NUR 202 Maternal Newborn Nursing Exam 2 Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section 1: Antepartum Nursing Care & Maternal Adaptations (13 Questions)
Q1: A pregnant patient with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 22 asks about recommended total
weight gain. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?
A. 15 to 20 pounds
B. 25 to 35 pounds [CORRECT]
C. 28 to 40 pounds
D. 11 to 20 pounds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the Institute of Medicine recommends a total weight gain of
25 to 35 pounds for women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
Q2: Which physiological change during pregnancy is responsible for decreased lower
esophageal sphincter tone causing heartburn?
A. Increased progesterone levels [CORRECT]
B. Increased estrogen levels
C. Increased human chorionic gonadotropin
D. Increased prolactin levels
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because progesterone relaxes smooth muscle throughout the body,
including the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing gastric reflux into the esophagus.
Q3: A pregnant patient at 32 weeks reports feeling short of breath when lying flat. Which
instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Sleep in the supine position with a pillow under the knees
B. Sleep on the left side with pillows supporting the abdomen and back [CORRECT]
C. Sleep on the right side only to improve cardiac output
D. Sleep in the prone position with a small pillow
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Correct because left lateral positioning displaces the gravid uterus off the
inferior vena cava and aorta, improving venous return and relieving pressure on the
diaphragm.
Q4: Which finding is considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea
B. Nausea and breast tenderness
C. Visualization of the fetus by ultrasound [CORRECT]
D. Chadwick's sign
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because positive signs of pregnancy definitively confirm pregnancy
and include fetal heart tones auscultated by the examiner, fetal movement felt by the
examiner, and ultrasound visualization of the fetus.
Q5: A patient asks when she should begin taking folic acid. Which response by the
nurse is most accurate?
A. At the first prenatal visit at 8 weeks
B. At least one month before conception and throughout the first trimester [CORRECT]
C. Beginning in the second trimester only
D. Only during the third trimester
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because folic acid supplementation of 400 mcg daily should begin at
least one month before conception and continue through the first trimester to reduce
the risk of neural tube defects.
Q6: During a prenatal visit, the nurse notes the patient's blood pressure is 118/72
mmHg. The patient's pre-pregnancy blood pressure was 124/78 mmHg. Which
explanation is most appropriate?
A. This indicates developing preeclampsia
B. This is expected due to decreased systemic vascular resistance in pregnancy
[CORRECT]
C. This requires immediate referral to a cardiologist
D. This indicates dehydration
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because blood pressure typically decreases in the second trimester
due to progesterone-mediated vasodilation and decreased systemic vascular
resistance, returning toward pre-pregnancy levels in the third trimester.
Q7: Which symptom during pregnancy should be reported immediately to the provider
as a potential danger sign?
A. Mild nausea in the first trimester
B. Occasional round ligament pain with movement
C. Severe headache with visual disturbances [CORRECT]
D. Increased vaginal discharge without odor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because severe headache with visual disturbances is a warning sign
of preeclampsia and requires immediate evaluation to prevent progression to
eclampsia.
Q8: A pregnant patient reports constipation. Which recommendation by the nurse is
most appropriate?
A. Increase fluid intake, dietary fiber, and regular physical activity [CORRECT]
B. Use sodium phosphate enemas daily
C. Decrease iron supplement dosage
D. Take over-the-counter stimulant laxatives routinely
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because nonpharmacological measures including increased fluids,
fiber, and activity are first-line interventions for pregnancy-related constipation caused
by progesterone-induced decreased gastrointestinal motility.
Q9: The nurse is documenting a patient's obstetric history using the GTPAL system. A
patient who is currently pregnant, had one term delivery, one preterm delivery, one
miscarriage at 10 weeks, and has two living children would be documented as:
A. G4 T1 P1 A1 L2
B. G5 T1 P1 A1 L2 [CORRECT]
C. G4 T2 P0 A1 L2
D. G3 T1 P1 A1 L2
Correct Answer: B
2026/2027 | Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section 1: Antepartum Nursing Care & Maternal Adaptations (13 Questions)
Q1: A pregnant patient with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 22 asks about recommended total
weight gain. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?
A. 15 to 20 pounds
B. 25 to 35 pounds [CORRECT]
C. 28 to 40 pounds
D. 11 to 20 pounds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the Institute of Medicine recommends a total weight gain of
25 to 35 pounds for women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
Q2: Which physiological change during pregnancy is responsible for decreased lower
esophageal sphincter tone causing heartburn?
A. Increased progesterone levels [CORRECT]
B. Increased estrogen levels
C. Increased human chorionic gonadotropin
D. Increased prolactin levels
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because progesterone relaxes smooth muscle throughout the body,
including the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing gastric reflux into the esophagus.
Q3: A pregnant patient at 32 weeks reports feeling short of breath when lying flat. Which
instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Sleep in the supine position with a pillow under the knees
B. Sleep on the left side with pillows supporting the abdomen and back [CORRECT]
C. Sleep on the right side only to improve cardiac output
D. Sleep in the prone position with a small pillow
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Correct because left lateral positioning displaces the gravid uterus off the
inferior vena cava and aorta, improving venous return and relieving pressure on the
diaphragm.
Q4: Which finding is considered a positive sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea
B. Nausea and breast tenderness
C. Visualization of the fetus by ultrasound [CORRECT]
D. Chadwick's sign
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because positive signs of pregnancy definitively confirm pregnancy
and include fetal heart tones auscultated by the examiner, fetal movement felt by the
examiner, and ultrasound visualization of the fetus.
Q5: A patient asks when she should begin taking folic acid. Which response by the
nurse is most accurate?
A. At the first prenatal visit at 8 weeks
B. At least one month before conception and throughout the first trimester [CORRECT]
C. Beginning in the second trimester only
D. Only during the third trimester
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because folic acid supplementation of 400 mcg daily should begin at
least one month before conception and continue through the first trimester to reduce
the risk of neural tube defects.
Q6: During a prenatal visit, the nurse notes the patient's blood pressure is 118/72
mmHg. The patient's pre-pregnancy blood pressure was 124/78 mmHg. Which
explanation is most appropriate?
A. This indicates developing preeclampsia
B. This is expected due to decreased systemic vascular resistance in pregnancy
[CORRECT]
C. This requires immediate referral to a cardiologist
D. This indicates dehydration
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because blood pressure typically decreases in the second trimester
due to progesterone-mediated vasodilation and decreased systemic vascular
resistance, returning toward pre-pregnancy levels in the third trimester.
Q7: Which symptom during pregnancy should be reported immediately to the provider
as a potential danger sign?
A. Mild nausea in the first trimester
B. Occasional round ligament pain with movement
C. Severe headache with visual disturbances [CORRECT]
D. Increased vaginal discharge without odor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because severe headache with visual disturbances is a warning sign
of preeclampsia and requires immediate evaluation to prevent progression to
eclampsia.
Q8: A pregnant patient reports constipation. Which recommendation by the nurse is
most appropriate?
A. Increase fluid intake, dietary fiber, and regular physical activity [CORRECT]
B. Use sodium phosphate enemas daily
C. Decrease iron supplement dosage
D. Take over-the-counter stimulant laxatives routinely
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because nonpharmacological measures including increased fluids,
fiber, and activity are first-line interventions for pregnancy-related constipation caused
by progesterone-induced decreased gastrointestinal motility.
Q9: The nurse is documenting a patient's obstetric history using the GTPAL system. A
patient who is currently pregnant, had one term delivery, one preterm delivery, one
miscarriage at 10 weeks, and has two living children would be documented as:
A. G4 T1 P1 A1 L2
B. G5 T1 P1 A1 L2 [CORRECT]
C. G4 T2 P0 A1 L2
D. G3 T1 P1 A1 L2
Correct Answer: B
