NUR 230: Maternal & Pediatric Nursing - OB Pharmacology High Yield
Review 2026 |Galen College
1. A nurse is preparing to administer oxytocin for labor induction. Which of the
following is the most important assessment before increasing the infusion rate?
A. Maternal temperature
B. Maternal serum glucose levels
C. Maternal deep tendon reflexes
D. Fetal heart rate and contraction pattern
Answer: D
Rationale: Oxytocin can cause uterine tachysystole and fetal distress; continuous
monitoring of the fetal heart rate and uterine activity is mandatory for titration.
2. A patient with preeclampsia is receiving Magnesium Sulfate. Which finding
should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
A. Deep tendon reflexes of 2+
B. Respiratory rate of 14 breaths/min
C. Feeling of warmth during the bolus
D. Urinary output of 20 mL/hr
Answer: D
Rationale: A urine output of less than 30 mL/hr is a sign of renal impairment, which can
lead to Magnesium Sulfate toxicity as it is excreted by the kidneys.
,3. Which medication should the nurse have readily available as an antidote for
Magnesium Sulfate toxicity?
A. Naloxone
B. Calcium Gluconate
C. Terbutaline
D. Protamine Sulfate
Answer: B
Rationale: Calcium Gluconate is the specific antagonist for magnesium toxicity to reverse
respiratory depression and cardiac effects.
4. A nurse is caring for a client at 30 weeks gestation who is in preterm labor.
Which medication should the nurse expect to administer to accelerate fetal lung
maturity?
A. Nifedipine
B. Indomethacin
C. Betamethasone
D. Misoprostol
Answer: C
Rationale: Betamethasone is a corticosteroid given IM to the mother to stimulate
surfactant production in the preterm fetus.
5. A client is experiencing postpartum hemorrhage. Which of the following
medications is contraindicated because the patient has a history of asthma?
A. Oxytocin
B. Methylergonovine
C. Misoprostol
D. Carboprost Tromethamine
Answer: D
, Rationale: Carboprost (Hemabate) can cause severe bronchoconstriction and is
contraindicated in patients with asthma.
6. Before administering Methylergonovine (Methergine) for postpartum
hemorrhage, which assessment is the nurse’s priority?
A. Blood pressure
B. Uterine consistency
C. Temperature
D. Respiratory rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Methylergonovine can cause significant hypertension and is contraindicated in
clients with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension.
7. Terbutaline is ordered for a client to stop preterm contractions. Which
maternal side effect should the nurse monitor for?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Tachycardia
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Terbutaline is a beta-adrenergic agonist that commonly causes maternal and
fetal tachycardia, palpitations, and tremors.
8. A nurse is administering Vitamin K (Phytonadione) to a newborn. What is the
rationale for this medication?
A. To prevent ophthalmia neonatorum
B. To prevent hemorrhagic disease of the newborn
C. To stimulate the production of red blood cells
D. To provide immunity against Hepatitis B
Answer: B
Review 2026 |Galen College
1. A nurse is preparing to administer oxytocin for labor induction. Which of the
following is the most important assessment before increasing the infusion rate?
A. Maternal temperature
B. Maternal serum glucose levels
C. Maternal deep tendon reflexes
D. Fetal heart rate and contraction pattern
Answer: D
Rationale: Oxytocin can cause uterine tachysystole and fetal distress; continuous
monitoring of the fetal heart rate and uterine activity is mandatory for titration.
2. A patient with preeclampsia is receiving Magnesium Sulfate. Which finding
should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
A. Deep tendon reflexes of 2+
B. Respiratory rate of 14 breaths/min
C. Feeling of warmth during the bolus
D. Urinary output of 20 mL/hr
Answer: D
Rationale: A urine output of less than 30 mL/hr is a sign of renal impairment, which can
lead to Magnesium Sulfate toxicity as it is excreted by the kidneys.
,3. Which medication should the nurse have readily available as an antidote for
Magnesium Sulfate toxicity?
A. Naloxone
B. Calcium Gluconate
C. Terbutaline
D. Protamine Sulfate
Answer: B
Rationale: Calcium Gluconate is the specific antagonist for magnesium toxicity to reverse
respiratory depression and cardiac effects.
4. A nurse is caring for a client at 30 weeks gestation who is in preterm labor.
Which medication should the nurse expect to administer to accelerate fetal lung
maturity?
A. Nifedipine
B. Indomethacin
C. Betamethasone
D. Misoprostol
Answer: C
Rationale: Betamethasone is a corticosteroid given IM to the mother to stimulate
surfactant production in the preterm fetus.
5. A client is experiencing postpartum hemorrhage. Which of the following
medications is contraindicated because the patient has a history of asthma?
A. Oxytocin
B. Methylergonovine
C. Misoprostol
D. Carboprost Tromethamine
Answer: D
, Rationale: Carboprost (Hemabate) can cause severe bronchoconstriction and is
contraindicated in patients with asthma.
6. Before administering Methylergonovine (Methergine) for postpartum
hemorrhage, which assessment is the nurse’s priority?
A. Blood pressure
B. Uterine consistency
C. Temperature
D. Respiratory rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Methylergonovine can cause significant hypertension and is contraindicated in
clients with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension.
7. Terbutaline is ordered for a client to stop preterm contractions. Which
maternal side effect should the nurse monitor for?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Tachycardia
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Terbutaline is a beta-adrenergic agonist that commonly causes maternal and
fetal tachycardia, palpitations, and tremors.
8. A nurse is administering Vitamin K (Phytonadione) to a newborn. What is the
rationale for this medication?
A. To prevent ophthalmia neonatorum
B. To prevent hemorrhagic disease of the newborn
C. To stimulate the production of red blood cells
D. To provide immunity against Hepatitis B
Answer: B
