ATI RN Maternal Newborn 2026
Proctored Exam: The Ultimate -
Question Practice Bank with
Evidence-Based Rationales
Antepartum Care & Assessment
Question 1
A nurse is providing teaching to a client about physiological changes
during pregnancy. The client is at 10 weeks gestation. Which of the
following findings should the nurse include as an adverse effect of
combined oral contraceptives?
A. Depression
B. Polyuria
C. Hypotension
D. Urticaria
Answer: A. Depression
Rationale: Depression is a common adverse effect of combined oral
contraceptives. Other common adverse effects include amenorrhea, weight
gain, headache, nausea, breakthrough bleeding, and breast tenderness.
,Question 2
A nurse is assessing a client who is 30 weeks gestation during a routine
prenatal visit. Which finding should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Swelling of the face
B. Mild ankle edema
C. Braxton-Hicks contractions
D. Heartburn
Answer: A. Swelling of the face
Rationale: Facial swelling can indicate preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy
complication characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. While mild
ankle edema is common in pregnancy due to fluid retention and pressure
from the uterus, facial swelling is not an expected finding and requires
prompt evaluation.
Question 3
A nurse is performing a routine assessment on a client who is 18 weeks
gestation. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Deep tendon reflexes 4+
B. Fundal height 14 cm
C. Urine protein 2+
D. FHR 152/min
Answer: D. FHR 152/min
,Rationale: A normal fetal heart rate ranges from 110-160/min. Deep
tendon reflexes of 4+ are hyperreflexive and may indicate preeclampsia.
Fundal height at 18 weeks should approximate 18 cm (±2 cm). Urine
protein should be negative or trace; 2+ is abnormal.
Question 4
A nurse in an antepartal clinic is providing care for a client who is 26 weeks
gestation. Upon reviewing her medical record, what finding should the
nurse report to the provider?
A. 1-hour glucose tolerance test results
B. Hematocrit level
C. Fundal height measurement
D. FHR
Answer: C. Fundal height measurement
Rationale: Fundal height should correlate with gestational age in
centimeters (±2 cm). At 26 weeks, the fundal height should be
approximately 26 cm. Significant discrepancy may indicate intrauterine
growth restriction, polyhydramnios, or multiple gestation.
Question 5
A nurse is teaching a client who is at 12 weeks gestation about an
abdominal ultrasound in the first trimester. Which information should the
nurse include?
, A. The ultrasound will determine the baby's sex
B. The ultrasound will assess fetal lung maturity
C. The ultrasound will confirm the estimated date of delivery
D. The ultrasound will diagnose gestational diabetes
Answer: C. The ultrasound will confirm the estimated date of delivery
Rationale: First-trimester ultrasound is most accurate for confirming
gestational age and estimated date of delivery. Fetal sex determination is
typically done in the second trimester. Fetal lung maturity is assessed via
amniocentesis later in pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed
through glucose tolerance testing.
Question 6
A nurse is providing prenatal education to a group of clients in their first
trimester. One client asks about the purpose of chorionic villus sampling
(CVS) test. Which response by the nurse is accurate?
A. It detects neural tube defects such as spina bifida
B. It can identify chromosomal abnormalities between 10 and 13 weeks of
gestation
C. It measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein in the maternal serum
D. It is performed after 15 weeks to assess fetal lung maturity
Answer: B. It can identify chromosomal abnormalities between 10 and
13 weeks of gestation
Rationale: CVS is a diagnostic prenatal test that can identify chromosomal
abnormalities (such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13). It is
performed between 10 and 13 weeks of gestation, which is earlier than
Proctored Exam: The Ultimate -
Question Practice Bank with
Evidence-Based Rationales
Antepartum Care & Assessment
Question 1
A nurse is providing teaching to a client about physiological changes
during pregnancy. The client is at 10 weeks gestation. Which of the
following findings should the nurse include as an adverse effect of
combined oral contraceptives?
A. Depression
B. Polyuria
C. Hypotension
D. Urticaria
Answer: A. Depression
Rationale: Depression is a common adverse effect of combined oral
contraceptives. Other common adverse effects include amenorrhea, weight
gain, headache, nausea, breakthrough bleeding, and breast tenderness.
,Question 2
A nurse is assessing a client who is 30 weeks gestation during a routine
prenatal visit. Which finding should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Swelling of the face
B. Mild ankle edema
C. Braxton-Hicks contractions
D. Heartburn
Answer: A. Swelling of the face
Rationale: Facial swelling can indicate preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy
complication characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. While mild
ankle edema is common in pregnancy due to fluid retention and pressure
from the uterus, facial swelling is not an expected finding and requires
prompt evaluation.
Question 3
A nurse is performing a routine assessment on a client who is 18 weeks
gestation. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Deep tendon reflexes 4+
B. Fundal height 14 cm
C. Urine protein 2+
D. FHR 152/min
Answer: D. FHR 152/min
,Rationale: A normal fetal heart rate ranges from 110-160/min. Deep
tendon reflexes of 4+ are hyperreflexive and may indicate preeclampsia.
Fundal height at 18 weeks should approximate 18 cm (±2 cm). Urine
protein should be negative or trace; 2+ is abnormal.
Question 4
A nurse in an antepartal clinic is providing care for a client who is 26 weeks
gestation. Upon reviewing her medical record, what finding should the
nurse report to the provider?
A. 1-hour glucose tolerance test results
B. Hematocrit level
C. Fundal height measurement
D. FHR
Answer: C. Fundal height measurement
Rationale: Fundal height should correlate with gestational age in
centimeters (±2 cm). At 26 weeks, the fundal height should be
approximately 26 cm. Significant discrepancy may indicate intrauterine
growth restriction, polyhydramnios, or multiple gestation.
Question 5
A nurse is teaching a client who is at 12 weeks gestation about an
abdominal ultrasound in the first trimester. Which information should the
nurse include?
, A. The ultrasound will determine the baby's sex
B. The ultrasound will assess fetal lung maturity
C. The ultrasound will confirm the estimated date of delivery
D. The ultrasound will diagnose gestational diabetes
Answer: C. The ultrasound will confirm the estimated date of delivery
Rationale: First-trimester ultrasound is most accurate for confirming
gestational age and estimated date of delivery. Fetal sex determination is
typically done in the second trimester. Fetal lung maturity is assessed via
amniocentesis later in pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed
through glucose tolerance testing.
Question 6
A nurse is providing prenatal education to a group of clients in their first
trimester. One client asks about the purpose of chorionic villus sampling
(CVS) test. Which response by the nurse is accurate?
A. It detects neural tube defects such as spina bifida
B. It can identify chromosomal abnormalities between 10 and 13 weeks of
gestation
C. It measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein in the maternal serum
D. It is performed after 15 weeks to assess fetal lung maturity
Answer: B. It can identify chromosomal abnormalities between 10 and
13 weeks of gestation
Rationale: CVS is a diagnostic prenatal test that can identify chromosomal
abnormalities (such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13). It is
performed between 10 and 13 weeks of gestation, which is earlier than
