NU 170 EXAM 3: MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING
STUDY GUIDE 2026 | GALEN COLLEGE |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, KEY CONCEPTS &
HIGH-YIELD REVIEW
• This 200-question practice exam covers high-yield Maternal-Child Nursing topics
to help you master NU 170 Exam 3 — work through each question actively, review
every EXPERT RATIONALE carefully, and flag questions you get wrong for focused
re-study.
• Each question includes 5 options (A–E), a clearly marked correct answer with bold
highlighting, and a EXPERT RATIONALE placed directly below to reinforce your
clinical reasoning.
NU 170 EXAM 3 — MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING
GALEN COLLEGE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026
UNIT 1: ANTEPARTUM CARE
1. A nurse is caring for a client at 10 weeks gestation who reports nausea and
vomiting every morning. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Administer IV fluids immediately
B. Recommend the client stop eating solid foods
C. Encourage the client to avoid prenatal vitamins entirely
D. Advise the client to eat small, frequent, bland meals and take prenatal
vitamins at bedtime
E. Instruct the client to fast until nausea subsides
Correct Answer: D. Advise the client to eat small, frequent, bland meals and take
prenatal vitamins at bedtime
, EXPERT RATIONALE: Morning sickness is common in the first trimester. Small,
frequent bland meals help reduce nausea. Taking prenatal vitamins at bedtime
reduces gastric irritation. IV fluids are reserved for hyperemesis gravidarum.
2. A primigravida at 12 weeks gestation asks when she will first feel fetal
movement. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "You should feel movement by 8 weeks."
B. "Fetal movement begins at 20 weeks for all women."
C. "You will feel movement only after 30 weeks."
D. "Most first-time mothers feel fetal movement between 18 and 20 weeks
gestation."
E. "You may feel movement as early as 6 weeks."
Correct Answer: D. "Most first-time mothers feel fetal movement between 18
and 20 weeks gestation."
EXPERT RATIONALE: Quickening (first fetal movement felt by the mother)
typically occurs between 16–20 weeks in multigravidas and 18–20 weeks in
primigravidas. It is not felt as early as 6–8 weeks.
3. Which finding during a first prenatal visit requires immediate follow-up by
the nurse?
A. Blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg
B. Mild ankle edema
C. Blood pressure of 158/96 mmHg
D. Weight gain of 2 pounds in the first trimester
E. Mild fatigue and frequent urination
Correct Answer: C. Blood pressure of 158/96 mmHg
, EXPERT RATIONALE: A BP of 158/96 meets the criteria for severe-range
hypertension in pregnancy and warrants immediate evaluation for preeclampsia.
Normal BP in pregnancy should be below 140/90 mmHg.
4. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about Nagele's rule. The client's last
menstrual period was July 10. What is the estimated date of delivery?
A. March 17
B. April 17
C. May 10
D. June 3
E. March 3
Correct Answer: B. April 17
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nagele's rule: subtract 3 months from LMP, add 7 days,
adjust the year. July 10 − 3 months = April 10 + 7 days = April 17.
5. A pregnant client at 28 weeks is scheduled for a glucose challenge test. The
result is 152 mg/dL. What is the nurse's next action?
A. Reassure the client that the result is normal
B. Immediately administer insulin
C. Repeat the test in 4 weeks
D. Notify the provider and prepare the client for a 3-hour glucose tolerance
test
E. Place the client on a diabetic diet without further testing
Correct Answer: D. Notify the provider and prepare the client for a 3-hour
glucose tolerance test
, EXPERT RATIONALE: A 1-hour GCT result ≥140 mg/dL is considered abnormal
and requires follow-up with a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to confirm
or rule out gestational diabetes.
6. Which vitamin supplementation is most critical in early pregnancy to
prevent neural tube defects?
A. Vitamin C
B. Vitamin D
C. Vitamin B12
D. Folic acid
E. Iron
Correct Answer: D. Folic acid
EXPERT RATIONALE: Folic acid (400–800 mcg daily) before conception and in
the first trimester significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina
bifida and anencephaly.
7. A nurse is performing Leopold's maneuvers. In the first maneuver, the
nurse palpates a soft, irregular mass at the fundus. This finding indicates:
A. The fetal head is at the fundus
B. The fetal buttocks are at the fundus, suggesting a vertex presentation
C. The fetus is in a transverse lie
D. The fetus is in a face presentation
E. The placenta is at the fundus
Correct Answer: B. The fetal buttocks are at the fundus, suggesting a vertex
presentation
STUDY GUIDE 2026 | GALEN COLLEGE |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, KEY CONCEPTS &
HIGH-YIELD REVIEW
• This 200-question practice exam covers high-yield Maternal-Child Nursing topics
to help you master NU 170 Exam 3 — work through each question actively, review
every EXPERT RATIONALE carefully, and flag questions you get wrong for focused
re-study.
• Each question includes 5 options (A–E), a clearly marked correct answer with bold
highlighting, and a EXPERT RATIONALE placed directly below to reinforce your
clinical reasoning.
NU 170 EXAM 3 — MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING
GALEN COLLEGE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026
UNIT 1: ANTEPARTUM CARE
1. A nurse is caring for a client at 10 weeks gestation who reports nausea and
vomiting every morning. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Administer IV fluids immediately
B. Recommend the client stop eating solid foods
C. Encourage the client to avoid prenatal vitamins entirely
D. Advise the client to eat small, frequent, bland meals and take prenatal
vitamins at bedtime
E. Instruct the client to fast until nausea subsides
Correct Answer: D. Advise the client to eat small, frequent, bland meals and take
prenatal vitamins at bedtime
, EXPERT RATIONALE: Morning sickness is common in the first trimester. Small,
frequent bland meals help reduce nausea. Taking prenatal vitamins at bedtime
reduces gastric irritation. IV fluids are reserved for hyperemesis gravidarum.
2. A primigravida at 12 weeks gestation asks when she will first feel fetal
movement. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "You should feel movement by 8 weeks."
B. "Fetal movement begins at 20 weeks for all women."
C. "You will feel movement only after 30 weeks."
D. "Most first-time mothers feel fetal movement between 18 and 20 weeks
gestation."
E. "You may feel movement as early as 6 weeks."
Correct Answer: D. "Most first-time mothers feel fetal movement between 18
and 20 weeks gestation."
EXPERT RATIONALE: Quickening (first fetal movement felt by the mother)
typically occurs between 16–20 weeks in multigravidas and 18–20 weeks in
primigravidas. It is not felt as early as 6–8 weeks.
3. Which finding during a first prenatal visit requires immediate follow-up by
the nurse?
A. Blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg
B. Mild ankle edema
C. Blood pressure of 158/96 mmHg
D. Weight gain of 2 pounds in the first trimester
E. Mild fatigue and frequent urination
Correct Answer: C. Blood pressure of 158/96 mmHg
, EXPERT RATIONALE: A BP of 158/96 meets the criteria for severe-range
hypertension in pregnancy and warrants immediate evaluation for preeclampsia.
Normal BP in pregnancy should be below 140/90 mmHg.
4. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about Nagele's rule. The client's last
menstrual period was July 10. What is the estimated date of delivery?
A. March 17
B. April 17
C. May 10
D. June 3
E. March 3
Correct Answer: B. April 17
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nagele's rule: subtract 3 months from LMP, add 7 days,
adjust the year. July 10 − 3 months = April 10 + 7 days = April 17.
5. A pregnant client at 28 weeks is scheduled for a glucose challenge test. The
result is 152 mg/dL. What is the nurse's next action?
A. Reassure the client that the result is normal
B. Immediately administer insulin
C. Repeat the test in 4 weeks
D. Notify the provider and prepare the client for a 3-hour glucose tolerance
test
E. Place the client on a diabetic diet without further testing
Correct Answer: D. Notify the provider and prepare the client for a 3-hour
glucose tolerance test
, EXPERT RATIONALE: A 1-hour GCT result ≥140 mg/dL is considered abnormal
and requires follow-up with a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to confirm
or rule out gestational diabetes.
6. Which vitamin supplementation is most critical in early pregnancy to
prevent neural tube defects?
A. Vitamin C
B. Vitamin D
C. Vitamin B12
D. Folic acid
E. Iron
Correct Answer: D. Folic acid
EXPERT RATIONALE: Folic acid (400–800 mcg daily) before conception and in
the first trimester significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina
bifida and anencephaly.
7. A nurse is performing Leopold's maneuvers. In the first maneuver, the
nurse palpates a soft, irregular mass at the fundus. This finding indicates:
A. The fetal head is at the fundus
B. The fetal buttocks are at the fundus, suggesting a vertex presentation
C. The fetus is in a transverse lie
D. The fetus is in a face presentation
E. The placenta is at the fundus
Correct Answer: B. The fetal buttocks are at the fundus, suggesting a vertex
presentation
