MATERNITY ACTUAL TEST PAPER 2026
FULL ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who is 24 hours
postpartum. The nurse explains to the client that her vaginal discharge
will change from red to pink and then to white. The client asks, "What if
I start having red bleeding after it changes?" What should the nurse
instruct the client to do?
a. Reduce activity level and notify the healthcare provider
b. Go to bed and assume a knee-chest position
c. Massage the uterus and go to the emergency room
d. Do not worry as this is a normal occurrence.
Answer: a. Reduce activity level and notify the healthcare provider
Lochia should progress in stages from rubra (red) to serosa (pinkish) to
alba (whitish), and not return to red. The return to rubra usually indicates
subinvolution of infection.
⩥ A pregnant client with mitral stenosis Class III is prescribed complete
bedrest. The client asks the nurse, "Why must I stay in bed all the time?"
Which response is best for the nurse to provide this client?
a. Complete bedrest decreases oxygen needs and demands on the heart
muscle
,b. We want your baby to be healthy, and this is the only way we can
make sure that will happen again
c. I know you're upset. Would you like to talk about somethings you
could so while in bed?
d. Labor is difficult and you need to use this time to rest before you have
to assume all child-caring duties.
Answer: a. Complete bedrest decreases oxygen needs and demands on
the heart muscle tissue
To help preserve cardiac reserves, the woman may need to restrict her
activities and complete bedrest is often prescribes (A).
⩥ A pregnant woman comes to the prenatal clinic for an initial visit. In
reviewing her childbearing history, the client indicated that she has
delivered premature twins, one full-term baby, and has had no abortions.
Which GTPAL should the nurse document in this client's record?
a. 3-1-2-0-3
b. 4-1-2-0-3
c. 2-1-2-1-2
d. 3-1-1-0-3.
Answer: d. 3-1-1-0-3
(D) describes the correct GTPAL. The client has been pregnant 3 times
including the current pregnancy (G-3). She had one full-term infant (T-
1). She also had a preterm (P-1) twin pregnancy (a multifetal gestation is
,considered one birth when calculating parity). There were no abortions
(A-0), so this client has a total of 3 living children.
⩥ A client at 32-weeks gestation comes to the prenatal clinic with
complaints of pedal edema, dyspnea, fatigue, and a moist cough. Which
question is most important for the nurse to ask this client?
a. Which symptom did you experience first?
b. Are you eating large amounts of salty foods?
c. Have you visited a foreign country recently?
d. Do you have a history of rheumatic fever?.
Answer: d. Do you have a history of rheumatic fever?
Clients with a history of rheumatic fever (D) may develop mitral valve
prolapse, which increases the risk for cardiac decompensation due to the
increased blood volume that occurs during pregnancy, so obtaining
information about the client's health history is priority.
⩥ A 35-year-old primigravida client with severe preeclampsia is
receiving magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion. Which
assessment data indicates to the nurse that the client is experiencing
magnesium sulfate toxicity?
a. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
b. Blood pressure 140/90
c. Respiratory rate 18/minute
, d. Urine output 90 ml/4 hours.
Answer: d. Urine output 90 ml/4 hours
Urine outputs of less than 100 ml/4 hours (D), absent DTRs, and a
respiratory rate of less than 12 breaths/minute are cardinal signs of
magnesium sulfate toxicity
⩥ A client is admitted with the diagnosis of total placenta previa. Which
finding is most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare
provider immediately?
a. Heart rate of 100 beats/minute
b. Variable fetal heart rate
c. Onset of uterine contractions
d. Burning urination.
Answer: c. Onset of uterine contractions
Total (complete) placenta previa involves the placenta covering the
entire cerviccal os (opening). The onset of uterine contractions (C)
places the client at risk for dilation and placental separation, which
causes painless hemorrhaging.
⩥ Client teaching is an important part of the maternity nurse's role.
Which factor has the greatest influence on successful teaching of the
gravid client?
FULL ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who is 24 hours
postpartum. The nurse explains to the client that her vaginal discharge
will change from red to pink and then to white. The client asks, "What if
I start having red bleeding after it changes?" What should the nurse
instruct the client to do?
a. Reduce activity level and notify the healthcare provider
b. Go to bed and assume a knee-chest position
c. Massage the uterus and go to the emergency room
d. Do not worry as this is a normal occurrence.
Answer: a. Reduce activity level and notify the healthcare provider
Lochia should progress in stages from rubra (red) to serosa (pinkish) to
alba (whitish), and not return to red. The return to rubra usually indicates
subinvolution of infection.
⩥ A pregnant client with mitral stenosis Class III is prescribed complete
bedrest. The client asks the nurse, "Why must I stay in bed all the time?"
Which response is best for the nurse to provide this client?
a. Complete bedrest decreases oxygen needs and demands on the heart
muscle
,b. We want your baby to be healthy, and this is the only way we can
make sure that will happen again
c. I know you're upset. Would you like to talk about somethings you
could so while in bed?
d. Labor is difficult and you need to use this time to rest before you have
to assume all child-caring duties.
Answer: a. Complete bedrest decreases oxygen needs and demands on
the heart muscle tissue
To help preserve cardiac reserves, the woman may need to restrict her
activities and complete bedrest is often prescribes (A).
⩥ A pregnant woman comes to the prenatal clinic for an initial visit. In
reviewing her childbearing history, the client indicated that she has
delivered premature twins, one full-term baby, and has had no abortions.
Which GTPAL should the nurse document in this client's record?
a. 3-1-2-0-3
b. 4-1-2-0-3
c. 2-1-2-1-2
d. 3-1-1-0-3.
Answer: d. 3-1-1-0-3
(D) describes the correct GTPAL. The client has been pregnant 3 times
including the current pregnancy (G-3). She had one full-term infant (T-
1). She also had a preterm (P-1) twin pregnancy (a multifetal gestation is
,considered one birth when calculating parity). There were no abortions
(A-0), so this client has a total of 3 living children.
⩥ A client at 32-weeks gestation comes to the prenatal clinic with
complaints of pedal edema, dyspnea, fatigue, and a moist cough. Which
question is most important for the nurse to ask this client?
a. Which symptom did you experience first?
b. Are you eating large amounts of salty foods?
c. Have you visited a foreign country recently?
d. Do you have a history of rheumatic fever?.
Answer: d. Do you have a history of rheumatic fever?
Clients with a history of rheumatic fever (D) may develop mitral valve
prolapse, which increases the risk for cardiac decompensation due to the
increased blood volume that occurs during pregnancy, so obtaining
information about the client's health history is priority.
⩥ A 35-year-old primigravida client with severe preeclampsia is
receiving magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion. Which
assessment data indicates to the nurse that the client is experiencing
magnesium sulfate toxicity?
a. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
b. Blood pressure 140/90
c. Respiratory rate 18/minute
, d. Urine output 90 ml/4 hours.
Answer: d. Urine output 90 ml/4 hours
Urine outputs of less than 100 ml/4 hours (D), absent DTRs, and a
respiratory rate of less than 12 breaths/minute are cardinal signs of
magnesium sulfate toxicity
⩥ A client is admitted with the diagnosis of total placenta previa. Which
finding is most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare
provider immediately?
a. Heart rate of 100 beats/minute
b. Variable fetal heart rate
c. Onset of uterine contractions
d. Burning urination.
Answer: c. Onset of uterine contractions
Total (complete) placenta previa involves the placenta covering the
entire cerviccal os (opening). The onset of uterine contractions (C)
places the client at risk for dilation and placental separation, which
causes painless hemorrhaging.
⩥ Client teaching is an important part of the maternity nurse's role.
Which factor has the greatest influence on successful teaching of the
gravid client?
