ATI RN Maternal Newborn | ATI RN Maternal-Newborn
Nursing Proctored Exam 2026–2027 | ATI Maternal
Newborn Content Mastery Series Comprehensive Study
Guide & Exam Review | Pregnancy, Prenatal &
Antepartum Care, High-Risk Pregnancy, Maternal
Complications, Fetal Assessment & Monitoring, Labor &
Delivery, Intrapartum Nursing, Postpartum Care, Newborn
Assessment, Neonatal Complications, Breastfeeding &
Nutrition, Maternal-Newborn Pharmacology, Patient
Safety, Prioritization, Clinical Judgment, NGN & NCLEX-
Style Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is calculating the estimated date of delivery for
a client whose last menstrual period began on April 1st. Using
Naegele's rule, which of the following is the estimated date of
delivery?
A. January 8
B. January 15
C. February 8
D. February 15
CORRECT ANSWER: A. January 8
Rationale: Naegele's rule calculates the estimated date of delivery by
subtracting 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period and
adding 7 days plus 1 year. April 1st minus 3 months equals January 1st;
adding 7 days equals January 8th of the following year.
Question 2: A nurse is reviewing the health record of a client who is
pregnant. The provider documented that the client exhibits
probable signs of pregnancy. Which of the following findings should
the nurse expect?
A. Montgomery's glands
B. Goodell's sign
C. Quickening
D. Breast tenderness
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Goodell's sign
Rationale: Goodell's sign (softening of the cervical tip) is classified as a
probable sign of pregnancy because it is detected on physical examination
,but can have other causes. Montgomery's glands, quickening, and breast
tenderness are presumptive signs based on subjective client reports.
Question 3: A nurse is teaching a client who is at 8 weeks of
gestation about nutrition during pregnancy. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "You should consume 2 cups of milk daily."
B. "You should consume 6 ounces of protein foods daily."
C. "You should consume 2 cups of vegetables each day."
D. "You should consume 4 ounces of grains each day."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "You should consume 6 ounces of protein
foods daily."
Rationale: Pregnant clients should consume approximately 5.5 to 6.5
ounces of protein foods daily, selecting high-protein sources such as
legumes, nuts, eggs, and lean meats. Dairy intake should be 3 cups daily,
vegetables 2.5 to 3 cups, and grains 6 to 8 ounces.
Question 4: A nurse is caring for a client who is at 11 weeks of
gestation and reports abdominal cramping. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer acetaminophen as prescribed
B. Request that the provider see the client immediately
C. Document the finding as a normal discomfort of pregnancy
D. Instruct the client to lie on her left side
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Request that the provider see the client
immediately
Rationale: Abdominal cramping at 11 weeks of gestation can indicate
ectopic pregnancy or spontaneous abortion. Using the urgent versus
nonurgent approach, the nurse should prioritize this client and request that
the provider evaluate her immediately.
Question 5: A nurse is performing Leopold maneuvers prior to
applying an external fetal monitor. Which of the following is the
purpose of this assessment?
A. To determine cervical dilation
B. To assess the position of the fetus
,C. To evaluate amniotic fluid volume
D. To measure uterine contraction intensity
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To assess the position of the fetus
Rationale: Leopold maneuvers are performed to palpate the maternal
abdomen and determine fetal position and presentation. This information
guides the nurse in placing the external fetal monitoring transducer over
the optimal location to obtain the fetal heart rate.
Question 6: A nurse is caring for a client who is at 32 weeks of
gestation and is experiencing preterm labor. Which of the following
medications should the nurse plan to administer to promote fetal
lung maturity?
A. Misoprostol
B. Betamethasone
C. Methylergonovine
D. Poractant alfa
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Betamethasone
Rationale: Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid administered to clients
between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation who are at risk for preterm delivery.
It stimulates fetal lung maturity and reduces the risk of respiratory distress
syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
Question 7: A nurse is assessing a client who is at 34 weeks of
gestation and has a mild placental abruption. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Bright red painless vaginal bleeding
B. Dark red vaginal bleeding with uterine tenderness
C. Profuse gushing of clear fluid
D. Absence of vaginal bleeding
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Dark red vaginal bleeding with uterine
tenderness
Rationale: Placental abruption presents with dark red vaginal bleeding due
to blood trapped behind the placenta, along with uterine tenderness and
pain. Bright red painless bleeding is characteristic of placenta previa. The
dark color distinguishes abruption from other causes of bleeding.
, Question 8: A nurse is teaching a client who is at 30 weeks of
gestation about warning signs that should be reported to the
provider. Which of the following findings should the nurse include?
A. Mild ankle edema
B. Braxton Hicks contractions
C. Vaginal bleeding
D. Heartburn
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Vaginal bleeding
Rationale: Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is an abnormal finding that
can indicate placental abruption, placenta previa, or other serious
complications. Clients should report any vaginal bleeding immediately. Mild
ankle edema, Braxton Hicks contractions, and heartburn are common
discomforts of pregnancy.
Question 9: A nurse is assessing a client who is at 28 weeks of
gestation and reports a persistent headache that does not resolve
with acetaminophen. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Reassure the client that headaches are common in pregnancy
B. Check the client's blood pressure
C. Recommend increasing fluid intake
D. Suggest lying down in a dark room
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Check the client's blood pressure
Rationale: A persistent headache unresponsive to acetaminophen at 28
weeks of gestation may indicate preeclampsia. The nurse should
immediately assess the client's blood pressure and report findings to the
provider if elevated.
Question 10: A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is at 28
weeks of gestation about Rho(D) immune globulin. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I will receive this injection if I am Rh-positive."
B. "I will receive this injection if I am Rh-negative."
C. "This injection prevents gestational diabetes."
D. "This injection prevents preterm labor."
Nursing Proctored Exam 2026–2027 | ATI Maternal
Newborn Content Mastery Series Comprehensive Study
Guide & Exam Review | Pregnancy, Prenatal &
Antepartum Care, High-Risk Pregnancy, Maternal
Complications, Fetal Assessment & Monitoring, Labor &
Delivery, Intrapartum Nursing, Postpartum Care, Newborn
Assessment, Neonatal Complications, Breastfeeding &
Nutrition, Maternal-Newborn Pharmacology, Patient
Safety, Prioritization, Clinical Judgment, NGN & NCLEX-
Style Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is calculating the estimated date of delivery for
a client whose last menstrual period began on April 1st. Using
Naegele's rule, which of the following is the estimated date of
delivery?
A. January 8
B. January 15
C. February 8
D. February 15
CORRECT ANSWER: A. January 8
Rationale: Naegele's rule calculates the estimated date of delivery by
subtracting 3 months from the first day of the last menstrual period and
adding 7 days plus 1 year. April 1st minus 3 months equals January 1st;
adding 7 days equals January 8th of the following year.
Question 2: A nurse is reviewing the health record of a client who is
pregnant. The provider documented that the client exhibits
probable signs of pregnancy. Which of the following findings should
the nurse expect?
A. Montgomery's glands
B. Goodell's sign
C. Quickening
D. Breast tenderness
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Goodell's sign
Rationale: Goodell's sign (softening of the cervical tip) is classified as a
probable sign of pregnancy because it is detected on physical examination
,but can have other causes. Montgomery's glands, quickening, and breast
tenderness are presumptive signs based on subjective client reports.
Question 3: A nurse is teaching a client who is at 8 weeks of
gestation about nutrition during pregnancy. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "You should consume 2 cups of milk daily."
B. "You should consume 6 ounces of protein foods daily."
C. "You should consume 2 cups of vegetables each day."
D. "You should consume 4 ounces of grains each day."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "You should consume 6 ounces of protein
foods daily."
Rationale: Pregnant clients should consume approximately 5.5 to 6.5
ounces of protein foods daily, selecting high-protein sources such as
legumes, nuts, eggs, and lean meats. Dairy intake should be 3 cups daily,
vegetables 2.5 to 3 cups, and grains 6 to 8 ounces.
Question 4: A nurse is caring for a client who is at 11 weeks of
gestation and reports abdominal cramping. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer acetaminophen as prescribed
B. Request that the provider see the client immediately
C. Document the finding as a normal discomfort of pregnancy
D. Instruct the client to lie on her left side
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Request that the provider see the client
immediately
Rationale: Abdominal cramping at 11 weeks of gestation can indicate
ectopic pregnancy or spontaneous abortion. Using the urgent versus
nonurgent approach, the nurse should prioritize this client and request that
the provider evaluate her immediately.
Question 5: A nurse is performing Leopold maneuvers prior to
applying an external fetal monitor. Which of the following is the
purpose of this assessment?
A. To determine cervical dilation
B. To assess the position of the fetus
,C. To evaluate amniotic fluid volume
D. To measure uterine contraction intensity
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To assess the position of the fetus
Rationale: Leopold maneuvers are performed to palpate the maternal
abdomen and determine fetal position and presentation. This information
guides the nurse in placing the external fetal monitoring transducer over
the optimal location to obtain the fetal heart rate.
Question 6: A nurse is caring for a client who is at 32 weeks of
gestation and is experiencing preterm labor. Which of the following
medications should the nurse plan to administer to promote fetal
lung maturity?
A. Misoprostol
B. Betamethasone
C. Methylergonovine
D. Poractant alfa
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Betamethasone
Rationale: Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid administered to clients
between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation who are at risk for preterm delivery.
It stimulates fetal lung maturity and reduces the risk of respiratory distress
syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
Question 7: A nurse is assessing a client who is at 34 weeks of
gestation and has a mild placental abruption. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Bright red painless vaginal bleeding
B. Dark red vaginal bleeding with uterine tenderness
C. Profuse gushing of clear fluid
D. Absence of vaginal bleeding
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Dark red vaginal bleeding with uterine
tenderness
Rationale: Placental abruption presents with dark red vaginal bleeding due
to blood trapped behind the placenta, along with uterine tenderness and
pain. Bright red painless bleeding is characteristic of placenta previa. The
dark color distinguishes abruption from other causes of bleeding.
, Question 8: A nurse is teaching a client who is at 30 weeks of
gestation about warning signs that should be reported to the
provider. Which of the following findings should the nurse include?
A. Mild ankle edema
B. Braxton Hicks contractions
C. Vaginal bleeding
D. Heartburn
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Vaginal bleeding
Rationale: Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is an abnormal finding that
can indicate placental abruption, placenta previa, or other serious
complications. Clients should report any vaginal bleeding immediately. Mild
ankle edema, Braxton Hicks contractions, and heartburn are common
discomforts of pregnancy.
Question 9: A nurse is assessing a client who is at 28 weeks of
gestation and reports a persistent headache that does not resolve
with acetaminophen. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Reassure the client that headaches are common in pregnancy
B. Check the client's blood pressure
C. Recommend increasing fluid intake
D. Suggest lying down in a dark room
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Check the client's blood pressure
Rationale: A persistent headache unresponsive to acetaminophen at 28
weeks of gestation may indicate preeclampsia. The nurse should
immediately assess the client's blood pressure and report findings to the
provider if elevated.
Question 10: A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is at 28
weeks of gestation about Rho(D) immune globulin. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I will receive this injection if I am Rh-positive."
B. "I will receive this injection if I am Rh-negative."
C. "This injection prevents gestational diabetes."
D. "This injection prevents preterm labor."
