Nursing Care of the Laboring Patient
GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING NUR 3450 MATERNAL WEEK 3
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | NUR 3450 MATERNAL NURSING STUDY
GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Cindy, a 17 year-old G1P0 is admitted to the labor and delivery unit for an induction at 38 weeks
gestation. She was diagnosed with preeclampsia at 34 weeks gestation. She has been on strict bed rest
for the past 4 weeks.
She has been doing daily fetal kick counts and had a BPP done 2 days ago which was normal. She has
been placed on an external fetal monitor and FHT’s are 125-135 with accelerations noted. The
external contraction monitor shows no contractions and Cindy denies feeling any contractions. A
vaginal exam is done and she is 2 cm dilated, 75% effaced and the fetus is at a 0 station.
An IV of LR has been started in her left forearm and is running at 75ml/hr. The physician has
prescribed MgSO4 and has ordered initial admission labs: CBC, Type and Cross and a Liver Profile
now and a MgSO4 level to be drawn in 2 hours. The time is now 0800.
1. What is the normal loading dose for MgSO4? What assessments should the nurse perform related
to the administration of MgSO4 and potential side effects? Why is Cindy receiving this
medication? 4-6 grams over 15 min is a normal loading dose. Then nurse should monitor the
mother’s vital signs, the fetal heart rate, also monitor the urine output for protein in the urine. The
medication can lead to a magnesium toxicity, respiratory depression, heart rate changes, blurred
vison, headache, hot flushes, and sweating. The patient is taken this medication to prevent
seizures due to preeclampsia. (Hockenberry, et al., 2014)
2. The loading dose has been administered and was complete at 0830. The physician has ordered
the maintenance dose to be 2 GM/hour. The MgSO4 has arrived from pharmacy mixed as 40Gm
in 1000cc of LR. Calculate the hourly rate in ml/hour. 50 ML/hour
3. It is 0845 and you have placed a foley catheter with a urimeter attached per physician’s orders
and are to perform an hourly assessment of intake and output. Upon placing the foley catheter
you receive a return of 150 mls of urine.
The physician has also ordered a pitocin drip to be administered to begin the induction of labor.
The order is to administer the pitocin at 2 milliunits per minute and increase by 2 milliunits every
30 minutes until regular, moderate contractions are achieved.
a. You mix 20 units of pitocin in 1000 milliliterss of LR. How many milliliters per hour will
you set the IV pump for to achieve the rate of 2 milliunits per minute? I am not sure on
this one but I think it should be 6 ML/hr.
4. What side effects should the nurse monitor for related to the administration of pitocin? The
nurse should monitor for nausea and vomiting, cramping, after birth hemorrhage, uterine
rupture, placental abruption.
5. The pitocin drip was started at 0900. The time is now 1100. The pitocin drip is currently set at 8
milliunits per minute. Cindy is having contractions every 3 minutes, lasting 60 seconds. The
contractions are moderate on palpation. She is having a difficult time coping with the
contractions and is requesting something for pain. You assess the fetal heart tones and note that
the fetal heart rate (FHR) is 130-140 with accelerations and occasional mild variables. You
GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING NUR 3450 MATERNAL WEEK 3
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | NUR 3450 MATERNAL NURSING STUDY
GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Cindy, a 17 year-old G1P0 is admitted to the labor and delivery unit for an induction at 38 weeks
gestation. She was diagnosed with preeclampsia at 34 weeks gestation. She has been on strict bed rest
for the past 4 weeks.
She has been doing daily fetal kick counts and had a BPP done 2 days ago which was normal. She has
been placed on an external fetal monitor and FHT’s are 125-135 with accelerations noted. The
external contraction monitor shows no contractions and Cindy denies feeling any contractions. A
vaginal exam is done and she is 2 cm dilated, 75% effaced and the fetus is at a 0 station.
An IV of LR has been started in her left forearm and is running at 75ml/hr. The physician has
prescribed MgSO4 and has ordered initial admission labs: CBC, Type and Cross and a Liver Profile
now and a MgSO4 level to be drawn in 2 hours. The time is now 0800.
1. What is the normal loading dose for MgSO4? What assessments should the nurse perform related
to the administration of MgSO4 and potential side effects? Why is Cindy receiving this
medication? 4-6 grams over 15 min is a normal loading dose. Then nurse should monitor the
mother’s vital signs, the fetal heart rate, also monitor the urine output for protein in the urine. The
medication can lead to a magnesium toxicity, respiratory depression, heart rate changes, blurred
vison, headache, hot flushes, and sweating. The patient is taken this medication to prevent
seizures due to preeclampsia. (Hockenberry, et al., 2014)
2. The loading dose has been administered and was complete at 0830. The physician has ordered
the maintenance dose to be 2 GM/hour. The MgSO4 has arrived from pharmacy mixed as 40Gm
in 1000cc of LR. Calculate the hourly rate in ml/hour. 50 ML/hour
3. It is 0845 and you have placed a foley catheter with a urimeter attached per physician’s orders
and are to perform an hourly assessment of intake and output. Upon placing the foley catheter
you receive a return of 150 mls of urine.
The physician has also ordered a pitocin drip to be administered to begin the induction of labor.
The order is to administer the pitocin at 2 milliunits per minute and increase by 2 milliunits every
30 minutes until regular, moderate contractions are achieved.
a. You mix 20 units of pitocin in 1000 milliliterss of LR. How many milliliters per hour will
you set the IV pump for to achieve the rate of 2 milliunits per minute? I am not sure on
this one but I think it should be 6 ML/hr.
4. What side effects should the nurse monitor for related to the administration of pitocin? The
nurse should monitor for nausea and vomiting, cramping, after birth hemorrhage, uterine
rupture, placental abruption.
5. The pitocin drip was started at 0900. The time is now 1100. The pitocin drip is currently set at 8
milliunits per minute. Cindy is having contractions every 3 minutes, lasting 60 seconds. The
contractions are moderate on palpation. She is having a difficult time coping with the
contractions and is requesting something for pain. You assess the fetal heart tones and note that
the fetal heart rate (FHR) is 130-140 with accelerations and occasional mild variables. You
