Maternity Exam 1 Practice Questions
A woman who have birth 2 hours ago has a temperature of 37.9 *C. Select all of
the immediate nursing actions
A) Have pt drink 2 glasses of fluid over the next hour
B) Explain to the patient that she needs to rest and assist her into a
comfortable position
C) Medicate pt with 500 mg of acetaminophen as per orders
D) Call the patient's physician or midwife to report the elevated temp -
CORRECT ANSWER-A & B
Reasoning:
A mild temperature elevation within a few hours of birth can be related to
dehydration and exhaustion. Acetaminophen is given if temperature remains
elevated after the woman has been hydrated and rested. The physician or
midwife is notified if temperature remains elevated after initial interventions.
3 hours after a vaginal delivery, the client complains of increased perineal
pain. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer analgesia as ordered
B) Assess the perineum
C) Perform perineal care
D) Apply ice to perineum - CORRECT ANSWER-B
A woman gave birth to a 3200 g baby girl with an estimated gestational age of
40 weeks. The baby is 1 hour of age. In preparation of giving the baby an
injection of Vitamin K, the nurse will:
A) Explain to the parents the action of the medication and answer their
questions
B) Remove neonate from the room so parents will not be distressed by seeing
the injection
C) Completely undress the neonate to identify the injection site
D) Replace needle with a 21 gauge ⅝ needle - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Reasoning: It is important to always explain to parents wHat and why a
procedure is being done on the newborn
When assessing a placenta and umbilical cord at delivery, the nurse must
know that the normal cord has:
A) 1 vein and 2 arteries
B) 2 veins and 1 artery
,C) 1 vein and 1 artery
D) 2 veins and 2 arteries - CORRECT ANSWER-A
(AVA)
When reviewing a potential cause for postpartum hemorrhage with the student
nurse, the nurse is sure to include the finding of a(n) ____________ bladder -
CORRECT ANSWER-FULL/OVERDISTENDED
Reasoning:
An overdistended bladder, which displaces the uterus above and to the right of
the umbilicus, can cause uterine atony and lead to hemorrhage
Maddy, a G3 P1 woman, gave birth 12 hrs ago to a 9lb 13 oz daughter. She
experiences severe cramps with breastfeeding. The perinatal nurse best
describes this condition as:
A) Afterpains
B) Uterine hypertonia
C) Bladder hypertonia
D) Rectus abdominis diastasis - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Reasoning
Afterpains are intermittent uterine contractions that occur during the process
of involution. Afterpains are more pronounced in patients w/ decreased uterine
tone due to overdistension, which is associated w/ multiparity and
macrosomia. Patients often describe the sensation as a discomfort similar to
menstrual cramps
What does GTPAL mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-G: Gravida → # of times a
woman has conceived including current pregnancy
T: Term Births → # of times a woman has carried a pregnancy to at least 37
weeks and delivered
P: Preterm Births → # of births a woman has delivered before 37 weeks
gestation but after 20 weeks
A: Abortions → # of times a woman has lost a pregnancy, whether it was
elective or spontaneous (miscarriage), before 20 weeks gestation
L: living children → live births
The best way for the nurse to enhance parental confidence is to
,A) Have the parents watch a video tape of infant care, then discuss it with
them
B) Demonstrate skills on the newborn while providing care
C) Encourage new parents to ask their friends about infant care
D) Provide encouragement and positive feedback - CORRECT ANSWER-D
The nurse is teaching the parents of a female baby how to change a baby's
diapers. Which of the following should be included in the teaching?
A) Always wipe the perineum from front to back
B) Remove any vernix caseosa from labia folds
C) Put powder on buttocks every time the baby stools
D) Weigh every diaper in order to assess for hydration - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Reasoning
To decrease risk of infection from bacteria from the rectum, the perineum of
female babies should always be cleansed from front to back
After birth, the perinatal nurse explains to the new mom that Progesterone is
the hormone responsible for stimulating milk production
A) True
B) False - CORRECT ANSWER-FALSE
A 6 hour infant passes an unformed, black, tar like stool. The nurse should
conclude this is a:
A) Meconium stool expected at the time of birth
B) Transitional stool expected at this time
C) Meconium stool expected at this time
D) Transitional stool expected later - CORRECT ANSWER-C
A woman's postpartum vaginal discharge is dark red and contains shreds of
decidua and epithelial cells. The nurse should describe the discharge in the
nurse's notes as:
A) Rubra
B) Serosa
C) Alba
D) Erythra - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Which of the following statements indicates that a new mom needs additional
teaching?
A) I will need to supervise my cat when she is in the same room as my baby
B) I will place by baby on her back when she is sleeping
C) I will not leave my baby on an elevated flat surface after she is able to turn
over on her own
, D) I have asked my husband to install safety latches on the lower cabinets -
CORRECT ANSWER-C
Reasoning:
Newborns/infants should never be left on an elevated flat surface because they
may roll or wiggle & fall off
The perinatal nurse explains to the student nurse that the growing embryo is
called a ___________ at the end of 8 weeks of gestational age
A) Neonate
B) Fetus
C) Zygote
D) Gamete - CORRECT ANSWER-B
Reasoning
- Zygote = fertilization - 2nd week
- Embryo = end of 2nd week - 8th week
- Fetus = end of 8th week - birth
A mother refused to allow her son to receive the vitamin K injection at birth.
Which of the following s/s might the nurse observe in the baby as a result?
A) Skin color is dusky
B) Vitals signs are labile
C) Glucose levels are subnormal
D) Circumcision site oozes blood - CORRECT ANSWER-D
Reasoning
The circumcision site may ooze blood due to lack of Vitamin K, which is
required for the hepatic synthesis of blood coagulation factors II, VII, and X
The nurse is assessing a client 24 hrs after delivery and finds the fundus to be
slightly boggy and 2 centimeters above the umbilicus. What should the
nursing priority intervention be?
A) Document this expected finding
B) Notify the physician
C) Gently massage the fundus until firm
D) Assess mom's vital signs - CORRECT ANSWER-C
During a postpartum assessment, the nurse notes that the uterus is midline
and boggy. The immediate nursing action is:
A) To notify the patient's midwife or physician
B) Massage the fundus until firm and reevaluate within 30 minutes
C) Give syntocinon as per orders
A woman who have birth 2 hours ago has a temperature of 37.9 *C. Select all of
the immediate nursing actions
A) Have pt drink 2 glasses of fluid over the next hour
B) Explain to the patient that she needs to rest and assist her into a
comfortable position
C) Medicate pt with 500 mg of acetaminophen as per orders
D) Call the patient's physician or midwife to report the elevated temp -
CORRECT ANSWER-A & B
Reasoning:
A mild temperature elevation within a few hours of birth can be related to
dehydration and exhaustion. Acetaminophen is given if temperature remains
elevated after the woman has been hydrated and rested. The physician or
midwife is notified if temperature remains elevated after initial interventions.
3 hours after a vaginal delivery, the client complains of increased perineal
pain. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer analgesia as ordered
B) Assess the perineum
C) Perform perineal care
D) Apply ice to perineum - CORRECT ANSWER-B
A woman gave birth to a 3200 g baby girl with an estimated gestational age of
40 weeks. The baby is 1 hour of age. In preparation of giving the baby an
injection of Vitamin K, the nurse will:
A) Explain to the parents the action of the medication and answer their
questions
B) Remove neonate from the room so parents will not be distressed by seeing
the injection
C) Completely undress the neonate to identify the injection site
D) Replace needle with a 21 gauge ⅝ needle - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Reasoning: It is important to always explain to parents wHat and why a
procedure is being done on the newborn
When assessing a placenta and umbilical cord at delivery, the nurse must
know that the normal cord has:
A) 1 vein and 2 arteries
B) 2 veins and 1 artery
,C) 1 vein and 1 artery
D) 2 veins and 2 arteries - CORRECT ANSWER-A
(AVA)
When reviewing a potential cause for postpartum hemorrhage with the student
nurse, the nurse is sure to include the finding of a(n) ____________ bladder -
CORRECT ANSWER-FULL/OVERDISTENDED
Reasoning:
An overdistended bladder, which displaces the uterus above and to the right of
the umbilicus, can cause uterine atony and lead to hemorrhage
Maddy, a G3 P1 woman, gave birth 12 hrs ago to a 9lb 13 oz daughter. She
experiences severe cramps with breastfeeding. The perinatal nurse best
describes this condition as:
A) Afterpains
B) Uterine hypertonia
C) Bladder hypertonia
D) Rectus abdominis diastasis - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Reasoning
Afterpains are intermittent uterine contractions that occur during the process
of involution. Afterpains are more pronounced in patients w/ decreased uterine
tone due to overdistension, which is associated w/ multiparity and
macrosomia. Patients often describe the sensation as a discomfort similar to
menstrual cramps
What does GTPAL mean? - CORRECT ANSWER-G: Gravida → # of times a
woman has conceived including current pregnancy
T: Term Births → # of times a woman has carried a pregnancy to at least 37
weeks and delivered
P: Preterm Births → # of births a woman has delivered before 37 weeks
gestation but after 20 weeks
A: Abortions → # of times a woman has lost a pregnancy, whether it was
elective or spontaneous (miscarriage), before 20 weeks gestation
L: living children → live births
The best way for the nurse to enhance parental confidence is to
,A) Have the parents watch a video tape of infant care, then discuss it with
them
B) Demonstrate skills on the newborn while providing care
C) Encourage new parents to ask their friends about infant care
D) Provide encouragement and positive feedback - CORRECT ANSWER-D
The nurse is teaching the parents of a female baby how to change a baby's
diapers. Which of the following should be included in the teaching?
A) Always wipe the perineum from front to back
B) Remove any vernix caseosa from labia folds
C) Put powder on buttocks every time the baby stools
D) Weigh every diaper in order to assess for hydration - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Reasoning
To decrease risk of infection from bacteria from the rectum, the perineum of
female babies should always be cleansed from front to back
After birth, the perinatal nurse explains to the new mom that Progesterone is
the hormone responsible for stimulating milk production
A) True
B) False - CORRECT ANSWER-FALSE
A 6 hour infant passes an unformed, black, tar like stool. The nurse should
conclude this is a:
A) Meconium stool expected at the time of birth
B) Transitional stool expected at this time
C) Meconium stool expected at this time
D) Transitional stool expected later - CORRECT ANSWER-C
A woman's postpartum vaginal discharge is dark red and contains shreds of
decidua and epithelial cells. The nurse should describe the discharge in the
nurse's notes as:
A) Rubra
B) Serosa
C) Alba
D) Erythra - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Which of the following statements indicates that a new mom needs additional
teaching?
A) I will need to supervise my cat when she is in the same room as my baby
B) I will place by baby on her back when she is sleeping
C) I will not leave my baby on an elevated flat surface after she is able to turn
over on her own
, D) I have asked my husband to install safety latches on the lower cabinets -
CORRECT ANSWER-C
Reasoning:
Newborns/infants should never be left on an elevated flat surface because they
may roll or wiggle & fall off
The perinatal nurse explains to the student nurse that the growing embryo is
called a ___________ at the end of 8 weeks of gestational age
A) Neonate
B) Fetus
C) Zygote
D) Gamete - CORRECT ANSWER-B
Reasoning
- Zygote = fertilization - 2nd week
- Embryo = end of 2nd week - 8th week
- Fetus = end of 8th week - birth
A mother refused to allow her son to receive the vitamin K injection at birth.
Which of the following s/s might the nurse observe in the baby as a result?
A) Skin color is dusky
B) Vitals signs are labile
C) Glucose levels are subnormal
D) Circumcision site oozes blood - CORRECT ANSWER-D
Reasoning
The circumcision site may ooze blood due to lack of Vitamin K, which is
required for the hepatic synthesis of blood coagulation factors II, VII, and X
The nurse is assessing a client 24 hrs after delivery and finds the fundus to be
slightly boggy and 2 centimeters above the umbilicus. What should the
nursing priority intervention be?
A) Document this expected finding
B) Notify the physician
C) Gently massage the fundus until firm
D) Assess mom's vital signs - CORRECT ANSWER-C
During a postpartum assessment, the nurse notes that the uterus is midline
and boggy. The immediate nursing action is:
A) To notify the patient's midwife or physician
B) Massage the fundus until firm and reevaluate within 30 minutes
C) Give syntocinon as per orders
