Maternal and pediatric nursing midterm exam with questions and answers
(100% solved)
A 22-year-old woman pregnant with a single fetus has a preconception body mass index (BMI)
of 24. When she was seen in the clinic at 14 weeks of gestation she had gained 2 kg since
conception. How would the nurse interpret this?
a. This weight gain indicates gestational hypertension.
b. This weight gain indicates that the woman's infant is at risk for intrauterine growth restriction
(IUGR).
c. This weight gain cannot be evaluated until the woman has been observed for several more
weeks.
d. The woman's weight gain is appropriate for this stage of pregnancy. - ✔✔✔-ANS: D
The woman's weight gain is appropriate for this stage of pregnancy is an accurate statement.
This woman's BMI is in the normal range. During the first trimester the average total weight gain
is only 1 to 2 kg. Although weight gain does indicate possible gestational hypertension it is not a
definitive diagnosis. The desirable weight gain during pregnancy varies among women. The
primary factor to consider in making a weight gain recommendation is the appropriateness of
the pre-pregnancy weight for the woman's height. A commonly used method of evaluating the
appropriateness of weight for height is the BMI. This woman has gained the appropriate
amount of weight for her size at this point in her pregnancy. Although weight gain does indicate
risk for IUGR it does not apply to this patient.
A 25-year-old multiparous woman gave birth to an infant boy 1 day ago. Today her husband
brings a large container of brown seaweed soup to the hospital. When the nurse enters the
room the husband asks for help with warming the soup so that his wife can eat it. What is the
basis of the nurse's most appropriate response?
a. Asking the patient if she did not like the lunch that was served to her.
b. Checking with the patient that she has obtained permission from her health care provider to
consume seaweed soup.
c. Asking the husband what the soup contains.
d. Offering to warm the soup up in the microwave for the woman. - ✔✔✔-ANS: D
By offering to warm the soup in the microwave for the woman the nurse is demonstrating
cultural appropriateness to the dietary preferences of the woman and is the basis of the most
appropriate response. Cultural dietary preferences must be respected. Women may request
that family members bring favourite or culturally appropriate foods to the hospital. Asking the
,Maternal and pediatric nursing midterm exam with questions and answers
(100% solved)
husband what the soup contains does not show cultural sensitivity. Dietary choices in the
postpartum period do not need approval from a health care provider. Asking her if she did not
like her lunch is not appropriate.
A 26-year-old pregnant woman 2-1-0-0-1 is 28 weeks pregnant when she experiences bright red
painless vaginal bleeding. On her arrival at the hospital what would be an expected diagnostic
procedure?
a. Amniocentesis for fetal lung maturity
b. Ultrasound for placental location
c. Contraction stress test (CST)
d. Internal fetal monitoring - ✔✔✔-ANS: B
The presence of painless bleeding should always alert the health care team to the possibility of
placenta previa. This can be confirmed through ultrasonography. Amniocentesis would not be
performed on a woman who is experiencing bleeding. In the event of an imminent delivery the
fetus would be presumed to have immature lungs at this gestational age and the mother would
be given corticosteroids to aid in fetal lung maturity. A CST would not be performed at a
preterm gestational age. Furthermore bleeding would be a contraindication to this test. Internal
fetal monitoring would be contraindicated in the presence of bleeding.
A 27-year-old pregnant woman had a preconception body mass index (BMI) of 18.0. Which
would be within normal range for her total recommended weight gain during pregnancy?
a. 21 kg
b. 19 kg
c. 14 kg
d. 12 kg - ✔✔✔-ANS: C
This woman has an underweight BMI and should gain 12.5 to 18 kg during pregnancy. A weight
gain of 21 kg would be unhealthy for most women. A weight gain of 19 kg is slightly above the
range of weight this woman should gain in her pregnancy. A weight gain of 12 kg is below the
range of weight this woman should gain in her pregnancy.
,Maternal and pediatric nursing midterm exam with questions and answers
(100% solved)
A 3-year-old girl's mother is 6 months pregnant. What concern is this child likely to express?
a. How the baby will "get out"
b. What the baby will eat
c. Whether her mother will die
d. What colour eyes the baby has - ✔✔✔-ANS: B
By age 3 or 4 children like to be told the story of their own beginning and accept its comparison
with the present pregnancy. They like to listen to the fetal heartbeat and feel the baby move.
Sometimes they worry about how the baby is being fed and what it wears. School-age children
take a more clinical interest in their mother's pregnancy and may want to know "How did the
baby get in there?" and "How will it get out?" Whether the mother will die does not tend to be
the focus of a child's questions about the impending birth of a sibling. The baby's eye colour
does not tend to be the focus of children's questions about the impending birth of a sibling.
A 31-year-old woman believes that she may be pregnant. She took an over-the counter (OTC)
pregnancy test 1 week ago after missing her period the test was positive. During her assessment
interview the nurse inquires about the woman's last menstrual period and asks whether she is
taking any medications. The woman states that she takes medicine for epilepsy. She has been
under considerable stress lately at work and has not been sleeping well. She also has a history
of irregular periods. Her physical examination does not indicate that she is pregnant. She has an
ultrasound scan which reveals that she is not pregnant. What is the most likely cause of the
false-positive pregnancy test result?
a. She took the pregnancy test too early.
b. She takes anticonvulsants.
c. She has a fibroid tumour.
d. She has been under considerable stress and has a hormone imbalance. - ✔✔✔-ANS: B
Anticonvulsants may cause false-positive pregnancy test results. OTC pregnancy tests use
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology which can yield positive results as soon as 4
days after implantation. Implantation occurs 6 to 10 days after conception. If the woman were
pregnant she would be into her third week at this point (having missed her period 1 week ago).
Fibroid tumours do not produce hormones and have no bearing on human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG) pregnancy tests. Although stress may interrupt normal hormone cycles
(menstrual cycles) it does not affect hCG levels or produce positive pregnancy test results.
, Maternal and pediatric nursing midterm exam with questions and answers
(100% solved)
A 39-year-old primigravida thinks that she is about 8 weeks pregnant although she has had
irregular menstrual periods all her life. She has a history of smoking approximately one pack of
cigarettes a day but she tells you that she is trying to cut down. Her laboratory data are within
normal limits. What diagnostic technique could be used with this pregnant woman at this time?
a. Ultrasound examination
b. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening (MSAFP)
c. Amniocentesis
d. Nonstress test (NST) - ✔✔✔-ANS: A
An ultrasound examination could be done to confirm the pregnancy and determine the
gestational age of the fetus. It is too early in the pregnancy to perform the MSAFP an
amniocentesis or an NST. The MSAFP is performed at 16 to 18 weeks of gestation followed by
amniocentesis if the MSAFP levels are abnormal or if fetal or maternal anomalies are detected.
An NST is performed to assess fetal well-being in the third trimester.
A 40-year-old woman is 10 weeks pregnant. Which diagnostic tool would be appropriate to
suggest to her at this time?
a. Biophysical profile
b. Amniocentesis
c. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP)
d. Transvaginal ultrasound - ✔✔✔-ANS: D
An ultrasound is the method of biophysical assessment of the infant that would be performed
at this gestational age. A biophysical profile would be a method of biophysical assessment of
fetal well-being in the third trimester. An amniocentesis is performed after the fourteenth week
of pregnancy. An MSAFP test is performed from week 15 to week 22 of the gestation (weeks 16
to 18 are ideal).
A 41-week pregnant multigravida presents in the labour and delivery unit after a nonstress test
indicated that her fetus could be experiencing some difficulties in utero. Which diagnostic tool
would yield more detailed information about the fetus?
(100% solved)
A 22-year-old woman pregnant with a single fetus has a preconception body mass index (BMI)
of 24. When she was seen in the clinic at 14 weeks of gestation she had gained 2 kg since
conception. How would the nurse interpret this?
a. This weight gain indicates gestational hypertension.
b. This weight gain indicates that the woman's infant is at risk for intrauterine growth restriction
(IUGR).
c. This weight gain cannot be evaluated until the woman has been observed for several more
weeks.
d. The woman's weight gain is appropriate for this stage of pregnancy. - ✔✔✔-ANS: D
The woman's weight gain is appropriate for this stage of pregnancy is an accurate statement.
This woman's BMI is in the normal range. During the first trimester the average total weight gain
is only 1 to 2 kg. Although weight gain does indicate possible gestational hypertension it is not a
definitive diagnosis. The desirable weight gain during pregnancy varies among women. The
primary factor to consider in making a weight gain recommendation is the appropriateness of
the pre-pregnancy weight for the woman's height. A commonly used method of evaluating the
appropriateness of weight for height is the BMI. This woman has gained the appropriate
amount of weight for her size at this point in her pregnancy. Although weight gain does indicate
risk for IUGR it does not apply to this patient.
A 25-year-old multiparous woman gave birth to an infant boy 1 day ago. Today her husband
brings a large container of brown seaweed soup to the hospital. When the nurse enters the
room the husband asks for help with warming the soup so that his wife can eat it. What is the
basis of the nurse's most appropriate response?
a. Asking the patient if she did not like the lunch that was served to her.
b. Checking with the patient that she has obtained permission from her health care provider to
consume seaweed soup.
c. Asking the husband what the soup contains.
d. Offering to warm the soup up in the microwave for the woman. - ✔✔✔-ANS: D
By offering to warm the soup in the microwave for the woman the nurse is demonstrating
cultural appropriateness to the dietary preferences of the woman and is the basis of the most
appropriate response. Cultural dietary preferences must be respected. Women may request
that family members bring favourite or culturally appropriate foods to the hospital. Asking the
,Maternal and pediatric nursing midterm exam with questions and answers
(100% solved)
husband what the soup contains does not show cultural sensitivity. Dietary choices in the
postpartum period do not need approval from a health care provider. Asking her if she did not
like her lunch is not appropriate.
A 26-year-old pregnant woman 2-1-0-0-1 is 28 weeks pregnant when she experiences bright red
painless vaginal bleeding. On her arrival at the hospital what would be an expected diagnostic
procedure?
a. Amniocentesis for fetal lung maturity
b. Ultrasound for placental location
c. Contraction stress test (CST)
d. Internal fetal monitoring - ✔✔✔-ANS: B
The presence of painless bleeding should always alert the health care team to the possibility of
placenta previa. This can be confirmed through ultrasonography. Amniocentesis would not be
performed on a woman who is experiencing bleeding. In the event of an imminent delivery the
fetus would be presumed to have immature lungs at this gestational age and the mother would
be given corticosteroids to aid in fetal lung maturity. A CST would not be performed at a
preterm gestational age. Furthermore bleeding would be a contraindication to this test. Internal
fetal monitoring would be contraindicated in the presence of bleeding.
A 27-year-old pregnant woman had a preconception body mass index (BMI) of 18.0. Which
would be within normal range for her total recommended weight gain during pregnancy?
a. 21 kg
b. 19 kg
c. 14 kg
d. 12 kg - ✔✔✔-ANS: C
This woman has an underweight BMI and should gain 12.5 to 18 kg during pregnancy. A weight
gain of 21 kg would be unhealthy for most women. A weight gain of 19 kg is slightly above the
range of weight this woman should gain in her pregnancy. A weight gain of 12 kg is below the
range of weight this woman should gain in her pregnancy.
,Maternal and pediatric nursing midterm exam with questions and answers
(100% solved)
A 3-year-old girl's mother is 6 months pregnant. What concern is this child likely to express?
a. How the baby will "get out"
b. What the baby will eat
c. Whether her mother will die
d. What colour eyes the baby has - ✔✔✔-ANS: B
By age 3 or 4 children like to be told the story of their own beginning and accept its comparison
with the present pregnancy. They like to listen to the fetal heartbeat and feel the baby move.
Sometimes they worry about how the baby is being fed and what it wears. School-age children
take a more clinical interest in their mother's pregnancy and may want to know "How did the
baby get in there?" and "How will it get out?" Whether the mother will die does not tend to be
the focus of a child's questions about the impending birth of a sibling. The baby's eye colour
does not tend to be the focus of children's questions about the impending birth of a sibling.
A 31-year-old woman believes that she may be pregnant. She took an over-the counter (OTC)
pregnancy test 1 week ago after missing her period the test was positive. During her assessment
interview the nurse inquires about the woman's last menstrual period and asks whether she is
taking any medications. The woman states that she takes medicine for epilepsy. She has been
under considerable stress lately at work and has not been sleeping well. She also has a history
of irregular periods. Her physical examination does not indicate that she is pregnant. She has an
ultrasound scan which reveals that she is not pregnant. What is the most likely cause of the
false-positive pregnancy test result?
a. She took the pregnancy test too early.
b. She takes anticonvulsants.
c. She has a fibroid tumour.
d. She has been under considerable stress and has a hormone imbalance. - ✔✔✔-ANS: B
Anticonvulsants may cause false-positive pregnancy test results. OTC pregnancy tests use
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology which can yield positive results as soon as 4
days after implantation. Implantation occurs 6 to 10 days after conception. If the woman were
pregnant she would be into her third week at this point (having missed her period 1 week ago).
Fibroid tumours do not produce hormones and have no bearing on human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG) pregnancy tests. Although stress may interrupt normal hormone cycles
(menstrual cycles) it does not affect hCG levels or produce positive pregnancy test results.
, Maternal and pediatric nursing midterm exam with questions and answers
(100% solved)
A 39-year-old primigravida thinks that she is about 8 weeks pregnant although she has had
irregular menstrual periods all her life. She has a history of smoking approximately one pack of
cigarettes a day but she tells you that she is trying to cut down. Her laboratory data are within
normal limits. What diagnostic technique could be used with this pregnant woman at this time?
a. Ultrasound examination
b. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening (MSAFP)
c. Amniocentesis
d. Nonstress test (NST) - ✔✔✔-ANS: A
An ultrasound examination could be done to confirm the pregnancy and determine the
gestational age of the fetus. It is too early in the pregnancy to perform the MSAFP an
amniocentesis or an NST. The MSAFP is performed at 16 to 18 weeks of gestation followed by
amniocentesis if the MSAFP levels are abnormal or if fetal or maternal anomalies are detected.
An NST is performed to assess fetal well-being in the third trimester.
A 40-year-old woman is 10 weeks pregnant. Which diagnostic tool would be appropriate to
suggest to her at this time?
a. Biophysical profile
b. Amniocentesis
c. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP)
d. Transvaginal ultrasound - ✔✔✔-ANS: D
An ultrasound is the method of biophysical assessment of the infant that would be performed
at this gestational age. A biophysical profile would be a method of biophysical assessment of
fetal well-being in the third trimester. An amniocentesis is performed after the fourteenth week
of pregnancy. An MSAFP test is performed from week 15 to week 22 of the gestation (weeks 16
to 18 are ideal).
A 41-week pregnant multigravida presents in the labour and delivery unit after a nonstress test
indicated that her fetus could be experiencing some difficulties in utero. Which diagnostic tool
would yield more detailed information about the fetus?
