SAFE MATERNITY AND PEDIATRIC
NURSING CARE
3RD EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)LUANNE LINNARD-
PALMER; GLORIA HAILE COATS
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to Maternity and Pediatric Nursing: Role
clarity and interprofessional collaboration
Stem
A newly hired RN on the postpartum unit is caring for a stable
mother and newborn while the unit is short-staffed. The RN is
asked by a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to delegate initiation
of infant bathing and routine newborn weight measurement.
The RN reviews the unit assignment and current patient acuity.
Which action should the RN take first?
,Options
A. Delegate both tasks to the LPN to conserve RN time for
higher acuity patients.
B. Assign bathing to the LPN and personally perform the
newborn weight because it affects feeding assessment.
C. Evaluate the LPN’s competency and the newborn’s stability
before delegating either task.
D. Place both tasks on the admission checklist for later because
immediate priorities are more urgent.
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct: Evaluating the LPN’s competency and the newborn’s
stability ensures safe delegation — matching patient needs with
the delegatee’s scope of practice and preventing missed safety
cues. Delegation requires assessment of both patient condition
and staff skill.
A (incorrect): Automatic delegation to save RN time disregards
scope of practice and patient safety; unsafe if LPN lacks
competency.
B (incorrect): Choosing tasks without first assessing the LPN’s
competency and patient status assumes appropriateness;
newborn weight may be safely delegated if the LPN is
competent.
D (incorrect): Delaying routine care without assessing
,immediate risks may compromise thermoregulation or feeding
assessments; not appropriate triage.
Teaching Point
Assess patient stability and staff competency before delegating
tasks.
Citation
Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe Maternity and
Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal-Child and Pediatric Nursing: Scope of
practice and delegation
Stem
During a busy clinic day, a pediatric RN is supervising a nursing
student who asks to administer an immunization to a 15-
month-old while the RN documents. The child has a prior mild
febrile illness but is otherwise well. What is the RN’s best action
regarding delegation and supervision?
Options
A. Allow the student to administer the vaccine unsupervised
since the child appears well.
B. Have the RN give the vaccine and use this time to assess the
student’s knowledge later.
C. Supervise the student directly during vaccine administration
, and provide feedback afterward.
D. Ask the parent to consent to student administration without
RN presence.
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct: Direct supervision during invasive procedures is
necessary for safety and legal accountability; post-procedure
feedback supports competence development.
A (incorrect): Permitting unsupervised administration risks error
and breaches supervision responsibilities for learners.
B (incorrect): The RN should use this as a teaching opportunity
with real-time supervision; withholding supervision reduces
safety.
D (incorrect): Parental consent does not substitute for the RN’s
duty to supervise a student performing clinical care.
Teaching Point
Supervise students directly for invasive or high-risk procedures
until competence shown.
Citation
Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe Maternity and
Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
3
NURSING CARE
3RD EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)LUANNE LINNARD-
PALMER; GLORIA HAILE COATS
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction to Maternity and Pediatric Nursing: Role
clarity and interprofessional collaboration
Stem
A newly hired RN on the postpartum unit is caring for a stable
mother and newborn while the unit is short-staffed. The RN is
asked by a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to delegate initiation
of infant bathing and routine newborn weight measurement.
The RN reviews the unit assignment and current patient acuity.
Which action should the RN take first?
,Options
A. Delegate both tasks to the LPN to conserve RN time for
higher acuity patients.
B. Assign bathing to the LPN and personally perform the
newborn weight because it affects feeding assessment.
C. Evaluate the LPN’s competency and the newborn’s stability
before delegating either task.
D. Place both tasks on the admission checklist for later because
immediate priorities are more urgent.
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct: Evaluating the LPN’s competency and the newborn’s
stability ensures safe delegation — matching patient needs with
the delegatee’s scope of practice and preventing missed safety
cues. Delegation requires assessment of both patient condition
and staff skill.
A (incorrect): Automatic delegation to save RN time disregards
scope of practice and patient safety; unsafe if LPN lacks
competency.
B (incorrect): Choosing tasks without first assessing the LPN’s
competency and patient status assumes appropriateness;
newborn weight may be safely delegated if the LPN is
competent.
D (incorrect): Delaying routine care without assessing
,immediate risks may compromise thermoregulation or feeding
assessments; not appropriate triage.
Teaching Point
Assess patient stability and staff competency before delegating
tasks.
Citation
Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe Maternity and
Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal-Child and Pediatric Nursing: Scope of
practice and delegation
Stem
During a busy clinic day, a pediatric RN is supervising a nursing
student who asks to administer an immunization to a 15-
month-old while the RN documents. The child has a prior mild
febrile illness but is otherwise well. What is the RN’s best action
regarding delegation and supervision?
Options
A. Allow the student to administer the vaccine unsupervised
since the child appears well.
B. Have the RN give the vaccine and use this time to assess the
student’s knowledge later.
C. Supervise the student directly during vaccine administration
, and provide feedback afterward.
D. Ask the parent to consent to student administration without
RN presence.
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct: Direct supervision during invasive procedures is
necessary for safety and legal accountability; post-procedure
feedback supports competence development.
A (incorrect): Permitting unsupervised administration risks error
and breaches supervision responsibilities for learners.
B (incorrect): The RN should use this as a teaching opportunity
with real-time supervision; withholding supervision reduces
safety.
D (incorrect): Parental consent does not substitute for the RN’s
duty to supervise a student performing clinical care.
Teaching Point
Supervise students directly for invasive or high-risk procedures
until competence shown.
Citation
Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe Maternity and
Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
3
