MATERNITY NURSING EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

MATERNITY NURSING EXAM REVIEW
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS



Question 1 Question C
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:
An effective relief measure for primary dysmenorrhea would be to:
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Choices:
A. Reduce physical activity level until menstruation ceases.
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B. Begin taking prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors on the first day of the menstrual flow.
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C. Decrease intake of salt and refined sugar about 1 week before menstruation is about to occur.
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D. Use barrier methods rather than the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) for birth control.
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Correct Answer: Cz




C. Decrease intake of salt and refined sugar about 1 week before menstruation is about to occur.
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Rationale:
Staying active is helpful since it facilitates menstrual flow and increases vasodilation to reduce ische
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mia. Prostaglandin inhibitors should be started a few days before the onset of menstruation. Decreasi
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ng intake of salt and refined sugar can reduce fluid retention. OCPs are beneficial in relieving primary
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dysmenorrhea as a result of inhibition of ovulation and prostaglandin synthesis. Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz




Question 2 Question C
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:
With regard to dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), the nurse should be aware that:
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Choices:
A. It is most commonly caused by anovulation.
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B. It most often occurs in middle age.
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C. The diagnosis of DUB should be the first considered for abnormal menstrual bleeding.
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D. The most effective medical treatment involves steroids.
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Correct Answer: Cz




A. It is most commonly caused by anovulation.
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Rationale:
Anovulation may occur because of hypothalamic dysfunction or polycystic ovary syndrome. DUB most
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often occurs when the menstrual cycle is being established or when it draws to a close at menopause.
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A diagnosis of DUB is made only after all other causes of abnormal menstrual bleeding have been r
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uled out. The most effective medical treatment is oral or intravenous estrogen.
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Question 3 Question C
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:
During a client’s physical examination, the nurse notes that the lower uterine segment is soft on palpa
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tion. The nurse would document this finding as:
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Choices:
A. Hegar sign
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B. McDonald sign
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C. Chadwick sign
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D. Goodell sign
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Correct Answer: Cz




A. Hegar sign
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Rationale:
At approximately 6 weeks of gestation, softening and compressibility of the lower uterine segment
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occur; this is called the Hegar sign. The McDonald sign is not related. The Chadwick sign is a blue-
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,violet cervix caused by increased vascularity. Softening of the cervical tip is called
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the Goodell sign.
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Question 4 Question C
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:
A nurse teaches a pregnant woman about the presumptive, probable, and positive signs of pregnanc
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y. The woman demonstrates an understanding of the nurse’s instructions if she states that a positive s
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ign of pregnancy is:
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,Choices:
A. A positive pregnancy test
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B. Fetal movement palpated by the nurse-midwife
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C. Braxton Hicks contractions
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D. Quickening
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Correct Answer: Cz




B. Fetal movement palpated by the nurse-midwife
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Rationale:
A positive pregnancy test is a probable sign. Positive signs of pregnancy are those attributed to the pr
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esence of a fetus, such as hearing the fetal heartbeat or palpating fetal movement.
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Braxton Hicks contractions are probable signs. Quickening is a presumptive sign.
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Question 5 Question C
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:
When assessing the fetal heart rate (FHR) of a woman at 30 weeks of gestation, the nurse counts a r
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ate of 82 beats/min. Initially the nurse should:
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Choices:
A. Recognize that the rate is within normal limits and record it.
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B. Assess the woman’s radial pulse.
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C. Notify the physician.
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D. Allow the woman to hear the heartbeat.
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Correct Answer: Cz




C. Notify the physician.
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Rationale:
The expected FHR is 120 to 160 beats/min. The nurse may have inadvertently counted the uterin
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e souffle, which corresponds to the mother’s heartbeat. The physician should be notified if the FHR is
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confirmed to be 82 beats/min. Allow the woman to hear the heartbeat as soon as a full assessment is
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made.

Question 6 Question C
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:
The nurse caring for a laboring woman is aware that maternal cardiac output can be increased by:
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Choices:
A. Change in position
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B. Oxytocin administration
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C. Regional anesthesia
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D. Intravenous analgesic
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Correct Answer: Cz




A. Change in position C z C z




Rationale:
Maternal supine hypotension syndrome is caused by the weight and pressure of the gravid uter
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us on the ascending vena cava when the woman is in a supine position. This reduces venous return to
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the woman’s heart, as well as cardiac output, and subsequently reduces her blood pressure. The nu
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rse can encourage the woman to change positions and avoid the supine position. Oxytocin admi
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nistration, regional anesthesia, and intravenous analgesic may reduce Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz




maternal cardiac output. Cz Cz




Question 7 Question C
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:
A nurse is reviewing information related to home pregnancy tests so as to prepare for a patient teachi
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ng session. Which statement by the patient indicates that additional instruction is needed following th
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e teaching session?
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Choices:
A. The patient states that she will follow directions as listed on the testing package.
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B. The patient indicates that a positive result will be seen if there is a color change on the
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, applicator.
C. The patient states there is no need for concern as home pregnancy test results are 100% correct.
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D. The patient can perform the test without any assistance in the home setting.
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Correct Answer: Cz




C. The patient states there is no need for concern as home pregnancy test results are 100% correct.
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Rationale:
Home pregnancy testing while reliable does not provide 100% correct results. There are other variable
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s such as medication history as well as timing of specimen, collection and interpretation that may lead
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to inaccurate results. Following directions, noting a color change as a positive result, and being able t
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o perform the test without any assistance in the home setting all indicate that the patient has an unde
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rstanding of the process. Cz Cz Cz




Question 8 Question C
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:
The nurse should include which information when teaching a 15-year-
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old about genital tract infection prevention? (Select all that apply.)
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Choices:
A. Wear nylon undergarments. Cz Cz




B. Avoid tight-fitting jeans. C z C z




C. Use floral scented bath salts. Cz Cz Cz Cz




D. Decrease sugar intake. Cz Cz




E. Do not douche. Cz Cz




F. Limit time spent wearing a wet bathing suit. Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz Cz




Correct Answer: Cz




B. Avoid tight-fitting jeans. C z C z




D. Decrease sugar intake.
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E. Do not douche.
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F. Limit time spent wearing a wet bathing suit.
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Rationale:
Wearing nylon undergarments and using floral scented bath salts are not recommended. Avoidin
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g tight-
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fitting jeans, decreasing sugar intake, not douching, and limiting time in a wet bathing suit help preve
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nt genital tract infections.
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Question 9 Question C
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:
If exhibited by a pregnant woman, what represents a positive sign of pregnancy?
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Choices:
A. Morning sickness
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B. Quickening Cz




C. Positive pregnancy test
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D. Fetal heartbeat auscultated with Doppler/fetoscope
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Correct Answer: Cz




D. Fetal heartbeat auscultated with Doppler/fetoscope
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Rationale:
Morning sickness and quickening, along with amenorrhea and breast tenderness, are presumpti
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ve signs of pregnancy. A positive pregnancy test is a probable sign. Detection of a fetal heartbeat, pal
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pation of fetal movements and parts by an examiner, and detection of an embryo/fetus with sonograp
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hic examination are positive signs diagnostic of pregnancy.
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Question 10 Questio C
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n:
A woman is 6 weeks pregnant. She has had a previous spontaneous abortion at 14 weeks of gestatio
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n and a pregnancy that ended at 38 weeks with the birth of a stillborn girl. What is her gravidity and pari
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ty using the GTPAL system?
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