Maternal/PEDs Practice Exam 2 Questions with Answers
(100% Correct Answers)
Nurses should be aware of the strengths and limitations of various biochemical assessments
during pregnancy, including that
chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is becoming more popular because it provides early diagnosis.
screening for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels is recommended only for
women at risk for neural tube defects.
percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) is one of the quad-screen tests for Down
syndrome.
MSAFP is a screening tool only; it identifies candidates for more definitive procedures. —
Answer: D. MSAFP is a screening tool only; it identifies candidates for more definitive
procedures.
CVS does provide a rapid result, but it is declining in popularity because of advances in
noninvasive screening techniques. MSAFP screening is recommended for all pregnant women.
MSAFP, not PUBS, is part of the quad-screen tests for Down syndrome. This is correct. MSAFP
is a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool. Further diagnostic testing is indicated after an
abnormal MSAFP.
In order to accurately assess the health of the mother accurately during labor, the nurse should
be aware that
the woman's blood pressure increases during contractions and falls back to prelabor normal
between contractions.
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,use of the Valsalva maneuver is encouraged during the second stage of labor to relieve fetal
hypoxia.
having the woman point her toes reduces leg cramps.
the endogenous endorphins released during labor raise the woman's pain threshold and
produce sedation. —Answer: D. the endogenous endorphins released during labor raise the
woman's pain threshold and produce sedation.
Blood pressure increases during contractions but remains somewhat elevated between them.
Use of the Valsalva maneuver is discouraged during second stage labor because of a number of
potentially unhealthy outcomes, including fetal hypoxia. Pointing the toes can cause leg
cramps, as can the process of labor itself.D. In addition, physiologic anesthesia of the perineal
tissues, caused by the pressure of the presenting part, decreases the mother's perception of pain.
Prior to the patient undergoing amniocentesis, the most appropriate nursing intervention is to
administer RhoD immunoglobulin.
administer anticoagulant.
send the patient for a computed tomography (CT) scan before the procedure.
assure the mother that short-term radiation exposure is not harmful to the fetus. —Answer:
administer RhoD immunoglobulin.
The most prevalent clinical manifestation of abruptio placentae (as opposed to placenta previa)
is
bleeding.
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, intense abdominal pain.
uterine activity.
cramping. —Answer: Intense abdominal pain
Rationale: Pain is absent with placenta previa and may be agonizing with abruptio placentae.
Bleeding, uterine activity, and cramping may be present in varying degrees for both placental
conditions.
The nurse is caring for a woman who is at 24 weeks of gestation with suspected severe
preeclampsia. Which signs and symptoms would the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that
apply.)
Decreased urinary output and irritability
Transient headache and +1 proteinuria
Ankle clonus and epigastric pain
Platelet count of less than 100,000/mm3 and visual problems
Seizure activity and hypotension —Answer: Decreased urinary output and irritability
Ankle clonus and epigastric pain
Platelet count of less than 100,000/mm3 and visual problems
The nurse knows that the second stage of labor, the active descent phase, has begun when
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(100% Correct Answers)
Nurses should be aware of the strengths and limitations of various biochemical assessments
during pregnancy, including that
chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is becoming more popular because it provides early diagnosis.
screening for maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels is recommended only for
women at risk for neural tube defects.
percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) is one of the quad-screen tests for Down
syndrome.
MSAFP is a screening tool only; it identifies candidates for more definitive procedures. —
Answer: D. MSAFP is a screening tool only; it identifies candidates for more definitive
procedures.
CVS does provide a rapid result, but it is declining in popularity because of advances in
noninvasive screening techniques. MSAFP screening is recommended for all pregnant women.
MSAFP, not PUBS, is part of the quad-screen tests for Down syndrome. This is correct. MSAFP
is a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool. Further diagnostic testing is indicated after an
abnormal MSAFP.
In order to accurately assess the health of the mother accurately during labor, the nurse should
be aware that
the woman's blood pressure increases during contractions and falls back to prelabor normal
between contractions.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,use of the Valsalva maneuver is encouraged during the second stage of labor to relieve fetal
hypoxia.
having the woman point her toes reduces leg cramps.
the endogenous endorphins released during labor raise the woman's pain threshold and
produce sedation. —Answer: D. the endogenous endorphins released during labor raise the
woman's pain threshold and produce sedation.
Blood pressure increases during contractions but remains somewhat elevated between them.
Use of the Valsalva maneuver is discouraged during second stage labor because of a number of
potentially unhealthy outcomes, including fetal hypoxia. Pointing the toes can cause leg
cramps, as can the process of labor itself.D. In addition, physiologic anesthesia of the perineal
tissues, caused by the pressure of the presenting part, decreases the mother's perception of pain.
Prior to the patient undergoing amniocentesis, the most appropriate nursing intervention is to
administer RhoD immunoglobulin.
administer anticoagulant.
send the patient for a computed tomography (CT) scan before the procedure.
assure the mother that short-term radiation exposure is not harmful to the fetus. —Answer:
administer RhoD immunoglobulin.
The most prevalent clinical manifestation of abruptio placentae (as opposed to placenta previa)
is
bleeding.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, intense abdominal pain.
uterine activity.
cramping. —Answer: Intense abdominal pain
Rationale: Pain is absent with placenta previa and may be agonizing with abruptio placentae.
Bleeding, uterine activity, and cramping may be present in varying degrees for both placental
conditions.
The nurse is caring for a woman who is at 24 weeks of gestation with suspected severe
preeclampsia. Which signs and symptoms would the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that
apply.)
Decreased urinary output and irritability
Transient headache and +1 proteinuria
Ankle clonus and epigastric pain
Platelet count of less than 100,000/mm3 and visual problems
Seizure activity and hypotension —Answer: Decreased urinary output and irritability
Ankle clonus and epigastric pain
Platelet count of less than 100,000/mm3 and visual problems
The nurse knows that the second stage of labor, the active descent phase, has begun when
© 2025 All rights reserved
