,NUR 223 Midterm Exam Care of Women and Children Questions And
Answers 2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Which finding most reliably distinguishes true labor from false
labor?
A) Maternal report of lower-back discomfort
B) Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
C) Irregular uterine tightening
D) Contractions that diminish with walking
Correct Answer: B) Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
Rationale: True labor produces progressive cervical change as contractions
become coordinated and effective.
Q2. Which factor represents the “powers” affecting labor progress?
A) Fetal size and presentation
B) Uterine contractions and maternal pushing efforts
C) Maternal pelvic dimensions
D) Fetal position within the uterus
Correct Answer: B) Uterine contractions and maternal pushing efforts
Rationale: The powers of labor include involuntary uterine contractions and
voluntary maternal expulsive efforts.
Q3. What does engagement mean during labor?
A) The fetal head has completely rotated internally
B) The cervix has become fully dilated
C) The widest transverse diameter of the presenting part has passed through
the pelvic inlet
D) The fetal head has emerged from the vagina
Correct Answer: C) The widest transverse diameter of the presenting part has
passed through the pelvic inlet
Rationale: Engagement occurs when the largest transverse diameter of the
presenting fetal part has entered the maternal pelvic inlet.
Q4. The first stage of labor ends when which event occurs?
A) The fetus is delivered
B) The placenta separates
,C) The cervix reaches complete dilation
D) The membranes rupture
Correct Answer: C) The cervix reaches complete dilation
Rationale: The first stage extends from the onset of true labor until
complete cervical dilation.
Q5. Which finding is most consistent with the active phase of the
first stage of labor?
A) No cervical change despite contractions
B) More rapid cervical dilation accompanied by increasingly strong, regular
contractions
C) Delivery of the placenta
D) Complete absence of discomfort
Correct Answer: B) More rapid cervical dilation accompanied by increasingly
strong, regular contractions
Rationale: Active labor involves more rapid cervical change with stronger
and more regular uterine contractions.
Q6. A patient's membranes rupture spontaneously during labor.
What assessment has priority immediately afterward?
A) Maternal appetite
B) Maternal weight
C) Fetal heart rate
D) Bowel sounds
Correct Answer: C) Fetal heart rate
Rationale: Fetal heart rate should be assessed promptly after membrane
rupture because umbilical cord compression or prolapse can compromise
fetal oxygenation.
Q7. What is the primary purpose of Leopold maneuvers?
A) Measure cervical dilation
B) Determine maternal blood volume
C) Diagnose rupture of membranes
D) Estimate fetal lie, presentation, position, and descent through abdominal
palpation
, Correct Answer: D) Estimate fetal lie, presentation, position, and descent
through abdominal palpation
Rationale: Leopold maneuvers use abdominal palpation to identify fetal
orientation and the location of the presenting part.
Q8. How is the duration of a uterine contraction measured?
A) From the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next
B) From the beginning of a contraction until that contraction ends
C) From the peak of one contraction to the peak of the next
D) From the end of one contraction to the beginning of another
Correct Answer: B) From the beginning of a contraction until that contraction
ends
Rationale: Contraction duration is measured from the onset of a contraction
through its completion.
Q9. Which baseline fetal heart rate is within the expected range?
A) 90 beats/min
B) 105 beats/min
C) 140 beats/min
D) 175 beats/min
Correct Answer: C) 140 beats/min
Rationale: A baseline fetal heart rate of approximately 110 to 160
beats/min is generally expected.
Q10. Fetal heart-rate accelerations are generally interpreted as
which finding?
A) Evidence of cord prolapse
B) Evidence of persistent fetal hypoxia
C) A sign of severe uteroplacental insufficiency
D) A reassuring indication of fetal well-being
Correct Answer: D) A reassuring indication of fetal well-being
Rationale: Accelerations commonly indicate an adequately oxygenated
fetus with intact autonomic responsiveness.
CHAPTER 2 — INTRAPARTUM FETAL ASSESSMENT AND CLINICAL
JUDGMENT
Answers 2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Which finding most reliably distinguishes true labor from false
labor?
A) Maternal report of lower-back discomfort
B) Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
C) Irregular uterine tightening
D) Contractions that diminish with walking
Correct Answer: B) Progressive cervical dilation and effacement
Rationale: True labor produces progressive cervical change as contractions
become coordinated and effective.
Q2. Which factor represents the “powers” affecting labor progress?
A) Fetal size and presentation
B) Uterine contractions and maternal pushing efforts
C) Maternal pelvic dimensions
D) Fetal position within the uterus
Correct Answer: B) Uterine contractions and maternal pushing efforts
Rationale: The powers of labor include involuntary uterine contractions and
voluntary maternal expulsive efforts.
Q3. What does engagement mean during labor?
A) The fetal head has completely rotated internally
B) The cervix has become fully dilated
C) The widest transverse diameter of the presenting part has passed through
the pelvic inlet
D) The fetal head has emerged from the vagina
Correct Answer: C) The widest transverse diameter of the presenting part has
passed through the pelvic inlet
Rationale: Engagement occurs when the largest transverse diameter of the
presenting fetal part has entered the maternal pelvic inlet.
Q4. The first stage of labor ends when which event occurs?
A) The fetus is delivered
B) The placenta separates
,C) The cervix reaches complete dilation
D) The membranes rupture
Correct Answer: C) The cervix reaches complete dilation
Rationale: The first stage extends from the onset of true labor until
complete cervical dilation.
Q5. Which finding is most consistent with the active phase of the
first stage of labor?
A) No cervical change despite contractions
B) More rapid cervical dilation accompanied by increasingly strong, regular
contractions
C) Delivery of the placenta
D) Complete absence of discomfort
Correct Answer: B) More rapid cervical dilation accompanied by increasingly
strong, regular contractions
Rationale: Active labor involves more rapid cervical change with stronger
and more regular uterine contractions.
Q6. A patient's membranes rupture spontaneously during labor.
What assessment has priority immediately afterward?
A) Maternal appetite
B) Maternal weight
C) Fetal heart rate
D) Bowel sounds
Correct Answer: C) Fetal heart rate
Rationale: Fetal heart rate should be assessed promptly after membrane
rupture because umbilical cord compression or prolapse can compromise
fetal oxygenation.
Q7. What is the primary purpose of Leopold maneuvers?
A) Measure cervical dilation
B) Determine maternal blood volume
C) Diagnose rupture of membranes
D) Estimate fetal lie, presentation, position, and descent through abdominal
palpation
, Correct Answer: D) Estimate fetal lie, presentation, position, and descent
through abdominal palpation
Rationale: Leopold maneuvers use abdominal palpation to identify fetal
orientation and the location of the presenting part.
Q8. How is the duration of a uterine contraction measured?
A) From the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next
B) From the beginning of a contraction until that contraction ends
C) From the peak of one contraction to the peak of the next
D) From the end of one contraction to the beginning of another
Correct Answer: B) From the beginning of a contraction until that contraction
ends
Rationale: Contraction duration is measured from the onset of a contraction
through its completion.
Q9. Which baseline fetal heart rate is within the expected range?
A) 90 beats/min
B) 105 beats/min
C) 140 beats/min
D) 175 beats/min
Correct Answer: C) 140 beats/min
Rationale: A baseline fetal heart rate of approximately 110 to 160
beats/min is generally expected.
Q10. Fetal heart-rate accelerations are generally interpreted as
which finding?
A) Evidence of cord prolapse
B) Evidence of persistent fetal hypoxia
C) A sign of severe uteroplacental insufficiency
D) A reassuring indication of fetal well-being
Correct Answer: D) A reassuring indication of fetal well-being
Rationale: Accelerations commonly indicate an adequately oxygenated
fetus with intact autonomic responsiveness.
CHAPTER 2 — INTRAPARTUM FETAL ASSESSMENT AND CLINICAL
JUDGMENT
