ATI Capstone Maternal Newborn Assessment 2023
Comprehensive Practice Exam| MUST KNOW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
UPDATED TEST
Antepartum Care and Assessment
1. A nurse in a prenatal clinic is caring for a client who is at 12 weeks gestation.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to confirm the pregnancy?
a. Palpate the fundus at the level of the umbilicus.
b. Auscultate fetal heart tones with a Doppler device.
c. Perform a urine pregnancy test to detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
d. Assess for quickening.
Answer💜💜: b. Auscultate fetal heart tones with a Doppler device.
Rationale: Fetal heart tones can typically be detected by Doppler ultrasound
between 10 and 12 weeks of gestation, confirming an ongoing intrauterine
pregnancy. The fundus at the umbilicus is a finding at 20 weeks. hCG confirms
pregnancy but not viability. Quickening is not felt until 16-20 weeks.
2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is at 16 weeks of gestation
and has a BMI of 30. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
an understanding of the teaching regarding recommended weight gain?
a. "I should gain between 15 and 25 pounds during my pregnancy."
b. "My target weight gain is about 28 to 40 pounds."
c. "I plan to lose weight in the first trimester due to nausea."
d. "Weight gain is not important as long as I eat healthy foods."
,Answer💜💜: a. "I should gain between 15 and 25 pounds during my
pregnancy."
Rationale: For a client with a BMI in the obese range (over 30), the recommended
total weight gain during pregnancy is 11-20 pounds (5-9 kg). The range of 15-25
lbs is the closest approximation to this recommendation. Option b (28-40 lbs) is
the recommendation for a client with a normal BMI.
3. A nurse is collecting data from a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation. Which
of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
a. +1 pitting edema in the lower extremities.
b. Fetal heart rate of 136/min.
c. Blurred vision and a headache.
d. Braxton-Hicks contractions after walking.
Answer💜💜: c. Blurred vision and a headache.
Rationale: Blurred vision and headache are classic signs of severe preeclampsia,
indicating central nervous system irritability and hypertension. These require
immediate reporting and intervention to prevent eclampsia (seizures). The other
findings are common in the third trimester but still require monitoring.
4. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about the sign of labor. Which of
the following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the
client understands the difference between true and false labor?
a. "If my contractions feel stronger when I walk around, it is false labor."
b. "True labor contractions will become more regular and stronger over time."
c. "If the pain is only in my belly and not my back, it is true labor."
, d. "A large gush of fluid means I am in true labor and must come to the hospital
immediately."
Answer💜💜: b. "True labor contractions will become more regular and stronger
over time."
Rationale: The key characteristic of true labor is progressive cervical change
(dilation and effacement) driven by contractions that increase in duration,
frequency, and intensity. False labor contractions are irregular and often diminish
with activity like walking.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is in preterm labor at 32 weeks of gestation.
Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate administering to
accelerate fetal lung maturity?
a. Magnesium sulfate.
b. Terbutaline (Brethine).
c. Nifedipine (Procardia).
d. Betamethasone (Celestone).
Answer💜💜: d. Betamethasone (Celestone).
Rationale: Betamethasone is a corticosteroid administered to the mother to
accelerate fetal lung surfactant production, thereby reducing the risk of
respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. Magnesium sulfate is for seizure
prophylaxis and neuroprotection. Terbutaline and Nifedipine are tocolytics used
to stop contractions.
6. A client at 28 weeks of gestation reports painless, bright red vaginal bleeding.
Which of the following conditions is the most likely cause?
a. Placenta previa.
Comprehensive Practice Exam| MUST KNOW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
UPDATED TEST
Antepartum Care and Assessment
1. A nurse in a prenatal clinic is caring for a client who is at 12 weeks gestation.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to confirm the pregnancy?
a. Palpate the fundus at the level of the umbilicus.
b. Auscultate fetal heart tones with a Doppler device.
c. Perform a urine pregnancy test to detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
d. Assess for quickening.
Answer💜💜: b. Auscultate fetal heart tones with a Doppler device.
Rationale: Fetal heart tones can typically be detected by Doppler ultrasound
between 10 and 12 weeks of gestation, confirming an ongoing intrauterine
pregnancy. The fundus at the umbilicus is a finding at 20 weeks. hCG confirms
pregnancy but not viability. Quickening is not felt until 16-20 weeks.
2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is at 16 weeks of gestation
and has a BMI of 30. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
an understanding of the teaching regarding recommended weight gain?
a. "I should gain between 15 and 25 pounds during my pregnancy."
b. "My target weight gain is about 28 to 40 pounds."
c. "I plan to lose weight in the first trimester due to nausea."
d. "Weight gain is not important as long as I eat healthy foods."
,Answer💜💜: a. "I should gain between 15 and 25 pounds during my
pregnancy."
Rationale: For a client with a BMI in the obese range (over 30), the recommended
total weight gain during pregnancy is 11-20 pounds (5-9 kg). The range of 15-25
lbs is the closest approximation to this recommendation. Option b (28-40 lbs) is
the recommendation for a client with a normal BMI.
3. A nurse is collecting data from a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation. Which
of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
a. +1 pitting edema in the lower extremities.
b. Fetal heart rate of 136/min.
c. Blurred vision and a headache.
d. Braxton-Hicks contractions after walking.
Answer💜💜: c. Blurred vision and a headache.
Rationale: Blurred vision and headache are classic signs of severe preeclampsia,
indicating central nervous system irritability and hypertension. These require
immediate reporting and intervention to prevent eclampsia (seizures). The other
findings are common in the third trimester but still require monitoring.
4. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about the sign of labor. Which of
the following statements should the nurse identify as an indication that the
client understands the difference between true and false labor?
a. "If my contractions feel stronger when I walk around, it is false labor."
b. "True labor contractions will become more regular and stronger over time."
c. "If the pain is only in my belly and not my back, it is true labor."
, d. "A large gush of fluid means I am in true labor and must come to the hospital
immediately."
Answer💜💜: b. "True labor contractions will become more regular and stronger
over time."
Rationale: The key characteristic of true labor is progressive cervical change
(dilation and effacement) driven by contractions that increase in duration,
frequency, and intensity. False labor contractions are irregular and often diminish
with activity like walking.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is in preterm labor at 32 weeks of gestation.
Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate administering to
accelerate fetal lung maturity?
a. Magnesium sulfate.
b. Terbutaline (Brethine).
c. Nifedipine (Procardia).
d. Betamethasone (Celestone).
Answer💜💜: d. Betamethasone (Celestone).
Rationale: Betamethasone is a corticosteroid administered to the mother to
accelerate fetal lung surfactant production, thereby reducing the risk of
respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. Magnesium sulfate is for seizure
prophylaxis and neuroprotection. Terbutaline and Nifedipine are tocolytics used
to stop contractions.
6. A client at 28 weeks of gestation reports painless, bright red vaginal bleeding.
Which of the following conditions is the most likely cause?
a. Placenta previa.
