ADN 240 Postpartum Verified Exam Questions and Answers Latest
update 2026/2027
Question:
A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postpartum and has chosen to formula-feed her newborn.
During an examination of the client's breasts, the nurse notes that they are warm and firm. Which of
the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
A.Encourage the client to pump the breasts
B. Instruct the client to take a warm shower twice per day
C. Tell the client to massage the breasts
D. Instruct the client to apply cold compresses
Answer:
D. Instruct the
client to apply cold compresses To help relieve breast engorgement, the client should apply cold
compresses for about 15 minutes every hour. The client can also try applying fresh, cold cabbage
leaves to the breasts.
Question:
A nurse is providing education about continuous heparin therapy for a client who is 18 hours
postpartum and has developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which of the following statements
should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "An adverse effect of this medication is drowsiness."
B. "This medication will require frequent monitoring of WBC levels."
C. "Use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth gently."
D. "Avoid taking acetaminophen while receiving this medication."
Answer:
C. "Use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth gently."
An adverse effect of heparin therapy is an increased risk of bleeding. The client should use a soft
toothbrush to prevent trauma and bleeding.
Question:
A nurse is teaching a postpartum client how to swaddle her newborn. Which of the following
statements by the parent demonstrates an understanding of the teaching?
A."I should stop swaddling my baby once she is able to roll over by herself."
B."My baby's legs should be extended straight out when I swaddle her."
C."I should be able to slide just 1 finger between my baby's chest and the swaddled blanket."
D. "After swaddling, I should place my baby on her side in her crib or bassinet."
Answer:
A. "I should stop swaddling my baby once she is able to roll over by herself."
The parent should discontinue swaddling the baby once the baby is able to roll over, which occurs
around 2 months of age. Rolling over can tighten the swaddle and keep the baby from breathing
,properly.
Question:
A nurse is assessing a postpartum client and observes a steady trickle of bright red blood from the
client's vagina. The uterus is palpated as firm, midline, and located 1 cm below the umbilicus. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Massage the fundus
B. Instruct the client to empty her bladder
C. Notify the provider
D. Teach the client to perform a sitz bath
Answer:
C. Notify the provider
Excessive vaginal bleeding in the presence of a contracted uterus is a sign of a vaginal or cervical
laceration. The provider must be notified so the laceration can be repaired.
Question:
A nurse is providing teaching for a postpartum client who is breastfeeding. Which of the following
statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should feed my baby 8-12 times a day, based on feeding cues."
B. "My baby should have 6 or 7 wet diapers a day during the first week."
C. "I should switch my baby to the other breast after 15 minutes of feeding."
D. "My nipple pain should go away after a few weeks of breastfeeding."
Answer:
A. "I should feed my baby 8-12 times a day, based on feeding cues."
For the first few days, parents might have to wake the newborn to feed every 2 to 3 hours. Once the
infant is feeding well and gaining weight, feedings should be based on the infant displaying hunger
cues, such as sucking on the fist and rooting.
Question:
A nurse at a clinic is preparing to teach the process of involution to a group of antenatal clients. Which
of the following information should the nurse provide?
A. The fundus is approximately 2 cm (0.79 in) above the level of the umbilicus at the end of the
third stage of labor.
B. The fundus is approximately 3 cm (1.18 in) above the umbilicus within 12 hours after
delivery.
C. The fundus is located halfway between the umbilicus and mons pubis on the sixth day
postpartum.
D. The fundus is not palpable abdominally at 2 weeks postpartum.
Answer:
D. The fundus is not palpable abdominally at 2 weeks postpartum.
Involution is the return of the uterus to its normal pre-pregnancy state, which occurs after the delivery
of the placenta. By the end of the third stage of labor, the fundus is 2 cm below the umbilicus. Within
12 hours after delivery, the fundus rises 1 cm above the umbilicus. The fundus descends 1 to 2 cm
, (0.39 to 0.79 in) every 24 hours. The fundus is not palpable after the sixth postpartum day.
Question:
A nurse is teaching about mastitis to a client who is postpartum and breastfeeding her newborn. Which
of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will limit breastfeeding to 5 minutes per breast."
B. "I will not breastfeed if I start to have flu-like symptoms."
C. "I will shop for an underwire nursing bra today."
D. "I will avoid any of my family members who are ill."
Check Answer Question Feedback Show Explanation
Answer:
D. "I will avoid any of my family members
who are ill." The client should avoid ill family members to decrease the risk of mastitis. While the
causative organisms of mastitis tend to be bacterial, exposure to viral illnesses can compromise the
immune system and leave the client vulnerable to mastitis.
Question:
A nurse is preparing to massage the fundus of a client who is postpartum and experiencing uterine
atony. In what order should the nurse take the following actions when performing a fundal massage?
(Put them in the correct order)
A. Rotate the upper hand to massage the client's uterus.
B. Ask the client to lie on her back with her knees flexed.
C. Place a hand just above the client's symphysis pubis.
D. Use slight downward pressure to compress the client's fundus.
E. Position a hand around the top of the client's fundus.
Answer:
B,C,E,A,D Step 1: The nurse should gently massage the fundus to restore the muscle tone of the
client's uterus. First, the nurse should place the client on her back with her knees flexed. Step 2: The
nurse should place a hand just above the symphysis pubis. Step 3: Position the other hand around the
top of the client's fundus. Step 4: The nurse should then rotate the upper hand to massage the client's
uterus. Step 5: Use slight downward pressure to compress the client's fundus.
Question:
A nurse is assessing a postpartum client who has preeclampsia and notes a boggy uterus and excessive
uterine bleeding. The nurse should plan to administer which of the following medications?
A. Terbutaline
B. Magnesium sulfate
C. Oxytocin
D. Methylergonovine
Answer:
C. Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a uterotonic medication that causes the uterus to contract and reduces excessive uterine
bleeding.
update 2026/2027
Question:
A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postpartum and has chosen to formula-feed her newborn.
During an examination of the client's breasts, the nurse notes that they are warm and firm. Which of
the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
A.Encourage the client to pump the breasts
B. Instruct the client to take a warm shower twice per day
C. Tell the client to massage the breasts
D. Instruct the client to apply cold compresses
Answer:
D. Instruct the
client to apply cold compresses To help relieve breast engorgement, the client should apply cold
compresses for about 15 minutes every hour. The client can also try applying fresh, cold cabbage
leaves to the breasts.
Question:
A nurse is providing education about continuous heparin therapy for a client who is 18 hours
postpartum and has developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which of the following statements
should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "An adverse effect of this medication is drowsiness."
B. "This medication will require frequent monitoring of WBC levels."
C. "Use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth gently."
D. "Avoid taking acetaminophen while receiving this medication."
Answer:
C. "Use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth gently."
An adverse effect of heparin therapy is an increased risk of bleeding. The client should use a soft
toothbrush to prevent trauma and bleeding.
Question:
A nurse is teaching a postpartum client how to swaddle her newborn. Which of the following
statements by the parent demonstrates an understanding of the teaching?
A."I should stop swaddling my baby once she is able to roll over by herself."
B."My baby's legs should be extended straight out when I swaddle her."
C."I should be able to slide just 1 finger between my baby's chest and the swaddled blanket."
D. "After swaddling, I should place my baby on her side in her crib or bassinet."
Answer:
A. "I should stop swaddling my baby once she is able to roll over by herself."
The parent should discontinue swaddling the baby once the baby is able to roll over, which occurs
around 2 months of age. Rolling over can tighten the swaddle and keep the baby from breathing
,properly.
Question:
A nurse is assessing a postpartum client and observes a steady trickle of bright red blood from the
client's vagina. The uterus is palpated as firm, midline, and located 1 cm below the umbilicus. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Massage the fundus
B. Instruct the client to empty her bladder
C. Notify the provider
D. Teach the client to perform a sitz bath
Answer:
C. Notify the provider
Excessive vaginal bleeding in the presence of a contracted uterus is a sign of a vaginal or cervical
laceration. The provider must be notified so the laceration can be repaired.
Question:
A nurse is providing teaching for a postpartum client who is breastfeeding. Which of the following
statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should feed my baby 8-12 times a day, based on feeding cues."
B. "My baby should have 6 or 7 wet diapers a day during the first week."
C. "I should switch my baby to the other breast after 15 minutes of feeding."
D. "My nipple pain should go away after a few weeks of breastfeeding."
Answer:
A. "I should feed my baby 8-12 times a day, based on feeding cues."
For the first few days, parents might have to wake the newborn to feed every 2 to 3 hours. Once the
infant is feeding well and gaining weight, feedings should be based on the infant displaying hunger
cues, such as sucking on the fist and rooting.
Question:
A nurse at a clinic is preparing to teach the process of involution to a group of antenatal clients. Which
of the following information should the nurse provide?
A. The fundus is approximately 2 cm (0.79 in) above the level of the umbilicus at the end of the
third stage of labor.
B. The fundus is approximately 3 cm (1.18 in) above the umbilicus within 12 hours after
delivery.
C. The fundus is located halfway between the umbilicus and mons pubis on the sixth day
postpartum.
D. The fundus is not palpable abdominally at 2 weeks postpartum.
Answer:
D. The fundus is not palpable abdominally at 2 weeks postpartum.
Involution is the return of the uterus to its normal pre-pregnancy state, which occurs after the delivery
of the placenta. By the end of the third stage of labor, the fundus is 2 cm below the umbilicus. Within
12 hours after delivery, the fundus rises 1 cm above the umbilicus. The fundus descends 1 to 2 cm
, (0.39 to 0.79 in) every 24 hours. The fundus is not palpable after the sixth postpartum day.
Question:
A nurse is teaching about mastitis to a client who is postpartum and breastfeeding her newborn. Which
of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will limit breastfeeding to 5 minutes per breast."
B. "I will not breastfeed if I start to have flu-like symptoms."
C. "I will shop for an underwire nursing bra today."
D. "I will avoid any of my family members who are ill."
Check Answer Question Feedback Show Explanation
Answer:
D. "I will avoid any of my family members
who are ill." The client should avoid ill family members to decrease the risk of mastitis. While the
causative organisms of mastitis tend to be bacterial, exposure to viral illnesses can compromise the
immune system and leave the client vulnerable to mastitis.
Question:
A nurse is preparing to massage the fundus of a client who is postpartum and experiencing uterine
atony. In what order should the nurse take the following actions when performing a fundal massage?
(Put them in the correct order)
A. Rotate the upper hand to massage the client's uterus.
B. Ask the client to lie on her back with her knees flexed.
C. Place a hand just above the client's symphysis pubis.
D. Use slight downward pressure to compress the client's fundus.
E. Position a hand around the top of the client's fundus.
Answer:
B,C,E,A,D Step 1: The nurse should gently massage the fundus to restore the muscle tone of the
client's uterus. First, the nurse should place the client on her back with her knees flexed. Step 2: The
nurse should place a hand just above the symphysis pubis. Step 3: Position the other hand around the
top of the client's fundus. Step 4: The nurse should then rotate the upper hand to massage the client's
uterus. Step 5: Use slight downward pressure to compress the client's fundus.
Question:
A nurse is assessing a postpartum client who has preeclampsia and notes a boggy uterus and excessive
uterine bleeding. The nurse should plan to administer which of the following medications?
A. Terbutaline
B. Magnesium sulfate
C. Oxytocin
D. Methylergonovine
Answer:
C. Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a uterotonic medication that causes the uterus to contract and reduces excessive uterine
bleeding.
