1
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALE REAL TO ACTUAL EXAM
Note: answers key provided on the last pages
1. When assessing the adequacy of sperm for conception to occur,
which of the following is the most useful criterion?
a. Sperm count
b. Sperm motility
c. Sperm maturity
d. Semen volume
2. A couple who wants to conceive but has been unsuccessful during
the last 2 years has undergone many diagnostic procedures.
When discussing the situation with the nurse, one partner states,
“We know several friends in our age group and all of them have
their own child already, Why can’t we have one?”. Which of the
following would be the most pertinent nursing diagnosis for this
couple?
a. Fear related to the unknown
b. Pain related to numerous procedures.
c. Ineffective family coping related to infertility.
d. Self-esteem disturbance related to infertility.
3. Which of the following urinary symptoms does the pregnant
woman most frequently experience during the first trimester?
a. Dysuria
b. Frequency
c. Incontinence
d. Burning
4. Heartburn and flatulence, common in the second trimester, are
most likely the result of which of the following?
a. Increased plasma HCG levels
,2
b. Decreased intestinal motility
c. Decreased gastric acidity
d. Elevated estrogen levels
5. On which of the following areas would the nurse expect to
observe chloasma?
a. Breast, areola, and nipples
b. Chest, neck, arms, and legs
c. Abdomen, breast, and thighs
d. Cheeks, forehead, and nose
6. A pregnant client states that she “waddles” when she walks. The
nurse’s explanation is based on which of the following as the
cause?
a. The large size of the newborn
b. Pressure on the pelvic muscles
c. Relaxation of the pelvic joints
d. Excessive weight gain
7. Which of the following represents the average amount of weight
gained during pregnancy?
a. 12 to 22 lb
b. 15 to 25 lb
c. 24 to 30 lb
d. 25 to 40 lb
8. When talking with a pregnant client who is experiencing aching
swollen, leg veins, the nurse would explain that this is most
probably the result of which of the following?
a. Thrombophlebitis
b. Pregnancy-induced hypertension
c. Pressure on blood vessels from the enlarging uterus
d. The force of gravity pulling down on the uterus
,3
9. Cervical softening and uterine souffle are classified as which of
the following?
a.Diagnostic signs
b.Presumptive signs
c.Probable signs
d.Positive signs
10. Which of the following would the nurse identify as a
presumptive sign of pregnancy?
a.Hegar sign
b.Nausea and vomiting
c.Skin pigmentation changes
d.Positive serum pregnancy test
11. Which of the following common emotional reactions to
pregnancy would the nurse expect to occur during the first
trimester?
a.Introversion, egocentrism, narcissism
b.Awkwardness, clumsiness, and unattractiveness
c.Anxiety, passivity, extroversion
d.Ambivalence, fear, fantasies
12. During which of the following would the focus of classes be
mainly on physiologic changes, fetal development, sexuality,
during pregnancy, and nutrition?
a.Prepregnant period
b.First trimester
c.Second trimester
d.Third trimester
13. Which of the following would be disadvantage of breast
feeding?
a. Involution occurs more rapidly
, 4
b. The incidence of allergies increases due to maternal
antibodies
c. The father may resent the infant’s demands on the mother’s
body
d. There is a greater chance for error during preparation
14. Which of the following would cause a false-positive result on
a pregnancy test?
a. The test was performed less than 10 days after an abortion
b. The test was performed too early or too late in the
pregnancy
c. The urine sample was stored too long at room temperature
d. A spontaneous abortion or a missed abortion is impending
15. FHR can be auscultated with a fetoscope as early as which of
the following?
a. 5 weeks gestation
b. 10 weeks gestation
c. 15 weeks gestation
d. 20 weeks gestation
16. A client LMP began July 5. Her EDD should be which of the
following?
a.
January 2
b.
March 28
c.
April 12
d.
October 12
17. Which of the following fundal heights indicates less than 12
weeks’ gestation when the date of the LMP is unknown?
a. Uterus in the pelvis
b. Uterus at the xiphoid
c. Uterus in the abdomen
d. Uterus at the umbilicus
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALE REAL TO ACTUAL EXAM
Note: answers key provided on the last pages
1. When assessing the adequacy of sperm for conception to occur,
which of the following is the most useful criterion?
a. Sperm count
b. Sperm motility
c. Sperm maturity
d. Semen volume
2. A couple who wants to conceive but has been unsuccessful during
the last 2 years has undergone many diagnostic procedures.
When discussing the situation with the nurse, one partner states,
“We know several friends in our age group and all of them have
their own child already, Why can’t we have one?”. Which of the
following would be the most pertinent nursing diagnosis for this
couple?
a. Fear related to the unknown
b. Pain related to numerous procedures.
c. Ineffective family coping related to infertility.
d. Self-esteem disturbance related to infertility.
3. Which of the following urinary symptoms does the pregnant
woman most frequently experience during the first trimester?
a. Dysuria
b. Frequency
c. Incontinence
d. Burning
4. Heartburn and flatulence, common in the second trimester, are
most likely the result of which of the following?
a. Increased plasma HCG levels
,2
b. Decreased intestinal motility
c. Decreased gastric acidity
d. Elevated estrogen levels
5. On which of the following areas would the nurse expect to
observe chloasma?
a. Breast, areola, and nipples
b. Chest, neck, arms, and legs
c. Abdomen, breast, and thighs
d. Cheeks, forehead, and nose
6. A pregnant client states that she “waddles” when she walks. The
nurse’s explanation is based on which of the following as the
cause?
a. The large size of the newborn
b. Pressure on the pelvic muscles
c. Relaxation of the pelvic joints
d. Excessive weight gain
7. Which of the following represents the average amount of weight
gained during pregnancy?
a. 12 to 22 lb
b. 15 to 25 lb
c. 24 to 30 lb
d. 25 to 40 lb
8. When talking with a pregnant client who is experiencing aching
swollen, leg veins, the nurse would explain that this is most
probably the result of which of the following?
a. Thrombophlebitis
b. Pregnancy-induced hypertension
c. Pressure on blood vessels from the enlarging uterus
d. The force of gravity pulling down on the uterus
,3
9. Cervical softening and uterine souffle are classified as which of
the following?
a.Diagnostic signs
b.Presumptive signs
c.Probable signs
d.Positive signs
10. Which of the following would the nurse identify as a
presumptive sign of pregnancy?
a.Hegar sign
b.Nausea and vomiting
c.Skin pigmentation changes
d.Positive serum pregnancy test
11. Which of the following common emotional reactions to
pregnancy would the nurse expect to occur during the first
trimester?
a.Introversion, egocentrism, narcissism
b.Awkwardness, clumsiness, and unattractiveness
c.Anxiety, passivity, extroversion
d.Ambivalence, fear, fantasies
12. During which of the following would the focus of classes be
mainly on physiologic changes, fetal development, sexuality,
during pregnancy, and nutrition?
a.Prepregnant period
b.First trimester
c.Second trimester
d.Third trimester
13. Which of the following would be disadvantage of breast
feeding?
a. Involution occurs more rapidly
, 4
b. The incidence of allergies increases due to maternal
antibodies
c. The father may resent the infant’s demands on the mother’s
body
d. There is a greater chance for error during preparation
14. Which of the following would cause a false-positive result on
a pregnancy test?
a. The test was performed less than 10 days after an abortion
b. The test was performed too early or too late in the
pregnancy
c. The urine sample was stored too long at room temperature
d. A spontaneous abortion or a missed abortion is impending
15. FHR can be auscultated with a fetoscope as early as which of
the following?
a. 5 weeks gestation
b. 10 weeks gestation
c. 15 weeks gestation
d. 20 weeks gestation
16. A client LMP began July 5. Her EDD should be which of the
following?
a.
January 2
b.
March 28
c.
April 12
d.
October 12
17. Which of the following fundal heights indicates less than 12
weeks’ gestation when the date of the LMP is unknown?
a. Uterus in the pelvis
b. Uterus at the xiphoid
c. Uterus in the abdomen
d. Uterus at the umbilicus
