NSG 3500 Exam 2 Review Questions & Answers
Galen College of Nursing — Nursing Practice: Maternal
Health
2026/2027 Updated Study Guide
Current online course-related materials describe NSG 3500 Exam 2 as focusing heavily on maternal
health, including antepartum assessment, labor/intrapartum care, postpartum complications, fetal
monitoring, newborn transition, high-risk pregnancy, pharmacology, and clinical decision-making.
Below is an original practice review, not a reproduction of an actual Galen examination or proprietary
test bank.
Section 1 — Labor & Intrapartum Nursing
1. A client is in the latent phase of the first stage of labor. Which finding is expected?
A. Cervical dilation of 8–10 cm
B. Contractions every 2–3 minutes lasting 60–90 seconds
C. Mild contractions approximately every 5–10 minutes
D. An intense urge to push
Answer: C
Rationale: The latent phase involves early cervical dilation with relatively mild contractions. The active
phase produces progressively stronger and closer contractions.
2. The second stage of labor begins when:
A. Regular contractions begin
B. The cervix reaches 5 cm
C. The cervix is completely dilated
D. The placenta separates
Answer: C
Rationale: The second stage extends from complete cervical dilation to birth of the newborn.
3. Which finding indicates that a client is ready to begin pushing?
A. 6 cm dilation
B. 8 cm dilation
, C. 10 cm dilation and complete effacement
D. 4 cm dilation with strong contractions
Answer: C
Rationale: Pushing generally begins after complete cervical dilation and when the clinical team
determines it is appropriate.
4. The fetal monitor shows recurrent variable decelerations. What is the nurse's initial intervention?
A. Prepare immediately for cesarean birth
B. Reposition the client
C. Increase oxytocin
D. Encourage pushing
Answer: B
Rationale: Variable decelerations commonly reflect umbilical cord compression. Maternal repositioning
is an initial intervention intended to relieve compression. Course-related review materials similarly
identify repositioning as the priority initial response.
5. Which fetal heart-rate pattern is most concerning for impaired fetal oxygenation?
A. Early decelerations
B. Moderate variability
C. Recurrent late decelerations
D. Accelerations
Answer: C
Rationale: Recurrent late decelerations are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency and require
prompt assessment and intervention.
6. Early decelerations are most commonly associated with:
A. Umbilical cord compression
B. Fetal head compression
C. Maternal hypotension
D. Placental abruption
Answer: B
Rationale: Early decelerations typically mirror contractions and are commonly caused by fetal head
compression during labor.
Galen College of Nursing — Nursing Practice: Maternal
Health
2026/2027 Updated Study Guide
Current online course-related materials describe NSG 3500 Exam 2 as focusing heavily on maternal
health, including antepartum assessment, labor/intrapartum care, postpartum complications, fetal
monitoring, newborn transition, high-risk pregnancy, pharmacology, and clinical decision-making.
Below is an original practice review, not a reproduction of an actual Galen examination or proprietary
test bank.
Section 1 — Labor & Intrapartum Nursing
1. A client is in the latent phase of the first stage of labor. Which finding is expected?
A. Cervical dilation of 8–10 cm
B. Contractions every 2–3 minutes lasting 60–90 seconds
C. Mild contractions approximately every 5–10 minutes
D. An intense urge to push
Answer: C
Rationale: The latent phase involves early cervical dilation with relatively mild contractions. The active
phase produces progressively stronger and closer contractions.
2. The second stage of labor begins when:
A. Regular contractions begin
B. The cervix reaches 5 cm
C. The cervix is completely dilated
D. The placenta separates
Answer: C
Rationale: The second stage extends from complete cervical dilation to birth of the newborn.
3. Which finding indicates that a client is ready to begin pushing?
A. 6 cm dilation
B. 8 cm dilation
, C. 10 cm dilation and complete effacement
D. 4 cm dilation with strong contractions
Answer: C
Rationale: Pushing generally begins after complete cervical dilation and when the clinical team
determines it is appropriate.
4. The fetal monitor shows recurrent variable decelerations. What is the nurse's initial intervention?
A. Prepare immediately for cesarean birth
B. Reposition the client
C. Increase oxytocin
D. Encourage pushing
Answer: B
Rationale: Variable decelerations commonly reflect umbilical cord compression. Maternal repositioning
is an initial intervention intended to relieve compression. Course-related review materials similarly
identify repositioning as the priority initial response.
5. Which fetal heart-rate pattern is most concerning for impaired fetal oxygenation?
A. Early decelerations
B. Moderate variability
C. Recurrent late decelerations
D. Accelerations
Answer: C
Rationale: Recurrent late decelerations are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency and require
prompt assessment and intervention.
6. Early decelerations are most commonly associated with:
A. Umbilical cord compression
B. Fetal head compression
C. Maternal hypotension
D. Placental abruption
Answer: B
Rationale: Early decelerations typically mirror contractions and are commonly caused by fetal head
compression during labor.
