NU 170 EXAM 3: MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING GALEN COLLEGE | EXAM PRACTICE
| STUDY GUIDE | TESTBANK | PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | EXAM
PREPARATION | ADVANCED REVIEW | COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM |
LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027
Examiner:
Galen College of Nursing
## TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Antepartum Nursing Care
2. Intrapartum Nursing Management
3. Postpartum Nursing Care
4. Fetal Assessment and Monitoring
5. Obstetric Emergencies
6. Newborn Assessment and Care
7. Neonatal Complications
8. Pediatric Growth and Development
9. Pediatric Health Promotion
10. Common Pediatric Disorders
11. Pediatric Medication Administration
12. Family-Centered Nursing Care
13. Patient Safety and Clinical Judgment
14. Nursing Prioritization and Delegation
## DESCRIPTION
This comprehensive Maternal-Child Nursing practice resource is designed to help
learners strengthen clinical reasoning, decision-making, and application of essential
nursing concepts commonly emphasized throughout NU 170 Exam 3. The questions
reflect major content areas frequently discussed in nursing courses, review materials,
standard maternal-child nursing textbooks, and typical examination blueprints.
Learners will encounter challenging patient-care scenarios involving pregnancy, labor
and delivery, postpartum care, neonatal assessment, pediatric nursing, pharmacology,
family-centered care, prioritization, and safety. Each question includes a detailed
explanation to reinforce understanding and encourage deeper clinical thinking rather
,than simple memorization. This study guide is intended solely as a learning resource
to support examination preparation and does not represent, reproduce, or predict any
actual examination questions.
QUESTION 1.
A laboring client at 39 weeks' gestation demonstrates recurrent variable
decelerations with moderate variability during contractions. Which nursing
intervention should be implemented first?
A. Increase the oxytocin infusion rate
B. Reposition the client to a lateral position
C. Prepare the client for immediate cesarean delivery
D. Encourage the client to begin pushing
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Reposition the client to a lateral position
🔵 Explanation: Variable decelerations commonly result from umbilical cord
compression. Repositioning the client may relieve pressure on the cord and improve
fetal oxygenation. Increasing oxytocin could worsen fetal stress, while immediate
cesarean birth is not indicated unless conservative measures fail. Pushing is
inappropriate unless complete cervical dilation has occurred.
QUESTION 2.
A postpartum nurse assesses a client one hour after vaginal birth and notes a
boggy uterine fundus displaced to the right. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Massage the fundus and assist the client to empty the bladder
B. Administer magnesium sulfate
C. Encourage breastfeeding before reassessment
D. Apply an abdominal binder
🔴 Correct Answer: A. Massage the fundus and assist the client to empty the
bladder
,🔵 Explanation: A boggy uterus displaced to the right commonly indicates bladder
distention contributing to uterine atony, a major cause of postpartum hemorrhage.
Massaging the uterus and promoting bladder emptying help restore effective uterine
contraction. The remaining interventions do not immediately address the underlying
cause.
QUESTION 3.
A newborn develops tachypnea, nasal flaring, and expiratory grunting shortly after
birth. Which assessment finding most strongly suggests respiratory distress
requiring prompt intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 38 breaths/minute while asleep
B. Oxygen saturation persistently below expected neonatal levels despite
stimulation
C. Presence of acrocyanosis during the first few hours of life
D. Heart rate of 150 beats/minute
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Oxygen saturation persistently below expected neonatal
levels despite stimulation
🔵 Explanation: Persistent hypoxemia with respiratory distress indicates impaired gas
exchange and requires rapid evaluation. Acrocyanosis is common immediately after
birth, while the respiratory and heart rates listed in the other options are within
expected ranges depending on the clinical situation.
QUESTION 4.
A pediatric nurse is caring for a toddler hospitalized with dehydration secondary to
gastroenteritis. Which finding best indicates successful fluid replacement?
A. Continued absence of tears when crying
B. Urine output appropriate for age and improving mucous membrane moisture
C. Persistent tachycardia
, D. Increasing irritability despite therapy
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Urine output appropriate for age and improving mucous
membrane moisture
🔵 Explanation: Restoration of adequate urine output and moist mucous membranes
are reliable indicators of improved hydration. Persistent tachycardia, irritability, and
absent tears suggest dehydration has not been fully corrected.
QUESTION 5.
A client with severe preeclampsia suddenly reports persistent epigastric pain and
visual disturbances. What complication should the nurse suspect first?
A. Normal gastrointestinal discomfort of pregnancy
B. Progression toward eclampsia and worsening maternal condition
C. Early labor
D. Urinary tract infection
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Progression toward eclampsia and worsening maternal
condition
🔵 Explanation: Epigastric pain and visual disturbances are concerning signs of
worsening preeclampsia and possible progression to eclampsia. Prompt intervention
is necessary to reduce maternal and fetal risk. The remaining options fail to explain
the seriousness of these findings.
QUESTION 6.
A nurse is educating new parents regarding safe infant sleep practices. Which
parental statement demonstrates correct understanding?
A. "Our baby should sleep on the back on a firm mattress."
B. "Soft blankets reduce pressure on the baby's skin."
| STUDY GUIDE | TESTBANK | PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | EXAM
PREPARATION | ADVANCED REVIEW | COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM |
LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027
Examiner:
Galen College of Nursing
## TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Antepartum Nursing Care
2. Intrapartum Nursing Management
3. Postpartum Nursing Care
4. Fetal Assessment and Monitoring
5. Obstetric Emergencies
6. Newborn Assessment and Care
7. Neonatal Complications
8. Pediatric Growth and Development
9. Pediatric Health Promotion
10. Common Pediatric Disorders
11. Pediatric Medication Administration
12. Family-Centered Nursing Care
13. Patient Safety and Clinical Judgment
14. Nursing Prioritization and Delegation
## DESCRIPTION
This comprehensive Maternal-Child Nursing practice resource is designed to help
learners strengthen clinical reasoning, decision-making, and application of essential
nursing concepts commonly emphasized throughout NU 170 Exam 3. The questions
reflect major content areas frequently discussed in nursing courses, review materials,
standard maternal-child nursing textbooks, and typical examination blueprints.
Learners will encounter challenging patient-care scenarios involving pregnancy, labor
and delivery, postpartum care, neonatal assessment, pediatric nursing, pharmacology,
family-centered care, prioritization, and safety. Each question includes a detailed
explanation to reinforce understanding and encourage deeper clinical thinking rather
,than simple memorization. This study guide is intended solely as a learning resource
to support examination preparation and does not represent, reproduce, or predict any
actual examination questions.
QUESTION 1.
A laboring client at 39 weeks' gestation demonstrates recurrent variable
decelerations with moderate variability during contractions. Which nursing
intervention should be implemented first?
A. Increase the oxytocin infusion rate
B. Reposition the client to a lateral position
C. Prepare the client for immediate cesarean delivery
D. Encourage the client to begin pushing
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Reposition the client to a lateral position
🔵 Explanation: Variable decelerations commonly result from umbilical cord
compression. Repositioning the client may relieve pressure on the cord and improve
fetal oxygenation. Increasing oxytocin could worsen fetal stress, while immediate
cesarean birth is not indicated unless conservative measures fail. Pushing is
inappropriate unless complete cervical dilation has occurred.
QUESTION 2.
A postpartum nurse assesses a client one hour after vaginal birth and notes a
boggy uterine fundus displaced to the right. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Massage the fundus and assist the client to empty the bladder
B. Administer magnesium sulfate
C. Encourage breastfeeding before reassessment
D. Apply an abdominal binder
🔴 Correct Answer: A. Massage the fundus and assist the client to empty the
bladder
,🔵 Explanation: A boggy uterus displaced to the right commonly indicates bladder
distention contributing to uterine atony, a major cause of postpartum hemorrhage.
Massaging the uterus and promoting bladder emptying help restore effective uterine
contraction. The remaining interventions do not immediately address the underlying
cause.
QUESTION 3.
A newborn develops tachypnea, nasal flaring, and expiratory grunting shortly after
birth. Which assessment finding most strongly suggests respiratory distress
requiring prompt intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 38 breaths/minute while asleep
B. Oxygen saturation persistently below expected neonatal levels despite
stimulation
C. Presence of acrocyanosis during the first few hours of life
D. Heart rate of 150 beats/minute
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Oxygen saturation persistently below expected neonatal
levels despite stimulation
🔵 Explanation: Persistent hypoxemia with respiratory distress indicates impaired gas
exchange and requires rapid evaluation. Acrocyanosis is common immediately after
birth, while the respiratory and heart rates listed in the other options are within
expected ranges depending on the clinical situation.
QUESTION 4.
A pediatric nurse is caring for a toddler hospitalized with dehydration secondary to
gastroenteritis. Which finding best indicates successful fluid replacement?
A. Continued absence of tears when crying
B. Urine output appropriate for age and improving mucous membrane moisture
C. Persistent tachycardia
, D. Increasing irritability despite therapy
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Urine output appropriate for age and improving mucous
membrane moisture
🔵 Explanation: Restoration of adequate urine output and moist mucous membranes
are reliable indicators of improved hydration. Persistent tachycardia, irritability, and
absent tears suggest dehydration has not been fully corrected.
QUESTION 5.
A client with severe preeclampsia suddenly reports persistent epigastric pain and
visual disturbances. What complication should the nurse suspect first?
A. Normal gastrointestinal discomfort of pregnancy
B. Progression toward eclampsia and worsening maternal condition
C. Early labor
D. Urinary tract infection
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Progression toward eclampsia and worsening maternal
condition
🔵 Explanation: Epigastric pain and visual disturbances are concerning signs of
worsening preeclampsia and possible progression to eclampsia. Prompt intervention
is necessary to reduce maternal and fetal risk. The remaining options fail to explain
the seriousness of these findings.
QUESTION 6.
A nurse is educating new parents regarding safe infant sleep practices. Which
parental statement demonstrates correct understanding?
A. "Our baby should sleep on the back on a firm mattress."
B. "Soft blankets reduce pressure on the baby's skin."
