2026 ATI Maternal Newborn Proctored Exam Prep
Complete Practice Question Bank 3 VERSIONS
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a newborn who is 6 hours old. The nurse notes a heart rate of
150/min, respiratory rate of 55/min, and a temperature of 36.2°C (97.2°F). Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Document the findings as normal
B. Place the newborn under a radiant warmer
C. Notify the provider immediately
D. Administer oxygen via hood
*Correct Answer: B. Place the newborn under a radiant warmer. *
Rationale: The newborn's temperature of 36.2°C (97.2°F) is below the normal range of
36.5°C to 37.5°C (97.7°F to 99.5°F), indicating hypothermia. The nurse should first warm
the newborn under a radiant warmer. The heart rate and respiratory rate are within
normal limits, so warming is the priority. Notifying the provider and administering oxygen
are not the first actions for hypothermia without other signs of distress.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 12 weeks of gestation and has a history of
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Which of the following laboratory values should the
nurse monitor closely?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Platelet count
C. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer
D. Serum creatinine
*Correct Answer: B. Platelet count. *
,Rationale: Clients with SLE are at risk for thrombocytopenia and neonatal lupus. The nurse
should monitor platelet counts closely during pregnancy. ANA titers are not useful for
monitoring disease activity in pregnancy. Hemoglobin and creatinine are also monitored
but platelet count is a specific concern for SLE-related complications.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client who is 1 hour postpartum and has a perineal hematoma.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Painless swelling
B. Severe, unrelieved perineal pain
C. Absence of vaginal bleeding
D. Hypotension without tachycardia
*Correct Answer: B. Severe, unrelieved perineal pain. *
Rationale: A perineal hematoma presents with severe, localized pain that is not relieved by
ice packs or analgesics. The nurse may also observe a bluish, bulging mass near the
introitus. Painless swelling is not characteristic, bleeding may be present, and hypotension
with tachycardia may occur if the hematoma is large, but pain is the hallmark symptom.
Question 4
A nurse is providing education to a client about the physiological changes of pregnancy.
Which of the following respiratory changes should the nurse include?
A. Decreased tidal volume
B. Increased respiratory rate
C. Decreased oxygen consumption
D. Increased residual volume
*Correct Answer: B. Increased respiratory rate. *
Rationale: During pregnancy, the respiratory rate increases slightly due to elevated
progesterone levels, which stimulate the respiratory center. Tidal volume and oxygen
,consumption increase, not decrease. Residual volume decreases as the uterus pushes the
diaphragm upward.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a newborn who is 24 hours old and notes a heart rate of 110/min
while the newborn is sleeping. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Notify the provider
B. Document the finding as normal
C. Stimulate the newborn to increase heart rate
D. Administer oxygen
*Correct Answer: B. Document the finding as normal. *
Rationale: A heart rate of 110/min is within the normal range for a sleeping newborn
(100180/min). The nurse should document this normal finding. Stimulation is not needed,
and oxygen is not indicated. Bradycardia would be a heart rate below 100/min.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and has a history of hepatitis B. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take after delivery?
A. Administer hepatitis B vaccine to the newborn within 24 hours
B. Administer hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and vaccine to the newborn within 12
hours
C. Isolate the newborn from the mother
D. Delay the hepatitis B vaccine until the newborn is 1 month old
*Correct Answer: B. Administer hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and vaccine to
the newborn within 12 hours. *
Rationale: For newborns of mothers with hepatitis B, the recommended prophylaxis is HBIG
and the hepatitis B vaccine administered within 12 hours of birth. The vaccine alone is not
, sufficient. Isolation is not required because hepatitis B is not transmitted through casual
contact, but standard precautions should be used.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a client who is at 16 weeks of gestation and reports that she has not
felt any fetal movement. Which of the following is the most appropriate response by the
nurse?
A. "This is concerning; we need to do an ultrasound immediately."
B. "You should be feeling movement by now; I will notify the provider."
C. "It is normal not to feel movement until 18 to 20 weeks in a first pregnancy."
D. "You should lie on your left side and try to feel for movement."
*Correct Answer: C. "It is normal not to feel movement until 18 to 20 weeks in a
first pregnancy." *
Rationale: Quickening (first fetal movement) is typically felt between 18 and 20 weeks in
primigravidas and 16 to 18 weeks in multigravidas. At 16 weeks, it is normal not to feel
movement yet. The nurse should reassure the client and provide education.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who is in the postpartum period and has a history of
cardiomyopathy. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
provider?
A. Heart rate of 80/min
B. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
C. Weight gain of 2 pounds in 24 hours
D. Mild pedal edema
*Correct Answer: C. Weight gain of 2 pounds in 24 hours. *
Complete Practice Question Bank 3 VERSIONS
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a newborn who is 6 hours old. The nurse notes a heart rate of
150/min, respiratory rate of 55/min, and a temperature of 36.2°C (97.2°F). Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Document the findings as normal
B. Place the newborn under a radiant warmer
C. Notify the provider immediately
D. Administer oxygen via hood
*Correct Answer: B. Place the newborn under a radiant warmer. *
Rationale: The newborn's temperature of 36.2°C (97.2°F) is below the normal range of
36.5°C to 37.5°C (97.7°F to 99.5°F), indicating hypothermia. The nurse should first warm
the newborn under a radiant warmer. The heart rate and respiratory rate are within
normal limits, so warming is the priority. Notifying the provider and administering oxygen
are not the first actions for hypothermia without other signs of distress.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 12 weeks of gestation and has a history of
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Which of the following laboratory values should the
nurse monitor closely?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Platelet count
C. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer
D. Serum creatinine
*Correct Answer: B. Platelet count. *
,Rationale: Clients with SLE are at risk for thrombocytopenia and neonatal lupus. The nurse
should monitor platelet counts closely during pregnancy. ANA titers are not useful for
monitoring disease activity in pregnancy. Hemoglobin and creatinine are also monitored
but platelet count is a specific concern for SLE-related complications.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client who is 1 hour postpartum and has a perineal hematoma.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Painless swelling
B. Severe, unrelieved perineal pain
C. Absence of vaginal bleeding
D. Hypotension without tachycardia
*Correct Answer: B. Severe, unrelieved perineal pain. *
Rationale: A perineal hematoma presents with severe, localized pain that is not relieved by
ice packs or analgesics. The nurse may also observe a bluish, bulging mass near the
introitus. Painless swelling is not characteristic, bleeding may be present, and hypotension
with tachycardia may occur if the hematoma is large, but pain is the hallmark symptom.
Question 4
A nurse is providing education to a client about the physiological changes of pregnancy.
Which of the following respiratory changes should the nurse include?
A. Decreased tidal volume
B. Increased respiratory rate
C. Decreased oxygen consumption
D. Increased residual volume
*Correct Answer: B. Increased respiratory rate. *
Rationale: During pregnancy, the respiratory rate increases slightly due to elevated
progesterone levels, which stimulate the respiratory center. Tidal volume and oxygen
,consumption increase, not decrease. Residual volume decreases as the uterus pushes the
diaphragm upward.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a newborn who is 24 hours old and notes a heart rate of 110/min
while the newborn is sleeping. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Notify the provider
B. Document the finding as normal
C. Stimulate the newborn to increase heart rate
D. Administer oxygen
*Correct Answer: B. Document the finding as normal. *
Rationale: A heart rate of 110/min is within the normal range for a sleeping newborn
(100180/min). The nurse should document this normal finding. Stimulation is not needed,
and oxygen is not indicated. Bradycardia would be a heart rate below 100/min.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and has a history of hepatitis B. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take after delivery?
A. Administer hepatitis B vaccine to the newborn within 24 hours
B. Administer hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and vaccine to the newborn within 12
hours
C. Isolate the newborn from the mother
D. Delay the hepatitis B vaccine until the newborn is 1 month old
*Correct Answer: B. Administer hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and vaccine to
the newborn within 12 hours. *
Rationale: For newborns of mothers with hepatitis B, the recommended prophylaxis is HBIG
and the hepatitis B vaccine administered within 12 hours of birth. The vaccine alone is not
, sufficient. Isolation is not required because hepatitis B is not transmitted through casual
contact, but standard precautions should be used.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a client who is at 16 weeks of gestation and reports that she has not
felt any fetal movement. Which of the following is the most appropriate response by the
nurse?
A. "This is concerning; we need to do an ultrasound immediately."
B. "You should be feeling movement by now; I will notify the provider."
C. "It is normal not to feel movement until 18 to 20 weeks in a first pregnancy."
D. "You should lie on your left side and try to feel for movement."
*Correct Answer: C. "It is normal not to feel movement until 18 to 20 weeks in a
first pregnancy." *
Rationale: Quickening (first fetal movement) is typically felt between 18 and 20 weeks in
primigravidas and 16 to 18 weeks in multigravidas. At 16 weeks, it is normal not to feel
movement yet. The nurse should reassure the client and provide education.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who is in the postpartum period and has a history of
cardiomyopathy. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the
provider?
A. Heart rate of 80/min
B. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
C. Weight gain of 2 pounds in 24 hours
D. Mild pedal edema
*Correct Answer: C. Weight gain of 2 pounds in 24 hours. *
