SAUNDERS NCLEX MATERNITY EXAM |ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW
2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
The nurse is preparing to teach a prenatal class about fetal circulation. Which statements
would be included in the teaching plan? Select all that apply.
A. "The ductus arteriosus allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs."
B. "One vein carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus."
C. "The normal fetal heartbeat range is 160 to 180 beats per minute in pregnancy."
D. "Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the fetus to the
placenta."
E. "Two veins carry blood that is high in carbon dioxide and other waste products away from
the fetus to the placenta."
CORRECT ANSWER
A, B, D
A. "The ductus arteriosus allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs."
B. "One vein carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus."
D. "Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the fetus to the
placenta."
The ductus arteriosus is a unique fetal circulation structure that allows blood to bypass the
nonfunctioning fetal lungs. Oxygenated blood is transported to the fetus by one umbilical
vein. The normal fetal heartbeat range is considered to be 110 to 160 beats per minute. Two
arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products from the fetus, and one umbilical
vein carries oxygenated blood and provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. Blood
pumped by the embryo's heart leaves the embryo through two umbilical arteries.
Question 2
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,The nursing instructor teaches a group of students about fetal circulation and then asks a
student to describe fetal circulation, specically the ductus venosus. Which statement by
the student indicates an understanding of the ductus venosus?
A. "It connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta."
B. "It is an opening between the right and left atria."
C. "It connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava."
D. "It connects the umbilical artery to the inferior vena cava."
CORRECT ANSWER
C. "It connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava."
The ductus venosus connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava. The foramen ovale
is a temporary opening between the right and left atria. The ductus arteriosus joins the
aorta and the pulmonary artery.
Question 3
A pregnant client tells the clinic nurse that they want to know the sex of the baby as soon
as it can be determined. The nurse plans to inform the client that they will be able to find
out the sex at 16 weeks' gestation because of which factor?
A. The appearance of the fetal external genitalia.
B. The beginning of differentiation in the fetal groin.
C. The fetal testes are descended into the scrotal sac.
D. The internal differences in different genders become apparent.
CORRECT ANSWER
A. The appearance of the fetal external genitalia.
Between weeks 16 and 20, the external genitalia of the fetus have developed to such a
degree that the sex of the fetus can be determined visually. Differentiation of the external
genitalia occurs at the end of the ninth week. Testes begin to descend into the scrotal sac at
the end of the 38th week. Internal differences in the genders occur at the end of the seventh
week.
2
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,Question 4
The nurse is performing an assessment on a client who is at 38 weeks' gestation and notes
that the fetal heart rate (FHR) is 174 beats per minute. On the basis of this finding, what is
the priority nursing action?
A. Document the finding.
B. Notify the obstetrician (OB).
C. Check the mother's heart rate.
D. Tell the client that the fetal heart rate is normal.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Notify the obstetrician (OB).
The FHR depends on gestational age and ranges from 160 to 170 beats per minute in the
first trimester but slows with fetal growth to 110 to 160 beats per minute. If the FHR is less
than 110 beats per minute or more than 160 beats per minute with the uterus at rest, the
fetus may be in distress. Because the FHR is increased from the reference range, the nurse
would notify the OB. Options 3 and 4 are inappropriate actions based on the information in
the question. Although the nurse documents the findings, based on the information in the
question, the OB needs to be notified.
Question 5
The nurse is conducting a prenatal class on the re- productive system. When a client in the
class asks why the fertilized ovum stays in the fallopian tube for 3 days, what is the nurse's
best response?
A. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's chances of survival."
B. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's exposure to estrogen and progesterone."
C. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus."
D. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's exposure to luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating
hormone."
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, CORRECT ANSWER
C. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus."
The tubal isthmus remains contracted until 3 days after conception to allow the fertilized
ovum to develop within the tube. This initial growth of the fertilized ovum promotes its
normal implantation in the fundal portion of the uterine corpus. Estrogen is a hormone
produced by the ovarian follicles, corpus luteum, adrenal cortex, and placenta during
pregnancy. Progesterone is a hormone secreted by the corpus luteum of the ovary, adrenal
glands, and placenta dur- ing pregnancy. Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating
hormone are excreted by the anterior pituitary gland. The survival of the fertilized ovum
does not depend on it staying in the fallopian tube for 3 days.
Question 6
The nursing instructor asks a nursing student to explain the characteristics of the amniotic
fluid. The student responds correctly by explaining which as characteristics of amniotic
fluid? Select all that apply.
A. Allows for fetal movement.
B. Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus.
C. Maintains the body temperature of the fetus.
D. Can be used to measure fetal kidney function.
E. Prevents large particles such as bacteria from passing to the fetus.
F. Provides an exchange of nutrients and waste products between the birthing parent and
the fetus.
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Allows for fetal movement.
B. Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus.
C. Maintains the body temperature of the fetus.
D. Can be used to measure fetal kidney function.
4
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QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW
2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
The nurse is preparing to teach a prenatal class about fetal circulation. Which statements
would be included in the teaching plan? Select all that apply.
A. "The ductus arteriosus allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs."
B. "One vein carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus."
C. "The normal fetal heartbeat range is 160 to 180 beats per minute in pregnancy."
D. "Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the fetus to the
placenta."
E. "Two veins carry blood that is high in carbon dioxide and other waste products away from
the fetus to the placenta."
CORRECT ANSWER
A, B, D
A. "The ductus arteriosus allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs."
B. "One vein carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus."
D. "Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the fetus to the
placenta."
The ductus arteriosus is a unique fetal circulation structure that allows blood to bypass the
nonfunctioning fetal lungs. Oxygenated blood is transported to the fetus by one umbilical
vein. The normal fetal heartbeat range is considered to be 110 to 160 beats per minute. Two
arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products from the fetus, and one umbilical
vein carries oxygenated blood and provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. Blood
pumped by the embryo's heart leaves the embryo through two umbilical arteries.
Question 2
1
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
,The nursing instructor teaches a group of students about fetal circulation and then asks a
student to describe fetal circulation, specically the ductus venosus. Which statement by
the student indicates an understanding of the ductus venosus?
A. "It connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta."
B. "It is an opening between the right and left atria."
C. "It connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava."
D. "It connects the umbilical artery to the inferior vena cava."
CORRECT ANSWER
C. "It connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava."
The ductus venosus connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava. The foramen ovale
is a temporary opening between the right and left atria. The ductus arteriosus joins the
aorta and the pulmonary artery.
Question 3
A pregnant client tells the clinic nurse that they want to know the sex of the baby as soon
as it can be determined. The nurse plans to inform the client that they will be able to find
out the sex at 16 weeks' gestation because of which factor?
A. The appearance of the fetal external genitalia.
B. The beginning of differentiation in the fetal groin.
C. The fetal testes are descended into the scrotal sac.
D. The internal differences in different genders become apparent.
CORRECT ANSWER
A. The appearance of the fetal external genitalia.
Between weeks 16 and 20, the external genitalia of the fetus have developed to such a
degree that the sex of the fetus can be determined visually. Differentiation of the external
genitalia occurs at the end of the ninth week. Testes begin to descend into the scrotal sac at
the end of the 38th week. Internal differences in the genders occur at the end of the seventh
week.
2
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,Question 4
The nurse is performing an assessment on a client who is at 38 weeks' gestation and notes
that the fetal heart rate (FHR) is 174 beats per minute. On the basis of this finding, what is
the priority nursing action?
A. Document the finding.
B. Notify the obstetrician (OB).
C. Check the mother's heart rate.
D. Tell the client that the fetal heart rate is normal.
CORRECT ANSWER
B. Notify the obstetrician (OB).
The FHR depends on gestational age and ranges from 160 to 170 beats per minute in the
first trimester but slows with fetal growth to 110 to 160 beats per minute. If the FHR is less
than 110 beats per minute or more than 160 beats per minute with the uterus at rest, the
fetus may be in distress. Because the FHR is increased from the reference range, the nurse
would notify the OB. Options 3 and 4 are inappropriate actions based on the information in
the question. Although the nurse documents the findings, based on the information in the
question, the OB needs to be notified.
Question 5
The nurse is conducting a prenatal class on the re- productive system. When a client in the
class asks why the fertilized ovum stays in the fallopian tube for 3 days, what is the nurse's
best response?
A. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's chances of survival."
B. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's exposure to estrogen and progesterone."
C. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus."
D. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's exposure to luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating
hormone."
3
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
, CORRECT ANSWER
C. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus."
The tubal isthmus remains contracted until 3 days after conception to allow the fertilized
ovum to develop within the tube. This initial growth of the fertilized ovum promotes its
normal implantation in the fundal portion of the uterine corpus. Estrogen is a hormone
produced by the ovarian follicles, corpus luteum, adrenal cortex, and placenta during
pregnancy. Progesterone is a hormone secreted by the corpus luteum of the ovary, adrenal
glands, and placenta dur- ing pregnancy. Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating
hormone are excreted by the anterior pituitary gland. The survival of the fertilized ovum
does not depend on it staying in the fallopian tube for 3 days.
Question 6
The nursing instructor asks a nursing student to explain the characteristics of the amniotic
fluid. The student responds correctly by explaining which as characteristics of amniotic
fluid? Select all that apply.
A. Allows for fetal movement.
B. Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus.
C. Maintains the body temperature of the fetus.
D. Can be used to measure fetal kidney function.
E. Prevents large particles such as bacteria from passing to the fetus.
F. Provides an exchange of nutrients and waste products between the birthing parent and
the fetus.
CORRECT ANSWER
A. Allows for fetal movement.
B. Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus.
C. Maintains the body temperature of the fetus.
D. Can be used to measure fetal kidney function.
4
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