,NSG3500/NSG 3500 Exam 2 | Nursing Practice:
Maternal Health | Galen College | Q & A |
2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
1. The first stage of labor begins with which of the following events?
A) Full cervical dilation
B) Delivery of the placenta
C) Onset of true labor contractions
D) Rupture of membranes
Correct Answer: C) Onset of true labor contractions
Rationale: The first stage of labor begins with the onset of true labor contractions and ends with full
cervical dilation at 10 cm. Full dilation marks the transition to the second stage. Rupture of membranes
can occur at any point and is not the defining start of labor.
2. During the latent phase of the first stage of labor, contractions are typically:
A) 2–3 minutes apart, lasting 60–90 seconds
B) 5–10 minutes apart, lasting 30–45 seconds
C) 1–2 minutes apart, lasting 90 seconds
D) Irregular and unpredictable
Correct Answer: B) 5–10 minutes apart, lasting 30–45 seconds
Rationale: The latent phase is characterized by mild contractions occurring every 5 to 10 minutes and
lasting 30 to 45 seconds, with cervical dilation of 1 to 3 cm. Contractions become more frequent and
intense in the active and transition phases.
3. A nurse is assessing a laboring patient in the active phase. Which finding indicates that the patient is
progressing through this phase?
,A) Cervical dilation from 4 to 7 cm
B) Contractions every 10 minutes
C) Cervical dilation of 8 cm
D) Maternal talkativeness and engagement
Correct Answer: A) Cervical dilation from 4 to 7 cm
Rationale: The active phase is characterized by cervical dilation progressing from 4 to 8 cm with
moderate to strong contractions every 2 to 5 minutes. Cervical dilation of 8 cm indicates the transition
phase. Talkativeness is more typical of the latent phase.
4. A laboring patient in the transition phase reports an overwhelming urge to push. The nurse should
first:
A) Encourage the patient to push with each contraction
B) Perform a cervical examination to determine dilation
C) Administer pain medication
D) Coach the patient to take slow, deep breaths
Correct Answer: B) Perform a cervical examination to determine dilation
Rationale: The urge to push can occur before full dilation (10 cm). The nurse must first perform a
cervical examination to confirm complete dilation before allowing pushing. Pushing before full dilation
can cause cervical edema and injury.
5. Which of the following is a characteristic of the second stage of labor?
A) Delivery of the placenta
B) Onset of true labor contractions
C) Complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby
D) Recovery period immediately after birth
, Correct Answer: C) Complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby
Rationale: The second stage of labor begins with complete cervical dilation (10 cm) and ends with the
birth of the baby. The third stage involves placental delivery, and the fourth stage is the immediate
recovery period.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient in the fourth stage of labor. Which finding is a priority for the nurse to
monitor?
A) Maternal bonding with the newborn
B) Uterine firmness and lochia rubra
C) Initiation of breastfeeding
D) Pain level
Correct Answer: B) Uterine firmness and lochia rubra
Rationale: During the fourth stage (recovery, 1–2 hours post-delivery), the priority is to monitor uterine
firmness and lochia rubra to detect postpartum hemorrhage. Bonding and breastfeeding are important
but secondary to physiological assessments.
7. A nurse is teaching a patient about the cardinal movements of labor. Which movement involves the
fetal head rotating to align with the maternal pelvis?
A) Descent
B) Flexion
C) Internal rotation
D) Extension
Correct Answer: C) Internal rotation
Rationale: Internal rotation occurs when the fetal head rotates to align with the anteroposterior
diameter of the maternal pelvis. Descent is the downward movement, flexion is chin to chest, and
extension occurs as the head passes under the pubic symphysis.
Maternal Health | Galen College | Q & A |
2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
1. The first stage of labor begins with which of the following events?
A) Full cervical dilation
B) Delivery of the placenta
C) Onset of true labor contractions
D) Rupture of membranes
Correct Answer: C) Onset of true labor contractions
Rationale: The first stage of labor begins with the onset of true labor contractions and ends with full
cervical dilation at 10 cm. Full dilation marks the transition to the second stage. Rupture of membranes
can occur at any point and is not the defining start of labor.
2. During the latent phase of the first stage of labor, contractions are typically:
A) 2–3 minutes apart, lasting 60–90 seconds
B) 5–10 minutes apart, lasting 30–45 seconds
C) 1–2 minutes apart, lasting 90 seconds
D) Irregular and unpredictable
Correct Answer: B) 5–10 minutes apart, lasting 30–45 seconds
Rationale: The latent phase is characterized by mild contractions occurring every 5 to 10 minutes and
lasting 30 to 45 seconds, with cervical dilation of 1 to 3 cm. Contractions become more frequent and
intense in the active and transition phases.
3. A nurse is assessing a laboring patient in the active phase. Which finding indicates that the patient is
progressing through this phase?
,A) Cervical dilation from 4 to 7 cm
B) Contractions every 10 minutes
C) Cervical dilation of 8 cm
D) Maternal talkativeness and engagement
Correct Answer: A) Cervical dilation from 4 to 7 cm
Rationale: The active phase is characterized by cervical dilation progressing from 4 to 8 cm with
moderate to strong contractions every 2 to 5 minutes. Cervical dilation of 8 cm indicates the transition
phase. Talkativeness is more typical of the latent phase.
4. A laboring patient in the transition phase reports an overwhelming urge to push. The nurse should
first:
A) Encourage the patient to push with each contraction
B) Perform a cervical examination to determine dilation
C) Administer pain medication
D) Coach the patient to take slow, deep breaths
Correct Answer: B) Perform a cervical examination to determine dilation
Rationale: The urge to push can occur before full dilation (10 cm). The nurse must first perform a
cervical examination to confirm complete dilation before allowing pushing. Pushing before full dilation
can cause cervical edema and injury.
5. Which of the following is a characteristic of the second stage of labor?
A) Delivery of the placenta
B) Onset of true labor contractions
C) Complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby
D) Recovery period immediately after birth
, Correct Answer: C) Complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby
Rationale: The second stage of labor begins with complete cervical dilation (10 cm) and ends with the
birth of the baby. The third stage involves placental delivery, and the fourth stage is the immediate
recovery period.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient in the fourth stage of labor. Which finding is a priority for the nurse to
monitor?
A) Maternal bonding with the newborn
B) Uterine firmness and lochia rubra
C) Initiation of breastfeeding
D) Pain level
Correct Answer: B) Uterine firmness and lochia rubra
Rationale: During the fourth stage (recovery, 1–2 hours post-delivery), the priority is to monitor uterine
firmness and lochia rubra to detect postpartum hemorrhage. Bonding and breastfeeding are important
but secondary to physiological assessments.
7. A nurse is teaching a patient about the cardinal movements of labor. Which movement involves the
fetal head rotating to align with the maternal pelvis?
A) Descent
B) Flexion
C) Internal rotation
D) Extension
Correct Answer: C) Internal rotation
Rationale: Internal rotation occurs when the fetal head rotates to align with the anteroposterior
diameter of the maternal pelvis. Descent is the downward movement, flexion is chin to chest, and
extension occurs as the head passes under the pubic symphysis.
