NUR 353 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | NUR 353 FINAL EXAM
STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Where does fertilization occur? - ANS✔✔ Ampulla of the Fallopian tube
Describe the menstrual cycle? - ANS✔✔
normal weight gain during pregnancy - ANS✔✔ underweight: 28-40 lbs
normal: 25-35 lbs
overweight: 15-25 lbs
obese: 11-20 lbs
Goodell sign - ANS✔✔ softening of the cervical tip
Chadwick's sign - ANS✔✔ violet-bluish color of the vaginal mucosa and cervix
Hegar sign - ANS✔✔ softening and compression of the lower uterine segment
ballottment - ANS✔✔ passive movement of the unengaged fetus
cardiovascular changes in pregnancy - ANS✔✔ cardiac output increases 30-50%
blood volume increases 30-45%
HR increases 10-15 bpm
more clotting factors
slight cardiac hypertrophy
murmurs more common
,respiratory changes - ANS✔✔ maternal oxygen needs increase
increased tidal volume
increased oxygen consumption
diaphragm elevates, total lung capacity decreases in the third trimester
renal changes - ANS✔✔ filtration rate increases because of pregnancy hormones, increased
blood volume, and increased metabolic demands
pressure on bladder
reproductive changes - ANS✔✔ thickening of vaginal mucosa, chadwick's sign, leukorrhea
breast tenderness, colostrum and discharge, increased pigmentation
enlarged montgomery's glands
uterus increases in size and changes shape and position, hegar's sign
Naegele's rule - ANS✔✔ Way of determining gestational age: determine first day of LMP, count
3 months back, add 7 days
Parity - ANS✔✔ number of pregnancies that reach 20 weeks- born alive, stillborn, or abortion
Gravita - ANS✔✔ Number of pregnancies
placenta structure - ANS✔✔ Mom's blood goes through the endometrial artery to the
intervillous space, through the umbilical vein to the baby
Baby's blood goes through the umbilical arteries to the intervillous space, through the
endometrial vein to mom
,when is the placenta fully functional? - ANS✔✔ 7-10 weeks
Structures of female reproductive system - ANS✔✔
1st trimester discomforts - ANS✔✔ Breast changes (enlargement, pain, tingling, tenderness);
Urination- urgency, frequency; Languor & malaise; fatigue; N/V- morning sickness; Ptyalism
(excessive salivation); Gingivitis and epulis; Nasal stuffiness, epistaxis; Leukorrhea; Psychosocial
dynamics ( mood swings, mixed feelings)
Morning sickness - ANS✔✔ 50-75% of pregnant women
Starts between 1st and 2nd missed period and lasts until about the fourth missed period.
Can occur any time of day
Fathers may also have symptoms
2nd trimester discomforts - ANS✔✔ Pigmentation deepens, acne, oily skin; Spider nevi
(angiomas); Palmar erythema; Pruritis (noninflammatory); Palpitations; Supine hypotension;
Faintness, syncope (rare)- orthostatic hypotension; Food cravings; heartburn; constipation;
Flatulence with bloating and belching; varicose veins; Leukorrhea; headaches (to wk. 26); Carpal
tunnel syndrome; periodic numbness/tingling of fingers; round ligament pain; joint pain,
backache, pelvic pressure; joint hypermobility
3rd trimester discomforts - ANS✔✔ Shortness of breath, dyspnea; Insomnia; psychosocial
responses; gingivitis & epulis; urinary frequency and urgency return; perineal discomfort/
pressure; leg cramps; non-pitting ankle edema;
Infection S&S - ANS✔✔ Chills/ fever; burning upon urinating; diarrhea
Hyperemesis gravidarum S&S - ANS✔✔ Severe vomiting
, Miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy S&S - ANS✔✔ Abdominal cramping; vaginal bleeding
Hypertension, preeclampsia, hyperemesis gravidarum - ANS✔✔ Persistent severe vominting
Premature rupture of membranes S&S - ANS✔✔ Sudden discharge of fluid from vagina before
37 weeks
Miscarriage, placenta previa; abruptio placentae S&S - ANS✔✔ Vaginal bleeding; severe
abdominal pain
Kidney infection or kidney stones; preterm labor S&S - ANS✔✔ Severe backache or flank pain
Fetal jeopardy or intrauterine fetal death S&S - ANS✔✔ Change in fetal movement; absence of
fetal movements after quickening; any unusual change in pattern or amount
Preterm labor S&S - ANS✔✔ Uterine contractions, pressure, cramping before 37 weeks
Diagnostic testing - ANS✔✔ 3 hour GTT
Amniocentesis or CVS (Chorionic villus sampling)
amniocentesis, nonstress test (NST), biophysical profile (BPP), and ultrasound examination
Nuchael translucency
Celphry DNA
Hypertensive conditions, preeclampsia, abruptio placentae S&S - ANS✔✔ Epigastric or
abdominal pain (perceived as severe stomach ache)
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus S&S - ANS✔✔ Glycosuria
STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Where does fertilization occur? - ANS✔✔ Ampulla of the Fallopian tube
Describe the menstrual cycle? - ANS✔✔
normal weight gain during pregnancy - ANS✔✔ underweight: 28-40 lbs
normal: 25-35 lbs
overweight: 15-25 lbs
obese: 11-20 lbs
Goodell sign - ANS✔✔ softening of the cervical tip
Chadwick's sign - ANS✔✔ violet-bluish color of the vaginal mucosa and cervix
Hegar sign - ANS✔✔ softening and compression of the lower uterine segment
ballottment - ANS✔✔ passive movement of the unengaged fetus
cardiovascular changes in pregnancy - ANS✔✔ cardiac output increases 30-50%
blood volume increases 30-45%
HR increases 10-15 bpm
more clotting factors
slight cardiac hypertrophy
murmurs more common
,respiratory changes - ANS✔✔ maternal oxygen needs increase
increased tidal volume
increased oxygen consumption
diaphragm elevates, total lung capacity decreases in the third trimester
renal changes - ANS✔✔ filtration rate increases because of pregnancy hormones, increased
blood volume, and increased metabolic demands
pressure on bladder
reproductive changes - ANS✔✔ thickening of vaginal mucosa, chadwick's sign, leukorrhea
breast tenderness, colostrum and discharge, increased pigmentation
enlarged montgomery's glands
uterus increases in size and changes shape and position, hegar's sign
Naegele's rule - ANS✔✔ Way of determining gestational age: determine first day of LMP, count
3 months back, add 7 days
Parity - ANS✔✔ number of pregnancies that reach 20 weeks- born alive, stillborn, or abortion
Gravita - ANS✔✔ Number of pregnancies
placenta structure - ANS✔✔ Mom's blood goes through the endometrial artery to the
intervillous space, through the umbilical vein to the baby
Baby's blood goes through the umbilical arteries to the intervillous space, through the
endometrial vein to mom
,when is the placenta fully functional? - ANS✔✔ 7-10 weeks
Structures of female reproductive system - ANS✔✔
1st trimester discomforts - ANS✔✔ Breast changes (enlargement, pain, tingling, tenderness);
Urination- urgency, frequency; Languor & malaise; fatigue; N/V- morning sickness; Ptyalism
(excessive salivation); Gingivitis and epulis; Nasal stuffiness, epistaxis; Leukorrhea; Psychosocial
dynamics ( mood swings, mixed feelings)
Morning sickness - ANS✔✔ 50-75% of pregnant women
Starts between 1st and 2nd missed period and lasts until about the fourth missed period.
Can occur any time of day
Fathers may also have symptoms
2nd trimester discomforts - ANS✔✔ Pigmentation deepens, acne, oily skin; Spider nevi
(angiomas); Palmar erythema; Pruritis (noninflammatory); Palpitations; Supine hypotension;
Faintness, syncope (rare)- orthostatic hypotension; Food cravings; heartburn; constipation;
Flatulence with bloating and belching; varicose veins; Leukorrhea; headaches (to wk. 26); Carpal
tunnel syndrome; periodic numbness/tingling of fingers; round ligament pain; joint pain,
backache, pelvic pressure; joint hypermobility
3rd trimester discomforts - ANS✔✔ Shortness of breath, dyspnea; Insomnia; psychosocial
responses; gingivitis & epulis; urinary frequency and urgency return; perineal discomfort/
pressure; leg cramps; non-pitting ankle edema;
Infection S&S - ANS✔✔ Chills/ fever; burning upon urinating; diarrhea
Hyperemesis gravidarum S&S - ANS✔✔ Severe vomiting
, Miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy S&S - ANS✔✔ Abdominal cramping; vaginal bleeding
Hypertension, preeclampsia, hyperemesis gravidarum - ANS✔✔ Persistent severe vominting
Premature rupture of membranes S&S - ANS✔✔ Sudden discharge of fluid from vagina before
37 weeks
Miscarriage, placenta previa; abruptio placentae S&S - ANS✔✔ Vaginal bleeding; severe
abdominal pain
Kidney infection or kidney stones; preterm labor S&S - ANS✔✔ Severe backache or flank pain
Fetal jeopardy or intrauterine fetal death S&S - ANS✔✔ Change in fetal movement; absence of
fetal movements after quickening; any unusual change in pattern or amount
Preterm labor S&S - ANS✔✔ Uterine contractions, pressure, cramping before 37 weeks
Diagnostic testing - ANS✔✔ 3 hour GTT
Amniocentesis or CVS (Chorionic villus sampling)
amniocentesis, nonstress test (NST), biophysical profile (BPP), and ultrasound examination
Nuchael translucency
Celphry DNA
Hypertensive conditions, preeclampsia, abruptio placentae S&S - ANS✔✔ Epigastric or
abdominal pain (perceived as severe stomach ache)
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus S&S - ANS✔✔ Glycosuria
