MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH NURSING EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
Question 1
The perinatal nurse prepares the laboring woman for an epidural anesthesia insertion. In
order to prevent maternal hypotension, the nurse:
ANSWER: Administer an intravenous infusion of 500 mL of normal saline.
Question 2
At 1 minute after birth the nurse assesses the infant and notes a heart rate of 80 beats/min.,
some flexion of extremities, a weak cry, slight grimacing, and a pink body but blue
extremities. What is the Apgar score the nurse will calculate?
ANSWER: 5
Question 3
A patient with hypertension who is receiving intravenous magnesium sulfate therapy has
requested an epidural anesthetic. The perinatal nurse should first review the patient’s
complete blood count (CBC) results for:
ANSWER: results for evidence of a decreased platelet count
Question 4
After a precipitous birth the nurse encourages the woman to breastfeed her newborn. The
primary purpose of this activity to do what?
ANSWER: Stimulate the uterus to contract
Question 5
Early this morning, an infant boy was circumcised using the PlastiBell method. The nurse
, tells the mother that she and the infant can be discharged after what event occurs?
ANSWER: The infant voids
Question 6
According to agency policy, the perinatal nurse provides the following intrapartal nursing
care for the patient with preeclampsia:
ANSWER: Administer magnesium sulfate according to agency policy
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a newborn born to a mother who is addicted to drugs. Which assessment
finding would the nurse expect to note during the assessment of this newborn?
ANSWER: Constant crying
* A newborn of a woman using drugs is irritable. The infant is overloaded
easily by sensory stimulation. The infant may cry incessantly and be
difficult to console. The infant would hyperextend and posture rather than
cuddle when being held.
Question 8
A 30-year-old woman is being prepared for an epidural anesthesia. The perinatal nurse
assists the anesthesiologist with the procedure and then positions the patient in a supine
position. The patient’s blood pressure drops to 90/52 mm Hg and there is a decrease in
the fetal heart rate to 110 bpm. The perinatal nurse’s best response is to:
ANSWER: Place a wedge under Tanya's left hip.
Question 9
While evaluating an external monitor tracing of woman in active labor, the nurse notes that
the fetal heart rate (FHR) for five sequential contractions begins to decelerate late in the
contraction, with the nadir of the deceleration occurring after the peak of the contraction.
What is the nurse's first priority?
Question 1
The perinatal nurse prepares the laboring woman for an epidural anesthesia insertion. In
order to prevent maternal hypotension, the nurse:
ANSWER: Administer an intravenous infusion of 500 mL of normal saline.
Question 2
At 1 minute after birth the nurse assesses the infant and notes a heart rate of 80 beats/min.,
some flexion of extremities, a weak cry, slight grimacing, and a pink body but blue
extremities. What is the Apgar score the nurse will calculate?
ANSWER: 5
Question 3
A patient with hypertension who is receiving intravenous magnesium sulfate therapy has
requested an epidural anesthetic. The perinatal nurse should first review the patient’s
complete blood count (CBC) results for:
ANSWER: results for evidence of a decreased platelet count
Question 4
After a precipitous birth the nurse encourages the woman to breastfeed her newborn. The
primary purpose of this activity to do what?
ANSWER: Stimulate the uterus to contract
Question 5
Early this morning, an infant boy was circumcised using the PlastiBell method. The nurse
, tells the mother that she and the infant can be discharged after what event occurs?
ANSWER: The infant voids
Question 6
According to agency policy, the perinatal nurse provides the following intrapartal nursing
care for the patient with preeclampsia:
ANSWER: Administer magnesium sulfate according to agency policy
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a newborn born to a mother who is addicted to drugs. Which assessment
finding would the nurse expect to note during the assessment of this newborn?
ANSWER: Constant crying
* A newborn of a woman using drugs is irritable. The infant is overloaded
easily by sensory stimulation. The infant may cry incessantly and be
difficult to console. The infant would hyperextend and posture rather than
cuddle when being held.
Question 8
A 30-year-old woman is being prepared for an epidural anesthesia. The perinatal nurse
assists the anesthesiologist with the procedure and then positions the patient in a supine
position. The patient’s blood pressure drops to 90/52 mm Hg and there is a decrease in
the fetal heart rate to 110 bpm. The perinatal nurse’s best response is to:
ANSWER: Place a wedge under Tanya's left hip.
Question 9
While evaluating an external monitor tracing of woman in active labor, the nurse notes that
the fetal heart rate (FHR) for five sequential contractions begins to decelerate late in the
contraction, with the nadir of the deceleration occurring after the peak of the contraction.
What is the nurse's first priority?
