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ATI RN MATERNAL NEWBORN QUESTIONS AND
RATIONALE EXAM COMPREHENSIVE 2026 QUESTIONS
EXAM LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VERIFIED 100 %
A nurse is reviewing the med record of a client who is at 39 wks gestation and
has polyhydramnios. What finding should the nurse expect?
a. total pregnancy wt gain of 3.6 kg
b. fetal GI anomaly
c. gestational HTN
d. fundal height of 34 cm
b. fetal GI anomaly
Polyhydramnios is the presence of excessive amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn
fetus. Gastrointestinal malformations and neurologic disorders are expected findings
for a fetus experiencing the effects of polyhydramnios.
A nurse is teaching a client who has pre-eclampsia and is to receive
magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion about expected adverse effects.
What adverse effects should the nurse include in the teaching?
a. elevated BP
b. feeling of warmth
c. generalized pruritis
d. hyperactivity
b. feeling of warmth
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The nurse should tell the client to expect the feeling of warmth all over her body
while the magnesium sulfate is infusing.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in the latent phase of labor and is
experiencing low back pain. What action should the nurse take?
a. position the client supine with legs elevated
b. instruct the client to pant during contractions
c. encourage the client to soak in a warm bath
d. apply pressure to the client's sacral area during contractions
d. apply pressure to the client's sacral area during contractions
A nurse is teaching a client who is at 12 wks gestation about manifestations of
potential complications that she should report to her provider. What info
should the nurse include in the teaching?
a. intermittent nausea
b. white vaginal discharge
c. swelling of the face
d. urinary frequency
c. swelling of the face
A nurse is teaching a client who is at 10 wks gestation about an abd.
ultrasound in the first trimester. What info should the nurse include in the
teaching?
a. you will need to have a full bladder during the ultrasound
b. you will have a non stress test prior to the ultrasound
c. the ultrasound will determine the length of your cervix
d. you will experience uterine cramping during the ultrasound
a. you will need to have a full bladder during the ultrasound
MY ANSWER
The nurse should tell the client that a full bladder helps to lift the gravid uterus out of
the pelvis during the examination. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the client
has a full bladder to obtain the most accurate image of the fetus.
A nurse is assessing a client who is 34 wks gestation and has mild placental
abruption. What finding should the nurse expect?
a. decreased urinary output
b. fetal distress
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c. dark red vaginal bleeding
d. increased platelet count
c. dark red vaginal bleeding
The nurse should expect the client who has a mild placental abruption to have
minimal dark red vaginal bleeding.
A nurse is caring for a client whose last menstrual period began july 8. Using
Nageles rule, the nurse should identify the client's estimated DOB as what?
a. oct 15
b. april 15
c. oct 1
d. april 1
b. april 15
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 39 wks gestation and is in the active
phase of labor. The nurse observes late decels in the FHR. What finding
should the nurse identify as the cause of late decels?
a. umbilical cord compression
b. fetal head compression
c. uteroplacental insufficiency
d. fetal ventricular septal defect
c. uteroplacental insufficiency
A nurse is assessing a client who is at 35 wks gestation and is receiving
magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion for severe pre-eclampsia. What
finding should the nurse report to the provider?
a. DTR 2+
b. resp 16
c. BP 150/96
d. urinary output 20 mL/hr
d. urinary output 20 mL/hr
The nurse should report a urinary output of 20 mL/hr because this can indicate
inadequate renal perfusion, increasing the risk of magnesium sulfate toxicity. A
decrease in urinary output can also indicate a decrease in renal perfusion secondary
to a worsening of the client's pre-eclampsia.
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A nurse is teaching a client who is at 13 wks gestation about the treatment of
incompetent cervix with cervical cerclage. What statement by the client
indicates an understanding of teaching?
a. I should go to the hospital if I think I may be in labor
b. I should expect bright red bleeding while the cerclage is in place
c. I am sad that I won't be able to get pregnant again
d. I can resume having sex as soon as I feel up to it
a. I should go to the hospital if I think I may be in labor
Cervical cerclage prevents premature opening of the cervix during pregnancy. The
client should immediately go to a facility for evaluation if she experiences any
manifestations of labor while the cerclage is in place. If the client experiences
preterm uterine contractions she might require tocolytic therapy.
A nurse is admitting a client who is in labor and experiencing moderate bright
red vaginal bleeding. What action should the nurse take?
a. obtain blood samples for baseline lab values
b. place a spiral electrode on the fetal presenting part
c. prepare the client for a transvaginal ultrasound
d. perform a vaginal exam to determine cervical dilation
a. obtain blood samples for baseline lab values
The nurse should obtain samples of the client's blood for baseline testing of
hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 38 wks of gestation and reports no fetal
movement for 24 hr. What action should the nurse take?
a. auscultate for a FHR
b. reassure the client that a term fetus is less active
c. have the client drink orange juice
d. palpate the uterus for fetal movement
a. auscultate for a FHR
Presence of a fetal heart rate is a reassuring manifestation of fetal well-being. The
nurse should auscultate for the fetal heart rate using a Doppler device or an external
fetal monitor. This is the priority nursing action.
ATI RN MATERNAL NEWBORN QUESTIONS AND
RATIONALE EXAM COMPREHENSIVE 2026 QUESTIONS
EXAM LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VERIFIED 100 %
A nurse is reviewing the med record of a client who is at 39 wks gestation and
has polyhydramnios. What finding should the nurse expect?
a. total pregnancy wt gain of 3.6 kg
b. fetal GI anomaly
c. gestational HTN
d. fundal height of 34 cm
b. fetal GI anomaly
Polyhydramnios is the presence of excessive amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn
fetus. Gastrointestinal malformations and neurologic disorders are expected findings
for a fetus experiencing the effects of polyhydramnios.
A nurse is teaching a client who has pre-eclampsia and is to receive
magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion about expected adverse effects.
What adverse effects should the nurse include in the teaching?
a. elevated BP
b. feeling of warmth
c. generalized pruritis
d. hyperactivity
b. feeling of warmth
, Page 2 of 57
The nurse should tell the client to expect the feeling of warmth all over her body
while the magnesium sulfate is infusing.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in the latent phase of labor and is
experiencing low back pain. What action should the nurse take?
a. position the client supine with legs elevated
b. instruct the client to pant during contractions
c. encourage the client to soak in a warm bath
d. apply pressure to the client's sacral area during contractions
d. apply pressure to the client's sacral area during contractions
A nurse is teaching a client who is at 12 wks gestation about manifestations of
potential complications that she should report to her provider. What info
should the nurse include in the teaching?
a. intermittent nausea
b. white vaginal discharge
c. swelling of the face
d. urinary frequency
c. swelling of the face
A nurse is teaching a client who is at 10 wks gestation about an abd.
ultrasound in the first trimester. What info should the nurse include in the
teaching?
a. you will need to have a full bladder during the ultrasound
b. you will have a non stress test prior to the ultrasound
c. the ultrasound will determine the length of your cervix
d. you will experience uterine cramping during the ultrasound
a. you will need to have a full bladder during the ultrasound
MY ANSWER
The nurse should tell the client that a full bladder helps to lift the gravid uterus out of
the pelvis during the examination. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the client
has a full bladder to obtain the most accurate image of the fetus.
A nurse is assessing a client who is 34 wks gestation and has mild placental
abruption. What finding should the nurse expect?
a. decreased urinary output
b. fetal distress
, Page 3 of 57
c. dark red vaginal bleeding
d. increased platelet count
c. dark red vaginal bleeding
The nurse should expect the client who has a mild placental abruption to have
minimal dark red vaginal bleeding.
A nurse is caring for a client whose last menstrual period began july 8. Using
Nageles rule, the nurse should identify the client's estimated DOB as what?
a. oct 15
b. april 15
c. oct 1
d. april 1
b. april 15
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 39 wks gestation and is in the active
phase of labor. The nurse observes late decels in the FHR. What finding
should the nurse identify as the cause of late decels?
a. umbilical cord compression
b. fetal head compression
c. uteroplacental insufficiency
d. fetal ventricular septal defect
c. uteroplacental insufficiency
A nurse is assessing a client who is at 35 wks gestation and is receiving
magnesium sulfate via continuous IV infusion for severe pre-eclampsia. What
finding should the nurse report to the provider?
a. DTR 2+
b. resp 16
c. BP 150/96
d. urinary output 20 mL/hr
d. urinary output 20 mL/hr
The nurse should report a urinary output of 20 mL/hr because this can indicate
inadequate renal perfusion, increasing the risk of magnesium sulfate toxicity. A
decrease in urinary output can also indicate a decrease in renal perfusion secondary
to a worsening of the client's pre-eclampsia.
, Page 4 of 57
A nurse is teaching a client who is at 13 wks gestation about the treatment of
incompetent cervix with cervical cerclage. What statement by the client
indicates an understanding of teaching?
a. I should go to the hospital if I think I may be in labor
b. I should expect bright red bleeding while the cerclage is in place
c. I am sad that I won't be able to get pregnant again
d. I can resume having sex as soon as I feel up to it
a. I should go to the hospital if I think I may be in labor
Cervical cerclage prevents premature opening of the cervix during pregnancy. The
client should immediately go to a facility for evaluation if she experiences any
manifestations of labor while the cerclage is in place. If the client experiences
preterm uterine contractions she might require tocolytic therapy.
A nurse is admitting a client who is in labor and experiencing moderate bright
red vaginal bleeding. What action should the nurse take?
a. obtain blood samples for baseline lab values
b. place a spiral electrode on the fetal presenting part
c. prepare the client for a transvaginal ultrasound
d. perform a vaginal exam to determine cervical dilation
a. obtain blood samples for baseline lab values
The nurse should obtain samples of the client's blood for baseline testing of
hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 38 wks of gestation and reports no fetal
movement for 24 hr. What action should the nurse take?
a. auscultate for a FHR
b. reassure the client that a term fetus is less active
c. have the client drink orange juice
d. palpate the uterus for fetal movement
a. auscultate for a FHR
Presence of a fetal heart rate is a reassuring manifestation of fetal well-being. The
nurse should auscultate for the fetal heart rate using a Doppler device or an external
fetal monitor. This is the priority nursing action.
