ATI RN Maternal Newborn Nursing Proctored Exam
2026/2027
Educational Assessment & Practice Question Sets
Paper 1: ATI RN Maternal Newborn Nursing Proctored Exam – Assessment Set
A
Part I: Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1: A nurse is caring for a client who is in active labor and receiving continuous electronic fetal
monitoring. The monitor reveals late decelerations. Which of the following priority actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Increase the IV oxytocin rate
B. Position the client in a side-lying position
C. Perform a vaginal exam to check dilation
D. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency. The immediate priority is to improve fetal
oxygenation by positioning the client on their side to relieve vena cava compression. Oxytocin should be stopped (not
increased), and oxygen given via non-rebreather mask at 8 to 10 L/min if needed.
Question 2: A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a postpartum client who is breastfeeding. Which
of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of proper nutrition during lactation?
A. I should limit my fluid intake to 1 liter per day.
B. I need to increase my daily caloric intake by about 450 to 500 calories.
C. I should eliminate all dairy products from my diet.
D. I must stop taking my prenatal vitamins immediately after discharge.
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lactating women require an additional 450 to 500 calories daily to support milk production and meet
nutritional needs.
, Question 3: A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 hr after birth. Which of the following findings should the
nurse report to the provider as a potential sign of respiratory distress?
A. Acrocyanosis of hands and feet
B. Nasal flaring and sternal retractions
C. Respiratory rate of 48 breaths/min
D. Abdominal breathing pattern
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nasal flaring, intercostal/sternal retractions, grunting, and tachypnea (>60 breaths/min) are hallmark
clinical signs of respiratory distress in a newborn. Acrocyanosis and abdominal breathing are normal physiological
findings in the early newborn period.
Question 4: A nurse is teaching a client who is at 32 weeks of gestation and diagnosed with preeclampsia
without severe features. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Restrict daily fluid intake to 500 mL.
B. Perform daily fetal kick counts.
C. Maintain strict, complete bed rest on your back.
D. Discontinue taking prenatal vitamins.
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring fetal movement (kick counts) daily is essential for assessing fetal well-being in clients with
preeclampsia. Supine bed rest compresses the vena cava and should be avoided.
Question 15: A nurse is preparing to administer terbutaline to a client in preterm labor. Which of the
following maternal parameters must the nurse assess prior to administration?
A. Heart rate
B. Temperature
C. Deep tendon reflexes
D. Blood glucose level
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Terbutaline is a beta-adrenergic agonist that can cause severe tachycardia. It should be withheld if the
maternal heart rate exceeds 120 bpm.
Question 75: A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 hr postpartum and notes a boggy uterus displacement
to the right of the midline. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
2026/2027
Educational Assessment & Practice Question Sets
Paper 1: ATI RN Maternal Newborn Nursing Proctored Exam – Assessment Set
A
Part I: Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1: A nurse is caring for a client who is in active labor and receiving continuous electronic fetal
monitoring. The monitor reveals late decelerations. Which of the following priority actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Increase the IV oxytocin rate
B. Position the client in a side-lying position
C. Perform a vaginal exam to check dilation
D. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency. The immediate priority is to improve fetal
oxygenation by positioning the client on their side to relieve vena cava compression. Oxytocin should be stopped (not
increased), and oxygen given via non-rebreather mask at 8 to 10 L/min if needed.
Question 2: A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a postpartum client who is breastfeeding. Which
of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of proper nutrition during lactation?
A. I should limit my fluid intake to 1 liter per day.
B. I need to increase my daily caloric intake by about 450 to 500 calories.
C. I should eliminate all dairy products from my diet.
D. I must stop taking my prenatal vitamins immediately after discharge.
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lactating women require an additional 450 to 500 calories daily to support milk production and meet
nutritional needs.
, Question 3: A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 hr after birth. Which of the following findings should the
nurse report to the provider as a potential sign of respiratory distress?
A. Acrocyanosis of hands and feet
B. Nasal flaring and sternal retractions
C. Respiratory rate of 48 breaths/min
D. Abdominal breathing pattern
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nasal flaring, intercostal/sternal retractions, grunting, and tachypnea (>60 breaths/min) are hallmark
clinical signs of respiratory distress in a newborn. Acrocyanosis and abdominal breathing are normal physiological
findings in the early newborn period.
Question 4: A nurse is teaching a client who is at 32 weeks of gestation and diagnosed with preeclampsia
without severe features. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Restrict daily fluid intake to 500 mL.
B. Perform daily fetal kick counts.
C. Maintain strict, complete bed rest on your back.
D. Discontinue taking prenatal vitamins.
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring fetal movement (kick counts) daily is essential for assessing fetal well-being in clients with
preeclampsia. Supine bed rest compresses the vena cava and should be avoided.
Question 15: A nurse is preparing to administer terbutaline to a client in preterm labor. Which of the
following maternal parameters must the nurse assess prior to administration?
A. Heart rate
B. Temperature
C. Deep tendon reflexes
D. Blood glucose level
Answer & Rationale:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Terbutaline is a beta-adrenergic agonist that can cause severe tachycardia. It should be withheld if the
maternal heart rate exceeds 120 bpm.
Question 75: A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 hr postpartum and notes a boggy uterus displacement
to the right of the midline. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
