MATERNAL HEALTH EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH
100% ACCURATE ANSWERS
The nurse is providing care for a patient in active labor. The patient continuously asks the nurse for
medication to "stop the pain." Which ethical principle does the nurse use when replying, "We need to
protect the baby from being overmedicated. Let me help you with some breathing and relaxation
techniques"?
1.Veracity
2.Beneficence
3.Nonmaleficence
4.Fidelity - accurate answer -2.Beneficence
A patient at 33 weeks gestation with a first pregnancy arrives at the labor and delivery unit with
contractions. After monitoring the patient, the nurse determines the woman is in active labor and calls
the health care provider (HCP), who prescribes a sleeping medication and sends the patient home.
Which action does the nurse take?
1.Questions the HCP's prescribed treatment
2.Administers the medication and keeps the patient
3.Calls another HCP for a different prescription
4.Follows the HCP's instructions as prescribed - accurate answer -1.Questions the HCP's prescribed
treatment
The nurse is providing care for a patient in labor. The unborn fetus was diagnosed with severe
microcephaly at 20 weeks' gestation. The patient tells the nurse, "We want everything done to save our
baby who has as much right to a good life as anyone else." Which ethical approach does this represent?
1.Autonomy
2.Libertarianism
3.Egalitarianism
4.Utilitarianism - accurate answer -3.Egalitarianism
The nurse is employed in a NICU. With each new admission, the neonate is classified in a specific
category regarding care. The nurse is in the process of admitting a neonate at 22 weeks gestation with
multiple life-threatening conditions involving both cardiac and respiratory systems. In which category of
care does the nurse expect the neonate to be placed?
1.The category where aggressive care is probably futile.
2.The category where aggressive care is mostly uncertain.
3.The category where aggressive care is likely to be beneficial.
4.The category of "wait and see" to determine possible survival. - accurate answer -1.The category
where aggressive care is probably futile.
The nurse is experiencing an ethical dilemma when confronted with a situation in which either the
mother or fetus is predicted to die. The nurse feels bound by the ANA Code of Ethics to protect both
patients. Which aspect of care during an ethical dilemma will guide the nurse?
1.Maternity nurses are bound to advocate first and foremost for the well-being of the mother.
,2.The nurse is ethically bound to provide the best care for both the mother and fetus.
3.If the fetus is viable and healthy, its survival is the priority of the maternity nurse.
4.Survival of the mother is solely based on both patient and family decision making. - accurate answer -
1.Maternity nurses are bound to advocate first and foremost for the well-being of the mother.
The nurse on a maternity unit is an Orthodox Jew whose rabbi teaches that pregnancy terminations are
permitted only to save the life of the mother. Which situation becomes possible if the nurse puts aside
personal values and assists with elective terminations?
1.Moral distress
2.Legal actions
3.Loss of spirituality
4.Professional dilemma - accurate answer -1.Moral distress
The nurse works in the maternal-newborn unit dedicated to management of high-risk pregnancy and
delivery. A patient has delivered two children who died from a genetic disorder. The current pregnancy
tests positive for the same disorder. Which ethical decision-making model will the nurse use with this
patient?
1.The model that focuses on medical treatment
2.The model that focuses on patient preference
3.The model that focuses on religion and culture
4.The model that focuses on the quality of life - accurate answer -4.The model that focuses on the
quality of life
The nurse is assisting a patient in the use of an ethical decision-making model related to quality of life.
Which question is inappropriate when using this model?
1.What are the prospects for a normal life?
2.Are arrangements made for prolonging life?
3.Which type of deficits for the patient are likely?
4.Does a present or future condition make life undesirable? - accurate answer -2.Are arrangements
made for prolonging life?
The nurse in an obstetrician's office is discussing a patient's request for legally terminating an unwanted
pregnancy after the fetus tests positive for Down syndrome. The woman and her spouse have five
children from ages 11 to 17 years, and the family lives in an isolated rural area. Which action does the
nurse take?
1.Inform the patient of programs to meet the needs of special children.
2.Share that children with Down syndrome can be high functioning.
3.Tell the physician of contextual factors identifying an ethical dilemma.
4.Inquire about the presence of an extended family support system - accurate answer -3.Tell the
physician of contextual factors identifying an ethical dilemma.
A nurse is suspended for refusal to participate in the performance of an elective termination of a
pregnancy. Which specific group's standards does the nurse use for job reinstatement?
1.American Nurses Association (ANA)
2.Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
3.State board of nursing
4.Facility ethics committee - accurate answer -2.Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and
Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
, The nurse in an OB's office is evaluating a patient who exhibits vaginal bleeding at 30 weeks gestation.
The patient is prescribed bedrest at home and instructed to avoid lifting. The patient states, "I cannot go
to bed, I have an 18-month-old at home." On which topic of the Jonsen model for ethical decision
making will the nurse focus?
1.Contextual features
2.Quality of life
3.Patient preferences
4.Medical indications - accurate answer -4.Medical indications
The nurse works in the labor and delivery department. Which action by the nurse indicates a breach in
the nursing care principles outlined by AWHONN?
1.Assists with an emergency delivery of a woman in a homeless shelter
2.Informs employer of religious beliefs against pregnancy termination
3.Suggests a nurse care for a patient who speaks the same native language
4.Declines a patient assignment because of a history of illegal drug use - accurate answer -4.Declines a
patient assignment because of a history of illegal drug use
The nurse manager in the labor and delivery unit decides that all unit nurses are to take a course in
electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) as recommended by AWHONN. Which is the most important issue
related to EFM the nurse manager is expecting to address?
1.Eliminate the amount of litigation related to fetal injury.
2.Strengthen the staff's level of confidence with monitoring.
3.Reduce failure to accurately assess maternal and fetal status.
4.Improve the lack of communication with health care providers. - accurate answer -3.Reduce failure to
accurately assess maternal and fetal status.
The nurse works in a postpartum maternal-newborn unit and notices a newborn who is exhibiting signs
of distress. Through investigation, the nurse learns the newborn's mother has a history of abusing street
drugs. Which facility system does the nurse report as being deficient?
1.Risk management
2.Newborn monitoring
3.Patient information
4.Admission process - accurate answer -1.Risk management
An experienced OB nurse has accepted a position in labor and delivery of an inner-city hospital providing
care for multicultural clients. Which action by the nurse is most helpful in preparation for this position?
1.Reviewing quantitative research focused on current birth procedures
2.Comparing facility policies with recent research recommendations
3.Intensely studying qualitative research focused on practice enhancement
4.Obtaining access to the department's recent research of evidence-based practice - accurate answer -
3.Intensely studying qualitative research focused on practice enhancement
Parents of a neonate are grieving over their child's life-threatening disabilities. The neonate's course of
treatment has changed three times in the last 24 hours due to irrational parenteral decisions. Which
interventions will the NICU nurse implement in order to fulfill nursing responsibility to both the parents
and the neonate? Select all that apply.
1.Inform the parents as to realistic expectations.
100% ACCURATE ANSWERS
The nurse is providing care for a patient in active labor. The patient continuously asks the nurse for
medication to "stop the pain." Which ethical principle does the nurse use when replying, "We need to
protect the baby from being overmedicated. Let me help you with some breathing and relaxation
techniques"?
1.Veracity
2.Beneficence
3.Nonmaleficence
4.Fidelity - accurate answer -2.Beneficence
A patient at 33 weeks gestation with a first pregnancy arrives at the labor and delivery unit with
contractions. After monitoring the patient, the nurse determines the woman is in active labor and calls
the health care provider (HCP), who prescribes a sleeping medication and sends the patient home.
Which action does the nurse take?
1.Questions the HCP's prescribed treatment
2.Administers the medication and keeps the patient
3.Calls another HCP for a different prescription
4.Follows the HCP's instructions as prescribed - accurate answer -1.Questions the HCP's prescribed
treatment
The nurse is providing care for a patient in labor. The unborn fetus was diagnosed with severe
microcephaly at 20 weeks' gestation. The patient tells the nurse, "We want everything done to save our
baby who has as much right to a good life as anyone else." Which ethical approach does this represent?
1.Autonomy
2.Libertarianism
3.Egalitarianism
4.Utilitarianism - accurate answer -3.Egalitarianism
The nurse is employed in a NICU. With each new admission, the neonate is classified in a specific
category regarding care. The nurse is in the process of admitting a neonate at 22 weeks gestation with
multiple life-threatening conditions involving both cardiac and respiratory systems. In which category of
care does the nurse expect the neonate to be placed?
1.The category where aggressive care is probably futile.
2.The category where aggressive care is mostly uncertain.
3.The category where aggressive care is likely to be beneficial.
4.The category of "wait and see" to determine possible survival. - accurate answer -1.The category
where aggressive care is probably futile.
The nurse is experiencing an ethical dilemma when confronted with a situation in which either the
mother or fetus is predicted to die. The nurse feels bound by the ANA Code of Ethics to protect both
patients. Which aspect of care during an ethical dilemma will guide the nurse?
1.Maternity nurses are bound to advocate first and foremost for the well-being of the mother.
,2.The nurse is ethically bound to provide the best care for both the mother and fetus.
3.If the fetus is viable and healthy, its survival is the priority of the maternity nurse.
4.Survival of the mother is solely based on both patient and family decision making. - accurate answer -
1.Maternity nurses are bound to advocate first and foremost for the well-being of the mother.
The nurse on a maternity unit is an Orthodox Jew whose rabbi teaches that pregnancy terminations are
permitted only to save the life of the mother. Which situation becomes possible if the nurse puts aside
personal values and assists with elective terminations?
1.Moral distress
2.Legal actions
3.Loss of spirituality
4.Professional dilemma - accurate answer -1.Moral distress
The nurse works in the maternal-newborn unit dedicated to management of high-risk pregnancy and
delivery. A patient has delivered two children who died from a genetic disorder. The current pregnancy
tests positive for the same disorder. Which ethical decision-making model will the nurse use with this
patient?
1.The model that focuses on medical treatment
2.The model that focuses on patient preference
3.The model that focuses on religion and culture
4.The model that focuses on the quality of life - accurate answer -4.The model that focuses on the
quality of life
The nurse is assisting a patient in the use of an ethical decision-making model related to quality of life.
Which question is inappropriate when using this model?
1.What are the prospects for a normal life?
2.Are arrangements made for prolonging life?
3.Which type of deficits for the patient are likely?
4.Does a present or future condition make life undesirable? - accurate answer -2.Are arrangements
made for prolonging life?
The nurse in an obstetrician's office is discussing a patient's request for legally terminating an unwanted
pregnancy after the fetus tests positive for Down syndrome. The woman and her spouse have five
children from ages 11 to 17 years, and the family lives in an isolated rural area. Which action does the
nurse take?
1.Inform the patient of programs to meet the needs of special children.
2.Share that children with Down syndrome can be high functioning.
3.Tell the physician of contextual factors identifying an ethical dilemma.
4.Inquire about the presence of an extended family support system - accurate answer -3.Tell the
physician of contextual factors identifying an ethical dilemma.
A nurse is suspended for refusal to participate in the performance of an elective termination of a
pregnancy. Which specific group's standards does the nurse use for job reinstatement?
1.American Nurses Association (ANA)
2.Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
3.State board of nursing
4.Facility ethics committee - accurate answer -2.Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and
Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
, The nurse in an OB's office is evaluating a patient who exhibits vaginal bleeding at 30 weeks gestation.
The patient is prescribed bedrest at home and instructed to avoid lifting. The patient states, "I cannot go
to bed, I have an 18-month-old at home." On which topic of the Jonsen model for ethical decision
making will the nurse focus?
1.Contextual features
2.Quality of life
3.Patient preferences
4.Medical indications - accurate answer -4.Medical indications
The nurse works in the labor and delivery department. Which action by the nurse indicates a breach in
the nursing care principles outlined by AWHONN?
1.Assists with an emergency delivery of a woman in a homeless shelter
2.Informs employer of religious beliefs against pregnancy termination
3.Suggests a nurse care for a patient who speaks the same native language
4.Declines a patient assignment because of a history of illegal drug use - accurate answer -4.Declines a
patient assignment because of a history of illegal drug use
The nurse manager in the labor and delivery unit decides that all unit nurses are to take a course in
electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) as recommended by AWHONN. Which is the most important issue
related to EFM the nurse manager is expecting to address?
1.Eliminate the amount of litigation related to fetal injury.
2.Strengthen the staff's level of confidence with monitoring.
3.Reduce failure to accurately assess maternal and fetal status.
4.Improve the lack of communication with health care providers. - accurate answer -3.Reduce failure to
accurately assess maternal and fetal status.
The nurse works in a postpartum maternal-newborn unit and notices a newborn who is exhibiting signs
of distress. Through investigation, the nurse learns the newborn's mother has a history of abusing street
drugs. Which facility system does the nurse report as being deficient?
1.Risk management
2.Newborn monitoring
3.Patient information
4.Admission process - accurate answer -1.Risk management
An experienced OB nurse has accepted a position in labor and delivery of an inner-city hospital providing
care for multicultural clients. Which action by the nurse is most helpful in preparation for this position?
1.Reviewing quantitative research focused on current birth procedures
2.Comparing facility policies with recent research recommendations
3.Intensely studying qualitative research focused on practice enhancement
4.Obtaining access to the department's recent research of evidence-based practice - accurate answer -
3.Intensely studying qualitative research focused on practice enhancement
Parents of a neonate are grieving over their child's life-threatening disabilities. The neonate's course of
treatment has changed three times in the last 24 hours due to irrational parenteral decisions. Which
interventions will the NICU nurse implement in order to fulfill nursing responsibility to both the parents
and the neonate? Select all that apply.
1.Inform the parents as to realistic expectations.
