400+ NCLEX-RN–style multiple-choice questions on Maternal–
Newborn Nursing -reflecting the 2025 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
categories verified
Each includes one correct answer (marked ★), rationale, brief
critiques of the distractors, and evidence-based references
Maternal–Newborn Nursing NCLEX-Style Practice Questions-
NSG 3500:
Galen College of Nursing, the NSG 3500 course—titled
Nursing Practice: Maternal Health—Exam 1,2 3 & 4
Competency Performance Exam (CPE)
Description: Focuses on holistic nursing care of women and
their families during the childbearing years, including
antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum periods, and care of the
newborn.
Assessments:
Exam 1: Female reproductive system, prenatal care.
Exam 2: Labor and delivery processes, pain management.
Exam 3: Postpartum care, newborn assessment.
Exam 4: High-risk pregnancies, neonatal complications.
CPEs: Clinical evaluations in maternal health settings.
,Prenatal Care (Questions 1–12)
1. (Difficulty: Easy)
A 28-year-old woman at 10 weeks’ gestation presents for her
first prenatal visit. She reports no significant medical history.
Which intervention is most appropriate during this initial visit?
A. Begin nonstress testing
B. Obtain a complete blood count (CBC)
C. Schedule a glucose tolerance test
D. Teach Kegel exercises
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
In the first-trimester prenatal visit, obtaining baseline
laboratory studies—including a complete blood count (CBC)—is
standard to assess for anemia, blood type, and potential
infections (e.g., RPR for syphilis, HIV) per ACOG and AWHONN
guidelines. A CBC helps identify anemia and potential infections
early in pregnancy.
Incorrect Options:
A. Nonstress testing is indicated later (usually starting at
28–32 weeks in high‐risk pregnancies), not at 10 weeks
(AWHONN 2024).
C. Glucose tolerance testing is performed at 24–28 weeks
to screen for gestational diabetes (ACOG Practice Bulletin
No. 190).
, D. While Kegel exercises can be taught anytime, they are
not the priority over baseline labs at the first visit.
References:
AWHONN Maternal-Newborn Nursing Standards (2024)
Mosby’s Review Questions for NCLEX-RN (4th Ed., 2024)
2. (Difficulty: Moderate)
A 32-year-old G2P1 woman at 24 weeks’ gestation presents for
routine prenatal care. She reports feeling fatigued and dizzy.
Vital signs: BP 156/94 mm Hg, HR 88 bpm. Urinalysis: 2+
protein, no glucose. Which finding most strongly suggests
preeclampsia rather than chronic hypertension?
A. Onset at 24 weeks’ gestation
B. Proteinuria on urinalysis
C. History of high blood pressure before pregnancy
D. Mild pedal edema
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Preeclampsia is defined as new‐onset hypertension (≥140/90
mm Hg) after 20 weeks’ gestation accompanied by proteinuria
or end‐organ dysfunction. The onset of hypertension at 24
weeks (after 20 weeks) suggests preeclampsia. Chronic
hypertension would be present before 20 weeks or pre‐
existing.
, Incorrect Options:
B. While proteinuria supports preeclampsia, it can also be
present in chronic hypertension with superimposed
preeclampsia. The timing (after 20 weeks) is more
definitive.
C. A history of hypertension before pregnancy is
characteristic of chronic hypertension, not preeclampsia.
D. Mild pedal edema is common in normal pregnancy and
is not specific for preeclampsia.
References:
ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 203: Chronic Hypertension in
Pregnancy (2025)
AWHONN Maternal-Newborn Nursing Standards (2024)
3. (Difficulty: Easy)
A 22-year-old primigravida at 12 weeks’ gestation asks about
appropriate daily weight gain. What is the recommended
average weight gain per week during the second and third
trimesters for a woman with a pre‐pregnancy BMI of 23?
A. 0.2 kg per week
B. 0.4 kg per week
C. 0.6 kg per week
D. 1.0 kg per week
Correct Answer: B
Newborn Nursing -reflecting the 2025 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
categories verified
Each includes one correct answer (marked ★), rationale, brief
critiques of the distractors, and evidence-based references
Maternal–Newborn Nursing NCLEX-Style Practice Questions-
NSG 3500:
Galen College of Nursing, the NSG 3500 course—titled
Nursing Practice: Maternal Health—Exam 1,2 3 & 4
Competency Performance Exam (CPE)
Description: Focuses on holistic nursing care of women and
their families during the childbearing years, including
antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum periods, and care of the
newborn.
Assessments:
Exam 1: Female reproductive system, prenatal care.
Exam 2: Labor and delivery processes, pain management.
Exam 3: Postpartum care, newborn assessment.
Exam 4: High-risk pregnancies, neonatal complications.
CPEs: Clinical evaluations in maternal health settings.
,Prenatal Care (Questions 1–12)
1. (Difficulty: Easy)
A 28-year-old woman at 10 weeks’ gestation presents for her
first prenatal visit. She reports no significant medical history.
Which intervention is most appropriate during this initial visit?
A. Begin nonstress testing
B. Obtain a complete blood count (CBC)
C. Schedule a glucose tolerance test
D. Teach Kegel exercises
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
In the first-trimester prenatal visit, obtaining baseline
laboratory studies—including a complete blood count (CBC)—is
standard to assess for anemia, blood type, and potential
infections (e.g., RPR for syphilis, HIV) per ACOG and AWHONN
guidelines. A CBC helps identify anemia and potential infections
early in pregnancy.
Incorrect Options:
A. Nonstress testing is indicated later (usually starting at
28–32 weeks in high‐risk pregnancies), not at 10 weeks
(AWHONN 2024).
C. Glucose tolerance testing is performed at 24–28 weeks
to screen for gestational diabetes (ACOG Practice Bulletin
No. 190).
, D. While Kegel exercises can be taught anytime, they are
not the priority over baseline labs at the first visit.
References:
AWHONN Maternal-Newborn Nursing Standards (2024)
Mosby’s Review Questions for NCLEX-RN (4th Ed., 2024)
2. (Difficulty: Moderate)
A 32-year-old G2P1 woman at 24 weeks’ gestation presents for
routine prenatal care. She reports feeling fatigued and dizzy.
Vital signs: BP 156/94 mm Hg, HR 88 bpm. Urinalysis: 2+
protein, no glucose. Which finding most strongly suggests
preeclampsia rather than chronic hypertension?
A. Onset at 24 weeks’ gestation
B. Proteinuria on urinalysis
C. History of high blood pressure before pregnancy
D. Mild pedal edema
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Preeclampsia is defined as new‐onset hypertension (≥140/90
mm Hg) after 20 weeks’ gestation accompanied by proteinuria
or end‐organ dysfunction. The onset of hypertension at 24
weeks (after 20 weeks) suggests preeclampsia. Chronic
hypertension would be present before 20 weeks or pre‐
existing.
, Incorrect Options:
B. While proteinuria supports preeclampsia, it can also be
present in chronic hypertension with superimposed
preeclampsia. The timing (after 20 weeks) is more
definitive.
C. A history of hypertension before pregnancy is
characteristic of chronic hypertension, not preeclampsia.
D. Mild pedal edema is common in normal pregnancy and
is not specific for preeclampsia.
References:
ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 203: Chronic Hypertension in
Pregnancy (2025)
AWHONN Maternal-Newborn Nursing Standards (2024)
3. (Difficulty: Easy)
A 22-year-old primigravida at 12 weeks’ gestation asks about
appropriate daily weight gain. What is the recommended
average weight gain per week during the second and third
trimesters for a woman with a pre‐pregnancy BMI of 23?
A. 0.2 kg per week
B. 0.4 kg per week
C. 0.6 kg per week
D. 1.0 kg per week
Correct Answer: B
