SAFE MATERNITY AND PEDIATRIC
NURSING CARE
3RD EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)LUANNE LINNARD-
PALMER; GLORIA HAILE COATS
TEST BANK
1 — Roles in Maternal–Child Nursing
Reference: Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric
Nursing
Stem: A registered nurse (RN) on the pediatric unit is caring for
a school-age child who needs hourly vital signs, oral care, and
ambulation to the bathroom. A nursing assistant (NA) is
available. Which action by the RN best reflects appropriate
delegation while preserving patient safety?
A. Ask the NA to perform hourly vital signs and oral care, and
assign ambulation to the NA without further instruction.
B. Delegate hourly vital signs and oral care to the NA, verbally
clarify fall-risk precautions and ask the NA to report any change
,immediately.
C. Keep all tasks because pediatric patients require RN-only care
for ambulation and oral care.
D. Delegate only oral care to the NA and perform vital signs and
ambulation personally because ambulation is a nursing
judgment.
Correct answer: B
Rationale (correct): Delegation of routine tasks (vital signs, oral
care) to an NA is appropriate when the RN provides clear
instructions and communicates safety precautions. Clarifying
fall-risk precautions and requiring immediate reporting ensures
continuous assessment and timely RN intervention, which
maintains safety and legal accountability.
Rationale (A): Assigning ambulation without instruction ignores
safety planning and fails to communicate fall-risk — unsafe
delegation.
Rationale (C): Overly restrictive practice wastes resources; not
all routine tasks require RN performance if delegation is
appropriate and supervised.
Rationale (D): Delegating only oral care may underutilize staff;
ambulation can be delegated when supported by instruction
and supervision.
Teaching point: Delegate routine tasks with clear instructions
and required reporting to maintain safety.
Citation: Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
,2 — Roles in Maternal–Child Nursing (Clinical Instructor)
Reference: Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric
Nursing
Stem: A nursing student asks to perform a sterile dressing
change on a neonate while the assigned RN is caring for
another patient. As the clinical instructor, which action best
demonstrates safe supervision and teaching?
A. Allow the student to proceed alone because they practiced
the skill in lab.
B. Assist the student to perform the dressing change while
observing aseptic technique and providing immediate feedback.
C. Tell the student to wait and only observe the RN perform the
dressing change later.
D. Have the student watch a video on sterile technique and
return at the end of the shift to practice.
Correct answer: B
Rationale (correct): Direct supervision during performance
ensures patient safety, allows real-time correction of technique,
and satisfies the instructor’s responsibility for clinical teaching
and accountability. This balances hands-on learning and risk
reduction.
Rationale (A): Allowing the student unsupervised risks
procedural errors; prior lab practice does not replace
supervised clinical performance.
Rationale (C): Pure observation limits skill acquisition and
, misses the opportunity to assess competency.
Rationale (D): Video review alone delays needed supervised
practice and does not ensure safe immediate care.
Teaching point: Supervise students directly during invasive or
sterile procedures to ensure safety and competency.
Citation: Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
3 — Legalities and Ethics: Mandatory Reporting
Reference: Ch. 1 — Legalities and Ethics
Stem: While admitting a toddler, the nurse notes multiple
healed fractures in different stages of healing and inconsistent
explanations from the caregiver. What is the nurse’s best
immediate action?
A. Continue the admission and document observations; wait for
the physician to request a child-protection consult.
B. Confront the caregiver with the suspicion that they caused
the fractures.
C. Report the findings promptly to the facility’s child-protection
team or appropriate authority per mandatory reporting laws.
D. Discuss concerns privately with the caregiver and ask for a
more consistent history.
Correct answer: C
Rationale (correct): Observations suggest possible non-
accidental injury; nurses are mandated reporters and must
NURSING CARE
3RD EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)LUANNE LINNARD-
PALMER; GLORIA HAILE COATS
TEST BANK
1 — Roles in Maternal–Child Nursing
Reference: Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric
Nursing
Stem: A registered nurse (RN) on the pediatric unit is caring for
a school-age child who needs hourly vital signs, oral care, and
ambulation to the bathroom. A nursing assistant (NA) is
available. Which action by the RN best reflects appropriate
delegation while preserving patient safety?
A. Ask the NA to perform hourly vital signs and oral care, and
assign ambulation to the NA without further instruction.
B. Delegate hourly vital signs and oral care to the NA, verbally
clarify fall-risk precautions and ask the NA to report any change
,immediately.
C. Keep all tasks because pediatric patients require RN-only care
for ambulation and oral care.
D. Delegate only oral care to the NA and perform vital signs and
ambulation personally because ambulation is a nursing
judgment.
Correct answer: B
Rationale (correct): Delegation of routine tasks (vital signs, oral
care) to an NA is appropriate when the RN provides clear
instructions and communicates safety precautions. Clarifying
fall-risk precautions and requiring immediate reporting ensures
continuous assessment and timely RN intervention, which
maintains safety and legal accountability.
Rationale (A): Assigning ambulation without instruction ignores
safety planning and fails to communicate fall-risk — unsafe
delegation.
Rationale (C): Overly restrictive practice wastes resources; not
all routine tasks require RN performance if delegation is
appropriate and supervised.
Rationale (D): Delegating only oral care may underutilize staff;
ambulation can be delegated when supported by instruction
and supervision.
Teaching point: Delegate routine tasks with clear instructions
and required reporting to maintain safety.
Citation: Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
,2 — Roles in Maternal–Child Nursing (Clinical Instructor)
Reference: Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric
Nursing
Stem: A nursing student asks to perform a sterile dressing
change on a neonate while the assigned RN is caring for
another patient. As the clinical instructor, which action best
demonstrates safe supervision and teaching?
A. Allow the student to proceed alone because they practiced
the skill in lab.
B. Assist the student to perform the dressing change while
observing aseptic technique and providing immediate feedback.
C. Tell the student to wait and only observe the RN perform the
dressing change later.
D. Have the student watch a video on sterile technique and
return at the end of the shift to practice.
Correct answer: B
Rationale (correct): Direct supervision during performance
ensures patient safety, allows real-time correction of technique,
and satisfies the instructor’s responsibility for clinical teaching
and accountability. This balances hands-on learning and risk
reduction.
Rationale (A): Allowing the student unsupervised risks
procedural errors; prior lab practice does not replace
supervised clinical performance.
Rationale (C): Pure observation limits skill acquisition and
, misses the opportunity to assess competency.
Rationale (D): Video review alone delays needed supervised
practice and does not ensure safe immediate care.
Teaching point: Supervise students directly during invasive or
sterile procedures to ensure safety and competency.
Citation: Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
3 — Legalities and Ethics: Mandatory Reporting
Reference: Ch. 1 — Legalities and Ethics
Stem: While admitting a toddler, the nurse notes multiple
healed fractures in different stages of healing and inconsistent
explanations from the caregiver. What is the nurse’s best
immediate action?
A. Continue the admission and document observations; wait for
the physician to request a child-protection consult.
B. Confront the caregiver with the suspicion that they caused
the fractures.
C. Report the findings promptly to the facility’s child-protection
team or appropriate authority per mandatory reporting laws.
D. Discuss concerns privately with the caregiver and ask for a
more consistent history.
Correct answer: C
Rationale (correct): Observations suggest possible non-
accidental injury; nurses are mandated reporters and must
