SAFE MATERNITY AND PEDIATRIC
NURSING CARE
3RD EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)LUANNE LINNARD-
PALMER; GLORIA HAILE COATS
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric Nursing
Stem
A newly hired nurse on the postpartum unit is assigned to a
mother who delivered vaginally 12 hours ago and whose
newborn has a temperature of 37.8°C and mild jaundice. The
nurse’s preceptor asks the new nurse to plan care that best
reflects the role of the maternal–child nurse. Which action most
appropriately demonstrates that role?
A. Explain to the mother that mild jaundice is common and
document routine observations only.
,B. Teach the mother how to perform skin-to-skin and
breastfeeding to promote thermoregulation and bilirubin
clearance.
C. Refer the mother and infant to lactation services and leave
temperature monitoring to the night nurse.
D. Notify the pediatrician immediately for NICU transfer given
any jaundice sign.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support
thermoregulation and facilitation of bilirubin elimination;
teaching and assisting the family is a core maternal–child
nursing role that integrates health promotion and safety. It
applies nursing knowledge of newborn physiology and family-
centered care to prevent deterioration.
Incorrect (A): Documenting only and providing minimal
explanation underestimates the nurse’s teaching and preventive
role and risks missed opportunities for early intervention.
Incorrect (C): Referral is appropriate, but delegating monitoring
abandons immediate nursing responsibilities; collaboration
rather than abdication is required.
Incorrect (D): Immediate NICU transfer is disproportionate for
mild jaundice and normal temperature — this is an
overreaction that may cause unnecessary separation.
,Teaching point
Teach and support evidence-based interventions (skin-to-skin,
breastfeeding) to prevent neonatal complications.
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
Stem
An experienced pediatric nurse is asked to lead a unit-based
quality improvement initiative to reduce medication errors in
pediatric med-surgical patients. Which first-step action best
reflects professional nursing leadership?
A. Implement a new medication double-check policy
immediately across the unit.
B. Collect and analyze recent medication-error incident reports
to identify system causes.
C. Require nurses to limit PRN medication administration to
charge nurses.
D. Increase documentation audits and punish nurses with
repeat errors.
Correct answer
B
, Rationales
Correct (B): Systematic data collection and analysis is the
appropriate first step in quality improvement; it identifies root
causes and informs effective, evidence-based interventions.
This demonstrates the nurse’s leadership in safe practice and
decision-making.
Incorrect (A): Immediate implementation without problem
analysis may not address root causes and could reduce staff
buy-in.
Incorrect (C): Shifting tasks to charge nurses is not evidence-
based and may create bottlenecks, not improve safety.
Incorrect (D): Punitive approaches discourage reporting and
undermine a culture of safety; corrective actions should be
system-focused.
Teaching point
Start quality improvement with data and root-cause analysis
before implementing interventions.
Citation
Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe Maternity and
Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric Nursing
NURSING CARE
3RD EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)LUANNE LINNARD-
PALMER; GLORIA HAILE COATS
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric Nursing
Stem
A newly hired nurse on the postpartum unit is assigned to a
mother who delivered vaginally 12 hours ago and whose
newborn has a temperature of 37.8°C and mild jaundice. The
nurse’s preceptor asks the new nurse to plan care that best
reflects the role of the maternal–child nurse. Which action most
appropriately demonstrates that role?
A. Explain to the mother that mild jaundice is common and
document routine observations only.
,B. Teach the mother how to perform skin-to-skin and
breastfeeding to promote thermoregulation and bilirubin
clearance.
C. Refer the mother and infant to lactation services and leave
temperature monitoring to the night nurse.
D. Notify the pediatrician immediately for NICU transfer given
any jaundice sign.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support
thermoregulation and facilitation of bilirubin elimination;
teaching and assisting the family is a core maternal–child
nursing role that integrates health promotion and safety. It
applies nursing knowledge of newborn physiology and family-
centered care to prevent deterioration.
Incorrect (A): Documenting only and providing minimal
explanation underestimates the nurse’s teaching and preventive
role and risks missed opportunities for early intervention.
Incorrect (C): Referral is appropriate, but delegating monitoring
abandons immediate nursing responsibilities; collaboration
rather than abdication is required.
Incorrect (D): Immediate NICU transfer is disproportionate for
mild jaundice and normal temperature — this is an
overreaction that may cause unnecessary separation.
,Teaching point
Teach and support evidence-based interventions (skin-to-skin,
breastfeeding) to prevent neonatal complications.
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
Stem
An experienced pediatric nurse is asked to lead a unit-based
quality improvement initiative to reduce medication errors in
pediatric med-surgical patients. Which first-step action best
reflects professional nursing leadership?
A. Implement a new medication double-check policy
immediately across the unit.
B. Collect and analyze recent medication-error incident reports
to identify system causes.
C. Require nurses to limit PRN medication administration to
charge nurses.
D. Increase documentation audits and punish nurses with
repeat errors.
Correct answer
B
, Rationales
Correct (B): Systematic data collection and analysis is the
appropriate first step in quality improvement; it identifies root
causes and informs effective, evidence-based interventions.
This demonstrates the nurse’s leadership in safe practice and
decision-making.
Incorrect (A): Immediate implementation without problem
analysis may not address root causes and could reduce staff
buy-in.
Incorrect (C): Shifting tasks to charge nurses is not evidence-
based and may create bottlenecks, not improve safety.
Incorrect (D): Punitive approaches discourage reporting and
undermine a culture of safety; corrective actions should be
system-focused.
Teaching point
Start quality improvement with data and root-cause analysis
before implementing interventions.
Citation
Linnard-Palmer, L., & Coats, G. H. (2025). Safe Maternity and
Pediatric Nursing Care (3rd ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Roles in Maternal–Child and Pediatric Nursing
