Postpartum NCLEX Style Questions Correctly Answered
To Score A+
A nurse is preparing a list of self-care instructions for a postpartum client who
was diagnosed with mastitis. Which of the following instructions would be
included on the list?
A. Wear a supportive bra
B. Rest during the acute phase
C. Maintain a fluid intake of at least 3000 ml
D Continue to breast-feed if the breasts are not too sore.
E. Take the prescribed antibiotics until the soreness subsides.
F. Avoid decompression of the breasts by breast-feeding or breast pump.
A, B, C, D
Client instructions include resting during the acute phase, maintaining a fluid intake of at
least 3000ml/day (if not contraindicated), taking analgesics to relieve discomfort.
Antibiotics may be prescribed and are taken UNTIL THE COMPLETE PRESCRIBED
COURSE IS FINISHED. Additional supportive measures include the use of moist heat
or ice packs and wearing a supportive bra. CONTINUED DECOMPRESSION of the
breast by breast-feeding or breast pump is important to empty the breast and prevent
the formation of an abscess.
A nurse is teaching a postpartum client about breast-feeding. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include?
A. The diet should include additional fluids
B. Prenatal vitamins should be discontinued
C. Soap should be used to cleanse the breasts.
D. Birth control measures are unnecessary while breast-feeding.
A.
A diet for a breast-feeding patient should include additional fluids. Prenatal vitamins
should be taken as prescribed and soap should not be used on the breast because it
removes natural oils which increases the chance of cracked nipples. Breast-feeding is
not a sole method of contraception, so birth control measures should be resumed.
A postpartum client is diagnosed with cystitis .The nurse plans for which priority
nursing intervention in the care of the client?
A. Providing Sitz baths
B. Encouraging fluid intake
C. Placing ice on the perineum
D. Monitoring hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
B.
Cystitis is an infection of the bladder. The client should consume 3000ml/day if not
contraindicated. Sitz baths and ice would be appropriate interventions for perineal
discomfort. H&H would be monitored with hemorrhage.
, After a precipitous delivery, a nurse notes that the new mother is passive and
only touches her newborn infant briefly with her fingertips. The nurse should do
which of the following to help the woman process what has happened?
A. Encourage the mother to breast-feed soon after birth.
B. Support the mother in her reaction to the newborn infant.
C. Tell the mother that it is important to hold the newborn infant.
D. Document a complete account of the mother's reaction on the birth record.
B.
Precipitous labor is labor that lasts less than 3 hours. Women who have experienced
precipitous labor often describe the feelings of disbelief that their labor progressed so
rapidly. To assist the client to process what has happened the best option is to support
the client in her reaction to the newborn infant. Options A, C, and D do not acknowledge
the client's feelings.
A client who is breast-feeding her newborn infant is experiencing nipple
soreness. To relieve the soreness, the nurse suggests that the client:
A. Avoid rotating breast-feeding positions.
B. Stop nursing until the nipples heal
C. Substitute a bottle-feeding until the nipples heal.
D. Position the infant with the ear, shoulder, and hip in straight alignment with the
infant's stomach against the mother.
D.
The nurse would suggest the mother position the infant in this manner. Rotating breast-
feeding positions; breaking suction with the little finger; nursing frequently; begin feeding
on the less sore nipple; not allowing the newborn to chew on the nipple or to sleep
holding the nipple in the mouth and applying tea bags soaked in warm water to the
nipple are also measures to alleviate nipple soreness.
On assessment of a client who is 30 minutes into the fourth stage of labor, the
nurse finds the client's perineal pad saturated with blood and blood soaked into
the bed linen under the client's buttocks. The nurse's initial action is which of the
following.
A. Call the physician
B. Assess the client's vital signs
C. Gently massage the uterine fundus
D. Administer a 300ml bolus of a 20 units/L Oxytocin(Pitocin) solution
C.
The most frequent cause of excessive bleeding or hemorrhage after childbirth is uterine
atony. A major intervention to restore adequate tone is stimulation of the uterine muscle
via gently massaging the uterine fundus. Options A, B and D may be necessary
eventually but are not initial actions. The initial action is to alleviate the problem.
A second-day postpartum client with diabetes mellitus has scant lochia with a
foul odor and a temperature of 101.6 degrees F. The physician suspects infection
and writes orders to treat the client. Which of the following orders written by the
physician would the nurse complete first?
A. Obtain culture and sensitivity of lochia and urine
B. Administer Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
To Score A+
A nurse is preparing a list of self-care instructions for a postpartum client who
was diagnosed with mastitis. Which of the following instructions would be
included on the list?
A. Wear a supportive bra
B. Rest during the acute phase
C. Maintain a fluid intake of at least 3000 ml
D Continue to breast-feed if the breasts are not too sore.
E. Take the prescribed antibiotics until the soreness subsides.
F. Avoid decompression of the breasts by breast-feeding or breast pump.
A, B, C, D
Client instructions include resting during the acute phase, maintaining a fluid intake of at
least 3000ml/day (if not contraindicated), taking analgesics to relieve discomfort.
Antibiotics may be prescribed and are taken UNTIL THE COMPLETE PRESCRIBED
COURSE IS FINISHED. Additional supportive measures include the use of moist heat
or ice packs and wearing a supportive bra. CONTINUED DECOMPRESSION of the
breast by breast-feeding or breast pump is important to empty the breast and prevent
the formation of an abscess.
A nurse is teaching a postpartum client about breast-feeding. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include?
A. The diet should include additional fluids
B. Prenatal vitamins should be discontinued
C. Soap should be used to cleanse the breasts.
D. Birth control measures are unnecessary while breast-feeding.
A.
A diet for a breast-feeding patient should include additional fluids. Prenatal vitamins
should be taken as prescribed and soap should not be used on the breast because it
removes natural oils which increases the chance of cracked nipples. Breast-feeding is
not a sole method of contraception, so birth control measures should be resumed.
A postpartum client is diagnosed with cystitis .The nurse plans for which priority
nursing intervention in the care of the client?
A. Providing Sitz baths
B. Encouraging fluid intake
C. Placing ice on the perineum
D. Monitoring hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
B.
Cystitis is an infection of the bladder. The client should consume 3000ml/day if not
contraindicated. Sitz baths and ice would be appropriate interventions for perineal
discomfort. H&H would be monitored with hemorrhage.
, After a precipitous delivery, a nurse notes that the new mother is passive and
only touches her newborn infant briefly with her fingertips. The nurse should do
which of the following to help the woman process what has happened?
A. Encourage the mother to breast-feed soon after birth.
B. Support the mother in her reaction to the newborn infant.
C. Tell the mother that it is important to hold the newborn infant.
D. Document a complete account of the mother's reaction on the birth record.
B.
Precipitous labor is labor that lasts less than 3 hours. Women who have experienced
precipitous labor often describe the feelings of disbelief that their labor progressed so
rapidly. To assist the client to process what has happened the best option is to support
the client in her reaction to the newborn infant. Options A, C, and D do not acknowledge
the client's feelings.
A client who is breast-feeding her newborn infant is experiencing nipple
soreness. To relieve the soreness, the nurse suggests that the client:
A. Avoid rotating breast-feeding positions.
B. Stop nursing until the nipples heal
C. Substitute a bottle-feeding until the nipples heal.
D. Position the infant with the ear, shoulder, and hip in straight alignment with the
infant's stomach against the mother.
D.
The nurse would suggest the mother position the infant in this manner. Rotating breast-
feeding positions; breaking suction with the little finger; nursing frequently; begin feeding
on the less sore nipple; not allowing the newborn to chew on the nipple or to sleep
holding the nipple in the mouth and applying tea bags soaked in warm water to the
nipple are also measures to alleviate nipple soreness.
On assessment of a client who is 30 minutes into the fourth stage of labor, the
nurse finds the client's perineal pad saturated with blood and blood soaked into
the bed linen under the client's buttocks. The nurse's initial action is which of the
following.
A. Call the physician
B. Assess the client's vital signs
C. Gently massage the uterine fundus
D. Administer a 300ml bolus of a 20 units/L Oxytocin(Pitocin) solution
C.
The most frequent cause of excessive bleeding or hemorrhage after childbirth is uterine
atony. A major intervention to restore adequate tone is stimulation of the uterine muscle
via gently massaging the uterine fundus. Options A, B and D may be necessary
eventually but are not initial actions. The initial action is to alleviate the problem.
A second-day postpartum client with diabetes mellitus has scant lochia with a
foul odor and a temperature of 101.6 degrees F. The physician suspects infection
and writes orders to treat the client. Which of the following orders written by the
physician would the nurse complete first?
A. Obtain culture and sensitivity of lochia and urine
B. Administer Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
