1
MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING, 6TH EDITION (MCKINNEY) –
SAMPLE PRACTICE QUESTIONS FULL 200 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES 2026-2027 UPDATED
VERSION INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF..!!
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive practice question bank is designed to accompany Maternal-Child Nursing, 6th Edition by
Emily Slone McKinney, Susan R. James, Sharon Smith Murray, Kristine Nelson, and Jean Ashwill. This resource is
intended for nursing students preparing for course examinations, NCLEX® licensure, and clinical practice in
maternal-child health. The questions are organized to mirror the textbook's 55 chapters and cover the full
scope of maternal-child nursing—from foundational concepts in maternity, women's health, and pediatric
nursing to complex clinical scenarios in prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, and pediatric care. Each
question is presented in an NCLEX-style format, with detailed rationales explaining both the correct answer and
why the other options are incorrect. By working through these questions and reviewing the rationales, you will
reinforce your understanding of key concepts, build clinical judgment, and improve your test-taking skills. This
question bank is an essential tool for mastering the content and achieving success in your maternal-child
nursing coursework and beyond.
CORE DOMAINS TESTED
1. Foundations of Maternal-Child Health Nursing – Historical perspectives on childbirth, family-centered
care, evidence-based practice, healthcare settings, and professional nursing roles.
2. Prenatal Nursing Care – Preconception health, fetal development, maternal physiologic adaptations,
prenatal assessment and screening, nutrition, and common discomforts of pregnancy.
3. Intrapartum Nursing Care – Stages of labor, fetal monitoring, pain management, nursing interventions
during labor and delivery, and complications of labor.
4. Postpartum Nursing Care – Maternal physiologic and psychological adaptations, breastfeeding,
postpartum assessment, and complications such as hemorrhage and infection.
5. Newborn Nursing Care – Transition to extrauterine life, newborn assessment (including Apgar scoring
and gestational age assessment), newborn screening, common newborn concerns, and congenital
anomalies.
6. Pediatric Nursing Care – Growth and development across the lifespan, health promotion, common
childhood illnesses, pediatric assessment, and family-centered care.
7. High-Risk Maternal-Child Nursing – Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm labor, postpartum
hemorrhage, and other maternal and neonatal complications.
8. Pharmacology and Therapeutic Interventions – Medications used in maternal-child nursing, including
oxytocin, magnesium sulfate, and pediatric immunizations.
9. Professional Practice, Legal, and Ethical Issues – Delegation principles, informed consent, patient
advocacy, and ethical considerations in maternal-child nursin
,2
Q1: Which factor significantly contributed to the shift from home
births to hospital births in the early 20th century?
A) Puerperal sepsis was identified as a risk factor in labor and delivery
B) Forceps were developed to facilitate difficult births
C) The importance of early parental-infant contact was identified
D) Technologic developments became available to physicians
Rationale: The correct answer is D because technologic developments
were available to physicians, not lay midwives, so in-hospital births
increased in order to take advantage of these advancements. Option
A is incorrect because puerperal sepsis has been a known problem for
generations, and in the late 19th century, Semmelweis discovered
how it could be prevented with improved hygienic practices. Option B
is incorrect because the development of forceps is an example of a
technology advance, but it is not the only reason birthplaces moved.
Option C is incorrect because early hospital births actually hindered
bonding between parents and their infants, unlike home births.
Q2: Family-centered maternity care developed in response to:
A) Demands by physicians for family involvement in childbirth
B) The Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921
C) Parental requests that infants be allowed to remain with them
rather than in a nursery
D) Changes in pharmacologic management of labor
Rationale: The correct answer is C because as research began to
identify the benefits of early extended parent-infant contact, parents
,3
began to insist that the infant remain with them. This gradually
developed into the practice of rooming-in and finally to family-
centered maternity care. Option A is incorrect because family-
centered care was a request by parents, not physicians. Option B is
incorrect because the Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921 provided funds
for state-managed programs for mothers and children. Option D is
incorrect because changes in pharmacologic management of labor
were not a factor in family-centered maternity care.
Q3: Which setting for childbirth allows the least amount of parent-
infant contact?
A) Labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum room
B) Birth center
C) Traditional hospital birth
D) Home birth
Rationale: The correct answer is C because traditional hospital births
historically separated mothers and infants, with infants kept in
centralized nurseries, limiting parent-infant contact. Option A is
incorrect because LDRP rooms allow the family to stay together
throughout the childbirth experience. Option B is incorrect because
birth centers are designed to promote family-centered care and
bonding. Option D is incorrect because home births allow for
immediate and uninterrupted parent-infant contact.
Q4: What is the main goal of maternal-child nursing?
A) Treat chronic diseases in adults
B) Promote health of women and children
C) Provide geriatric care
D) Manage mental health in adolescents
, 4
Rationale: The correct answer is B because maternal-child nursing
focuses on promoting and maintaining the health of women during
pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and the care of infants and
children. Option A is incorrect because the treatment of chronic
diseases in adults is not the primary focus of maternal-child nursing.
Option C is incorrect because geriatric care is outside the scope of
maternal-child nursing. Option D is incorrect because while
adolescent mental health may be addressed in pediatric nursing, it is
not the main goal of maternal-child nursing as a whole.
Q5: A nurse teaches a pregnant client about folic acid. Which
statement shows understanding?
A) "I only need it if I'm anemic."
B) "I should take it during early pregnancy to prevent neural tube
defects."
C) "It replaces my prenatal vitamins."
D) "I need it only in the third trimester."
Rationale: The correct answer is B because folic acid reduces the risk
of neural tube defects and is essential before conception and in early
pregnancy. Option A is incorrect because folic acid is recommended
for all pregnant women, not only those who are anemic. Option C is
incorrect because folic acid is a component of prenatal vitamins, not
a replacement for them. Option D is incorrect because folic acid is
most important in the first trimester when the neural tube is
developing.
Q6: Which hormone maintains the uterine lining in early
pregnancy?
A) Oxytocin
MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING, 6TH EDITION (MCKINNEY) –
SAMPLE PRACTICE QUESTIONS FULL 200 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES 2026-2027 UPDATED
VERSION INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF..!!
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive practice question bank is designed to accompany Maternal-Child Nursing, 6th Edition by
Emily Slone McKinney, Susan R. James, Sharon Smith Murray, Kristine Nelson, and Jean Ashwill. This resource is
intended for nursing students preparing for course examinations, NCLEX® licensure, and clinical practice in
maternal-child health. The questions are organized to mirror the textbook's 55 chapters and cover the full
scope of maternal-child nursing—from foundational concepts in maternity, women's health, and pediatric
nursing to complex clinical scenarios in prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, and pediatric care. Each
question is presented in an NCLEX-style format, with detailed rationales explaining both the correct answer and
why the other options are incorrect. By working through these questions and reviewing the rationales, you will
reinforce your understanding of key concepts, build clinical judgment, and improve your test-taking skills. This
question bank is an essential tool for mastering the content and achieving success in your maternal-child
nursing coursework and beyond.
CORE DOMAINS TESTED
1. Foundations of Maternal-Child Health Nursing – Historical perspectives on childbirth, family-centered
care, evidence-based practice, healthcare settings, and professional nursing roles.
2. Prenatal Nursing Care – Preconception health, fetal development, maternal physiologic adaptations,
prenatal assessment and screening, nutrition, and common discomforts of pregnancy.
3. Intrapartum Nursing Care – Stages of labor, fetal monitoring, pain management, nursing interventions
during labor and delivery, and complications of labor.
4. Postpartum Nursing Care – Maternal physiologic and psychological adaptations, breastfeeding,
postpartum assessment, and complications such as hemorrhage and infection.
5. Newborn Nursing Care – Transition to extrauterine life, newborn assessment (including Apgar scoring
and gestational age assessment), newborn screening, common newborn concerns, and congenital
anomalies.
6. Pediatric Nursing Care – Growth and development across the lifespan, health promotion, common
childhood illnesses, pediatric assessment, and family-centered care.
7. High-Risk Maternal-Child Nursing – Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm labor, postpartum
hemorrhage, and other maternal and neonatal complications.
8. Pharmacology and Therapeutic Interventions – Medications used in maternal-child nursing, including
oxytocin, magnesium sulfate, and pediatric immunizations.
9. Professional Practice, Legal, and Ethical Issues – Delegation principles, informed consent, patient
advocacy, and ethical considerations in maternal-child nursin
,2
Q1: Which factor significantly contributed to the shift from home
births to hospital births in the early 20th century?
A) Puerperal sepsis was identified as a risk factor in labor and delivery
B) Forceps were developed to facilitate difficult births
C) The importance of early parental-infant contact was identified
D) Technologic developments became available to physicians
Rationale: The correct answer is D because technologic developments
were available to physicians, not lay midwives, so in-hospital births
increased in order to take advantage of these advancements. Option
A is incorrect because puerperal sepsis has been a known problem for
generations, and in the late 19th century, Semmelweis discovered
how it could be prevented with improved hygienic practices. Option B
is incorrect because the development of forceps is an example of a
technology advance, but it is not the only reason birthplaces moved.
Option C is incorrect because early hospital births actually hindered
bonding between parents and their infants, unlike home births.
Q2: Family-centered maternity care developed in response to:
A) Demands by physicians for family involvement in childbirth
B) The Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921
C) Parental requests that infants be allowed to remain with them
rather than in a nursery
D) Changes in pharmacologic management of labor
Rationale: The correct answer is C because as research began to
identify the benefits of early extended parent-infant contact, parents
,3
began to insist that the infant remain with them. This gradually
developed into the practice of rooming-in and finally to family-
centered maternity care. Option A is incorrect because family-
centered care was a request by parents, not physicians. Option B is
incorrect because the Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921 provided funds
for state-managed programs for mothers and children. Option D is
incorrect because changes in pharmacologic management of labor
were not a factor in family-centered maternity care.
Q3: Which setting for childbirth allows the least amount of parent-
infant contact?
A) Labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum room
B) Birth center
C) Traditional hospital birth
D) Home birth
Rationale: The correct answer is C because traditional hospital births
historically separated mothers and infants, with infants kept in
centralized nurseries, limiting parent-infant contact. Option A is
incorrect because LDRP rooms allow the family to stay together
throughout the childbirth experience. Option B is incorrect because
birth centers are designed to promote family-centered care and
bonding. Option D is incorrect because home births allow for
immediate and uninterrupted parent-infant contact.
Q4: What is the main goal of maternal-child nursing?
A) Treat chronic diseases in adults
B) Promote health of women and children
C) Provide geriatric care
D) Manage mental health in adolescents
, 4
Rationale: The correct answer is B because maternal-child nursing
focuses on promoting and maintaining the health of women during
pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and the care of infants and
children. Option A is incorrect because the treatment of chronic
diseases in adults is not the primary focus of maternal-child nursing.
Option C is incorrect because geriatric care is outside the scope of
maternal-child nursing. Option D is incorrect because while
adolescent mental health may be addressed in pediatric nursing, it is
not the main goal of maternal-child nursing as a whole.
Q5: A nurse teaches a pregnant client about folic acid. Which
statement shows understanding?
A) "I only need it if I'm anemic."
B) "I should take it during early pregnancy to prevent neural tube
defects."
C) "It replaces my prenatal vitamins."
D) "I need it only in the third trimester."
Rationale: The correct answer is B because folic acid reduces the risk
of neural tube defects and is essential before conception and in early
pregnancy. Option A is incorrect because folic acid is recommended
for all pregnant women, not only those who are anemic. Option C is
incorrect because folic acid is a component of prenatal vitamins, not
a replacement for them. Option D is incorrect because folic acid is
most important in the first trimester when the neural tube is
developing.
Q6: Which hormone maintains the uterine lining in early
pregnancy?
A) Oxytocin
