ATI Maternal Newborn Nursing Exam Comprehensive Quiz 2026
|Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is providing teaching for a client who is at 8 weeks of gestation and
has hyperemesis gravidarum. Which of the following statements should the
nurse identify as an indication that the client understands the instruction?
A. I will eat foods that are served at room temperature.
B. I will drink fluids with my meals to stay hydrated.
C. I will eat a large breakfast every morning.
D. I will limit my intake of carbohydrates.
Answer: A
Rationale: Clients with hyperemesis gravidarum should consume foods at cool or room
temperature to minimize odors that trigger nausea. They should also eat small, frequent
meals and drink fluids between meals rather than with them.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and has
preeclampsia. Which of the following findings is the priority to report to the
provider?
A. Epigastric pain
B. 1+ pitting edema in lower extremities
C. Weight gain of 1 lb in one week
D. Trace protein in urine
Answer: A
Rationale: Epigastric pain is a sign of hepatic involvement and indicates severe
preeclampsia or impending HELLP syndrome, which is a life-threatening complication.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the first stage of labor and has an
umbilical cord prolapse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
A. Apply oxygen at 10 L/min via nonrebreather mask.
B. Call for assistance and notify the provider.
C. Perform a vaginal examination and apply upward pressure on the presenting part.
D. Place the client in a Trendelenburg or knee-chest position.
Answer: C
Rationale: The immediate priority is to relieve pressure on the umbilical cord to maintain
fetal oxygenation. The nurse should use a sterile gloved hand to push the presenting part
off the cord.
4. A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate via IV
infusion for preeclampsia. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report to the provider?
A. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
B. Respiratory rate 10/min
C. Urine output 40 mL/hr
D. Blood pressure 140/90 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Magnesium sulfate is a CNS depressant. A respiratory rate below 12/min is a
sign of magnesium toxicity and requires immediate intervention.
,5. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation and has a
prescription for an Oxytocin challenge test. Which of the following results
indicates a negative test?
A. Late decelerations occurring with more than half of the contractions.
B. Persistent late decelerations with five contractions.
C. No late decelerations with three contractions in a 10-minute period.
D. Variable decelerations with most contractions.
Answer: C
Rationale: A negative contraction stress test (CST) means there are no late decelerations,
which is a reassuring finding indicating the fetus can tolerate labor.
6. A nurse is assessing a postpartum client 4 hours after delivery. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a risk factor for postpartum
hemorrhage?
A. Distended bladder
B. Vaginal delivery
C. Primipara status
D. Blood pressure 110/70 mmHg
Answer: A
Rationale: A distended bladder can displace the uterus and prevent it from contracting
effectively (uterine atony), which is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage.
, 7. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a parent of a newborn who is
being breastfed. Which of the following information should the nurse include
regarding stools?
A. The stools will be pasty and brown.
B. The stools will be dark green and sticky.
C. The stools will be yellow and seedy.
D. The stools will occur once every 3 days.
Answer: C
Rationale: Breastfed newborns typically have stools that are yellow, seedy, and loose.
Meconium is dark green and sticky, while formula-fed infants have firmer, tan/brown
stools.
8. A nurse is teaching a client who is at 12 weeks of gestation about nutrition.
Which of the following nutrients should the client increase to 600 mcg per day?
A. Vitamin C
B. Calcium
C. Folic acid
D. Iron
Answer: C
Rationale: Pregnant women are advised to increase folic acid intake to 600 mcg per day to
prevent neural tube defects.
9. A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 hour after birth. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Heart rate 140/min
B. Acrocyanosis
C. Generalized petechiae
D. Axillary temperature 36.8 C (98.2 F)
Answer: C
|Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is providing teaching for a client who is at 8 weeks of gestation and
has hyperemesis gravidarum. Which of the following statements should the
nurse identify as an indication that the client understands the instruction?
A. I will eat foods that are served at room temperature.
B. I will drink fluids with my meals to stay hydrated.
C. I will eat a large breakfast every morning.
D. I will limit my intake of carbohydrates.
Answer: A
Rationale: Clients with hyperemesis gravidarum should consume foods at cool or room
temperature to minimize odors that trigger nausea. They should also eat small, frequent
meals and drink fluids between meals rather than with them.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and has
preeclampsia. Which of the following findings is the priority to report to the
provider?
A. Epigastric pain
B. 1+ pitting edema in lower extremities
C. Weight gain of 1 lb in one week
D. Trace protein in urine
Answer: A
Rationale: Epigastric pain is a sign of hepatic involvement and indicates severe
preeclampsia or impending HELLP syndrome, which is a life-threatening complication.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the first stage of labor and has an
umbilical cord prolapse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
first?
A. Apply oxygen at 10 L/min via nonrebreather mask.
B. Call for assistance and notify the provider.
C. Perform a vaginal examination and apply upward pressure on the presenting part.
D. Place the client in a Trendelenburg or knee-chest position.
Answer: C
Rationale: The immediate priority is to relieve pressure on the umbilical cord to maintain
fetal oxygenation. The nurse should use a sterile gloved hand to push the presenting part
off the cord.
4. A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving magnesium sulfate via IV
infusion for preeclampsia. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report to the provider?
A. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
B. Respiratory rate 10/min
C. Urine output 40 mL/hr
D. Blood pressure 140/90 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: Magnesium sulfate is a CNS depressant. A respiratory rate below 12/min is a
sign of magnesium toxicity and requires immediate intervention.
,5. A nurse is caring for a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation and has a
prescription for an Oxytocin challenge test. Which of the following results
indicates a negative test?
A. Late decelerations occurring with more than half of the contractions.
B. Persistent late decelerations with five contractions.
C. No late decelerations with three contractions in a 10-minute period.
D. Variable decelerations with most contractions.
Answer: C
Rationale: A negative contraction stress test (CST) means there are no late decelerations,
which is a reassuring finding indicating the fetus can tolerate labor.
6. A nurse is assessing a postpartum client 4 hours after delivery. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a risk factor for postpartum
hemorrhage?
A. Distended bladder
B. Vaginal delivery
C. Primipara status
D. Blood pressure 110/70 mmHg
Answer: A
Rationale: A distended bladder can displace the uterus and prevent it from contracting
effectively (uterine atony), which is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage.
, 7. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a parent of a newborn who is
being breastfed. Which of the following information should the nurse include
regarding stools?
A. The stools will be pasty and brown.
B. The stools will be dark green and sticky.
C. The stools will be yellow and seedy.
D. The stools will occur once every 3 days.
Answer: C
Rationale: Breastfed newborns typically have stools that are yellow, seedy, and loose.
Meconium is dark green and sticky, while formula-fed infants have firmer, tan/brown
stools.
8. A nurse is teaching a client who is at 12 weeks of gestation about nutrition.
Which of the following nutrients should the client increase to 600 mcg per day?
A. Vitamin C
B. Calcium
C. Folic acid
D. Iron
Answer: C
Rationale: Pregnant women are advised to increase folic acid intake to 600 mcg per day to
prevent neural tube defects.
9. A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 hour after birth. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Heart rate 140/min
B. Acrocyanosis
C. Generalized petechiae
D. Axillary temperature 36.8 C (98.2 F)
Answer: C
