WKU NURS 335 EXAM 2 2026/2027 – HEALTH ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & TEST PREP
What are preliminary signs of labor? - ANS ✔✔Lightening, increase in level of activity, Braxton Hicks
contractions, ripening of cervix
What factors dictate the onset of labor? - ANS ✔✔Bloody show (pink), ROM [may have weight loss,
increased back ache, more sacral pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea]
What is the difference between cervical effacement and dilation? - ANS ✔✔Effacement- thinning/taking
up of the cervix, dilation- widening of cervix
What are signs of true labor? - ANS ✔✔True contractions and dilation
What is considered arrest of labor? - ANS ✔✔Adequate contraction pattern (No cervical change in 4
hours), Inadequate contraction pattern (No cervical change in 6 hours); Interventions dependent on
situation and what has been done already-- make decisions, C-section?
What are the cardinal movements and how does that affect the labor process? - ANS ✔✔Stage 2 of
labor- allow passage of infant through the pelvis, Engagement & descent, flexion, Internal rotation to OA
position, Extension (for expulsion), External rotation - restitution, External rotation, Expulsion
Identify the 4 degrees of vaginal lacerations. What degree is an episiotomy considered? - ANS ✔✔1st
degree: superficially disrupts mucosa, 2nd degree: divides the perineal body (episiotomies), 3rd degree:
tear involves anal sphincter, 4th degree: tear involves rectal mucosa, 3rd and 4th degrees are very
painful, often have an elective C-section the next time b/c of pain
What are some methods of measuring FHR? - ANS ✔✔Internal or external monitor
What are some methods of measuring contractions? - ANS ✔✔External - tocotransducer, intrauterine
pressure catheter (IUPC), palpation
What is the purpose of Leopold's maneuvers? - ANS ✔✔Determine presentation, Place external fetal
monitor- want it on their back
How do you measure the frequency and duration of contractions? - ANS ✔✔Fetal monitor- internal
(IUPC) or external (tocometer)
What is tachysystole? - ANS ✔✔6 contractions or more in a 10 minute period—correlate FHR with
contraction to evaluate response to labor
What is the normal range for fetal heart rate? - ANS ✔✔110-160 beats per minute
What is baseline variability? - ANS ✔✔irregular fluctuations in the baseline FHR measured as the
amplitude fo the peak to trough in bpm-- absent, minimal- less than 5bpm, moderate- 6-25 bpm,
marked- greater than 25 bpm
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & TEST PREP
What are preliminary signs of labor? - ANS ✔✔Lightening, increase in level of activity, Braxton Hicks
contractions, ripening of cervix
What factors dictate the onset of labor? - ANS ✔✔Bloody show (pink), ROM [may have weight loss,
increased back ache, more sacral pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea]
What is the difference between cervical effacement and dilation? - ANS ✔✔Effacement- thinning/taking
up of the cervix, dilation- widening of cervix
What are signs of true labor? - ANS ✔✔True contractions and dilation
What is considered arrest of labor? - ANS ✔✔Adequate contraction pattern (No cervical change in 4
hours), Inadequate contraction pattern (No cervical change in 6 hours); Interventions dependent on
situation and what has been done already-- make decisions, C-section?
What are the cardinal movements and how does that affect the labor process? - ANS ✔✔Stage 2 of
labor- allow passage of infant through the pelvis, Engagement & descent, flexion, Internal rotation to OA
position, Extension (for expulsion), External rotation - restitution, External rotation, Expulsion
Identify the 4 degrees of vaginal lacerations. What degree is an episiotomy considered? - ANS ✔✔1st
degree: superficially disrupts mucosa, 2nd degree: divides the perineal body (episiotomies), 3rd degree:
tear involves anal sphincter, 4th degree: tear involves rectal mucosa, 3rd and 4th degrees are very
painful, often have an elective C-section the next time b/c of pain
What are some methods of measuring FHR? - ANS ✔✔Internal or external monitor
What are some methods of measuring contractions? - ANS ✔✔External - tocotransducer, intrauterine
pressure catheter (IUPC), palpation
What is the purpose of Leopold's maneuvers? - ANS ✔✔Determine presentation, Place external fetal
monitor- want it on their back
How do you measure the frequency and duration of contractions? - ANS ✔✔Fetal monitor- internal
(IUPC) or external (tocometer)
What is tachysystole? - ANS ✔✔6 contractions or more in a 10 minute period—correlate FHR with
contraction to evaluate response to labor
What is the normal range for fetal heart rate? - ANS ✔✔110-160 beats per minute
What is baseline variability? - ANS ✔✔irregular fluctuations in the baseline FHR measured as the
amplitude fo the peak to trough in bpm-- absent, minimal- less than 5bpm, moderate- 6-25 bpm,
marked- greater than 25 bpm
