POSTPARTUM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | POSTPARTUM NURSING STUDY
GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
A nurse is assisting in administering beractant (Servant) to a premature infant who has respiratory
distress syndrome. The nurse understands that the medication will be administered by which of the
following routes? - ANS ✔✔Intratracheal
A nurse is adding to a plan of care for a postpartum client. Which intervention will promote parent-infant
bonding? - ANS ✔✔Encourage her to hold the infant even when the infant is crying.
A nurse is assisting in caring for a newborn whose mother is Rh negative. In planning the newborn's care,
it would be important for the nurse to: - ANS ✔✔Ask about the newborn's blood type and direct
Coombs'.
A nurse observes the client following delivery for normal maternal physiological changes that are
anticipated. The nurse would document which expected changes? - ANS ✔✔Slowed pulse rate and
elevated blood pressure
A nurse provides explanation to a client prescribed methylergonovine maleate (Methergine) in the
immediate postpartum period regarding this medication. Which of the following statements made by
the client demonstrates understanding of rationale for administration? - ANS ✔✔"It will help to prevent
and control bleeding if it occurs."
Breast-feeding instructions for the postpartum mother should include avoidance of soaps on the nipples,
frequent changing of breast pads, intermittent exposure of nipples to air, and handwashing before
handling the breast and before breast-feeding. The nurse understands that these measures are specific
to the prevention of: - ANS ✔✔Mastitis
A postpartum client asks the nurse when she may resume sexual activity. The nurse tells the client that
sexual activity may: - ANS ✔✔Be resumed in about 3 weeks when the episiotomy has healed and the
lochia has stopped
A client has had a midline episiotomy. In relation to clients with other types of episiotomies, the nurse
anticipates that the client will generally experience: - ANS ✔✔Less pain
A nurse is assisting in developing a plan of care for a client preparing to breast-feed. In planning care,
which factor is significant in teaching a client to breast-feed? - ANS ✔✔A positive nurse-client
relationship
A nurse in a postpartum unit identifies which client as being at risk for developing endometritis following
delivery? - ANS ✔✔An adolescent experiencing an emergency cesarean delivery for fetal distress
A nurse is reviewing the procedure for vitamin K injection in the newborn with a nursing student. Which
information would the nurse provide to the student? - ANS ✔✔Inject into skin that has been cleansed
with alcohol.
, A client has had a midline episiotomy. In relation to a mediolateral episiotomy, the nurse anticipates that
this client will generally experience: - ANS ✔✔Less pain
A client who is breast-feeding her newborn infant is experiencing nipple soreness. To relieve the
soreness, the nurse suggests that the client: - ANS ✔✔Begin feeding on the less sore nipple.
A postpartum client with gestational diabetes is scheduled for discharge. During the discharge, the client
asks the nurse, "Do I have to worry about this diabetes anymore?" The nurse makes which response to
the client? - ANS ✔✔"You will be at risk for developing gestational diabetes with your next pregnancy
and developing overt diabetes mellitus."
The client received epidural anesthesia during labor and had a forceps delivery after pushing for 2 hours.
At 6 hours postpartum, the client's systolic blood pressure (BP) dropped 20 points, the diastolic BP
dropped 10 points, and her pulse is 120 beats per minute. The client is very anxious and restless. The
nurse is told that the client has a vulvar hematoma. On the basis of this diagnosis, the nurse would plan
to: - ANS ✔✔Prepare the client for surgery.
A new mother is attempting to breast-feed for the first time. The nurse notices that the client has
inverted nipples. What nursing action can the nurse take to assist the client in breast-feeding the
newborn? - ANS ✔✔Provide breast shells and assist the mother with using a breast pump before each
feeding to make the nipples easier for the newborn to grasp.
A nurse is caring for a woman who has delivered a baby after a pregnancy with a placenta previa. The
nurse monitors the client frequently, knowing that the client is at risk for: - ANS ✔✔Postpartum
hemorrhage
A nurse who is caring for a postpartum mother being tested for endometritis notes that the client has
little interest in caring for her infant. What intervention would best facilitate the client's participation in
infant care? - ANS ✔✔Encouraging the client to take pain medication as prescribed
A nurse has instructed a postpartum client who is hepatitis B positive how to safely bottle-feed her
newborn to prevent the transmission of the infection. Which action by the client indicates an
understanding of this procedure? - ANS ✔✔Washes and dries her hands before feeding
The parents of a male neonate who is not circumcised request information on how to clean the
newborn's penis. Which of the following is the correct response for the nurse to make to the parents? -
ANS ✔✔"Avoid retracting the foreskin to cleanse the glans because this may cause adhesions."
A nurse is monitoring a client at risk for postpartum endometritis. Which observation noted during the
first 24 hours after delivery may support this diagnosis? - ANS ✔✔Abdominal tenderness and chills
A nurse in the postpartum unit is assigned to care for a client who delivered a full-term, healthy baby.
The nurse receives the report and is told that the mother had lost 500 mL of blood during the delivery.
When checking the vital signs, the nurse notes that the woman's pulse is 90 beats per minute and is
weak and thready. This finding would indicate which of the following to the nurse? - ANS ✔✔This may
be a sign of hemorrhage or shock.
GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
A nurse is assisting in administering beractant (Servant) to a premature infant who has respiratory
distress syndrome. The nurse understands that the medication will be administered by which of the
following routes? - ANS ✔✔Intratracheal
A nurse is adding to a plan of care for a postpartum client. Which intervention will promote parent-infant
bonding? - ANS ✔✔Encourage her to hold the infant even when the infant is crying.
A nurse is assisting in caring for a newborn whose mother is Rh negative. In planning the newborn's care,
it would be important for the nurse to: - ANS ✔✔Ask about the newborn's blood type and direct
Coombs'.
A nurse observes the client following delivery for normal maternal physiological changes that are
anticipated. The nurse would document which expected changes? - ANS ✔✔Slowed pulse rate and
elevated blood pressure
A nurse provides explanation to a client prescribed methylergonovine maleate (Methergine) in the
immediate postpartum period regarding this medication. Which of the following statements made by
the client demonstrates understanding of rationale for administration? - ANS ✔✔"It will help to prevent
and control bleeding if it occurs."
Breast-feeding instructions for the postpartum mother should include avoidance of soaps on the nipples,
frequent changing of breast pads, intermittent exposure of nipples to air, and handwashing before
handling the breast and before breast-feeding. The nurse understands that these measures are specific
to the prevention of: - ANS ✔✔Mastitis
A postpartum client asks the nurse when she may resume sexual activity. The nurse tells the client that
sexual activity may: - ANS ✔✔Be resumed in about 3 weeks when the episiotomy has healed and the
lochia has stopped
A client has had a midline episiotomy. In relation to clients with other types of episiotomies, the nurse
anticipates that the client will generally experience: - ANS ✔✔Less pain
A nurse is assisting in developing a plan of care for a client preparing to breast-feed. In planning care,
which factor is significant in teaching a client to breast-feed? - ANS ✔✔A positive nurse-client
relationship
A nurse in a postpartum unit identifies which client as being at risk for developing endometritis following
delivery? - ANS ✔✔An adolescent experiencing an emergency cesarean delivery for fetal distress
A nurse is reviewing the procedure for vitamin K injection in the newborn with a nursing student. Which
information would the nurse provide to the student? - ANS ✔✔Inject into skin that has been cleansed
with alcohol.
, A client has had a midline episiotomy. In relation to a mediolateral episiotomy, the nurse anticipates that
this client will generally experience: - ANS ✔✔Less pain
A client who is breast-feeding her newborn infant is experiencing nipple soreness. To relieve the
soreness, the nurse suggests that the client: - ANS ✔✔Begin feeding on the less sore nipple.
A postpartum client with gestational diabetes is scheduled for discharge. During the discharge, the client
asks the nurse, "Do I have to worry about this diabetes anymore?" The nurse makes which response to
the client? - ANS ✔✔"You will be at risk for developing gestational diabetes with your next pregnancy
and developing overt diabetes mellitus."
The client received epidural anesthesia during labor and had a forceps delivery after pushing for 2 hours.
At 6 hours postpartum, the client's systolic blood pressure (BP) dropped 20 points, the diastolic BP
dropped 10 points, and her pulse is 120 beats per minute. The client is very anxious and restless. The
nurse is told that the client has a vulvar hematoma. On the basis of this diagnosis, the nurse would plan
to: - ANS ✔✔Prepare the client for surgery.
A new mother is attempting to breast-feed for the first time. The nurse notices that the client has
inverted nipples. What nursing action can the nurse take to assist the client in breast-feeding the
newborn? - ANS ✔✔Provide breast shells and assist the mother with using a breast pump before each
feeding to make the nipples easier for the newborn to grasp.
A nurse is caring for a woman who has delivered a baby after a pregnancy with a placenta previa. The
nurse monitors the client frequently, knowing that the client is at risk for: - ANS ✔✔Postpartum
hemorrhage
A nurse who is caring for a postpartum mother being tested for endometritis notes that the client has
little interest in caring for her infant. What intervention would best facilitate the client's participation in
infant care? - ANS ✔✔Encouraging the client to take pain medication as prescribed
A nurse has instructed a postpartum client who is hepatitis B positive how to safely bottle-feed her
newborn to prevent the transmission of the infection. Which action by the client indicates an
understanding of this procedure? - ANS ✔✔Washes and dries her hands before feeding
The parents of a male neonate who is not circumcised request information on how to clean the
newborn's penis. Which of the following is the correct response for the nurse to make to the parents? -
ANS ✔✔"Avoid retracting the foreskin to cleanse the glans because this may cause adhesions."
A nurse is monitoring a client at risk for postpartum endometritis. Which observation noted during the
first 24 hours after delivery may support this diagnosis? - ANS ✔✔Abdominal tenderness and chills
A nurse in the postpartum unit is assigned to care for a client who delivered a full-term, healthy baby.
The nurse receives the report and is told that the mother had lost 500 mL of blood during the delivery.
When checking the vital signs, the nurse notes that the woman's pulse is 90 beats per minute and is
weak and thready. This finding would indicate which of the following to the nurse? - ANS ✔✔This may
be a sign of hemorrhage or shock.
