ATI MATERNAL-NEWBORN NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REVIEW 2026–
2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WELL
ELABORATED RATIONALES |CURRENTLY
UPDATED 2026 JUST RELEASED!
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is 38 weeks gestation and reports
a sudden gush of fluid. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Check the fetal heart rate
B) Perform a sterile vaginal exam
C) Test the fluid with nitramine paper
D) Notify the provider
Answer: A
Rationale: The first action is to check the fetal heart rate to assess
fetal well-being. A sterile vaginal exam is avoided until cord prolapse
is ruled out.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 day postpartum and reports
perineal pain. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Apply a warm compress to the perineum
,B) Apply an ice pack to the perineum
C) Encourage the client to sit for long periods
D) Administer a stool softener
Answer: B
Rationale: Ice packs are applied during the first 24 hours postpartum
to reduce swelling and pain.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the active phase of labor.
Which finding should the nurse report immediately?
A) Contractions every 3 minutes lasting 60 seconds
B) Fetal heart rate of 110 beats/min with late decelerations
C) Maternal blood pressure of 118/72 mm Hg
D) Cervical dilation of 4 cm
Answer: B
Rationale: Late decelerations with a fetal heart rate of 110 beats/min
indicate uteroplacental insufficiency and require immediate
intervention.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving oxytocin for labor
induction. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A) Contractions every 2 minutes lasting 60 seconds
B) Contractions every 1-minute lasting 90 seconds
C) Fetal heart rate of 140 beats/min
D) Maternal blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
Answer: B
Rationale: Contractions every 1-minute lasting 90 seconds indicate
uterine hyperstimulation. The oxytocin should be stopped and the
provider notified.
,5. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 hours postpartum and has a
boggy uterus. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Massage the fundus
B) Administer oxytocin
C) Encourage the client to void
D) Notify the provider
Answer: A
Rationale: A boggy uterus indicates uterine atony. The first action is
to massage the fundus to stimulate contraction.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the first stage of labor and
requests an epidural. Which finding should the nurse report before
the epidural is placed?
A) Platelet count of 80,000/mm³
B) Blood pressure of 118/72 mm Hg
C) Cervical dilation of 4 cm
D) Fetal heart rate of 140 beats/min
Answer: A
Rationale: A platelet count below 100,000/mm³ increases the risk of
bleeding with epidural placement.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postpartum and reports
breast engorgement. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Apply warm compresses before feeding
B) Apply cold compresses after feeding
C) Wear a tight bra
D) Restrict fluid intake
, Answer: A
Rationale: Warm compresses before feeding promote milk let-down.
Cold compresses after feeding reduce swelling.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 day postpartum and has a
deep vein thrombosis. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Massage the affected leg
B) Apply warm compresses
C) Administer anticoagulants as prescribed
D) Encourage ambulation
Answer: C
Rationale: Anticoagulants are administered as prescribed for DVT.
Massaging the leg can dislodge the clot.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 weeks postpartum and
reports feeling sad and crying frequently. Which action should the
nurse take?
A) Reassure the client that this is normal
B) Screen the client for postpartum depression
C) Recommend the client stop breastfeeding
D) Tell the client to get more sleep
Answer: B
Rationale: Persistent sadness and crying at 4 weeks postpartum may
indicate postpartum depression. The nurse should screen the client.
10. A nurse is caring for a client who is 36 weeks gestation and has
preeclampsia. Which finding indicates worsening condition?
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REVIEW 2026–
2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WELL
ELABORATED RATIONALES |CURRENTLY
UPDATED 2026 JUST RELEASED!
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is 38 weeks gestation and reports
a sudden gush of fluid. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Check the fetal heart rate
B) Perform a sterile vaginal exam
C) Test the fluid with nitramine paper
D) Notify the provider
Answer: A
Rationale: The first action is to check the fetal heart rate to assess
fetal well-being. A sterile vaginal exam is avoided until cord prolapse
is ruled out.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 day postpartum and reports
perineal pain. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Apply a warm compress to the perineum
,B) Apply an ice pack to the perineum
C) Encourage the client to sit for long periods
D) Administer a stool softener
Answer: B
Rationale: Ice packs are applied during the first 24 hours postpartum
to reduce swelling and pain.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the active phase of labor.
Which finding should the nurse report immediately?
A) Contractions every 3 minutes lasting 60 seconds
B) Fetal heart rate of 110 beats/min with late decelerations
C) Maternal blood pressure of 118/72 mm Hg
D) Cervical dilation of 4 cm
Answer: B
Rationale: Late decelerations with a fetal heart rate of 110 beats/min
indicate uteroplacental insufficiency and require immediate
intervention.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving oxytocin for labor
induction. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A) Contractions every 2 minutes lasting 60 seconds
B) Contractions every 1-minute lasting 90 seconds
C) Fetal heart rate of 140 beats/min
D) Maternal blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
Answer: B
Rationale: Contractions every 1-minute lasting 90 seconds indicate
uterine hyperstimulation. The oxytocin should be stopped and the
provider notified.
,5. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 hours postpartum and has a
boggy uterus. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Massage the fundus
B) Administer oxytocin
C) Encourage the client to void
D) Notify the provider
Answer: A
Rationale: A boggy uterus indicates uterine atony. The first action is
to massage the fundus to stimulate contraction.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the first stage of labor and
requests an epidural. Which finding should the nurse report before
the epidural is placed?
A) Platelet count of 80,000/mm³
B) Blood pressure of 118/72 mm Hg
C) Cervical dilation of 4 cm
D) Fetal heart rate of 140 beats/min
Answer: A
Rationale: A platelet count below 100,000/mm³ increases the risk of
bleeding with epidural placement.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postpartum and reports
breast engorgement. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Apply warm compresses before feeding
B) Apply cold compresses after feeding
C) Wear a tight bra
D) Restrict fluid intake
, Answer: A
Rationale: Warm compresses before feeding promote milk let-down.
Cold compresses after feeding reduce swelling.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 day postpartum and has a
deep vein thrombosis. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Massage the affected leg
B) Apply warm compresses
C) Administer anticoagulants as prescribed
D) Encourage ambulation
Answer: C
Rationale: Anticoagulants are administered as prescribed for DVT.
Massaging the leg can dislodge the clot.
9. A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 weeks postpartum and
reports feeling sad and crying frequently. Which action should the
nurse take?
A) Reassure the client that this is normal
B) Screen the client for postpartum depression
C) Recommend the client stop breastfeeding
D) Tell the client to get more sleep
Answer: B
Rationale: Persistent sadness and crying at 4 weeks postpartum may
indicate postpartum depression. The nurse should screen the client.
10. A nurse is caring for a client who is 36 weeks gestation and has
preeclampsia. Which finding indicates worsening condition?
