ATI MATERNAL NEWBORN PRACTICE TEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026
Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027..
*CORE DOMAINS*
*Prenatal Care and Physiological Changes*
*Labor and Delivery Process*
*Postpartum Care and Assessment*
*Newborn Transition and Assessment*
*Complications of Pregnancy*
*Maternal-Newborn Nutrition and Pharmacology*
*Ethical and Legal Standards in Perinatal Care*
*INTRODUCTION*
*The purpose of this practice exam is to provide comprehensive preparation for the Maternal Newborn nursing
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and experiencing preterm labor. Which of the following medications should
the nurse anticipate administering to accelerate fetal lung maturity?
A. Magnesium sulfate
B. Betamethasone
C. Nifedipine
D. Terbutaline
🟢 B. Betamethasone
🔴 RATIONALE: Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid administered to clients in preterm labor to stimulate fetal surfactant production, thereby
accelerating lung maturity and reducing the risk of respiratory distress syndrome.
A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 hour after birth. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an indication of
respiratory distress?
A. Acrocyanosis
B. Grunting
,C. Heart rate of 140/min
D. Respiratory rate of 50/min
🟢 B. Grunting
🔴 RATIONALE: Grunting, nasal flaring, and retractions are clinical manifestations of respiratory distress in a newborn and require immediate
intervention.
A nurse is teaching a client who is postpartum about breastfeeding. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I will wash my nipples with soap and water before each feeding."
B. "I should offer the breast when the newborn shows rooting cues."
C. "I will limit each feeding to 10 minutes per side to prevent soreness."
D. "I should place the baby on a schedule of every 4 hours."
🟢 B. "I should offer the breast when the newborn shows rooting cues."
🔴 RATIONALE: Breastfeeding should be demand-fed rather than scheduled, and rooting is a primary hunger cue indicating the newborn is
ready to feed.
A nurse is caring for a client who has preeclampsia. Which of the following assessment findings is the highest priority to report to the
provider?
A. Blood pressure of 142/90 mmHg
B. Trace protein in the urine
C. Epigastric pain
D. 1+ pitting edema of the lower extremities
🟢 C. Epigastric pain
🔴 RATIONALE: Epigastric pain is a warning sign of severe preeclampsia and may indicate impending eclampsia or HELLP syndrome due to
liver capsule distention.
A nurse is caring for a client during the active phase of labor. The nurse notes decelerations on the fetal heart rate monitor that begin
after the contraction has peaked and return to baseline after the contraction ends. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate
B. Administer oxygen via non-rebreather mask
C. Reposition the client onto her side
D. Notify the provider
🟢 C. Reposition the client onto her side
🔴 RATIONALE: Late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency. Repositioning the client to a lateral position improves placental
perfusion as the first nursing intervention.
A nurse is performing a fundal assessment on a client who is 2 days postpartum. The nurse finds the fundus to be boggy and displaced
to the right. Which action is the priority?
A. Administer oxytocin
B. Massage the fundus
, C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void
D. Notify the charge nurse
🟢 C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void
🔴 RATIONALE: A full bladder is the most common cause of a displaced and boggy fundus in the immediate postpartum period. Assisting the
client to void allows the uterus to contract properly.
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation and undergoing a nonstress test. The results are reactive. What does this
indicate?
A. The fetus has at least two accelerations of 15 beats/min above baseline for 15 seconds in 20 minutes.
B. There are no late decelerations during the test.
C. The fetal heart rate is within the normal range of 110 to 160/min.
D. The fetus has a moderate amount of variability.
🟢 A. The fetus has at least two accelerations of 15 beats/min above baseline for 15 seconds in 20 minutes.
🔴 RATIONALE: A reactive nonstress test is defined by the presence of two or more accelerations meeting the specified criteria within a 20-
minute window, indicating fetal well-being.
A nurse is assessing a newborn and notes a bluish-black area of pigmentation on the lower back. How should the nurse document this
finding?
A. Hemangioma
B. Mongolian spot
C. Nevus flammeus
D. Milia
🟢 B. Mongolian spot
🔴 RATIONALE: Mongolian spots are benign areas of bluish-black pigmentation, often found on the lumbosacral area, commonly seen in
newborns of certain ethnic backgrounds.
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing postpartum hemorrhage. Which medication should the nurse expect to administer?
A. Methylergonovine
B. Magnesium sulfate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Terbutaline
🟢 A. Methylergonovine
🔴 RATIONALE: Methylergonovine is an oxytocic agent used to stimulate uterine contraction and manage postpartum hemorrhage.
A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about iron deficiency anemia. Which food choice should the nurse recommend as the best source
of non-heme iron?
A. Spinach
B. Lean beef
C. Oranges
D. Yogurt
RATIONALES 2026
Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027..
*CORE DOMAINS*
*Prenatal Care and Physiological Changes*
*Labor and Delivery Process*
*Postpartum Care and Assessment*
*Newborn Transition and Assessment*
*Complications of Pregnancy*
*Maternal-Newborn Nutrition and Pharmacology*
*Ethical and Legal Standards in Perinatal Care*
*INTRODUCTION*
*The purpose of this practice exam is to provide comprehensive preparation for the Maternal Newborn nursing
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and experiencing preterm labor. Which of the following medications should
the nurse anticipate administering to accelerate fetal lung maturity?
A. Magnesium sulfate
B. Betamethasone
C. Nifedipine
D. Terbutaline
🟢 B. Betamethasone
🔴 RATIONALE: Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid administered to clients in preterm labor to stimulate fetal surfactant production, thereby
accelerating lung maturity and reducing the risk of respiratory distress syndrome.
A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 hour after birth. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an indication of
respiratory distress?
A. Acrocyanosis
B. Grunting
,C. Heart rate of 140/min
D. Respiratory rate of 50/min
🟢 B. Grunting
🔴 RATIONALE: Grunting, nasal flaring, and retractions are clinical manifestations of respiratory distress in a newborn and require immediate
intervention.
A nurse is teaching a client who is postpartum about breastfeeding. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. "I will wash my nipples with soap and water before each feeding."
B. "I should offer the breast when the newborn shows rooting cues."
C. "I will limit each feeding to 10 minutes per side to prevent soreness."
D. "I should place the baby on a schedule of every 4 hours."
🟢 B. "I should offer the breast when the newborn shows rooting cues."
🔴 RATIONALE: Breastfeeding should be demand-fed rather than scheduled, and rooting is a primary hunger cue indicating the newborn is
ready to feed.
A nurse is caring for a client who has preeclampsia. Which of the following assessment findings is the highest priority to report to the
provider?
A. Blood pressure of 142/90 mmHg
B. Trace protein in the urine
C. Epigastric pain
D. 1+ pitting edema of the lower extremities
🟢 C. Epigastric pain
🔴 RATIONALE: Epigastric pain is a warning sign of severe preeclampsia and may indicate impending eclampsia or HELLP syndrome due to
liver capsule distention.
A nurse is caring for a client during the active phase of labor. The nurse notes decelerations on the fetal heart rate monitor that begin
after the contraction has peaked and return to baseline after the contraction ends. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate
B. Administer oxygen via non-rebreather mask
C. Reposition the client onto her side
D. Notify the provider
🟢 C. Reposition the client onto her side
🔴 RATIONALE: Late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency. Repositioning the client to a lateral position improves placental
perfusion as the first nursing intervention.
A nurse is performing a fundal assessment on a client who is 2 days postpartum. The nurse finds the fundus to be boggy and displaced
to the right. Which action is the priority?
A. Administer oxytocin
B. Massage the fundus
, C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void
D. Notify the charge nurse
🟢 C. Assist the client to the bathroom to void
🔴 RATIONALE: A full bladder is the most common cause of a displaced and boggy fundus in the immediate postpartum period. Assisting the
client to void allows the uterus to contract properly.
A nurse is caring for a client who is at 38 weeks of gestation and undergoing a nonstress test. The results are reactive. What does this
indicate?
A. The fetus has at least two accelerations of 15 beats/min above baseline for 15 seconds in 20 minutes.
B. There are no late decelerations during the test.
C. The fetal heart rate is within the normal range of 110 to 160/min.
D. The fetus has a moderate amount of variability.
🟢 A. The fetus has at least two accelerations of 15 beats/min above baseline for 15 seconds in 20 minutes.
🔴 RATIONALE: A reactive nonstress test is defined by the presence of two or more accelerations meeting the specified criteria within a 20-
minute window, indicating fetal well-being.
A nurse is assessing a newborn and notes a bluish-black area of pigmentation on the lower back. How should the nurse document this
finding?
A. Hemangioma
B. Mongolian spot
C. Nevus flammeus
D. Milia
🟢 B. Mongolian spot
🔴 RATIONALE: Mongolian spots are benign areas of bluish-black pigmentation, often found on the lumbosacral area, commonly seen in
newborns of certain ethnic backgrounds.
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing postpartum hemorrhage. Which medication should the nurse expect to administer?
A. Methylergonovine
B. Magnesium sulfate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Terbutaline
🟢 A. Methylergonovine
🔴 RATIONALE: Methylergonovine is an oxytocic agent used to stimulate uterine contraction and manage postpartum hemorrhage.
A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about iron deficiency anemia. Which food choice should the nurse recommend as the best source
of non-heme iron?
A. Spinach
B. Lean beef
C. Oranges
D. Yogurt
