1. The husband of a laboring woman asks the nurse how he can help his wife
throughout the first stage of labor. The nurse informs him that in addition to all that
he’s doing now, he could tell her when the contractions are:
b. at their acme.
2. The nurse is explaining to a group of nursing students what occurs during active
labor as the uterus contracts. Which statement explains the maternal-fetal exchange of
oxygen and waste products during a contraction?
c. Diminishes as the spiral arteries are compressed
3. The nurse is directing an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to take maternal
vital signs between contractions. Which statement is the best rationale for assessing
maternal vital signs between contractions?
d. Maternal circulating blood volume increases temporarily during
contractions.
4. Uncontrolled maternal hyperventilation during labor results in:
d. respiratory alkalosis.
5. Which mechanism of labor occurs when the largest diameter of the fetal presenting
part passes the pelvic inlet?
b. Engagement
,6. The laboring client asks the nurse how the labor contractions work to dilate the
cervix. The best response by the nurse is that labor contractions facilitate cervical
dilation by:
d. pulling the cervix over the fetus and amniotic sac.
7. Pregnant clients can usually tolerate the normal blood loss associated with
childbirth because they have:
c. increased blood volume.
8. The nurse is assessing the duration of a client’s labor contractions. Which action
does the nurse implement to assess the duration of labor contractions?
c. Assess from the beginning to the end of each contraction.
9. Which event is the best indicator of true labor?
b. Cervical dilation and effacement
10. Which factor ensures that the smallest anterior-posterior diameter of the fetal head
enters the pelvis?
b. Flexion
,11. An increase in urinary frequency and leg cramps after the 36th week of pregnancy
most likely indicates:
a. lightening.
12. A nullipara client has progressed to the active phase of labor. The nurse
understands that this phase of labor, on the average, for a nullipara will last how long?
d. 8 to 10 hours
13. A client just delivered a baby by the vaginal route. The client asks the nurse why
the baby’s head is not round, but oval. Which explanation should the nurse give to the
client?
a. This results from molding.
14. A client whose cervix is dilated to 5 cm is considered to be in which phase of
labor?
b. Active phase
15. The nurse is assessing a client in the active phase of labor. What should the nurse
expect during this phase?
, b. The client is requesting pain medication.
16. A laboring client asks the nurse how she will know that the contraction is at its
peak. The nurse explains that the contraction peaks during which stage of
measurement?
a. The acme
17. A client in labor presents with a breech presentation. The nurse understands that a
breech presentation is associated with:
d. umbilical cord compression.
18. The primary difference between the labor of a nullipara and that of a multipara is:
a. total duration of labor.
19. Which maternal factor may inhibit fetal descent?
a. A full bladder
20. Which assessment finding would cause a concern for a client who had delivered
vaginally?
c. Client complains of fingers tingling
throughout the first stage of labor. The nurse informs him that in addition to all that
he’s doing now, he could tell her when the contractions are:
b. at their acme.
2. The nurse is explaining to a group of nursing students what occurs during active
labor as the uterus contracts. Which statement explains the maternal-fetal exchange of
oxygen and waste products during a contraction?
c. Diminishes as the spiral arteries are compressed
3. The nurse is directing an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to take maternal
vital signs between contractions. Which statement is the best rationale for assessing
maternal vital signs between contractions?
d. Maternal circulating blood volume increases temporarily during
contractions.
4. Uncontrolled maternal hyperventilation during labor results in:
d. respiratory alkalosis.
5. Which mechanism of labor occurs when the largest diameter of the fetal presenting
part passes the pelvic inlet?
b. Engagement
,6. The laboring client asks the nurse how the labor contractions work to dilate the
cervix. The best response by the nurse is that labor contractions facilitate cervical
dilation by:
d. pulling the cervix over the fetus and amniotic sac.
7. Pregnant clients can usually tolerate the normal blood loss associated with
childbirth because they have:
c. increased blood volume.
8. The nurse is assessing the duration of a client’s labor contractions. Which action
does the nurse implement to assess the duration of labor contractions?
c. Assess from the beginning to the end of each contraction.
9. Which event is the best indicator of true labor?
b. Cervical dilation and effacement
10. Which factor ensures that the smallest anterior-posterior diameter of the fetal head
enters the pelvis?
b. Flexion
,11. An increase in urinary frequency and leg cramps after the 36th week of pregnancy
most likely indicates:
a. lightening.
12. A nullipara client has progressed to the active phase of labor. The nurse
understands that this phase of labor, on the average, for a nullipara will last how long?
d. 8 to 10 hours
13. A client just delivered a baby by the vaginal route. The client asks the nurse why
the baby’s head is not round, but oval. Which explanation should the nurse give to the
client?
a. This results from molding.
14. A client whose cervix is dilated to 5 cm is considered to be in which phase of
labor?
b. Active phase
15. The nurse is assessing a client in the active phase of labor. What should the nurse
expect during this phase?
, b. The client is requesting pain medication.
16. A laboring client asks the nurse how she will know that the contraction is at its
peak. The nurse explains that the contraction peaks during which stage of
measurement?
a. The acme
17. A client in labor presents with a breech presentation. The nurse understands that a
breech presentation is associated with:
d. umbilical cord compression.
18. The primary difference between the labor of a nullipara and that of a multipara is:
a. total duration of labor.
19. Which maternal factor may inhibit fetal descent?
a. A full bladder
20. Which assessment finding would cause a concern for a client who had delivered
vaginally?
c. Client complains of fingers tingling
