ATI MATERNAL NEWBORN PROCTORED EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES. A+ GRADE GUARANTEED(2026)
This exam includes:
• This document is a comprehensive study guide and question bank
for the ATI Maternal Newborn Proctored Examination, a
standardized test used in nursing education to assess a student's
knowledge and readiness to care for childbearing families. The
exam covers the entire spectrum of maternal-newborn nursing,
from preconception through the postpartum period, including care
of the normal newborn.
,ATI MATERNAL NEWBORN PROCTORED EXAM
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 32 wks gestation and is experiencing
preterm labor. What meds should the nurse plan to administer?
Answer: b. betamethasone
Rationale: Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid given to accelerate fetal lung
maturity when preterm delivery (24–34 weeks) is anticipated.
2. A nurse at a prenatal clinic is caring for a client who suspects she may be
pregnant and asks how the provider will confirm her pregnancy. What lab test
will be used?
Answer: a. urine test for presence of HCG
Rationale: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the hormone produced by the
placenta; its detection in urine or serum confirms pregnancy.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who believes she may be pregnant. What finding
should the nurse identify as a positive sign of pregnancy?
Answer: a. palpable fetal movement
Rationale: Positive signs of pregnancy are those directly attributed to the fetus
(e.g., fetal heart tones, fetal movement palpated by examiner, ultrasound
visualization).
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has oligohydramnios. What fetal anomalies
should the nurse expect?
Answer: a. renal agenesis
Rationale: Oligohydramnios is associated with fetal renal anomalies (e.g., renal
agenesis, polycystic kidneys) because amniotic fluid is primarily fetal urine in the
second half of pregnancy.
5. A nurse is assessing a client at 37 wks gestation with suspected pelvic fracture
due to blunt abdominal trauma. What findings should the nurse expect?
Answer: a. uterine contractions
Rationale: Abdominal trauma can irritate the uterus and cause contractions,
which may lead to preterm labor or placental abruption.
6. A nurse is assessing a client at 12 wks gestation with hydatidiform mole.
What findings should the nurse expect?
,Answer: b. dark brown vaginal discharge
Rationale: In molar pregnancy, degenerated chorionic villi form grapelike clusters
that slough off, producing dark brown, prune-juice-like discharge.
7. A nurse is assessing a client at 35 wks with mild gestational HTN. What finding
is the priority?
Answer: a. 480 mL urine output in 24 hrs
Rationale: Minimum acceptable urine output is 30 mL/hr (720 mL/24h). 480
mL/24h indicates oliguria and possible progression to severe preeclampsia.
8. A nurse is teaching a client at 12 wks gestation who has HIV. What statement
should be included?
Answer: d. you should continue to take zidovudine throughout the pregnancy
Rationale: Antiretroviral therapy (including zidovudine) throughout pregnancy
reduces perinatal HIV transmission.
9. A nurse is teaching a client at 8 wks about manifestations to report. What
info should be included?
Answer: b. blurred or double vision
Rationale: Blurred or double vision can indicate preeclampsia, a serious
complication requiring immediate evaluation.
10. A nurse is caring for a client in latent phase labor receiving oxytocin.
Contractions every 2 min lasting 100–110 sec, FHR reassuring. What action?
Answer: a. decrease the dose of oxytocin by half
Rationale: Contractions lasting >90 sec or occurring more frequently than every 2
minutes indicate tachysystole; oxytocin should be reduced.
11. A nurse is caring for a client in active labor with meconium-stained fluid and
reassuring FHR tracing. What action?
Answer: c. prepare equipment needed for newborn resuscitation
Rationale: Meconium can cause respiratory compromise; resuscitation
equipment must be ready at every delivery, especially with meconium.
12. A nurse is reviewing a medical record at 33 wks with placenta previa and
bleeding. Which prescription should be clarified?
Answer: b. perform a vaginal exam
, Rationale: Vaginal manipulation can tear the placenta and provoke catastrophic
hemorrhage in placenta previa.
13. A nurse is caring for a client at 37 wks undergoing a nonstress test (NST).
FHR 130 without accelerations for 10 min. What action?
Answer: d. use vibroacoustic stimulation on the client’s abdomen for 3 seconds
Rationale: Vibroacoustic stimulation often arouses a sleeping fetus, producing
accelerations and avoiding a falsely nonreactive NST.
14. A nurse is reviewing lab results at 37 wks: rubella non-immune, GBS
positive, blood type O neg. What action?
Answer: a. instruct the client to obtain a rubella immunization after delivery
Rationale: Rubella vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy; it is given
postpartum to prevent future congenital rubella.
15. A nurse is reviewing the medical record at 39 wks with polyhydramnios.
What finding should the nurse expect?
Answer: b. fetal GI anomaly
Rationale: Polyhydramnios is associated with fetal GI obstruction (e.g.,
esophageal atresia) and neurologic disorders that impair swallowing.
16. A nurse is teaching a client with preeclampsia about expected adverse
effects of magnesium sulfate. What effect should be included?
Answer: b. feeling of warmth
Rationale: Magnesium sulfate causes peripheral vasodilation, producing a
sensation of warmth or flushing.
17. A nurse is caring for a client in latent phase labor with low back pain. What
action?
Answer: d. apply pressure to the client’s sacral area during contractions
Rationale: Sacral counterpressure helps relieve back pain, especially with a
persistent occiput-posterior fetal position.
18. A nurse is teaching a client at 12 wks about manifestations of potential
complications. What info should be included?
(Question incomplete in text; no answer provided.)
19. A nurse is teaching a client at 10 wks about an abdominal ultrasound in the
first trimester. What info should be included?
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES. A+ GRADE GUARANTEED(2026)
This exam includes:
• This document is a comprehensive study guide and question bank
for the ATI Maternal Newborn Proctored Examination, a
standardized test used in nursing education to assess a student's
knowledge and readiness to care for childbearing families. The
exam covers the entire spectrum of maternal-newborn nursing,
from preconception through the postpartum period, including care
of the normal newborn.
,ATI MATERNAL NEWBORN PROCTORED EXAM
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 32 wks gestation and is experiencing
preterm labor. What meds should the nurse plan to administer?
Answer: b. betamethasone
Rationale: Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid given to accelerate fetal lung
maturity when preterm delivery (24–34 weeks) is anticipated.
2. A nurse at a prenatal clinic is caring for a client who suspects she may be
pregnant and asks how the provider will confirm her pregnancy. What lab test
will be used?
Answer: a. urine test for presence of HCG
Rationale: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the hormone produced by the
placenta; its detection in urine or serum confirms pregnancy.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who believes she may be pregnant. What finding
should the nurse identify as a positive sign of pregnancy?
Answer: a. palpable fetal movement
Rationale: Positive signs of pregnancy are those directly attributed to the fetus
(e.g., fetal heart tones, fetal movement palpated by examiner, ultrasound
visualization).
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has oligohydramnios. What fetal anomalies
should the nurse expect?
Answer: a. renal agenesis
Rationale: Oligohydramnios is associated with fetal renal anomalies (e.g., renal
agenesis, polycystic kidneys) because amniotic fluid is primarily fetal urine in the
second half of pregnancy.
5. A nurse is assessing a client at 37 wks gestation with suspected pelvic fracture
due to blunt abdominal trauma. What findings should the nurse expect?
Answer: a. uterine contractions
Rationale: Abdominal trauma can irritate the uterus and cause contractions,
which may lead to preterm labor or placental abruption.
6. A nurse is assessing a client at 12 wks gestation with hydatidiform mole.
What findings should the nurse expect?
,Answer: b. dark brown vaginal discharge
Rationale: In molar pregnancy, degenerated chorionic villi form grapelike clusters
that slough off, producing dark brown, prune-juice-like discharge.
7. A nurse is assessing a client at 35 wks with mild gestational HTN. What finding
is the priority?
Answer: a. 480 mL urine output in 24 hrs
Rationale: Minimum acceptable urine output is 30 mL/hr (720 mL/24h). 480
mL/24h indicates oliguria and possible progression to severe preeclampsia.
8. A nurse is teaching a client at 12 wks gestation who has HIV. What statement
should be included?
Answer: d. you should continue to take zidovudine throughout the pregnancy
Rationale: Antiretroviral therapy (including zidovudine) throughout pregnancy
reduces perinatal HIV transmission.
9. A nurse is teaching a client at 8 wks about manifestations to report. What
info should be included?
Answer: b. blurred or double vision
Rationale: Blurred or double vision can indicate preeclampsia, a serious
complication requiring immediate evaluation.
10. A nurse is caring for a client in latent phase labor receiving oxytocin.
Contractions every 2 min lasting 100–110 sec, FHR reassuring. What action?
Answer: a. decrease the dose of oxytocin by half
Rationale: Contractions lasting >90 sec or occurring more frequently than every 2
minutes indicate tachysystole; oxytocin should be reduced.
11. A nurse is caring for a client in active labor with meconium-stained fluid and
reassuring FHR tracing. What action?
Answer: c. prepare equipment needed for newborn resuscitation
Rationale: Meconium can cause respiratory compromise; resuscitation
equipment must be ready at every delivery, especially with meconium.
12. A nurse is reviewing a medical record at 33 wks with placenta previa and
bleeding. Which prescription should be clarified?
Answer: b. perform a vaginal exam
, Rationale: Vaginal manipulation can tear the placenta and provoke catastrophic
hemorrhage in placenta previa.
13. A nurse is caring for a client at 37 wks undergoing a nonstress test (NST).
FHR 130 without accelerations for 10 min. What action?
Answer: d. use vibroacoustic stimulation on the client’s abdomen for 3 seconds
Rationale: Vibroacoustic stimulation often arouses a sleeping fetus, producing
accelerations and avoiding a falsely nonreactive NST.
14. A nurse is reviewing lab results at 37 wks: rubella non-immune, GBS
positive, blood type O neg. What action?
Answer: a. instruct the client to obtain a rubella immunization after delivery
Rationale: Rubella vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy; it is given
postpartum to prevent future congenital rubella.
15. A nurse is reviewing the medical record at 39 wks with polyhydramnios.
What finding should the nurse expect?
Answer: b. fetal GI anomaly
Rationale: Polyhydramnios is associated with fetal GI obstruction (e.g.,
esophageal atresia) and neurologic disorders that impair swallowing.
16. A nurse is teaching a client with preeclampsia about expected adverse
effects of magnesium sulfate. What effect should be included?
Answer: b. feeling of warmth
Rationale: Magnesium sulfate causes peripheral vasodilation, producing a
sensation of warmth or flushing.
17. A nurse is caring for a client in latent phase labor with low back pain. What
action?
Answer: d. apply pressure to the client’s sacral area during contractions
Rationale: Sacral counterpressure helps relieve back pain, especially with a
persistent occiput-posterior fetal position.
18. A nurse is teaching a client at 12 wks about manifestations of potential
complications. What info should be included?
(Question incomplete in text; no answer provided.)
19. A nurse is teaching a client at 10 wks about an abdominal ultrasound in the
first trimester. What info should be included?
