Maternity Quiz #2 and answers 2025/2026
When describing the "powers" of labor to a new nurse, the perinatal nurse discusses the uterine
contractions and the
A. Woman's pushing efforts.
B. Unique musculature of the uterus.
C. Position of the fetus.
D. Hormonal influences regulating labor - Answer A. Woman's pushing efforts
The perinatal nurse assesses a primigravida who has just arrived at the birth facility for labor
assessment. The woman describes contractions that are 7 to 10 minutes apart and felt in the abdomen.
She states the contractions feel better when she is walking. This is most likely
A. True labor.
B. Transition.
C. Early labor.
D. False labor - Answer D. False labor
The perinatal nurse describes for the student nurse the lettering used to designate fetal position. The
correct use includes
A. "P" indicating fetal pelvis location.
B. "P" indicating posterior maternal pelvis.
C. "M" indicating fetal mandible. D. "A" indicating maternal anus. - Answer B. "P" indicating posterior
maternal pelvis.
A nurse is told in a hand off report that a woman's cervix is not yet ripened. What does the nurse
understand about this patient?
A. She is ready to deliver.
B. Her cervix has not yet softened.
C. Vaginal delivery will not be possible.
D. This change begins labor in all women. - Answer B. Her cervix has not yet softened.
,The nurse explains to a laboring woman that the relaxation periods between contractions are important
for which of the following reasons?
A. Avoids uterine rupture
B. Allows fetal oxygenation
C. Permits fetal assessment
D. Prevents uterine ischemia - Answer B. Allows fetal oxygenation
Which of the following is considered the primary force of labor?
A. Pushing by the mother
B. Uterine contractions
C. Contraction decrement
D. Uterine elongation - Answer B. Uterine contractions
A nurse assesses the intensity of a woman's contractions. At the acme of her contraction, the nurse is
unable to indent the uterus. How would the nurse document this finding?
A. Mild contraction
B. Moderate contraction
C. Strong contraction
D. Intense contraction - Answer C. Strong contraction
A nurse assesses the level of a fetal presenting part in a laboring woman at station 0. What does this
finding indicate?
A. Engagement has occurred.
B. The presenting part is above the maternal ischial spines.
C. Labor is not progressing.
D. The presenting part is at the pelvic outlet - Answer A. Engagement has occurred.
A nurse reads in a patient's chart that she has employed a doula. What does the nurse understand about
this role?
,A. Provides physical and emotional support during labor B. Performs continuous patient assessment
during labor
C. Performs private duty nursing care during labor and birth
D. Assists the surgeon during a cesarean delivery - Answer A. Provides physical and emotional support
during labor
A nurse assesses a woman in labor and finds that her contractions are occurring once every 1 to 1 and
one-half minutes with a uterine resting tone greater than 30 mm Hg. How does the nurse document this
finding?
A. First stage labor, active phase B. First stage labor, transition
C. Second stage labor
D. Uterine tachysystole - Answer D. Uterine tachysystole
In the first stage of labor, the perinatal nurse is aware that pain impulses are transmitted via which
route?
A. T11, T12 spinal nerve segments B. T9, T10 spinal nerve segments C. L4, L5 spinal nerve segments D.
Sacral spinal nerve segments - Answer A. T11, T12 spinal nerve segments
The perinatal nurse is aware that a woman's history of past painful experiences with labor and birth are
part of which neural pathway process for pain?
A. Transduction
B. Transmission
C. Perception
D. Modulation - Answer C. Perception
A nurse is studying therapeutic touch and is explaining it to family and friends. What description is most
accurate?
A. It is a gentle stroking massage of the patient's abdomen.
B. It redirects the patient's energy fields to diminish pain.
C. It uses a focal point on which the laboring woman can concentrate.
D. It is well documented as a tool to diminish pain during labor. - Answer B. It redirects the patient's
energy fields to diminish pain.
, A laboring woman was given promethazine (Phenergan) and meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol) for
pain. The nurse is aware that during the first 24 hours of life, the newborn will have an increased risk for
which of the following problems?
A. Hyperbilirubinemia
B. Tachypnea
C. Irritability
D. Tremors - Answer A. Hyperbilirubinemia
What information about aromatherapy for labor discomfort should the nurse provide the patient?
A. Full strength oils on the skin are most effective.
B. Aromatherapy does not offer any benefits.
C. Not all aromatherapy oils are safe to use in pregnancy
D. Oils are only placed on the pillowcase, never the skin. - Answer C. Not all aromatherapy oils are safe
to use in pregnancy
The nurse is applying a hot pack to a laboring woman's perineum. The student nurse asks about the
purpose of this intervention. What explanation by the nurse is best?
A. Relieves muscle spasms
B. Helps regulate temperature
C. Prevents tissue trauma
D. Relieves muscle ischemia - Answer D. Relieves muscle ischemia
A nursing faculty member is explaining the women's health goals of Healthy People 2020 to a class of
nursing students. Which of the following is a goal in this document?
A. Reduce the mortality rate to no more than 11/100,000 live births
B. Increase the percentage of women using pharmacological pain control
C. Decrease the numbers of community-based childbirth education classes
D. Increase the number of women referred to a tertiary health-care center - Answer A. Reduce the
mortality rate to no more than 11/100,000 live births
When describing the "powers" of labor to a new nurse, the perinatal nurse discusses the uterine
contractions and the
A. Woman's pushing efforts.
B. Unique musculature of the uterus.
C. Position of the fetus.
D. Hormonal influences regulating labor - Answer A. Woman's pushing efforts
The perinatal nurse assesses a primigravida who has just arrived at the birth facility for labor
assessment. The woman describes contractions that are 7 to 10 minutes apart and felt in the abdomen.
She states the contractions feel better when she is walking. This is most likely
A. True labor.
B. Transition.
C. Early labor.
D. False labor - Answer D. False labor
The perinatal nurse describes for the student nurse the lettering used to designate fetal position. The
correct use includes
A. "P" indicating fetal pelvis location.
B. "P" indicating posterior maternal pelvis.
C. "M" indicating fetal mandible. D. "A" indicating maternal anus. - Answer B. "P" indicating posterior
maternal pelvis.
A nurse is told in a hand off report that a woman's cervix is not yet ripened. What does the nurse
understand about this patient?
A. She is ready to deliver.
B. Her cervix has not yet softened.
C. Vaginal delivery will not be possible.
D. This change begins labor in all women. - Answer B. Her cervix has not yet softened.
,The nurse explains to a laboring woman that the relaxation periods between contractions are important
for which of the following reasons?
A. Avoids uterine rupture
B. Allows fetal oxygenation
C. Permits fetal assessment
D. Prevents uterine ischemia - Answer B. Allows fetal oxygenation
Which of the following is considered the primary force of labor?
A. Pushing by the mother
B. Uterine contractions
C. Contraction decrement
D. Uterine elongation - Answer B. Uterine contractions
A nurse assesses the intensity of a woman's contractions. At the acme of her contraction, the nurse is
unable to indent the uterus. How would the nurse document this finding?
A. Mild contraction
B. Moderate contraction
C. Strong contraction
D. Intense contraction - Answer C. Strong contraction
A nurse assesses the level of a fetal presenting part in a laboring woman at station 0. What does this
finding indicate?
A. Engagement has occurred.
B. The presenting part is above the maternal ischial spines.
C. Labor is not progressing.
D. The presenting part is at the pelvic outlet - Answer A. Engagement has occurred.
A nurse reads in a patient's chart that she has employed a doula. What does the nurse understand about
this role?
,A. Provides physical and emotional support during labor B. Performs continuous patient assessment
during labor
C. Performs private duty nursing care during labor and birth
D. Assists the surgeon during a cesarean delivery - Answer A. Provides physical and emotional support
during labor
A nurse assesses a woman in labor and finds that her contractions are occurring once every 1 to 1 and
one-half minutes with a uterine resting tone greater than 30 mm Hg. How does the nurse document this
finding?
A. First stage labor, active phase B. First stage labor, transition
C. Second stage labor
D. Uterine tachysystole - Answer D. Uterine tachysystole
In the first stage of labor, the perinatal nurse is aware that pain impulses are transmitted via which
route?
A. T11, T12 spinal nerve segments B. T9, T10 spinal nerve segments C. L4, L5 spinal nerve segments D.
Sacral spinal nerve segments - Answer A. T11, T12 spinal nerve segments
The perinatal nurse is aware that a woman's history of past painful experiences with labor and birth are
part of which neural pathway process for pain?
A. Transduction
B. Transmission
C. Perception
D. Modulation - Answer C. Perception
A nurse is studying therapeutic touch and is explaining it to family and friends. What description is most
accurate?
A. It is a gentle stroking massage of the patient's abdomen.
B. It redirects the patient's energy fields to diminish pain.
C. It uses a focal point on which the laboring woman can concentrate.
D. It is well documented as a tool to diminish pain during labor. - Answer B. It redirects the patient's
energy fields to diminish pain.
, A laboring woman was given promethazine (Phenergan) and meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol) for
pain. The nurse is aware that during the first 24 hours of life, the newborn will have an increased risk for
which of the following problems?
A. Hyperbilirubinemia
B. Tachypnea
C. Irritability
D. Tremors - Answer A. Hyperbilirubinemia
What information about aromatherapy for labor discomfort should the nurse provide the patient?
A. Full strength oils on the skin are most effective.
B. Aromatherapy does not offer any benefits.
C. Not all aromatherapy oils are safe to use in pregnancy
D. Oils are only placed on the pillowcase, never the skin. - Answer C. Not all aromatherapy oils are safe
to use in pregnancy
The nurse is applying a hot pack to a laboring woman's perineum. The student nurse asks about the
purpose of this intervention. What explanation by the nurse is best?
A. Relieves muscle spasms
B. Helps regulate temperature
C. Prevents tissue trauma
D. Relieves muscle ischemia - Answer D. Relieves muscle ischemia
A nursing faculty member is explaining the women's health goals of Healthy People 2020 to a class of
nursing students. Which of the following is a goal in this document?
A. Reduce the mortality rate to no more than 11/100,000 live births
B. Increase the percentage of women using pharmacological pain control
C. Decrease the numbers of community-based childbirth education classes
D. Increase the number of women referred to a tertiary health-care center - Answer A. Reduce the
mortality rate to no more than 11/100,000 live births
