "My total weight gain should be about 25 to 35 pounds."
C. "I should only gain 11 to 20 pounds during this pregnancy."
D. "Weight gain is not a concern because I started out overweight."
Answer💜💜: C. "I should only gain 11 to 20 pounds during this pregnancy."
Rationale: Weight gain recommendations are based on pre-pregnancy BMI. For
an obese client (BMI > 30), the recommended total weight gain is 11-20 pounds
(5-9 kg). Gaining outside these ranges increases risks for both mother and fetus .
3. A nurse is collecting data from a client at her first prenatal visit. The client's
last menstrual period began on July 15. Using Naegele's rule, what is the
estimated delivery date (EDD)?
A. April 8
B. April 22
C. May 8
D. May 22
Answer💜💜: B. April 22
Rationale: Naegele's rule is calculated by subtracting 3 months and adding 7 days
to the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). July 15 minus 3 months = April
15. April 15 plus 7 days = April 22 .
4. A nurse is reviewing lab results for a client who is at 24 weeks of gestation.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
, A. Hematocrit 34%
B. Platelet count 150,000/mm³
C. WBC count 15,000/mm³
D. 2+ protein in a random urine sample
Answer💜💜: D. 2+ protein in a random urine sample
Rationale: While some protein may be present due to vaginal discharge, 1+ to 2+
protein or more on a dipstick test is considered abnormal during pregnancy and
can be an early sign of preeclampsia, especially when accompanied by other
findings like hypertension. The other values are within normal ranges for
pregnancy (physiologic anemia of pregnancy, slightly decreased platelets, and
increased WBCs are common) .
5. A nurse is teaching a prenatal class about the physiologic changes of
pregnancy. The nurse should explain that which of the following changes is the
cause of quickening?
A. Uterine enlargement
B. Fetal movement
C. Braxton Hicks contractions
D. Increased amniotic fluid
Answer💜💜: B. Fetal movement
Rationale: Quickening is the term for the first maternal perception of fetal
movement. Primigravidas typically feel this between 18-20 weeks, while
multigravidas may feel it as early as 14-16 weeks.
, 6. A client at 35 weeks of gestation asks why she is feeling short of breath at
times. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "This is caused by a decrease in your blood volume."
B. "Your growing uterus is pushing upward on your diaphragm."
C. "You may be developing a respiratory infection."
D. "This is a sign of a complication called preeclampsia."
Answer💜💜: B. "Your growing uterus is pushing upward on your diaphragm."
Rationale: In the third trimester, the enlarging uterus elevates the diaphragm,
which can cause shortness of breath. This is often relieved by "lightening" when
the fetal head descends into the pelvis in the weeks just before labor. Lightening
usually occurs 2-3 weeks before labor in nulliparas and during labor in multiparas .
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a suspected ectopic pregnancy at 7 weeks
gestation. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Painless vaginal bleeding
B. Uterine enlargement greater than expected
C. Severe nausea and vomiting
D. Unilateral, sharp pelvic pain
Answer💜💜: D. Unilateral, sharp pelvic pain
Rationale: Classic signs of ectopic pregnancy include unilateral, sharp pelvic or
abdominal pain, often accompanied by spotting. It is a medical emergency, and
Assessment 2023 LATEST UPDATED
TEST 2026
Antepartum (Prenatal) Care
1. A nurse in a prenatal clinic is caring for a client at 10 weeks of gestation who
reports experiencing nausea and vomiting every morning. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse recommend……………….?
A. Drink a glass of whole milk before getting out of bed.
B. Eat three large meals per day to ensure adequate nutrition.
C. Keep crackers at the bedside to eat before rising.
D. Brush teeth immediately after eating to prevent vomiting.
Answer💜💜: C. Keep crackers at the bedside to eat before rising.
Rationale: Eating dry crackers or toast before getting out of bed can help alleviate
nausea by settling the stomach and absorbing gastric acid. It is recommended to
eat small, frequent meals rather than large ones, and to avoid strong flavors and
brushing teeth immediately after eating, which can stimulate the gag reflex .
2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is at 8 weeks of gestation
and has a BMI of 32. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
an understanding of the teaching regarding total weight gain during
pregnancy…………………….?
, A. "I should gain between 28 and 40 pounds during my pregnancy."
B. "My total weight gain should be about 25 to 35 pounds."
C. "I should only gain 11 to 20 pounds during this pregnancy."
D. "Weight gain is not a concern because I started out overweight."
Answer💜💜: C. "I should only gain 11 to 20 pounds during this pregnancy."
Rationale: Weight gain recommendations are based on pre-pregnancy BMI. For
an obese client (BMI > 30), the recommended total weight gain is 11-20 pounds
(5-9 kg). Gaining outside these ranges increases risks for both mother and fetus .
3. A nurse is collecting data from a client at her first prenatal visit. The client's
last menstrual period began on July 15. Using Naegele's rule, what is the
estimated delivery date (EDD)?
A. April 8
B. April 22
C. May 8
D. May 22
Answer💜💜: B. April 22
Rationale: Naegele's rule is calculated by subtracting 3 months and adding 7 days
to the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). July 15 minus 3 months = April
15. April 15 plus 7 days = April 22 .
4. A nurse is reviewing lab results for a client who is at 24 weeks of gestation.
Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
, A. Hematocrit 34%
B. Platelet count 150,000/mm³
C. WBC count 15,000/mm³
D. 2+ protein in a random urine sample
Answer💜💜: D. 2+ protein in a random urine sample
Rationale: While some protein may be present due to vaginal discharge, 1+ to 2+
protein or more on a dipstick test is considered abnormal during pregnancy and
can be an early sign of preeclampsia, especially when accompanied by other
findings like hypertension. The other values are within normal ranges for
pregnancy (physiologic anemia of pregnancy, slightly decreased platelets, and
increased WBCs are common) .
5. A nurse is teaching a prenatal class about the physiologic changes of
pregnancy. The nurse should explain that which of the following changes is the
cause of quickening?
A. Uterine enlargement
B. Fetal movement
C. Braxton Hicks contractions
D. Increased amniotic fluid
Answer💜💜: B. Fetal movement
Rationale: Quickening is the term for the first maternal perception of fetal
movement. Primigravidas typically feel this between 18-20 weeks, while
multigravidas may feel it as early as 14-16 weeks.
, 6. A client at 35 weeks of gestation asks why she is feeling short of breath at
times. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "This is caused by a decrease in your blood volume."
B. "Your growing uterus is pushing upward on your diaphragm."
C. "You may be developing a respiratory infection."
D. "This is a sign of a complication called preeclampsia."
Answer💜💜: B. "Your growing uterus is pushing upward on your diaphragm."
Rationale: In the third trimester, the enlarging uterus elevates the diaphragm,
which can cause shortness of breath. This is often relieved by "lightening" when
the fetal head descends into the pelvis in the weeks just before labor. Lightening
usually occurs 2-3 weeks before labor in nulliparas and during labor in multiparas .
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a suspected ectopic pregnancy at 7 weeks
gestation. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Painless vaginal bleeding
B. Uterine enlargement greater than expected
C. Severe nausea and vomiting
D. Unilateral, sharp pelvic pain
Answer💜💜: D. Unilateral, sharp pelvic pain
Rationale: Classic signs of ectopic pregnancy include unilateral, sharp pelvic or
abdominal pain, often accompanied by spotting. It is a medical emergency, and
