Jarvis: Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 5th edition
Chapter 29: The Pregnant Female
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following best describes the action of the hormone progesterone during pregnancy?
1. It produces the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin.
2. It stimulates duct formation in the breast.
3. It promotes sloughing of the endometrial wall.
4. It maintains the endometrium around the fetus.
ANS: 4
Progesterone prevents the sloughing of the endometrial wall and maintains the
endometrium around the fetus. Progesterone increases the alveoli in the breast and keeps
the uterus in a quiescent state.
DIF: Knowledge REF: Page: 824 MSC: NCLEX: General
2. A female patient has nausea, breast tenderness, fatigue, and amenorrhea. Her last menstrual
period was 6 weeks ago. The nurse recognizes that this patient is experiencing:
1. positive signs of pregnancy.
2. possible signs of pregnancy.
3. probable signs of pregnancy.
4. presumptive signs of pregnancy.
ANS: 4
Presumptive signs of pregnancy include amenorrhea, breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea,
and increased urinary frequency. Probable signs are those that are detected by the
examiner, such as an enlarged uterus or changes in the cervix. Positive signs of pregnancy
are those that document direct evidence of the fetus such as fetal heart tones or positive
cardiac activity on ultrasound.
DIF: Application REF: Page: 824
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. When performing the examination of a woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant, the nurse notes that the
cervix is a bluish color. The nurse would document this finding as:
1. Hegar’s sign.
2. Homan’s sign.
3. Chadwick’s sign.
4. Goodell’s sign.
ANS: 3
, 29-2
During pregnancy, the uterus becomes globular in shape, softens, and flexes over the cervix
(Hegar’s sign). The cervix softens (Goodell’s sign) and becomes bluish or cyanotic in color
(Chadwick’s sign).
DIF: Application REF: Page: 824
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. A woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant is visiting the clinic for a checkup. Her systolic blood
pressure is 30 mm Hg higher than her prepregnancy blood pressure. The nurse would:
1. consider this a normal finding.
2. expect the blood pressure to decrease as the estrogen levels increase throughout
the pregnancy.
3. consider this an abnormal finding because blood pressure is typically lower at
this point in the pregnancy.
4. recommend that she decrease her salt intake in an attempt to decrease her
peripheral vascular resistance.
ANS: 3
During the seventh gestational week, blood pressure begins to drop as a result of falling
peripheral vascular resistance. Early in the first trimester, blood pressure values are
similar to those of prepregnancy measurements.
DIF: Analysis REF: Page: 824
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. A patient is being seen at the clinic for her 10-week prenatal visit. She asks when she will be able
to hear the baby’s heart beat. The nurse should reply:
1. “The baby’s heart beat is not usually heard until the second trimester.”
2. “The baby’s heart beat may be heard anywhere from the ninth to the twelfth
week.”
3. “It is often difficult to hear the heart beat at this point, but we can try.”
4. “It is normal to hear the heart beat at 6 weeks. We may be able to hear it today.”
ANS: 2
Fetal heart tones can be heard by use of the Doppler device between 9 and 12 weeks.
DIF: Application REF: Page: 824
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
Chapter 29: The Pregnant Female
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following best describes the action of the hormone progesterone during pregnancy?
1. It produces the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin.
2. It stimulates duct formation in the breast.
3. It promotes sloughing of the endometrial wall.
4. It maintains the endometrium around the fetus.
ANS: 4
Progesterone prevents the sloughing of the endometrial wall and maintains the
endometrium around the fetus. Progesterone increases the alveoli in the breast and keeps
the uterus in a quiescent state.
DIF: Knowledge REF: Page: 824 MSC: NCLEX: General
2. A female patient has nausea, breast tenderness, fatigue, and amenorrhea. Her last menstrual
period was 6 weeks ago. The nurse recognizes that this patient is experiencing:
1. positive signs of pregnancy.
2. possible signs of pregnancy.
3. probable signs of pregnancy.
4. presumptive signs of pregnancy.
ANS: 4
Presumptive signs of pregnancy include amenorrhea, breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea,
and increased urinary frequency. Probable signs are those that are detected by the
examiner, such as an enlarged uterus or changes in the cervix. Positive signs of pregnancy
are those that document direct evidence of the fetus such as fetal heart tones or positive
cardiac activity on ultrasound.
DIF: Application REF: Page: 824
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. When performing the examination of a woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant, the nurse notes that the
cervix is a bluish color. The nurse would document this finding as:
1. Hegar’s sign.
2. Homan’s sign.
3. Chadwick’s sign.
4. Goodell’s sign.
ANS: 3
, 29-2
During pregnancy, the uterus becomes globular in shape, softens, and flexes over the cervix
(Hegar’s sign). The cervix softens (Goodell’s sign) and becomes bluish or cyanotic in color
(Chadwick’s sign).
DIF: Application REF: Page: 824
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. A woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant is visiting the clinic for a checkup. Her systolic blood
pressure is 30 mm Hg higher than her prepregnancy blood pressure. The nurse would:
1. consider this a normal finding.
2. expect the blood pressure to decrease as the estrogen levels increase throughout
the pregnancy.
3. consider this an abnormal finding because blood pressure is typically lower at
this point in the pregnancy.
4. recommend that she decrease her salt intake in an attempt to decrease her
peripheral vascular resistance.
ANS: 3
During the seventh gestational week, blood pressure begins to drop as a result of falling
peripheral vascular resistance. Early in the first trimester, blood pressure values are
similar to those of prepregnancy measurements.
DIF: Analysis REF: Page: 824
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. A patient is being seen at the clinic for her 10-week prenatal visit. She asks when she will be able
to hear the baby’s heart beat. The nurse should reply:
1. “The baby’s heart beat is not usually heard until the second trimester.”
2. “The baby’s heart beat may be heard anywhere from the ninth to the twelfth
week.”
3. “It is often difficult to hear the heart beat at this point, but we can try.”
4. “It is normal to hear the heart beat at 6 weeks. We may be able to hear it today.”
ANS: 2
Fetal heart tones can be heard by use of the Doppler device between 9 and 12 weeks.
DIF: Application REF: Page: 824
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
