ATI RN Maternal Newborn CMS Proctored
Exam 2026 Questions and Answers |
Complete Study Guide with Detailed
Rationales, NCLEX RN Review, Obstetric
Nursing & NGN Practice
• This 200-question practice exam mirrors the ATI RN Maternal Newborn CMS
Proctored format, featuring bolded questions, five answer choices per item, and
detailed EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce clinical reasoning across all maternal-
newborn nursing domains.
• Work through each question independently before reviewing the correct answer
and EXPERT RATIONALE beneath it — this active recall approach strengthens
retention and prepares you for both ATI and NCLEX-RN performance.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 38 weeks of gestation and reports
decreased fetal movement. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Instruct the client to perform a kick count
B. Prepare the client for an amniocentesis
C. Administer oxygen via face mask
D. Notify the provider immediately
E. Assess the fetal heart rate
✔ E. Assess the fetal heart rate
The nurse's first action is to assess fetal heart rate to determine fetal status. This
provides immediate objective data before any further interventions or provider
notification.
2. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is in active labor.
The fetal monitor shows late decelerations with minimal variability. Which
intervention is the nurse's priority?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate
,B. Apply oxygen via face mask at 8–10 L/min
C. Reposition the client to the left lateral position
D. Discontinue the oxytocin infusion
E. Notify the provider
✔ C. Reposition the client to the left lateral position
Left lateral positioning is the first priority to relieve aorto-caval compression and
improve uteroplacental blood flow. Additional interventions follow according to
protocol.
3. A nurse is caring for a postpartum client who delivered 1 hour ago. The
nurse assesses the fundus to be boggy and displaced to the right. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer oxytocin as prescribed
B. Massage the fundus firmly
C. Assist the client to empty her bladder
D. Increase the IV fluid rate
E. Notify the provider
✔ C. Assist the client to empty her bladder
A displaced fundus indicates a full bladder, which prevents uterine contraction.
Emptying the bladder is the first intervention before fundal massage or medication.
4. A nurse is assessing a newborn at 1 minute after birth. The newborn has a
heart rate of 90 bpm, weak cry, some flexion, grimace, and a pink body with
blue extremities. What is this newborn's APGAR score?
A. 4
B. 5
,C. 6
D. 7
E. 8
✔ B. 5
Heart rate 90 = 1, weak cry = 1, some flexion = 1, grimace = 1, pink body/blue extremities
= 1. Total = 5, indicating the newborn requires stimulation and close monitoring.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate for severe
preeclampsia. Which finding should prompt the nurse to withhold the
medication?
A. Blood pressure 158/104 mmHg
B. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min
C. 1+ deep tendon reflexes
D. Urine output of 25 mL/hr
E. Both B and D
✔ E. Both B and D
Respiratory rate below 12 and urine output below 30 mL/hr are signs of magnesium
toxicity and insufficient renal clearance. The nurse must withhold the infusion and notify
the provider immediately.
6. A nurse is teaching a prenatal client about the purpose of the Group B
Streptococcus (GBS) screening. At which gestational age is this test
performed?
A. 16–18 weeks
B. 20–24 weeks
C. 28–30 weeks
, D. 35–37 weeks
E. 40 weeks
✔ D. 35–37 weeks
GBS vaginal-rectal culture is obtained at 35–37 weeks gestation to identify colonized
mothers who require intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent neonatal infection.
7. A nurse is monitoring a client in labor who has an epidural. The client's
blood pressure drops from 118/74 to 88/52 mmHg. Which action is the nurse's
priority?
A. Notify the anesthesiologist
B. Elevate the head of the bed
C. Administer ephedrine as prescribed
D. Increase the IV fluid infusion rate
E. Position the client in left lateral position
✔ E. Position the client in left lateral position
Lateral positioning relieves aortocaval compression and is the immediate first response
to epidural-induced hypotension before administering fluids or medications.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is 34 weeks of gestation and has placenta
previa. The client reports sudden painless vaginal bleeding. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Perform a vaginal examination
B. Assess fetal heart tones
C. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
D. Administer tocolytics as prescribed
E. Prepare for immediate cesarean birth
Exam 2026 Questions and Answers |
Complete Study Guide with Detailed
Rationales, NCLEX RN Review, Obstetric
Nursing & NGN Practice
• This 200-question practice exam mirrors the ATI RN Maternal Newborn CMS
Proctored format, featuring bolded questions, five answer choices per item, and
detailed EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce clinical reasoning across all maternal-
newborn nursing domains.
• Work through each question independently before reviewing the correct answer
and EXPERT RATIONALE beneath it — this active recall approach strengthens
retention and prepares you for both ATI and NCLEX-RN performance.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 38 weeks of gestation and reports
decreased fetal movement. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Instruct the client to perform a kick count
B. Prepare the client for an amniocentesis
C. Administer oxygen via face mask
D. Notify the provider immediately
E. Assess the fetal heart rate
✔ E. Assess the fetal heart rate
The nurse's first action is to assess fetal heart rate to determine fetal status. This
provides immediate objective data before any further interventions or provider
notification.
2. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is in active labor.
The fetal monitor shows late decelerations with minimal variability. Which
intervention is the nurse's priority?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate
,B. Apply oxygen via face mask at 8–10 L/min
C. Reposition the client to the left lateral position
D. Discontinue the oxytocin infusion
E. Notify the provider
✔ C. Reposition the client to the left lateral position
Left lateral positioning is the first priority to relieve aorto-caval compression and
improve uteroplacental blood flow. Additional interventions follow according to
protocol.
3. A nurse is caring for a postpartum client who delivered 1 hour ago. The
nurse assesses the fundus to be boggy and displaced to the right. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer oxytocin as prescribed
B. Massage the fundus firmly
C. Assist the client to empty her bladder
D. Increase the IV fluid rate
E. Notify the provider
✔ C. Assist the client to empty her bladder
A displaced fundus indicates a full bladder, which prevents uterine contraction.
Emptying the bladder is the first intervention before fundal massage or medication.
4. A nurse is assessing a newborn at 1 minute after birth. The newborn has a
heart rate of 90 bpm, weak cry, some flexion, grimace, and a pink body with
blue extremities. What is this newborn's APGAR score?
A. 4
B. 5
,C. 6
D. 7
E. 8
✔ B. 5
Heart rate 90 = 1, weak cry = 1, some flexion = 1, grimace = 1, pink body/blue extremities
= 1. Total = 5, indicating the newborn requires stimulation and close monitoring.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate for severe
preeclampsia. Which finding should prompt the nurse to withhold the
medication?
A. Blood pressure 158/104 mmHg
B. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min
C. 1+ deep tendon reflexes
D. Urine output of 25 mL/hr
E. Both B and D
✔ E. Both B and D
Respiratory rate below 12 and urine output below 30 mL/hr are signs of magnesium
toxicity and insufficient renal clearance. The nurse must withhold the infusion and notify
the provider immediately.
6. A nurse is teaching a prenatal client about the purpose of the Group B
Streptococcus (GBS) screening. At which gestational age is this test
performed?
A. 16–18 weeks
B. 20–24 weeks
C. 28–30 weeks
, D. 35–37 weeks
E. 40 weeks
✔ D. 35–37 weeks
GBS vaginal-rectal culture is obtained at 35–37 weeks gestation to identify colonized
mothers who require intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent neonatal infection.
7. A nurse is monitoring a client in labor who has an epidural. The client's
blood pressure drops from 118/74 to 88/52 mmHg. Which action is the nurse's
priority?
A. Notify the anesthesiologist
B. Elevate the head of the bed
C. Administer ephedrine as prescribed
D. Increase the IV fluid infusion rate
E. Position the client in left lateral position
✔ E. Position the client in left lateral position
Lateral positioning relieves aortocaval compression and is the immediate first response
to epidural-induced hypotension before administering fluids or medications.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is 34 weeks of gestation and has placenta
previa. The client reports sudden painless vaginal bleeding. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Perform a vaginal examination
B. Assess fetal heart tones
C. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
D. Administer tocolytics as prescribed
E. Prepare for immediate cesarean birth
