,MATERNITY & WOMEN'S HEALTH NCLEX-RN
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES — 2000
QUESTIONS
PART A: ANTEPARTUM NURSING
Section 1: Normal Pregnancy
Subsection 1A: Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology
1. A nursing student is reviewing the menstrual cycle with a group of peers. Which
statement correctly describes the ovarian cycle?
A) "The follicular phase ends with ovulation and is stimulated by luteinizing hormone
(LH)."
B) "The luteal phase occurs after ovulation and is characterized by progesterone
secretion from the corpus luteum."
C) "The proliferative phase corresponds to the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle."
D) "The secretory phase occurs before ovulation and is stimulated by estrogen."
Answer: B
Rationale: The ovarian cycle consists of the follicular phase (before ovulation,
stimulated by FSH) and the luteal phase (after ovulation, characterized by progesterone
secretion from the corpus luteum). The uterine cycle's proliferative phase corresponds to
the follicular phase, and the secretory phase corresponds to the luteal phase. Estrogen
predominates before ovulation, while progesterone predominates after ovulation.
Page Ref: Lowdermilk 13th Ed., Chapter 4 | Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance | Cognitive Level: Understanding
,2. A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the hormones involved in
the menstrual cycle. Which statement by a student indicates a need for further
teaching?
A) "Estrogen is responsible for endometrial proliferation during the follicular phase."
B) "A surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers ovulation."
C) "Progesterone is the dominant hormone during the proliferative phase of the uterine
cycle."
D) "Progesterone maintains the endometrial lining during the secretory phase."
Answer: C
Rationale: Progesterone is NOT the dominant hormone during the proliferative phase—
estrogen is. The proliferative phase occurs before ovulation and is stimulated by
estrogen from developing follicles. Progesterone is the dominant hormone during the
secretory phase (after ovulation), where it maintains the endometrial lining in
preparation for implantation. Estrogen stimulates endometrial proliferation, and the LH
surge triggers ovulation.
Page Ref: Lowdermilk 13th Ed., Chapter 4 | Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance | Cognitive Level: Analyzing
3. A patient asks the nurse to explain the purpose of the corpus luteum. Which
response by the nurse is most accurate?
A) "The corpus luteum produces estrogen and progesterone to prepare the uterus for
potential implantation."
B) "The corpus luteum releases the mature ovum during ovulation."
C) "The corpus luteum produces follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to stimulate follicle
development."
D) "The corpus luteum degenerates immediately after ovulation if fertilization occurs."
Answer: A
Rationale: The corpus luteum forms from the ruptured follicle after ovulation and
produces both estrogen and progesterone to prepare the endometrium for possible
implantation. It does not release the ovum (this occurs during ovulation), it does not
produce FSH (which comes from the anterior pituitary), and it degenerates only if
, fertilization does NOT occur (corpus albicans). If fertilization occurs, human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG) from the developing embryo maintains the corpus luteum.
Page Ref: Lowdermilk 13th Ed., Chapter 4 | Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance | Cognitive Level: Applying
4. A nurse is assessing a patient who is 8 weeks pregnant. The nurse understands
that which hormone is primarily responsible for maintaining the pregnancy during
the first trimester?
A) Estrogen
B) Progesterone
C) Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
D) Human placental lactogen (hPL)
Answer: C
Rationale: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by the developing
embryo and then the placenta. It maintains the corpus luteum, which continues to
produce estrogen and progesterone to sustain the pregnancy until the placenta takes
over this function around weeks 8-10 of gestation. While progesterone and estrogen are
essential for maintaining pregnancy, they are produced by the corpus luteum under the
influence of hCG during the first trimester. Human placental lactogen (hPL) is involved in
metabolic changes but is not responsible for maintaining the early pregnancy.
Page Ref: Lowdermilk 13th Ed., Chapter 5 | Client Need: Physiological Integrity
| Cognitive Level: Remembering
5. A nurse is teaching a prenatal class about fetal development. The nurse explains
that the umbilical cord contains:
A) One artery and one vein
B) Two arteries and one vein
C) Two veins and one artery
D) One artery and two veins
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES — 2000
QUESTIONS
PART A: ANTEPARTUM NURSING
Section 1: Normal Pregnancy
Subsection 1A: Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology
1. A nursing student is reviewing the menstrual cycle with a group of peers. Which
statement correctly describes the ovarian cycle?
A) "The follicular phase ends with ovulation and is stimulated by luteinizing hormone
(LH)."
B) "The luteal phase occurs after ovulation and is characterized by progesterone
secretion from the corpus luteum."
C) "The proliferative phase corresponds to the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle."
D) "The secretory phase occurs before ovulation and is stimulated by estrogen."
Answer: B
Rationale: The ovarian cycle consists of the follicular phase (before ovulation,
stimulated by FSH) and the luteal phase (after ovulation, characterized by progesterone
secretion from the corpus luteum). The uterine cycle's proliferative phase corresponds to
the follicular phase, and the secretory phase corresponds to the luteal phase. Estrogen
predominates before ovulation, while progesterone predominates after ovulation.
Page Ref: Lowdermilk 13th Ed., Chapter 4 | Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance | Cognitive Level: Understanding
,2. A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the hormones involved in
the menstrual cycle. Which statement by a student indicates a need for further
teaching?
A) "Estrogen is responsible for endometrial proliferation during the follicular phase."
B) "A surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers ovulation."
C) "Progesterone is the dominant hormone during the proliferative phase of the uterine
cycle."
D) "Progesterone maintains the endometrial lining during the secretory phase."
Answer: C
Rationale: Progesterone is NOT the dominant hormone during the proliferative phase—
estrogen is. The proliferative phase occurs before ovulation and is stimulated by
estrogen from developing follicles. Progesterone is the dominant hormone during the
secretory phase (after ovulation), where it maintains the endometrial lining in
preparation for implantation. Estrogen stimulates endometrial proliferation, and the LH
surge triggers ovulation.
Page Ref: Lowdermilk 13th Ed., Chapter 4 | Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance | Cognitive Level: Analyzing
3. A patient asks the nurse to explain the purpose of the corpus luteum. Which
response by the nurse is most accurate?
A) "The corpus luteum produces estrogen and progesterone to prepare the uterus for
potential implantation."
B) "The corpus luteum releases the mature ovum during ovulation."
C) "The corpus luteum produces follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to stimulate follicle
development."
D) "The corpus luteum degenerates immediately after ovulation if fertilization occurs."
Answer: A
Rationale: The corpus luteum forms from the ruptured follicle after ovulation and
produces both estrogen and progesterone to prepare the endometrium for possible
implantation. It does not release the ovum (this occurs during ovulation), it does not
produce FSH (which comes from the anterior pituitary), and it degenerates only if
, fertilization does NOT occur (corpus albicans). If fertilization occurs, human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG) from the developing embryo maintains the corpus luteum.
Page Ref: Lowdermilk 13th Ed., Chapter 4 | Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance | Cognitive Level: Applying
4. A nurse is assessing a patient who is 8 weeks pregnant. The nurse understands
that which hormone is primarily responsible for maintaining the pregnancy during
the first trimester?
A) Estrogen
B) Progesterone
C) Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
D) Human placental lactogen (hPL)
Answer: C
Rationale: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by the developing
embryo and then the placenta. It maintains the corpus luteum, which continues to
produce estrogen and progesterone to sustain the pregnancy until the placenta takes
over this function around weeks 8-10 of gestation. While progesterone and estrogen are
essential for maintaining pregnancy, they are produced by the corpus luteum under the
influence of hCG during the first trimester. Human placental lactogen (hPL) is involved in
metabolic changes but is not responsible for maintaining the early pregnancy.
Page Ref: Lowdermilk 13th Ed., Chapter 5 | Client Need: Physiological Integrity
| Cognitive Level: Remembering
5. A nurse is teaching a prenatal class about fetal development. The nurse explains
that the umbilical cord contains:
A) One artery and one vein
B) Two arteries and one vein
C) Two veins and one artery
D) One artery and two veins
