SAFE MATERNITY AND PEDIATRIC
NURSING CARE
3RD EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)LUANNE LINNARD-
PALMER; GLORIA HAILE COATS
TEST BANK
Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric Nursing
Stem: A new graduate RN is assigned to a postpartum unit with
one patient requiring routine newborn care, one laboring
patient, and an assistive personnel (AP) available. The RN is
asked to delegate newborn bathing and routine vital signs for
the stable postpartum mother. Which delegation plan most
appropriately demonstrates safe use of the nursing team?
A. Assign the AP to bathe the newborn and obtain maternal
vital signs; RN performs newborn assessment and documents.
B. Ask the AP to bathe the newborn while the RN assigns the
newborn assessment to the nursing student.
C. RN performs the newborn bath and maternal vital signs
because newborn care should not be delegated.
,D. Delegate both the newborn assessment and bathing to the
AP to free the RN for the laboring patient.
Correct answer: A
Rationale — Correct: Assigning the AP to perform routine tasks
(bath, stable maternal vitals) while the RN retains responsibility
for the newborn assessment and documentation uses
delegation consistent with scope of practice, matching task
complexity to personnel skill, and maintains accountability. This
promotes safety by ensuring assessment is done by licensed
nurse.
Rationale — B: Delegating assessment to a student without RN
supervision may risk missed findings; students require direct
supervision for assessments.
Rationale — C: Routine tasks may be delegated when
appropriate; refusing delegation may be inefficient and
unnecessary.
Rationale — D: Delegating assessment to AP is unsafe because
APs are not trained/licensed for clinical assessments and the RN
would not meet accountability standards.
Teaching point: Delegate only tasks within the delegatee’s
competency; RN retains accountability.
Citation: Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
,Ch. 1 — Family-Centered Care
Stem: A mother requests that her 2-year-old child remain with
her at bedside overnight after a minor surgery; the unit policy
limits overnight parent presence to one parent due to space.
The father is at home and plans to arrive in the morning. How
should the nurse respond to best support family-centered care?
A. Enforce policy and explain the rule that only one parent may
stay overnight, asking the mother to alternate nights.
B. Explain the policy, assess the family’s needs and safety risks,
and seek a reasonable accommodation from the charge nurse.
C. Allow the mother to stay without notifying the team because
family preference is most important.
D. Tell the mother she must return home now because hospital
policy is never negotiable.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Explaining policy while assessing the
family’s needs and seeking reasonable accommodation
balances safety, family-centered care, and institutional policy; it
demonstrates advocacy and collaborative problem-solving.
Rationale — A: Rigid enforcement without assessing needs may
harm family-centered goals and miss opportunities for safe
accommodation.
Rationale — C: Allowing unilateral exception without team
notification may compromise safety and resource planning.
Rationale — D: Absolute refusal disregards family-centered
, principles and may increase family distress without exploring
alternatives.
Teaching point: Assess family needs, explain policy, and seek
safe accommodations collaboratively.
Citation: Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
Ch. 1 — Legalities and Ethics
Stem: A 16-year-old pregnant adolescent arrives for prenatal
care and asks the nurse to withhold information from her
parents about her pregnancy. State law allows minors to
consent to prenatal care. How should the nurse proceed?
A. Refuse and inform the parents immediately because parents
have the right to know.
B. Honor the adolescent’s request for confidentiality, provide
care, and discuss safe options and resources.
C. Require parental consent for any tests before providing
prenatal services.
D. Notify child protective services because the adolescent is a
minor.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: When law permits minors to consent to
prenatal care, the nurse should respect confidentiality, provide
care, and offer resources; this supports legal/ethical obligations
and patient safety.
NURSING CARE
3RD EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)LUANNE LINNARD-
PALMER; GLORIA HAILE COATS
TEST BANK
Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric Nursing
Stem: A new graduate RN is assigned to a postpartum unit with
one patient requiring routine newborn care, one laboring
patient, and an assistive personnel (AP) available. The RN is
asked to delegate newborn bathing and routine vital signs for
the stable postpartum mother. Which delegation plan most
appropriately demonstrates safe use of the nursing team?
A. Assign the AP to bathe the newborn and obtain maternal
vital signs; RN performs newborn assessment and documents.
B. Ask the AP to bathe the newborn while the RN assigns the
newborn assessment to the nursing student.
C. RN performs the newborn bath and maternal vital signs
because newborn care should not be delegated.
,D. Delegate both the newborn assessment and bathing to the
AP to free the RN for the laboring patient.
Correct answer: A
Rationale — Correct: Assigning the AP to perform routine tasks
(bath, stable maternal vitals) while the RN retains responsibility
for the newborn assessment and documentation uses
delegation consistent with scope of practice, matching task
complexity to personnel skill, and maintains accountability. This
promotes safety by ensuring assessment is done by licensed
nurse.
Rationale — B: Delegating assessment to a student without RN
supervision may risk missed findings; students require direct
supervision for assessments.
Rationale — C: Routine tasks may be delegated when
appropriate; refusing delegation may be inefficient and
unnecessary.
Rationale — D: Delegating assessment to AP is unsafe because
APs are not trained/licensed for clinical assessments and the RN
would not meet accountability standards.
Teaching point: Delegate only tasks within the delegatee’s
competency; RN retains accountability.
Citation: Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
,Ch. 1 — Family-Centered Care
Stem: A mother requests that her 2-year-old child remain with
her at bedside overnight after a minor surgery; the unit policy
limits overnight parent presence to one parent due to space.
The father is at home and plans to arrive in the morning. How
should the nurse respond to best support family-centered care?
A. Enforce policy and explain the rule that only one parent may
stay overnight, asking the mother to alternate nights.
B. Explain the policy, assess the family’s needs and safety risks,
and seek a reasonable accommodation from the charge nurse.
C. Allow the mother to stay without notifying the team because
family preference is most important.
D. Tell the mother she must return home now because hospital
policy is never negotiable.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Explaining policy while assessing the
family’s needs and seeking reasonable accommodation
balances safety, family-centered care, and institutional policy; it
demonstrates advocacy and collaborative problem-solving.
Rationale — A: Rigid enforcement without assessing needs may
harm family-centered goals and miss opportunities for safe
accommodation.
Rationale — C: Allowing unilateral exception without team
notification may compromise safety and resource planning.
Rationale — D: Absolute refusal disregards family-centered
, principles and may increase family distress without exploring
alternatives.
Teaching point: Assess family needs, explain policy, and seek
safe accommodations collaboratively.
Citation: Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe
Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
Ch. 1 — Legalities and Ethics
Stem: A 16-year-old pregnant adolescent arrives for prenatal
care and asks the nurse to withhold information from her
parents about her pregnancy. State law allows minors to
consent to prenatal care. How should the nurse proceed?
A. Refuse and inform the parents immediately because parents
have the right to know.
B. Honor the adolescent’s request for confidentiality, provide
care, and discuss safe options and resources.
C. Require parental consent for any tests before providing
prenatal services.
D. Notify child protective services because the adolescent is a
minor.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: When law permits minors to consent to
prenatal care, the nurse should respect confidentiality, provide
care, and offer resources; this supports legal/ethical obligations
and patient safety.
