N205/206 Exam Maternal/Child Nursing
Comprehensive Practice Exam with Answers &
Clinical Rationales
Course: Nursing III N205/206 | Exam: Midterm, Finals, Certification and
Assessment | Year: 2025–2026
Instructions: Read each question carefully. Use the provided rationales to
reinforce clinical reasoning. All questions include the correct answer and a
full clinical rationale for learning.
SECTION 1: Antepartum Care (Questions 1–20)
Q1. A nurse is caring for a client at 10 weeks of gestation. Which finding
requires immediate follow-up?
A. Blood pressure 118/76 mmHg
B. Fundal height 8 cm above the pubic symphysis
C. Fetal heart rate of 160 bpm
D. Painless bright red vaginal bleeding
Correct Answer: D. Painless bright red vaginal bleeding
Rationale: Painless bright red vaginal bleeding in the first trimester is a
hallmark sign of threatened or complete abortion and requires immediate
provider notification. Blood pressure, fundal height, and fetal heart rate
values listed are within normal limits.
,Q2. Which immunization is SAFE to administer during pregnancy?
A. MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
B. Varicella
C. Influenza (inactivated)
D. Live attenuated intranasal influenza
Correct Answer: C. Influenza (inactivated)
Rationale: Inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended during any
trimester. Live vaccines (MMR, varicella, live nasal flu) are contraindicated
in pregnancy due to theoretical fetal risk.
Q3. A pregnant client at 28 weeks asks about fetal kick counts. What is the
nurse's BEST instruction?
A. Count kicks for 1 hour after each meal; report if fewer than 3 kicks
B. Count kicks once daily; report if fewer than 10 movements in 2 hours
C. Kicks only matter after 36 weeks
D. Contact provider only if no kicks for 24 hours
Correct Answer: B. Count kicks once daily; report if fewer than 10
movements in 2 hours
Rationale: The Cardiff method: count fetal movements once daily; 10
movements in ≤2 hours is reassuring. Fewer than 10 in 2 hours should be
reported promptly to the provider.
Q4. Nagele's Rule is used to calculate:
A. Gestational age by fundal height
B. Estimated date of delivery (EDD)
C. Fetal weight by ultrasound
D. Amniotic fluid index
,Correct Answer: B. Estimated date of delivery (EDD)
Rationale: Nagele's Rule: subtract 3 months from the first day of the last
menstrual period (LMP), add 7 days, and adjust the year. It estimates the
expected date of delivery.
Q5. A multigravida at 36 weeks has a BP of 152/98 mmHg on two readings
4 hours apart, with 2+ proteinuria and headache. The nurse suspects:
A. Gestational hypertension
B. Chronic hypertension
C. Preeclampsia with severe features
D. HELLP syndrome
Correct Answer: C. Preeclampsia with severe features
Rationale: BP ≥140/90 mmHg on two occasions ≥4 hours apart after 20
weeks WITH proteinuria defines preeclampsia. Severe features include BP
≥160/110, severe headache, visual changes, or RUQ pain.
Q6. Which laboratory finding is MOST associated with HELLP syndrome?
A. Elevated platelets
B. Low hemoglobin and low AST
C. Elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count
D. Elevated BUN and creatinine only
Correct Answer: C. Elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count
Rationale: HELLP stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low
Platelets. Lab findings include microangiopathic hemolytic anemia,
AST/ALT elevation, and thrombocytopenia (<100,000/mm³).
, Q7. The nurse is teaching a client about signs of preterm labor. Which
symptom should the client report immediately?
A. Braxton Hicks contractions once per hour
B. Low back ache that comes and goes every 10 minutes
C. Mild ankle edema at the end of the day
D. Increased white vaginal discharge without odor
Correct Answer: B. Low back ache that comes and goes every 10 minutes
Rationale: Regular uterine contractions (even painless), pelvic pressure, low
back pain, or change in vaginal discharge before 37 weeks are warning
signs of preterm labor requiring immediate evaluation.
Q8. A client's Group B Streptococcus (GBS) culture at 36 weeks is positive.
The nurse anticipates:
A. Oral amoxicillin for 7 days immediately
B. Intravenous penicillin G during active labor
C. Cesarean section delivery
D. No treatment needed
Correct Answer: B. Intravenous penicillin G during active labor
Rationale: GBS-positive clients receive IV penicillin G (or ampicillin)
intrapartum prophylaxis to prevent neonatal GBS sepsis. Oral antibiotics
during pregnancy do not prevent intrapartum transmission.
Q9. Which assessment finding is NORMAL during the second trimester?
A. Proteinuria 2+
B. Blood pressure 145/95 mmHg
C. Physiologic anemia with hematocrit of 32%
D. Pedal edema 3+
Comprehensive Practice Exam with Answers &
Clinical Rationales
Course: Nursing III N205/206 | Exam: Midterm, Finals, Certification and
Assessment | Year: 2025–2026
Instructions: Read each question carefully. Use the provided rationales to
reinforce clinical reasoning. All questions include the correct answer and a
full clinical rationale for learning.
SECTION 1: Antepartum Care (Questions 1–20)
Q1. A nurse is caring for a client at 10 weeks of gestation. Which finding
requires immediate follow-up?
A. Blood pressure 118/76 mmHg
B. Fundal height 8 cm above the pubic symphysis
C. Fetal heart rate of 160 bpm
D. Painless bright red vaginal bleeding
Correct Answer: D. Painless bright red vaginal bleeding
Rationale: Painless bright red vaginal bleeding in the first trimester is a
hallmark sign of threatened or complete abortion and requires immediate
provider notification. Blood pressure, fundal height, and fetal heart rate
values listed are within normal limits.
,Q2. Which immunization is SAFE to administer during pregnancy?
A. MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
B. Varicella
C. Influenza (inactivated)
D. Live attenuated intranasal influenza
Correct Answer: C. Influenza (inactivated)
Rationale: Inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended during any
trimester. Live vaccines (MMR, varicella, live nasal flu) are contraindicated
in pregnancy due to theoretical fetal risk.
Q3. A pregnant client at 28 weeks asks about fetal kick counts. What is the
nurse's BEST instruction?
A. Count kicks for 1 hour after each meal; report if fewer than 3 kicks
B. Count kicks once daily; report if fewer than 10 movements in 2 hours
C. Kicks only matter after 36 weeks
D. Contact provider only if no kicks for 24 hours
Correct Answer: B. Count kicks once daily; report if fewer than 10
movements in 2 hours
Rationale: The Cardiff method: count fetal movements once daily; 10
movements in ≤2 hours is reassuring. Fewer than 10 in 2 hours should be
reported promptly to the provider.
Q4. Nagele's Rule is used to calculate:
A. Gestational age by fundal height
B. Estimated date of delivery (EDD)
C. Fetal weight by ultrasound
D. Amniotic fluid index
,Correct Answer: B. Estimated date of delivery (EDD)
Rationale: Nagele's Rule: subtract 3 months from the first day of the last
menstrual period (LMP), add 7 days, and adjust the year. It estimates the
expected date of delivery.
Q5. A multigravida at 36 weeks has a BP of 152/98 mmHg on two readings
4 hours apart, with 2+ proteinuria and headache. The nurse suspects:
A. Gestational hypertension
B. Chronic hypertension
C. Preeclampsia with severe features
D. HELLP syndrome
Correct Answer: C. Preeclampsia with severe features
Rationale: BP ≥140/90 mmHg on two occasions ≥4 hours apart after 20
weeks WITH proteinuria defines preeclampsia. Severe features include BP
≥160/110, severe headache, visual changes, or RUQ pain.
Q6. Which laboratory finding is MOST associated with HELLP syndrome?
A. Elevated platelets
B. Low hemoglobin and low AST
C. Elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count
D. Elevated BUN and creatinine only
Correct Answer: C. Elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count
Rationale: HELLP stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low
Platelets. Lab findings include microangiopathic hemolytic anemia,
AST/ALT elevation, and thrombocytopenia (<100,000/mm³).
, Q7. The nurse is teaching a client about signs of preterm labor. Which
symptom should the client report immediately?
A. Braxton Hicks contractions once per hour
B. Low back ache that comes and goes every 10 minutes
C. Mild ankle edema at the end of the day
D. Increased white vaginal discharge without odor
Correct Answer: B. Low back ache that comes and goes every 10 minutes
Rationale: Regular uterine contractions (even painless), pelvic pressure, low
back pain, or change in vaginal discharge before 37 weeks are warning
signs of preterm labor requiring immediate evaluation.
Q8. A client's Group B Streptococcus (GBS) culture at 36 weeks is positive.
The nurse anticipates:
A. Oral amoxicillin for 7 days immediately
B. Intravenous penicillin G during active labor
C. Cesarean section delivery
D. No treatment needed
Correct Answer: B. Intravenous penicillin G during active labor
Rationale: GBS-positive clients receive IV penicillin G (or ampicillin)
intrapartum prophylaxis to prevent neonatal GBS sepsis. Oral antibiotics
during pregnancy do not prevent intrapartum transmission.
Q9. Which assessment finding is NORMAL during the second trimester?
A. Proteinuria 2+
B. Blood pressure 145/95 mmHg
C. Physiologic anemia with hematocrit of 32%
D. Pedal edema 3+
