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NUR 254 EXAMS 1, 2, 3 & 4 — MATERNAL AND PEDIATRIC NURSING
EXAM COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
EDITION 2026
NUR 254 EXAMS 1, 2, 3 & 4 — MATERNAL AND PEDIATRIC NURSING
10-POINT EXAM COVERAGE SUMMARY
1. Foundations of Maternal Nursing & Antepartum Care – Prenatal development,
physiological changes, prenatal care, GTPAL
2. High-Risk Pregnancy & Complications – Preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta
previa, preterm labor
3. Labor & Delivery (Intrapartum Care) – Stages of labor, fetal monitoring, pain
management, delivery complications
4. Postpartum Care & Complications – Fundal assessment, lochia, hemorrhage, infection,
postpartum depression
5. Newborn Assessment & Care – Apgar scoring, newborn reflexes, thermoregulation,
jaundice, newborn nutrition
6. Pediatric Growth & Development – Developmental milestones, Piaget/Erikson stages,
nutrition by age
7. Pediatric Respiratory & Cardiovascular Disorders – Asthma, croup, RSV, congenital heart
defects
8. Pediatric Gastrointestinal & Genitourinary Disorders – Dehydration, cleft lip/palate,
Hirschsprung disease, UTIs
9. Pediatric Neurologic, Musculoskeletal & Endocrine Disorders – Seizures, cerebral palsy,
fractures, diabetes
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10. Pediatric Medication Administration & Safety – Weight-based dosing, IV calculations,
safe medication practices
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MATERNAL NURSING & ANTEPARTUM CARE (30 QUESTIONS)
1. A nurse is calculating the estimated date of delivery (EDD) for a client whose last normal
menstrual period (LNMP) began on May 4th. Using Naegele's rule, which date should the nurse
calculate as the EDD?
A) February 1st
B) February 11th
C) January 28th
D) February 18th
Rationale: Naegele's rule: Subtract 3 months from LNMP (May 4 → February 4) and add 7 days
= February 11th.
2. A nurse is assessing a pregnant client at 12 weeks gestation. Which finding should the nurse
identify as a presumptive (possible) sign of pregnancy?
A) Chadwick's sign
B) Positive pregnancy test
C) Hegar's sign
D) Breast tenderness and fatigue
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Rationale: Presumptive signs are subjective and include breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea, and
amenorrhea. Chadwick's and Hegar's signs are probable signs.
3. A nurse is reviewing the function of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in early pregnancy.
Which statement best describes the role of this hormone?
A) It maintains the corpus luteum and progesterone production
B) It stimulates uterine contractions
C) It initiates lactation
D) It regulates fetal heart rate
Rationale: hCG maintains the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone to sustain the
pregnancy until the placenta takes over.
4. A nurse is documenting a client's obstetric history using the GTPAL system. The client is
currently pregnant for the third time, has one term birth, one preterm birth, and no abortions
or living children. Which GTPAL notation is correct?
A) G3 T1 P1 A0 L2
B) G3 T1 P1 A0 L1
C) G2 T1 P1 A0 L1
D) G3 T0 P1 A0 L1
Rationale: GTPAL: G=3 (third pregnancy), T=1 (one term), P=1 (one preterm), A=0, L=1 (one
living child from preterm birth).
5. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about physiological changes during pregnancy. Which
cardiovascular change should the nurse include in the teaching?
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A) Decreased cardiac output
B) Increased blood volume by 40-50%
C) Decreased heart rate
D) Increased blood pressure
Rationale: Blood volume increases by 40-50% during pregnancy to meet the demands of the
growing fetus and maternal tissues.
6. A nurse is assessing a pregnant client at 24 weeks gestation. Which finding should the nurse
recognize as a normal physiological adaptation to pregnancy?
A) Decreased glomerular filtration rate
B) Increased respiratory rate
C) Physiologic anemia
D) Decreased white blood cell count
Rationale: Physiologic anemia occurs due to increased plasma volume (hemodilution), which is
a normal adaptation to pregnancy.
7. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about nutritional needs during pregnancy. Which
statement indicates correct understanding?
A) "I need to increase my folic acid intake to prevent neural tube defects."
B) "I should decrease my iron intake during pregnancy."
C) "I should limit my calcium intake to prevent kidney stones."
D) "I need to double my calorie intake immediately."
Rationale: Folic acid (400-800 mcg daily) prevents neural tube defects; iron needs increase
during pregnancy, not decrease.
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NUR 254 EXAMS 1, 2, 3 & 4 — MATERNAL AND PEDIATRIC NURSING
EXAM COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
EDITION 2026
NUR 254 EXAMS 1, 2, 3 & 4 — MATERNAL AND PEDIATRIC NURSING
10-POINT EXAM COVERAGE SUMMARY
1. Foundations of Maternal Nursing & Antepartum Care – Prenatal development,
physiological changes, prenatal care, GTPAL
2. High-Risk Pregnancy & Complications – Preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta
previa, preterm labor
3. Labor & Delivery (Intrapartum Care) – Stages of labor, fetal monitoring, pain
management, delivery complications
4. Postpartum Care & Complications – Fundal assessment, lochia, hemorrhage, infection,
postpartum depression
5. Newborn Assessment & Care – Apgar scoring, newborn reflexes, thermoregulation,
jaundice, newborn nutrition
6. Pediatric Growth & Development – Developmental milestones, Piaget/Erikson stages,
nutrition by age
7. Pediatric Respiratory & Cardiovascular Disorders – Asthma, croup, RSV, congenital heart
defects
8. Pediatric Gastrointestinal & Genitourinary Disorders – Dehydration, cleft lip/palate,
Hirschsprung disease, UTIs
9. Pediatric Neurologic, Musculoskeletal & Endocrine Disorders – Seizures, cerebral palsy,
fractures, diabetes
1|Page
,Page 2 of 108
10. Pediatric Medication Administration & Safety – Weight-based dosing, IV calculations,
safe medication practices
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MATERNAL NURSING & ANTEPARTUM CARE (30 QUESTIONS)
1. A nurse is calculating the estimated date of delivery (EDD) for a client whose last normal
menstrual period (LNMP) began on May 4th. Using Naegele's rule, which date should the nurse
calculate as the EDD?
A) February 1st
B) February 11th
C) January 28th
D) February 18th
Rationale: Naegele's rule: Subtract 3 months from LNMP (May 4 → February 4) and add 7 days
= February 11th.
2. A nurse is assessing a pregnant client at 12 weeks gestation. Which finding should the nurse
identify as a presumptive (possible) sign of pregnancy?
A) Chadwick's sign
B) Positive pregnancy test
C) Hegar's sign
D) Breast tenderness and fatigue
2|Page
,Page 3 of 108
Rationale: Presumptive signs are subjective and include breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea, and
amenorrhea. Chadwick's and Hegar's signs are probable signs.
3. A nurse is reviewing the function of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in early pregnancy.
Which statement best describes the role of this hormone?
A) It maintains the corpus luteum and progesterone production
B) It stimulates uterine contractions
C) It initiates lactation
D) It regulates fetal heart rate
Rationale: hCG maintains the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone to sustain the
pregnancy until the placenta takes over.
4. A nurse is documenting a client's obstetric history using the GTPAL system. The client is
currently pregnant for the third time, has one term birth, one preterm birth, and no abortions
or living children. Which GTPAL notation is correct?
A) G3 T1 P1 A0 L2
B) G3 T1 P1 A0 L1
C) G2 T1 P1 A0 L1
D) G3 T0 P1 A0 L1
Rationale: GTPAL: G=3 (third pregnancy), T=1 (one term), P=1 (one preterm), A=0, L=1 (one
living child from preterm birth).
5. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about physiological changes during pregnancy. Which
cardiovascular change should the nurse include in the teaching?
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, Page 4 of 108
A) Decreased cardiac output
B) Increased blood volume by 40-50%
C) Decreased heart rate
D) Increased blood pressure
Rationale: Blood volume increases by 40-50% during pregnancy to meet the demands of the
growing fetus and maternal tissues.
6. A nurse is assessing a pregnant client at 24 weeks gestation. Which finding should the nurse
recognize as a normal physiological adaptation to pregnancy?
A) Decreased glomerular filtration rate
B) Increased respiratory rate
C) Physiologic anemia
D) Decreased white blood cell count
Rationale: Physiologic anemia occurs due to increased plasma volume (hemodilution), which is
a normal adaptation to pregnancy.
7. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about nutritional needs during pregnancy. Which
statement indicates correct understanding?
A) "I need to increase my folic acid intake to prevent neural tube defects."
B) "I should decrease my iron intake during pregnancy."
C) "I should limit my calcium intake to prevent kidney stones."
D) "I need to double my calorie intake immediately."
Rationale: Folic acid (400-800 mcg daily) prevents neural tube defects; iron needs increase
during pregnancy, not decrease.
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