NU 170 EXAM 2 – 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 Assessment and Prenatal Care
2. Maternal Adaptations During Pregnancy
3. High-Risk Pregnancy Disorders
4. Fetal Assessment and Monitoring
5. Labor and Birth Management
6. Intrapartum Nursing Care
7. Pain Management During Labor
8. Postpartum Assessment and Complications
9. Newborn Transition and Immediate Care
10. Maternal-Child Safety and Nursing Priorities
DESCRIPTION
This comprehensive practice question set is designed to help students review major
concepts commonly covered in Maternal-Child Nursing courses such as NU 170 Exam
2. The questions are based on widely taught nursing principles, standard maternal-
newborn textbooks, classroom lectures, and common study guide topics rather than
any actual examination. Learners will practice applying clinical judgment to
pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and newborn scenarios while strengthening
critical thinking and prioritization skills. Each question includes a detailed explanation
to reinforce key concepts and improve understanding of nursing interventions, patient
safety, evidence-based care, and maternal-newborn physiology. This resource is
intended solely as an educational study aid to support exam preparation and build
confidence through advanced application of foundational maternal-child nursing
knowledge.
,QUESTION 1.
A laboring client at 39 weeks' gestation demonstrates recurrent late decelerations
on the fetal heart rate tracing. Which nursing action is the highest priority?
A. Reposition the client to a lateral position.
B. Encourage the client to begin pushing.
C. Increase the oxytocin infusion.
D. Prepare the client for immediate discharge.
🔴 Correct Answer: A. Reposition the client to a lateral position.
🔵 Explanation: Late decelerations are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency
and require immediate interventions to improve fetal oxygenation. Repositioning the
client enhances uterine blood flow and is an appropriate first response. Increasing
oxytocin may worsen fetal compromise, encouraging pushing is inappropriate before
correcting fetal status, and discharge is unsafe.
QUESTION 2.
A postpartum nurse assesses a client whose uterus is boggy and displaced to the
right. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer methylergonovine.
B. Assist the client to empty her bladder.
C. Increase intravenous fluids.
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Assist the client to empty her bladder.
🔵 Explanation: A distended bladder commonly prevents effective uterine contraction,
resulting in a boggy, displaced uterus and increased risk of hemorrhage. Emptying the
bladder often allows the uterus to return to the midline and contract appropriately.
Medications or provider notification may become necessary if uterine tone does not
improve afterward.
,QUESTION 3.
A pregnant client diagnosed with preeclampsia suddenly reports severe epigastric
pain. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
A. Normal gastrointestinal discomfort of pregnancy
B. Onset of labor
C. Possible progression toward severe disease with hepatic involvement
D. Fetal hiccups
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Possible progression toward severe disease with hepatic
involvement
🔵 Explanation: Epigastric or right upper quadrant pain in preeclampsia may indicate
liver involvement and worsening disease, increasing the risk of complications such as
HELLP syndrome. This symptom requires prompt evaluation. The remaining options
fail to recognize the seriousness of this finding.
QUESTION 4.
During labor, the fetal heart rate baseline decreases to 80 beats/min for four
minutes after epidural placement. Which is the nurse's priority intervention?
A. Encourage ambulation.
B. Continue routine monitoring.
C. Place the client supine.
D. Administer oxygen, reposition the client, and increase IV fluids.
🔴 Correct Answer: D. Administer oxygen, reposition the client, and increase IV
fluids.
🔵 Explanation: Maternal hypotension following epidural anesthesia can reduce
uteroplacental perfusion, causing fetal bradycardia. Immediate intrauterine
resuscitation includes maternal repositioning, oxygen administration, and fluid bolus.
Supine positioning may worsen hypotension, while delaying intervention could
jeopardize fetal oxygenation.
, QUESTION 5.
A nurse explains fetal movement counting to a client with a high-risk pregnancy.
Which statement demonstrates correct understanding?
A. "I should notify my provider if I notice a significant decrease in fetal movement."
B. "I only need to count movements once labor begins."
C. "Ten movements in twenty-four hours is always reassuring."
D. "Movement counts are unnecessary after 28 weeks."
🔴 Correct Answer: A. "I should notify my provider if I notice a significant
decrease in fetal movement."
🔵 Explanation: A noticeable decrease in fetal movement may indicate fetal
compromise and warrants further evaluation. Daily movement assessment after
viability is commonly recommended for selected pregnancies. The remaining
statements are inconsistent with accepted prenatal monitoring practices.
QUESTION 6.
A client receiving magnesium sulfate develops absent deep tendon reflexes and a
respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min. Which medication should the nurse anticipate
administering?
A. Oxytocin
B. Calcium gluconate
C. Terbutaline
D. Misoprostol
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Calcium gluconate
🔵 Explanation: Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity.
Respiratory depression and absent reflexes are classic signs requiring immediate
intervention. The other medications do not reverse magnesium toxicity.
QUESTION 7.
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 Assessment and Prenatal Care
2. Maternal Adaptations During Pregnancy
3. High-Risk Pregnancy Disorders
4. Fetal Assessment and Monitoring
5. Labor and Birth Management
6. Intrapartum Nursing Care
7. Pain Management During Labor
8. Postpartum Assessment and Complications
9. Newborn Transition and Immediate Care
10. Maternal-Child Safety and Nursing Priorities
DESCRIPTION
This comprehensive practice question set is designed to help students review major
concepts commonly covered in Maternal-Child Nursing courses such as NU 170 Exam
2. The questions are based on widely taught nursing principles, standard maternal-
newborn textbooks, classroom lectures, and common study guide topics rather than
any actual examination. Learners will practice applying clinical judgment to
pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and newborn scenarios while strengthening
critical thinking and prioritization skills. Each question includes a detailed explanation
to reinforce key concepts and improve understanding of nursing interventions, patient
safety, evidence-based care, and maternal-newborn physiology. This resource is
intended solely as an educational study aid to support exam preparation and build
confidence through advanced application of foundational maternal-child nursing
knowledge.
,QUESTION 1.
A laboring client at 39 weeks' gestation demonstrates recurrent late decelerations
on the fetal heart rate tracing. Which nursing action is the highest priority?
A. Reposition the client to a lateral position.
B. Encourage the client to begin pushing.
C. Increase the oxytocin infusion.
D. Prepare the client for immediate discharge.
🔴 Correct Answer: A. Reposition the client to a lateral position.
🔵 Explanation: Late decelerations are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency
and require immediate interventions to improve fetal oxygenation. Repositioning the
client enhances uterine blood flow and is an appropriate first response. Increasing
oxytocin may worsen fetal compromise, encouraging pushing is inappropriate before
correcting fetal status, and discharge is unsafe.
QUESTION 2.
A postpartum nurse assesses a client whose uterus is boggy and displaced to the
right. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer methylergonovine.
B. Assist the client to empty her bladder.
C. Increase intravenous fluids.
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Assist the client to empty her bladder.
🔵 Explanation: A distended bladder commonly prevents effective uterine contraction,
resulting in a boggy, displaced uterus and increased risk of hemorrhage. Emptying the
bladder often allows the uterus to return to the midline and contract appropriately.
Medications or provider notification may become necessary if uterine tone does not
improve afterward.
,QUESTION 3.
A pregnant client diagnosed with preeclampsia suddenly reports severe epigastric
pain. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
A. Normal gastrointestinal discomfort of pregnancy
B. Onset of labor
C. Possible progression toward severe disease with hepatic involvement
D. Fetal hiccups
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Possible progression toward severe disease with hepatic
involvement
🔵 Explanation: Epigastric or right upper quadrant pain in preeclampsia may indicate
liver involvement and worsening disease, increasing the risk of complications such as
HELLP syndrome. This symptom requires prompt evaluation. The remaining options
fail to recognize the seriousness of this finding.
QUESTION 4.
During labor, the fetal heart rate baseline decreases to 80 beats/min for four
minutes after epidural placement. Which is the nurse's priority intervention?
A. Encourage ambulation.
B. Continue routine monitoring.
C. Place the client supine.
D. Administer oxygen, reposition the client, and increase IV fluids.
🔴 Correct Answer: D. Administer oxygen, reposition the client, and increase IV
fluids.
🔵 Explanation: Maternal hypotension following epidural anesthesia can reduce
uteroplacental perfusion, causing fetal bradycardia. Immediate intrauterine
resuscitation includes maternal repositioning, oxygen administration, and fluid bolus.
Supine positioning may worsen hypotension, while delaying intervention could
jeopardize fetal oxygenation.
, QUESTION 5.
A nurse explains fetal movement counting to a client with a high-risk pregnancy.
Which statement demonstrates correct understanding?
A. "I should notify my provider if I notice a significant decrease in fetal movement."
B. "I only need to count movements once labor begins."
C. "Ten movements in twenty-four hours is always reassuring."
D. "Movement counts are unnecessary after 28 weeks."
🔴 Correct Answer: A. "I should notify my provider if I notice a significant
decrease in fetal movement."
🔵 Explanation: A noticeable decrease in fetal movement may indicate fetal
compromise and warrants further evaluation. Daily movement assessment after
viability is commonly recommended for selected pregnancies. The remaining
statements are inconsistent with accepted prenatal monitoring practices.
QUESTION 6.
A client receiving magnesium sulfate develops absent deep tendon reflexes and a
respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min. Which medication should the nurse anticipate
administering?
A. Oxytocin
B. Calcium gluconate
C. Terbutaline
D. Misoprostol
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Calcium gluconate
🔵 Explanation: Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity.
Respiratory depression and absent reflexes are classic signs requiring immediate
intervention. The other medications do not reverse magnesium toxicity.
QUESTION 7.
