OBSTETRIC NURSING FINAL EXAM
PREPARATION 2026 ACCURATE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
●● The nurse encourages the mother of a healthy newborn to put the
newborn to the breast immediately after birth for which reason?
A) To aid in maturing the newborn's sucking
reflex
B) To encourage the development of maternal antibodies
C) To facilitate maternal-infant bonding
D) To enhance the clearing of the newborn's respiratory passages.
Answer: C
Breast-feeding can be initiated immediately after birth. This immediate
mother-newborn contact takes advantage of the newborn's natural
alertness and fosters bonding. This contact also reduces maternal
bleeding and stabilizes the newborn's temperature, blood glucose level,
and respiratory rate. It is not associated with maturing the sucking reflex,
encouraging the development of maternal antibodies, or aiding in
clearing of the newborn's respiratory passages.
●● When making a home visit, the nurse observes a newborn sleeping
on his back in a bassinet. In one corner of the bassinet is a soft stuffed
,animal and at the other end is a bulb syringe. The nurse determines that
the mother needs additional teaching because of which of the following?
A) The newborn should not be sleeping on his back.
B) Stuffed animals should not be in areas where infants sleep.
C) The bulb syringe should not be kept in the bassinet.
D) This newborn should be sleeping in a crib.. Answer: B
The nurse should instruct the mother to remove all fluffy bedding, quilts,
stuffed animals, and pillows from the crib to prevent suffocation.
Newborns and infants should be placed on their backs to sleep. Having
the bulb syringe nearby in the bassinet is appropriate. Although a crib is
the safest sleeping location, a bassinet is appropriate initially.
●● Assessment of a newborn reveals a heart rate of 180 beats/minute. To
determine whether this finding is a common variation rather than a sign
of distress, what else does the nurse need to know?
A) How many hours old is this newborn?
B) How long ago did this newborn eat?
C) What was the newborn's birthweight?
D) Is acrocyanosis present?. Answer: A
The typical heart rate of a newborn ranges from 120 to 160 beats per
minute with wide fluctuation during activity and sleep. Typically heart
rate is assessed every 30 minutes until stable for 2 hours after birth. The
time of the newborn's last feeding and his birthweight would have no
,effect on his heart rate. Acrocyanosis is a common normal finding in
newborns.
●● Just after delivery, a newborn's axillary temperature is 94 degrees F.
What action would be most appropriate?
A) Assess the newborn's gestational age.
B) Rewarm the newborn gradually.
C) Observe the newborn every hour.
D) Notify the physician if the temperature goes lower.. Answer: B
A newborn's temperature is typically maintained at 36.5 to 37.5 degrees
C (97.7 to 99.7 degrees F). Since this newborn's temperature is
significantly lower, the nurse should institute measures to rewarm the
newborn gradually. Assessment of gestational age is completed
regardless of the newborn's temperature. Observation would be
inappropriate because lack of action may lead to a further lowering of
the temperature. The nurse should notify the physician of the newborn's
current temperature since it is outside normal parameters.
●● The parents of a newborn become concerned when they notice that
their baby seems to stop breathing for a few seconds. After confirming
the parents' findings by observing the newborn, which of the following
actions would be most appropriate?
A) Notify the health care provider immediately.
, B) Assess the newborn for signs of respiratory distress.
C) Reassure the parents that this is an expected pattern.
D) Tell the parents not to worry since his color is fine.. Answer: B
Although periods of apnea of less than 20 seconds can occur, the nurse
needs to gather additional information about the newborn's respiratory
status to determine if this finding is indicative of a developing problem.
Therefore, the nurse would need to assess for signs of respiratory
distress. Once this information is obtained, then the nurse can notify the
health care provider or explain that this finding is an expected one.
However, it would be inappropriate to tell the parents not to worry,
because additional information is needed. Also, telling them not to worry
ignores their feelings and is not therapeutic.
●● When assessing a newborn 1 hour after birth, the nurse measures an
axillary temperature of 95.8 degrees F, an apical pulse of 114
beats/minute, and a respiratory rate of 60 breaths/minute. Which nursing
diagnosis takes highest priority?
A) Hypothermia related to heat loss during birthing process
B) Impaired parenting related to addition of new family member
C) Risk for deficient fluid volume related to insensible fluid loss
D) Risk for infection related to transition to extrauterine environment.
Answer: A
The newborn's heart rate is slightly below the accepted range of 120 to
160 beats/minute; the respiratory rate is at the high end of the accepted
range of 30 to 60 breaths per minute. However, the newborn's
PREPARATION 2026 ACCURATE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
●● The nurse encourages the mother of a healthy newborn to put the
newborn to the breast immediately after birth for which reason?
A) To aid in maturing the newborn's sucking
reflex
B) To encourage the development of maternal antibodies
C) To facilitate maternal-infant bonding
D) To enhance the clearing of the newborn's respiratory passages.
Answer: C
Breast-feeding can be initiated immediately after birth. This immediate
mother-newborn contact takes advantage of the newborn's natural
alertness and fosters bonding. This contact also reduces maternal
bleeding and stabilizes the newborn's temperature, blood glucose level,
and respiratory rate. It is not associated with maturing the sucking reflex,
encouraging the development of maternal antibodies, or aiding in
clearing of the newborn's respiratory passages.
●● When making a home visit, the nurse observes a newborn sleeping
on his back in a bassinet. In one corner of the bassinet is a soft stuffed
,animal and at the other end is a bulb syringe. The nurse determines that
the mother needs additional teaching because of which of the following?
A) The newborn should not be sleeping on his back.
B) Stuffed animals should not be in areas where infants sleep.
C) The bulb syringe should not be kept in the bassinet.
D) This newborn should be sleeping in a crib.. Answer: B
The nurse should instruct the mother to remove all fluffy bedding, quilts,
stuffed animals, and pillows from the crib to prevent suffocation.
Newborns and infants should be placed on their backs to sleep. Having
the bulb syringe nearby in the bassinet is appropriate. Although a crib is
the safest sleeping location, a bassinet is appropriate initially.
●● Assessment of a newborn reveals a heart rate of 180 beats/minute. To
determine whether this finding is a common variation rather than a sign
of distress, what else does the nurse need to know?
A) How many hours old is this newborn?
B) How long ago did this newborn eat?
C) What was the newborn's birthweight?
D) Is acrocyanosis present?. Answer: A
The typical heart rate of a newborn ranges from 120 to 160 beats per
minute with wide fluctuation during activity and sleep. Typically heart
rate is assessed every 30 minutes until stable for 2 hours after birth. The
time of the newborn's last feeding and his birthweight would have no
,effect on his heart rate. Acrocyanosis is a common normal finding in
newborns.
●● Just after delivery, a newborn's axillary temperature is 94 degrees F.
What action would be most appropriate?
A) Assess the newborn's gestational age.
B) Rewarm the newborn gradually.
C) Observe the newborn every hour.
D) Notify the physician if the temperature goes lower.. Answer: B
A newborn's temperature is typically maintained at 36.5 to 37.5 degrees
C (97.7 to 99.7 degrees F). Since this newborn's temperature is
significantly lower, the nurse should institute measures to rewarm the
newborn gradually. Assessment of gestational age is completed
regardless of the newborn's temperature. Observation would be
inappropriate because lack of action may lead to a further lowering of
the temperature. The nurse should notify the physician of the newborn's
current temperature since it is outside normal parameters.
●● The parents of a newborn become concerned when they notice that
their baby seems to stop breathing for a few seconds. After confirming
the parents' findings by observing the newborn, which of the following
actions would be most appropriate?
A) Notify the health care provider immediately.
, B) Assess the newborn for signs of respiratory distress.
C) Reassure the parents that this is an expected pattern.
D) Tell the parents not to worry since his color is fine.. Answer: B
Although periods of apnea of less than 20 seconds can occur, the nurse
needs to gather additional information about the newborn's respiratory
status to determine if this finding is indicative of a developing problem.
Therefore, the nurse would need to assess for signs of respiratory
distress. Once this information is obtained, then the nurse can notify the
health care provider or explain that this finding is an expected one.
However, it would be inappropriate to tell the parents not to worry,
because additional information is needed. Also, telling them not to worry
ignores their feelings and is not therapeutic.
●● When assessing a newborn 1 hour after birth, the nurse measures an
axillary temperature of 95.8 degrees F, an apical pulse of 114
beats/minute, and a respiratory rate of 60 breaths/minute. Which nursing
diagnosis takes highest priority?
A) Hypothermia related to heat loss during birthing process
B) Impaired parenting related to addition of new family member
C) Risk for deficient fluid volume related to insensible fluid loss
D) Risk for infection related to transition to extrauterine environment.
Answer: A
The newborn's heart rate is slightly below the accepted range of 120 to
160 beats/minute; the respiratory rate is at the high end of the accepted
range of 30 to 60 breaths per minute. However, the newborn's
