MCN EXAM 2 2026 MATERNAL CHILD
NURSING HIGH RISK PREGNANCY
COMPLICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
STUDY GUIDE
◉ A woman is 9 weeks pregnant and experiencing heavy bleeding
and cramping. She reports passing some tissue. Cervical dilation is
noted on examination. What is the most likely cause of these
symptoms?
Answer: Incomplete Abortion
◉ What is a statement that gives an explanation of an ectopic
pregnancy?
Answer: When the fertilized ovum (zygote) is implanted outside the
uterine cavity.
◉ An ultrasound on a woman who is 32 weeks pregnant reveals the
placenta implanted over the entire cervical os. What does the nurse
understand best describes this condition?
Answer: Placenta previa
,◉ What symptom presented by a pregnant women is indicative of
abruptio placentae?
Answer: Pain and bleeding
◉ What situation would concern the nurse about the presence of Rh
incompatibility?
Answer: Erythroblastosis fetalis - Occurs when the maternal anti-Rh
antibodies cross the placenta and destroy fetal erythrocytes.
◉ A primigravida in her first trimester is Rh negative. What will this
woman receive to prevent anti-Rh antibodies from forming?
Answer: RhoGAM to be given at 28 weeks and within 72 hours of
delivery to the mother.
◉ A woman seeking prenatal care relates a history of macrosomic
infants, two stillbirths, and polyhydramnios with each pregnancy.
What does the nurse recognize these factors highly suggest?
Answer: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
◉ A nurse is providing prenatal education. The nurse will explain
that pregnancy affects glucose metabolism in what way?
Answer: Hormones and the enzymes (estrogen and progesterone)
that are produced by the placenta have two effects:
§ Increasing the resistance of cells to insulin
, § Increase the speed of insulin breakdown
◉ Why does the woman taking oral hypoglycemic agents to control
diabetes mellitus need to take insulin during pregnancy?
Answer: Oral hypoglycemic agents are contraindicated during
pregnancy.
◉ A pregnant woman comes to the clinic stating that she has been
exposed to hepatitis B. She is afraid that her infant will also contract
hepatitis B. What will the nurse explain to this woman?
Answer: Fetus may be infected transplacentally or by contact with
blood or vaginal secretions during delivery. Upon delivery, the
neonate should receive a single dose of hepatitis B immune globulin,
followed by the hepatitis B vaccine.
◉ A patient with gestational hypertension is exhibiting signs. What
should the nurse report immediately?
Answer: Blood pressure of 140/90 or above, or proteinuria because
it is an indication that gestational hypertension has advanced to
preclampsia; which can lead to seizures
◉ The nurse is caring for a pregnant woman diagnosed with
preeclampsia. What will the nurse explain is the objective of
magnesium sulfate therapy for this patient?
NURSING HIGH RISK PREGNANCY
COMPLICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
STUDY GUIDE
◉ A woman is 9 weeks pregnant and experiencing heavy bleeding
and cramping. She reports passing some tissue. Cervical dilation is
noted on examination. What is the most likely cause of these
symptoms?
Answer: Incomplete Abortion
◉ What is a statement that gives an explanation of an ectopic
pregnancy?
Answer: When the fertilized ovum (zygote) is implanted outside the
uterine cavity.
◉ An ultrasound on a woman who is 32 weeks pregnant reveals the
placenta implanted over the entire cervical os. What does the nurse
understand best describes this condition?
Answer: Placenta previa
,◉ What symptom presented by a pregnant women is indicative of
abruptio placentae?
Answer: Pain and bleeding
◉ What situation would concern the nurse about the presence of Rh
incompatibility?
Answer: Erythroblastosis fetalis - Occurs when the maternal anti-Rh
antibodies cross the placenta and destroy fetal erythrocytes.
◉ A primigravida in her first trimester is Rh negative. What will this
woman receive to prevent anti-Rh antibodies from forming?
Answer: RhoGAM to be given at 28 weeks and within 72 hours of
delivery to the mother.
◉ A woman seeking prenatal care relates a history of macrosomic
infants, two stillbirths, and polyhydramnios with each pregnancy.
What does the nurse recognize these factors highly suggest?
Answer: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
◉ A nurse is providing prenatal education. The nurse will explain
that pregnancy affects glucose metabolism in what way?
Answer: Hormones and the enzymes (estrogen and progesterone)
that are produced by the placenta have two effects:
§ Increasing the resistance of cells to insulin
, § Increase the speed of insulin breakdown
◉ Why does the woman taking oral hypoglycemic agents to control
diabetes mellitus need to take insulin during pregnancy?
Answer: Oral hypoglycemic agents are contraindicated during
pregnancy.
◉ A pregnant woman comes to the clinic stating that she has been
exposed to hepatitis B. She is afraid that her infant will also contract
hepatitis B. What will the nurse explain to this woman?
Answer: Fetus may be infected transplacentally or by contact with
blood or vaginal secretions during delivery. Upon delivery, the
neonate should receive a single dose of hepatitis B immune globulin,
followed by the hepatitis B vaccine.
◉ A patient with gestational hypertension is exhibiting signs. What
should the nurse report immediately?
Answer: Blood pressure of 140/90 or above, or proteinuria because
it is an indication that gestational hypertension has advanced to
preclampsia; which can lead to seizures
◉ The nurse is caring for a pregnant woman diagnosed with
preeclampsia. What will the nurse explain is the objective of
magnesium sulfate therapy for this patient?
