ATI Capstone Maternal Newborn Assessment | 160 Actual Questions &
Detailed Rationales | Latest 2026–2028 Edition | Complete Study Guide for
Proctored Exam | Pass on Your First Attempt | Nursing Maternity Review
with Answers in Bold & Explanations
Coverage Summary
This 160-question practice exam covers every major topic tested on the ATI Capstone
Maternal Newborn proctored assessment, including:
Antepartum – positive signs, Naegeles rule, prenatal labs, GDM, preeclampsia,
Rhogam, fundal height, betamethasone, kick counts
Intrapartum – stages of labor, FHR decelerations (early, late, variable, prolonged),
oxytocin, tachysystole, cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia, VBAC, uterine rupture
Postpartum – fundal assessment, lochia patterns, hemorrhage, mastitis, DVT,
endometritis, postpartum depression vs. psychosis, contraception, cesarean
discharge
Newborn Care – Apgar scoring, vitamin K, hypoglycemia, thermoregulation,
reflexes, jaundice, cephalohematoma, caput succedaneum, circumcision, hearing
screen
High-Risk Complications – HELLP, magnesium sulfate, abruptio placentae,
placenta previa, ectopic pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, amniotic fluid embolism, HIV in
pregnancy
Pharmacology – misoprostol, nifedipine, betamethasone, terbutaline, enoxaparin,
hemabate, magnesium toxicity (calcium gluconate), labetalol, indomethacin,
emergency contraception
Format: Answers in bold | Rationales in italics | 160 unique NCLEX-style questions | No
repeats
Section 1: Antepartum (Questions 1–30)
,1. A nurse is teaching a client about pregnancy confirmation signs. Which finding is
considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A) Amenorrhea
B) Positive pregnancy test
C) Fetal heart tone heard by Doppler
D) Chadwick's sign
Positive signs of pregnancy confirm fetal presence and include fetal heart tones, fetal
movement felt by examiner, and ultrasound visualization. Amenorrhea, positive hCG, and
Chadwick's sign are probable signs (can be caused by other conditions).
2. A client at 10 weeks gestation reports nausea and vomiting. Which recommendation
should the nurse provide?
A) Drink fluids with meals
B) Eat dry crackers before getting out of bed
C) Lie down immediately after eating
D) Increase fatty foods to slow gastric emptying
Dry crackers or toast before rising helps morning sickness by stabilizing blood sugar and
avoiding an empty stomach. Fluids should be taken between meals, not with meals. Lying
down worsens reflux. Fatty foods delay gastric emptying and worsen nausea.
3. A nurse is calculating estimated date of delivery (EDD) using Naegele's rule. A client's
last menstrual period (LMP) was May 10. What is the EDD?
A) February 17
B) February 10
C) March 3
D) March 17
* Naegele's rule: subtract 3 months from LMP, add 7 days. May 10 → subtract 3 months =
February 10 → add 7 days = February 17.*
,4. A nurse is assessing a client at 36 weeks gestation. Which finding should be reported to
the provider?
A) Lower extremity edema
B) Headache with blurred vision
C) Braxton Hicks contractions
D) Heartburn after meals
Headache with blurred vision is a sign of preeclampsia (severe features) and requires
immediate reporting. Mild edema, Braxton Hicks, and heartburn are common in late
pregnancy.
5. A client asks about the purpose of folic acid during pregnancy. Which response is
correct?
A) Prevents maternal anemia
B) Reduces risk of neural tube defects
C) Supports fetal bone development
D) Prevents preterm labor
Folic acid (400–800 mcg daily) significantly reduces neural tube defects (spina bifida,
anencephaly). Iron prevents anemia. Calcium supports bones. Progesterone
supplementation may help prevent preterm labor.
6. A nurse is reviewing lab results for a client at 28 weeks gestation. Which finding is
abnormal?
A) Hemoglobin 11.2 g/dL
B) Platelets 180,000/mm³
C) White blood cell count 25,000/mm³
D) Hematocrit 33%
, * WBC count is normally elevated in pregnancy (up to 16,000/mm³), but 25,000/mm³
suggests infection. Mild anemia (Hgb 11-12) is normal in pregnancy due to hemodilution.
Platelets and Hct are within normal ranges.*
7. A nurse is providing genetic screening counseling. Which client should be offered
amniocentesis?
A) Age 25 with negative family history
B) Age 38 with previous child with Down syndrome
C) Age 30 with one prior miscarriage
D) Age 22 with maternal diabetes
Amniocentesis is offered to women ≥35 years old or those with increased risk for
chromosomal abnormalities (previous affected child, abnormal serum screen).
8. A client at 16 weeks gestation reports quickening for the first time. What is the nurse's
best response?
A) "Report this to your provider immediately"
B) "That is an expected milestone at this stage"
C) "You likely felt gas, not fetal movement"
D) "You should feel movement daily now"
Quickening (first fetal movement felt by mother) typically occurs at 16–20 weeks in
primigravidas and earlier in multigravidas. It is a normal milestone. Daily fetal movement
counts begin around 28 weeks.
9. A nurse is teaching about danger signs in pregnancy. Which symptom requires
immediate reporting?
A) Nausea in first trimester
B) Leg cramps at night
C) Vaginal bleeding with abdominal pain
Detailed Rationales | Latest 2026–2028 Edition | Complete Study Guide for
Proctored Exam | Pass on Your First Attempt | Nursing Maternity Review
with Answers in Bold & Explanations
Coverage Summary
This 160-question practice exam covers every major topic tested on the ATI Capstone
Maternal Newborn proctored assessment, including:
Antepartum – positive signs, Naegeles rule, prenatal labs, GDM, preeclampsia,
Rhogam, fundal height, betamethasone, kick counts
Intrapartum – stages of labor, FHR decelerations (early, late, variable, prolonged),
oxytocin, tachysystole, cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia, VBAC, uterine rupture
Postpartum – fundal assessment, lochia patterns, hemorrhage, mastitis, DVT,
endometritis, postpartum depression vs. psychosis, contraception, cesarean
discharge
Newborn Care – Apgar scoring, vitamin K, hypoglycemia, thermoregulation,
reflexes, jaundice, cephalohematoma, caput succedaneum, circumcision, hearing
screen
High-Risk Complications – HELLP, magnesium sulfate, abruptio placentae,
placenta previa, ectopic pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, amniotic fluid embolism, HIV in
pregnancy
Pharmacology – misoprostol, nifedipine, betamethasone, terbutaline, enoxaparin,
hemabate, magnesium toxicity (calcium gluconate), labetalol, indomethacin,
emergency contraception
Format: Answers in bold | Rationales in italics | 160 unique NCLEX-style questions | No
repeats
Section 1: Antepartum (Questions 1–30)
,1. A nurse is teaching a client about pregnancy confirmation signs. Which finding is
considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A) Amenorrhea
B) Positive pregnancy test
C) Fetal heart tone heard by Doppler
D) Chadwick's sign
Positive signs of pregnancy confirm fetal presence and include fetal heart tones, fetal
movement felt by examiner, and ultrasound visualization. Amenorrhea, positive hCG, and
Chadwick's sign are probable signs (can be caused by other conditions).
2. A client at 10 weeks gestation reports nausea and vomiting. Which recommendation
should the nurse provide?
A) Drink fluids with meals
B) Eat dry crackers before getting out of bed
C) Lie down immediately after eating
D) Increase fatty foods to slow gastric emptying
Dry crackers or toast before rising helps morning sickness by stabilizing blood sugar and
avoiding an empty stomach. Fluids should be taken between meals, not with meals. Lying
down worsens reflux. Fatty foods delay gastric emptying and worsen nausea.
3. A nurse is calculating estimated date of delivery (EDD) using Naegele's rule. A client's
last menstrual period (LMP) was May 10. What is the EDD?
A) February 17
B) February 10
C) March 3
D) March 17
* Naegele's rule: subtract 3 months from LMP, add 7 days. May 10 → subtract 3 months =
February 10 → add 7 days = February 17.*
,4. A nurse is assessing a client at 36 weeks gestation. Which finding should be reported to
the provider?
A) Lower extremity edema
B) Headache with blurred vision
C) Braxton Hicks contractions
D) Heartburn after meals
Headache with blurred vision is a sign of preeclampsia (severe features) and requires
immediate reporting. Mild edema, Braxton Hicks, and heartburn are common in late
pregnancy.
5. A client asks about the purpose of folic acid during pregnancy. Which response is
correct?
A) Prevents maternal anemia
B) Reduces risk of neural tube defects
C) Supports fetal bone development
D) Prevents preterm labor
Folic acid (400–800 mcg daily) significantly reduces neural tube defects (spina bifida,
anencephaly). Iron prevents anemia. Calcium supports bones. Progesterone
supplementation may help prevent preterm labor.
6. A nurse is reviewing lab results for a client at 28 weeks gestation. Which finding is
abnormal?
A) Hemoglobin 11.2 g/dL
B) Platelets 180,000/mm³
C) White blood cell count 25,000/mm³
D) Hematocrit 33%
, * WBC count is normally elevated in pregnancy (up to 16,000/mm³), but 25,000/mm³
suggests infection. Mild anemia (Hgb 11-12) is normal in pregnancy due to hemodilution.
Platelets and Hct are within normal ranges.*
7. A nurse is providing genetic screening counseling. Which client should be offered
amniocentesis?
A) Age 25 with negative family history
B) Age 38 with previous child with Down syndrome
C) Age 30 with one prior miscarriage
D) Age 22 with maternal diabetes
Amniocentesis is offered to women ≥35 years old or those with increased risk for
chromosomal abnormalities (previous affected child, abnormal serum screen).
8. A client at 16 weeks gestation reports quickening for the first time. What is the nurse's
best response?
A) "Report this to your provider immediately"
B) "That is an expected milestone at this stage"
C) "You likely felt gas, not fetal movement"
D) "You should feel movement daily now"
Quickening (first fetal movement felt by mother) typically occurs at 16–20 weeks in
primigravidas and earlier in multigravidas. It is a normal milestone. Daily fetal movement
counts begin around 28 weeks.
9. A nurse is teaching about danger signs in pregnancy. Which symptom requires
immediate reporting?
A) Nausea in first trimester
B) Leg cramps at night
C) Vaginal bleeding with abdominal pain
