ATI Maternal Newborn Comprehensive Review 2026 |Questions
|Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and has a
prescription for magnesium sulfate. Which of the following findings should the
nurse identify as a manifestation of magnesium toxicity?
A. Respiratory rate of 10/min
B. Hyperreflexia
C. Increased urine output
D. Tachycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Signs of magnesium toxicity include a respiratory rate less than 12/min, absent
deep tendon reflexes, and decreased urine output.
2. A client at 32 weeks of gestation reports painless, bright red vaginal bleeding.
Which of the following conditions should the nurse suspect?
A. Abruptio placentae
B. Placenta previa
C. Preeclampsia
D. Ectopic pregnancy
Answer: B
Rationale: Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding during the second or third trimester is a
classic sign of placenta previa.
,3. A nurse is caring for a newborn immediately following birth. Which of the
following actions is the priority?
A. Administer vitamin K
B. Dry the newborn
C. Apply erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
D. Weigh the newborn
Answer: B
Rationale: Drying the newborn is the priority action to prevent heat loss through
evaporation and maintain thermoregulation.
4. Using Naegele’s rule, what is the estimated date of delivery (EDD) for a client
whose last menstrual period began on March 15th?
A. December 22nd
B. December 15th
C. January 22nd
D. November 22nd
Answer: A
Rationale: Naegele’s rule is calculated by subtracting 3 months and adding 7 days to the
first day of the last menstrual period (March 15 - 3 months = Dec 15 + 7 days = Dec 22).
5. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is pregnant and has a new
prescription for iron supplements. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include?
A. Take the medication with orange juice
B. Take the medication with milk
C. Take the medication just before bedtime
D. Double the dose if a day is missed
Answer: A
, Rationale: Vitamin C (found in orange juice) enhances the absorption of iron. Milk and
calcium can inhibit its absorption.
6. A nurse is evaluating the fetal heart rate (FHR) monitor and notes variable
decelerations. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform
first?
A. Administer oxygen via nonrebreather mask
B. Increase the rate of IV fluids
C. Change the client’s position
D. Prepare for a cesarean birth
Answer: C
Rationale: Variable decelerations are caused by cord compression. The first action should
be to change the client’s position to relieve pressure on the cord.
7. Which of the following findings is considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Positive pregnancy test
B. Fetal heart tones heard by Doppler
C. Amenorrhea
D. Quickening
Answer: B
Rationale: Positive signs are those attributed only to the presence of a fetus, such as
hearing fetal heart tones, visualization via ultrasound, or palpation of fetal movement by
the provider.
|Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and has a
prescription for magnesium sulfate. Which of the following findings should the
nurse identify as a manifestation of magnesium toxicity?
A. Respiratory rate of 10/min
B. Hyperreflexia
C. Increased urine output
D. Tachycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Signs of magnesium toxicity include a respiratory rate less than 12/min, absent
deep tendon reflexes, and decreased urine output.
2. A client at 32 weeks of gestation reports painless, bright red vaginal bleeding.
Which of the following conditions should the nurse suspect?
A. Abruptio placentae
B. Placenta previa
C. Preeclampsia
D. Ectopic pregnancy
Answer: B
Rationale: Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding during the second or third trimester is a
classic sign of placenta previa.
,3. A nurse is caring for a newborn immediately following birth. Which of the
following actions is the priority?
A. Administer vitamin K
B. Dry the newborn
C. Apply erythromycin ophthalmic ointment
D. Weigh the newborn
Answer: B
Rationale: Drying the newborn is the priority action to prevent heat loss through
evaporation and maintain thermoregulation.
4. Using Naegele’s rule, what is the estimated date of delivery (EDD) for a client
whose last menstrual period began on March 15th?
A. December 22nd
B. December 15th
C. January 22nd
D. November 22nd
Answer: A
Rationale: Naegele’s rule is calculated by subtracting 3 months and adding 7 days to the
first day of the last menstrual period (March 15 - 3 months = Dec 15 + 7 days = Dec 22).
5. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is pregnant and has a new
prescription for iron supplements. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include?
A. Take the medication with orange juice
B. Take the medication with milk
C. Take the medication just before bedtime
D. Double the dose if a day is missed
Answer: A
, Rationale: Vitamin C (found in orange juice) enhances the absorption of iron. Milk and
calcium can inhibit its absorption.
6. A nurse is evaluating the fetal heart rate (FHR) monitor and notes variable
decelerations. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform
first?
A. Administer oxygen via nonrebreather mask
B. Increase the rate of IV fluids
C. Change the client’s position
D. Prepare for a cesarean birth
Answer: C
Rationale: Variable decelerations are caused by cord compression. The first action should
be to change the client’s position to relieve pressure on the cord.
7. Which of the following findings is considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Positive pregnancy test
B. Fetal heart tones heard by Doppler
C. Amenorrhea
D. Quickening
Answer: B
Rationale: Positive signs are those attributed only to the presence of a fetus, such as
hearing fetal heart tones, visualization via ultrasound, or palpation of fetal movement by
the provider.
