NSG 3500 Maternal Examination 1 –
Practice Questions with Verified Answers
and Rationales
Introduction
This document contains 100 multiple-choice practice questions with
answers and rationales for NSG 3500 Maternal Examination 1. It
covers prenatal care, pregnancy physiology, fetal development and
assessment, maternal nutrition, prenatal screening, pregnancy
complications, and nursing interventions.
Additional topics include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, Rh
incompatibility, maternal infections, obstetric emergencies,
medication safety, patient education, informed consent, cultural
competence, and confidentiality. The material is designed to support
exam preparation and review of key maternal nursing concepts.
Exam Questions and Answers
,1. A pregnant client at 10 weeks asks why folic acid is recommended.
Which response is best?
A. It prevents all congenital anomalies.
B. It lowers the risk of neural tube defects.
C. It prevents gestational diabetes.
D. It increases fetal lung maturity.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy
reduces the risk of neural tube defects. It does not prevent every
congenital anomaly.
2. Which finding is most consistent with a presumptive sign of
pregnancy?
A. Fetal heart tones heard by the examiner
B. Ultrasound visualization of an embryo
C. Amenorrhea
D. Fetal movement palpated by the examiner
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign because it is
experienced by the client and can have causes other than pregnancy.
,3. Which finding is a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Nausea
B. Breast tenderness
C. Positive urine pregnancy test
D. Fetal cardiac activity identified by ultrasound
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Fetal cardiac activity identified by ultrasound is direct
evidence of a fetus and is considered a positive sign of pregnancy.
4. A client with a normal singleton pregnancy asks how often prenatal
visits usually occur early in pregnancy. Which answer is most
appropriate?
A. Every day
B. About every 4 weeks initially, with frequency increasing later
C. Only when symptoms occur
D. Only once per trimester
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Routine prenatal care is scheduled regularly, commonly
about every 4 weeks early in an uncomplicated pregnancy, then
more frequently as pregnancy advances. Individual schedules vary.
, 5. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching about
fetal movement counting?
A. Begin counting only during labor.
B. Report a noticeable decrease from the fetus's usual movement
pattern.
C. A fetus should never move after meals.
D. Movement counts are unnecessary after 20 weeks.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A meaningful decrease in usual fetal movement can
signal fetal compromise and warrants prompt clinical guidance.
6. A pregnant client reports severe headache, blurred vision, and right
upper-quadrant pain at 32 weeks. What should the nurse do?
A. Reassure the client these are expected symptoms.
B. Recommend an over-the-counter antacid only.
C. Arrange urgent assessment for possible preeclampsia.
D. Suggest increasing exercise.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Severe headache, visual changes, and upper abdominal
pain are warning signs of preeclampsia with possible severe
features and require urgent evaluation.
Practice Questions with Verified Answers
and Rationales
Introduction
This document contains 100 multiple-choice practice questions with
answers and rationales for NSG 3500 Maternal Examination 1. It
covers prenatal care, pregnancy physiology, fetal development and
assessment, maternal nutrition, prenatal screening, pregnancy
complications, and nursing interventions.
Additional topics include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, Rh
incompatibility, maternal infections, obstetric emergencies,
medication safety, patient education, informed consent, cultural
competence, and confidentiality. The material is designed to support
exam preparation and review of key maternal nursing concepts.
Exam Questions and Answers
,1. A pregnant client at 10 weeks asks why folic acid is recommended.
Which response is best?
A. It prevents all congenital anomalies.
B. It lowers the risk of neural tube defects.
C. It prevents gestational diabetes.
D. It increases fetal lung maturity.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy
reduces the risk of neural tube defects. It does not prevent every
congenital anomaly.
2. Which finding is most consistent with a presumptive sign of
pregnancy?
A. Fetal heart tones heard by the examiner
B. Ultrasound visualization of an embryo
C. Amenorrhea
D. Fetal movement palpated by the examiner
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Amenorrhea is a presumptive sign because it is
experienced by the client and can have causes other than pregnancy.
,3. Which finding is a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Nausea
B. Breast tenderness
C. Positive urine pregnancy test
D. Fetal cardiac activity identified by ultrasound
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Fetal cardiac activity identified by ultrasound is direct
evidence of a fetus and is considered a positive sign of pregnancy.
4. A client with a normal singleton pregnancy asks how often prenatal
visits usually occur early in pregnancy. Which answer is most
appropriate?
A. Every day
B. About every 4 weeks initially, with frequency increasing later
C. Only when symptoms occur
D. Only once per trimester
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Routine prenatal care is scheduled regularly, commonly
about every 4 weeks early in an uncomplicated pregnancy, then
more frequently as pregnancy advances. Individual schedules vary.
, 5. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching about
fetal movement counting?
A. Begin counting only during labor.
B. Report a noticeable decrease from the fetus's usual movement
pattern.
C. A fetus should never move after meals.
D. Movement counts are unnecessary after 20 weeks.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A meaningful decrease in usual fetal movement can
signal fetal compromise and warrants prompt clinical guidance.
6. A pregnant client reports severe headache, blurred vision, and right
upper-quadrant pain at 32 weeks. What should the nurse do?
A. Reassure the client these are expected symptoms.
B. Recommend an over-the-counter antacid only.
C. Arrange urgent assessment for possible preeclampsia.
D. Suggest increasing exercise.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Severe headache, visual changes, and upper abdominal
pain are warning signs of preeclampsia with possible severe
features and require urgent evaluation.
