CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
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Core Domains
- Antepartum Care
- Intrapartum Management
- Postpartum Care and Lactation
- Newborn Care and Assessment
- Well-Woman Healthcare and Gynecology
- Pharmacology for Midwifery
- Professional Issues, Ethics, and Law
- Primary Care for Women
Introduction
The Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) assessment is designed to evaluate the
comprehensive knowledge and clinical judgment required for entry-level midwifery
practice. This examination assesses a candidate's proficiency in managing the
normal life processes of women, from adolescence through post-menopause, with a
,primary focus on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The assessment
utilizes a multiple-choice and scenario-based structure to mirror real-world clinical
encounters. Emphasis is placed on the application of evidence-based practice, critical
thinking, and ethical decision-making. By simulating complex patient presentations,
the exam ensures that practitioners possess the essential skills to provide safe, high-
quality care and promote optimal health outcomes for women and newborns.
1. A 24-year-old primigravida at 32 weeks gestation presents with a blood
pressure of 142/92 mmHg and 1+ proteinuria. She denies headaches or visual
changes. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
A. Immediate induction of labor
B. Bed rest and repeat BP in 4 hours
C. Administration of magnesium sulfate
D. Initiation of antihypertensive medication
🟢 B. Bed rest and repeat BP in 4 hours
🔴 RATIONALE: This patient meets the criteria for gestational hypertension or mild
preeclampsia; immediate intervention is not required without severe features, so
monitoring and repeat assessment are indicated.
, 2. Which hormone is primarily responsible for the maintenance of the corpus
luteum during the first 8-10 weeks of pregnancy?
A. Progesterone
B. Estrogen
C. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
D. Human placental lactogen (hPL)
🟢 C. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
🔴 RATIONALE: hCG is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast and maintains the
corpus luteum’s production of progesterone until the placenta takes over
steroidogenesis.
3. During a routine prenatal visit at 28 weeks, a patient’s fundal height measures
32 cm. What is the midwife's initial priority?
A. Document as a normal variation
B. Perform an ultrasound for fetal growth
C. Screen for gestational diabetes
D. Assess for multiple gestation or polyhydramnios
, 🟢 D. Assess for multiple gestation or polyhydramnios
🔴 RATIONALE: A fundal height more than 2 cm greater than the gestational age in
weeks warrants investigation for causes such as polyhydramnios, macrosomia, or
multiple gestations.
4. A patient in active labor experiences a sudden onset of sharp, tearing
abdominal pain, followed by a cessation of uterine contractions and recession of
the fetal head. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Placental abruption
B. Uterine rupture
C. Amniotic fluid embolism
D. Precipitous labor
🟢 B. Uterine rupture
🔴 RATIONALE: The classic signs of uterine rupture include sudden sharp pain, loss
of station (recession of the head), and the disappearance of palpable contractions.
5. Which of the following is a contraindication for the use of the copper intrauterine
device (IUD)?
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
- Antepartum Care
- Intrapartum Management
- Postpartum Care and Lactation
- Newborn Care and Assessment
- Well-Woman Healthcare and Gynecology
- Pharmacology for Midwifery
- Professional Issues, Ethics, and Law
- Primary Care for Women
Introduction
The Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) assessment is designed to evaluate the
comprehensive knowledge and clinical judgment required for entry-level midwifery
practice. This examination assesses a candidate's proficiency in managing the
normal life processes of women, from adolescence through post-menopause, with a
,primary focus on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The assessment
utilizes a multiple-choice and scenario-based structure to mirror real-world clinical
encounters. Emphasis is placed on the application of evidence-based practice, critical
thinking, and ethical decision-making. By simulating complex patient presentations,
the exam ensures that practitioners possess the essential skills to provide safe, high-
quality care and promote optimal health outcomes for women and newborns.
1. A 24-year-old primigravida at 32 weeks gestation presents with a blood
pressure of 142/92 mmHg and 1+ proteinuria. She denies headaches or visual
changes. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
A. Immediate induction of labor
B. Bed rest and repeat BP in 4 hours
C. Administration of magnesium sulfate
D. Initiation of antihypertensive medication
🟢 B. Bed rest and repeat BP in 4 hours
🔴 RATIONALE: This patient meets the criteria for gestational hypertension or mild
preeclampsia; immediate intervention is not required without severe features, so
monitoring and repeat assessment are indicated.
, 2. Which hormone is primarily responsible for the maintenance of the corpus
luteum during the first 8-10 weeks of pregnancy?
A. Progesterone
B. Estrogen
C. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
D. Human placental lactogen (hPL)
🟢 C. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
🔴 RATIONALE: hCG is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast and maintains the
corpus luteum’s production of progesterone until the placenta takes over
steroidogenesis.
3. During a routine prenatal visit at 28 weeks, a patient’s fundal height measures
32 cm. What is the midwife's initial priority?
A. Document as a normal variation
B. Perform an ultrasound for fetal growth
C. Screen for gestational diabetes
D. Assess for multiple gestation or polyhydramnios
, 🟢 D. Assess for multiple gestation or polyhydramnios
🔴 RATIONALE: A fundal height more than 2 cm greater than the gestational age in
weeks warrants investigation for causes such as polyhydramnios, macrosomia, or
multiple gestations.
4. A patient in active labor experiences a sudden onset of sharp, tearing
abdominal pain, followed by a cessation of uterine contractions and recession of
the fetal head. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Placental abruption
B. Uterine rupture
C. Amniotic fluid embolism
D. Precipitous labor
🟢 B. Uterine rupture
🔴 RATIONALE: The classic signs of uterine rupture include sudden sharp pain, loss
of station (recession of the head), and the disappearance of palpable contractions.
5. Which of the following is a contraindication for the use of the copper intrauterine
device (IUD)?
