MATERNITY FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | COMPLETE OBSTETRIC NURSING EXAM
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
Which of the following hormones decreases just before labor?
a. oxytocin
b. prostaglandins
c. progesterone
d. estrogen - ANS ✔✔C
Which of the following hormones increases before labor? Select all that apply.
a. oxytocin
b. prostaglandins
c. progesterone
d. estrogen - ANS ✔✔A, B
5 P's of Labor - ANS ✔✔Powers, passenger, passageway, psychology, position
Though there are 5 P's of labor, which ones are we focusing more on? Select all that apply.
a. Psychology
b. powers
c. position
d. passageway
e. passenger - ANS ✔✔B, D, E
What is considered to be the passenger in labor? - ANS ✔✔fetus
a fetus' head has sutures that are not fused at the time of birth. This is because the head is ________ in
order to fit through the _______. - ANS ✔✔moldable; passageway
Biparietal diameter - ANS ✔✔largest transverse diameter of the fetal head; measured between the
parietal bones
A pregnant woman describes to her nurse that she has suddenly felt a "drop" and is now experiencing
back discomfort and pressure within her pelvis. What is most likely happening?
a. the woman experienced a contraction
b. the fetus was simply "kicking"
c. the woman is undergoing active labor
d. the fetus has engaged - ANS ✔✔D
The RN knows that "lightening" occurs when:
a. the mom starts to "push"
,b. the fetus has engaged
c. the mom is having contractions
d. the mom is experiencing a miscarriage - ANS ✔✔B
All of the following are feto-pelvic relationships except:
a. comfort level
b. lie
c. attitude
d. position
e. presentation - ANS ✔✔A
What is the largest part of the fetal head - ANS ✔✔biparietal
What is the average biparietal measurement at term? - ANS ✔✔9.5 cm
The RN knows that fetal lie can be determined via:
a. intra-vaginal ultrasound
b. palpation
c. auscultation & percussion
d. vaginal examination - ANS ✔✔B
If the fetus was determined to be breech, which fetal lie is it in?
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
c. oblique
d. cannot tell from data provided - ANS ✔✔A
If the fetus was determined to be vertex, which fetal lie is it in?
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
c. oblique
d. cannot tell from data provided - ANS ✔✔A
If the fetus was determined to have shoulder presentation, which fetal lie are they in?
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
c. oblique
d. cannot tell from data provided - ANS ✔✔B
Which fetal lie is considered to be unstable?
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
, c. oblique
d. cannot tell from data provided - ANS ✔✔C
Fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔relationship of fetal head to the rest of its body
Which of the following is the most ideal fetal attitude?
a. Flexion
b. Military
c. Partial Extension
d. Complete Extension - ANS ✔✔A
flexion fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔
Military fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔
Partial extension fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔
Complete extension fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔
Which part of the passenger is showing in the passageway refers to:
a. lie
b. attitude
c. presentation
d. position - ANS ✔✔C
Which presenting part would we ideally want?
a. foot
b. butt
c. shoulder
d. head - ANS ✔✔D
complete breech - ANS ✔✔Fetus is sitting with legs crossed in pelvis.
frank breech - ANS ✔✔The fetal legs are flexed at the hips and extend toward the shoulders; this is the
most common type of breech presentation. The buttocks present at the cervix
footling breech - ANS ✔✔one or both feet are present first at the cervix
The relationship of an assigned area of the presenting part to quadrants of the maternal pelvis is known
as:
a. lie
b. position
c. presentation
d. attitude - ANS ✔✔B
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
Which of the following hormones decreases just before labor?
a. oxytocin
b. prostaglandins
c. progesterone
d. estrogen - ANS ✔✔C
Which of the following hormones increases before labor? Select all that apply.
a. oxytocin
b. prostaglandins
c. progesterone
d. estrogen - ANS ✔✔A, B
5 P's of Labor - ANS ✔✔Powers, passenger, passageway, psychology, position
Though there are 5 P's of labor, which ones are we focusing more on? Select all that apply.
a. Psychology
b. powers
c. position
d. passageway
e. passenger - ANS ✔✔B, D, E
What is considered to be the passenger in labor? - ANS ✔✔fetus
a fetus' head has sutures that are not fused at the time of birth. This is because the head is ________ in
order to fit through the _______. - ANS ✔✔moldable; passageway
Biparietal diameter - ANS ✔✔largest transverse diameter of the fetal head; measured between the
parietal bones
A pregnant woman describes to her nurse that she has suddenly felt a "drop" and is now experiencing
back discomfort and pressure within her pelvis. What is most likely happening?
a. the woman experienced a contraction
b. the fetus was simply "kicking"
c. the woman is undergoing active labor
d. the fetus has engaged - ANS ✔✔D
The RN knows that "lightening" occurs when:
a. the mom starts to "push"
,b. the fetus has engaged
c. the mom is having contractions
d. the mom is experiencing a miscarriage - ANS ✔✔B
All of the following are feto-pelvic relationships except:
a. comfort level
b. lie
c. attitude
d. position
e. presentation - ANS ✔✔A
What is the largest part of the fetal head - ANS ✔✔biparietal
What is the average biparietal measurement at term? - ANS ✔✔9.5 cm
The RN knows that fetal lie can be determined via:
a. intra-vaginal ultrasound
b. palpation
c. auscultation & percussion
d. vaginal examination - ANS ✔✔B
If the fetus was determined to be breech, which fetal lie is it in?
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
c. oblique
d. cannot tell from data provided - ANS ✔✔A
If the fetus was determined to be vertex, which fetal lie is it in?
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
c. oblique
d. cannot tell from data provided - ANS ✔✔A
If the fetus was determined to have shoulder presentation, which fetal lie are they in?
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
c. oblique
d. cannot tell from data provided - ANS ✔✔B
Which fetal lie is considered to be unstable?
a. longitudinal
b. transverse
, c. oblique
d. cannot tell from data provided - ANS ✔✔C
Fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔relationship of fetal head to the rest of its body
Which of the following is the most ideal fetal attitude?
a. Flexion
b. Military
c. Partial Extension
d. Complete Extension - ANS ✔✔A
flexion fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔
Military fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔
Partial extension fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔
Complete extension fetal attitude - ANS ✔✔
Which part of the passenger is showing in the passageway refers to:
a. lie
b. attitude
c. presentation
d. position - ANS ✔✔C
Which presenting part would we ideally want?
a. foot
b. butt
c. shoulder
d. head - ANS ✔✔D
complete breech - ANS ✔✔Fetus is sitting with legs crossed in pelvis.
frank breech - ANS ✔✔The fetal legs are flexed at the hips and extend toward the shoulders; this is the
most common type of breech presentation. The buttocks present at the cervix
footling breech - ANS ✔✔one or both feet are present first at the cervix
The relationship of an assigned area of the presenting part to quadrants of the maternal pelvis is known
as:
a. lie
b. position
c. presentation
d. attitude - ANS ✔✔B
