OB POSTPARTUM NCLEX Exam COMPLETE
NEWEST 400 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
OB Postpartum NCLEX EXAM
QUESTION: Which of the following findings would be a source of concern if noted during the
assessment of a woman who is 12 hours postpartum?
A) Postural hypotension
B) Temperature of 100.4°F
C) Bradycardia — pulse rate of 55 BPM
D) Pain in left calf with dorsiflexion of left foot - ANSWER-D) Pain in left calf with dorsiflexion of
left foot
Rationale: Responses 1 and 3 are expected related to circulatory changes after birth. A
temperature of 100.4°F in the first 24 hours is most likely indicative of dehydration which is
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easily corrected by increasing oral fluid intake. The findings in response 4 indicate a positive
Homan sign and are suggestive of thrombophlebitis and should be investigated further.
QUESTION: The nurse examines a woman one hour after birth. The woman's fundus is boggy,
midline, and 1 cm below the umbilicus. Her lochial flow is profuse, with two plum-sized clots.
The nurse's initial action would be to:
A) Place her on a bedpan to empty her bladder
B) Massage her fundus
C) Call the physician
D) Administer Methergine 0.2 mg IM which has been ordered prn - ANSWER-B) Massage her
fundus
Rationale: A boggy or soft fundus indicates that uterine atony is present. This is confirmed by
the profuse lochia and passage of clots. The first action would be to massage the fundus until
firm, followed by 3 and 4, especially if the fundus does not become or remain firm with
massage. There is no indication of a distended bladder since the fundus is midline and below
the umbilicus.
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QUESTION: When performing a postpartum check, the nurse should:
A) Assist the woman into a lateral position with upper leg flexed forward to facilitate the
examination of her perineum
B) Assist the woman into a supine position with her arms above her head and her legs extended
for the examination of her abdomen
C) Instruct the woman to avoid urinating just before the examination since a full bladder will
facilitate fundal palpation
D) Wash hands and put on sterile gloves before beginning the check - ANSWER-A) Assist the
woman into a lateral position with upper leg flexed forward to facilitate the examination of her
perineum
Rationale: While the supine position is best for examining the abdomen, the woman should
keep her arms at her sides and slightly flex her knees in order to relax abdominal muscles and
facilitate palpation of the fundus. The bladder should be emptied before the check. A full
bladder alters the position of the fundus and makes the findings inaccurate. Although hands are
washed before starting the check, clean (not sterile) gloves are put on just before the perineum
and pad are assessed
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QUESTION: Perineal care is an important infection control measure. When evaluating a
postpartum woman's perineal care technique, the nurse would recognize the need for further
instruction if the woman:
A) Uses soap and warm water to wash the vulva and perineum
B) Washes from symphysis pubis back to episiotomy
C) Changes her perineal pad every 2 - 3 hours
D) Uses the peribottle to rinse upward into her vagina - ANSWER-D) Uses the peribottle to rinse
upward into her vagina
Rationale: Responses 1, 2, and 3 are all appropriate measures. The peribottle should be used in
a backward direction over the perineum. The flow should never be directed upward into the
vagina since debris would be forced upward into the uterus through the still-open cervix.
Q; A postpartum nurse is preparing to care for a woman who has just delivered a healthy
newborn infant. In the immediate postpartum period the nurse plans to take the woman's vital
signs:
A) Every 30 minutes during the first hour and then every hour for the next two hours.
B) Every 15 minutes during the first hour and then every 30 minutes for the next two hours.
C) Every hour for the first 2 hours and then every 4 hours
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