ATI MATERNAL NEWBORN PROCTORED NEWEST UPGRADED
2026 ACTUAL FINAL EXAM WITH COMPLETE DETAILED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE FOR COMPREHENSIVE ATI RN MATERNAL AND
NEWBORN NURSING STUDY GUIDE AND EXAM PREPARATION
ALREADY A+ GRADED
1. A nurse is assessing a client at 12 weeks' gestation. Which finding should the nurse report to the
provider?
A) Heart rate 90 bpm
B) Blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg
C) Fundal height at the umbilicus
D) Brownish vaginal discharge
CORRECT ANSWER: D – Brownish vaginal discharge at 12 weeks may indicate threatened miscarriage or
other complications. Rationale: At 12 weeks, the fundus should be just above the symphysis pubis, not
at the umbilicus (which occurs at 20-22 weeks). Brown discharge is abnormal and requires evaluation.
2. A nurse is teaching a client about expected changes during pregnancy. Which of the following should
the nurse include?
A) Increased hemoglobin levels
B) Decreased respiratory rate
C) Increased risk of urinary tract infections
D) Decreased cardiac output
CORRECT ANSWER: C – Pregnancy increases the risk of UTIs due to ureteral dilation and urinary stasis.
Rationale: Hemoglobin decreases (hemodilution), respiratory rate increases slightly, and cardiac output
increases by 30-50%.
,3. A nurse is assessing a newborn who is 12 hours old. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A) Respiratory rate of 60 breaths per minute
B) Acrocyanosis
C) Apical heart rate of 100 bpm
D) Capillary refill of 2 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER: C – Apical heart rate of 100 bpm in a newborn is bradycardia (normal 110-160).
Rationale: Respiratory rate up to 60 is normal; acrocyanosis is normal in first 24 hours; capillary refill ≤2
seconds is normal.
4. A client at 38 weeks' gestation reports contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 60 seconds, for 2 hours.
She also reports leaking fluid. What should the nurse do first?
A) Instruct the client to take a warm bath
B) Advise the client to come to the hospital immediately
C) Tell the client to rest on her left side
D) Recommend drinking 2 glasses of water
CORRECT ANSWER: B – Contractions every 5 minutes for 2 hours with ruptured membranes indicate
active labor; immediate hospital evaluation is needed. Rationale: Ruptured membranes increase
infection risk and require prompt assessment.
5. A nurse is administering betamethasone to a client at 30 weeks' gestation. The nurse understands
that this medication is given to:
A) Prevent preterm labor
B) Accelerate fetal lung maturity
C) Decrease maternal blood pressure
D) Induce labor
CORRECT ANSWER: B – Betamethasone (corticosteroid) accelerates fetal lung maturity by stimulating
surfactant production. Rationale: It is given to mothers at risk of preterm delivery between 24-34 weeks
to reduce neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.
,6. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 hour postpartum. The fundus is boggy and displaced to the right.
The nurse should first:
A) Massage the fundus
B) Assist the client to void
C) Administer oxytocin
D) Notify the provider
CORRECT ANSWER: B – A boggy, displaced fundus often indicates a full bladder displacing the uterus.
Rationale: The nurse should first assist the client to void; then if the fundus remains boggy, massage and
administer oxytocin as needed.
7. A nurse is assessing a client with preeclampsia. Which finding indicates worsening of the condition?
A) Blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg
B) 1+ proteinuria
C) Urine output of 25 mL/hr
D) Mild headache
CORRECT ANSWER: C – Urine output <30 mL/hr indicates oliguria and possible severe preeclampsia or
HELLP syndrome. Rationale: BP 140/90 is diagnostic but not worsening; 1+ protein is mild; mild
headache is common but not severe.
8. A nurse is teaching a new mother about signs of effective breastfeeding. Which of the following
indicates effective feeding?
A) The infant's cheeks are dimpled during sucking
B) The infant feeds for 5 minutes on each breast
C) The mother hears audible swallowing
D) The infant falls asleep after 2 minutes
CORRECT ANSWER: C – Audible swallowing indicates milk transfer and effective feeding. Rationale:
Dimpled cheeks indicate poor latch; feeding should be 10-20 minutes per breast; falling asleep quickly
may indicate inadequate feeding.
, 9. A nurse is caring for a newborn with hyperbilirubinemia receiving phototherapy. Which intervention is
most important?
A) Cover the newborn's eyes with eye shields
B) Apply lotion to prevent dry skin
C) Keep the newborn swaddled in a blanket
D) Turn the newborn every 6 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: A – Eye shields protect the newborn's retina from light damage during
phototherapy. Rationale: Lotions are avoided; newborn should be minimally clothed; reposition every 2
hours to expose all skin surfaces.
10. A client at 41 weeks' gestation is receiving oxytocin for labor induction. The nurse notes uterine
contractions every 1.5 minutes, lasting 100 seconds. What should the nurse do first?
A) Increase oxytocin infusion rate
B) Stop the oxytocin infusion
C) Reposition the client to left lateral
D) Administer oxygen via face mask
CORRECT ANSWER: B – Contractions every 1.5 minutes lasting 100 seconds indicate uterine
tachysystole; oxytocin should be stopped immediately. Rationale: This reduces risk of uterine rupture
and fetal distress; reposition and oxygen are secondary actions.
11. A nurse is assessing a newborn's Apgar score at 1 minute. The newborn has a heart rate of 110,
irregular respiratory effort, some flexion of extremities, grimaces with stimulation, and blue extremities
with a pink trunk. What is the Apgar score?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
2026 ACTUAL FINAL EXAM WITH COMPLETE DETAILED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE FOR COMPREHENSIVE ATI RN MATERNAL AND
NEWBORN NURSING STUDY GUIDE AND EXAM PREPARATION
ALREADY A+ GRADED
1. A nurse is assessing a client at 12 weeks' gestation. Which finding should the nurse report to the
provider?
A) Heart rate 90 bpm
B) Blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg
C) Fundal height at the umbilicus
D) Brownish vaginal discharge
CORRECT ANSWER: D – Brownish vaginal discharge at 12 weeks may indicate threatened miscarriage or
other complications. Rationale: At 12 weeks, the fundus should be just above the symphysis pubis, not
at the umbilicus (which occurs at 20-22 weeks). Brown discharge is abnormal and requires evaluation.
2. A nurse is teaching a client about expected changes during pregnancy. Which of the following should
the nurse include?
A) Increased hemoglobin levels
B) Decreased respiratory rate
C) Increased risk of urinary tract infections
D) Decreased cardiac output
CORRECT ANSWER: C – Pregnancy increases the risk of UTIs due to ureteral dilation and urinary stasis.
Rationale: Hemoglobin decreases (hemodilution), respiratory rate increases slightly, and cardiac output
increases by 30-50%.
,3. A nurse is assessing a newborn who is 12 hours old. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A) Respiratory rate of 60 breaths per minute
B) Acrocyanosis
C) Apical heart rate of 100 bpm
D) Capillary refill of 2 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER: C – Apical heart rate of 100 bpm in a newborn is bradycardia (normal 110-160).
Rationale: Respiratory rate up to 60 is normal; acrocyanosis is normal in first 24 hours; capillary refill ≤2
seconds is normal.
4. A client at 38 weeks' gestation reports contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 60 seconds, for 2 hours.
She also reports leaking fluid. What should the nurse do first?
A) Instruct the client to take a warm bath
B) Advise the client to come to the hospital immediately
C) Tell the client to rest on her left side
D) Recommend drinking 2 glasses of water
CORRECT ANSWER: B – Contractions every 5 minutes for 2 hours with ruptured membranes indicate
active labor; immediate hospital evaluation is needed. Rationale: Ruptured membranes increase
infection risk and require prompt assessment.
5. A nurse is administering betamethasone to a client at 30 weeks' gestation. The nurse understands
that this medication is given to:
A) Prevent preterm labor
B) Accelerate fetal lung maturity
C) Decrease maternal blood pressure
D) Induce labor
CORRECT ANSWER: B – Betamethasone (corticosteroid) accelerates fetal lung maturity by stimulating
surfactant production. Rationale: It is given to mothers at risk of preterm delivery between 24-34 weeks
to reduce neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.
,6. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 hour postpartum. The fundus is boggy and displaced to the right.
The nurse should first:
A) Massage the fundus
B) Assist the client to void
C) Administer oxytocin
D) Notify the provider
CORRECT ANSWER: B – A boggy, displaced fundus often indicates a full bladder displacing the uterus.
Rationale: The nurse should first assist the client to void; then if the fundus remains boggy, massage and
administer oxytocin as needed.
7. A nurse is assessing a client with preeclampsia. Which finding indicates worsening of the condition?
A) Blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg
B) 1+ proteinuria
C) Urine output of 25 mL/hr
D) Mild headache
CORRECT ANSWER: C – Urine output <30 mL/hr indicates oliguria and possible severe preeclampsia or
HELLP syndrome. Rationale: BP 140/90 is diagnostic but not worsening; 1+ protein is mild; mild
headache is common but not severe.
8. A nurse is teaching a new mother about signs of effective breastfeeding. Which of the following
indicates effective feeding?
A) The infant's cheeks are dimpled during sucking
B) The infant feeds for 5 minutes on each breast
C) The mother hears audible swallowing
D) The infant falls asleep after 2 minutes
CORRECT ANSWER: C – Audible swallowing indicates milk transfer and effective feeding. Rationale:
Dimpled cheeks indicate poor latch; feeding should be 10-20 minutes per breast; falling asleep quickly
may indicate inadequate feeding.
, 9. A nurse is caring for a newborn with hyperbilirubinemia receiving phototherapy. Which intervention is
most important?
A) Cover the newborn's eyes with eye shields
B) Apply lotion to prevent dry skin
C) Keep the newborn swaddled in a blanket
D) Turn the newborn every 6 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: A – Eye shields protect the newborn's retina from light damage during
phototherapy. Rationale: Lotions are avoided; newborn should be minimally clothed; reposition every 2
hours to expose all skin surfaces.
10. A client at 41 weeks' gestation is receiving oxytocin for labor induction. The nurse notes uterine
contractions every 1.5 minutes, lasting 100 seconds. What should the nurse do first?
A) Increase oxytocin infusion rate
B) Stop the oxytocin infusion
C) Reposition the client to left lateral
D) Administer oxygen via face mask
CORRECT ANSWER: B – Contractions every 1.5 minutes lasting 100 seconds indicate uterine
tachysystole; oxytocin should be stopped immediately. Rationale: This reduces risk of uterine rupture
and fetal distress; reposition and oxygen are secondary actions.
11. A nurse is assessing a newborn's Apgar score at 1 minute. The newborn has a heart rate of 110,
irregular respiratory effort, some flexion of extremities, grimaces with stimulation, and blue extremities
with a pink trunk. What is the Apgar score?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
