MATERNITY NURSING NCLEX STUDY GUIDE | COMPLETE MATERNAL-NEWBORN
NURSING NCLEX REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
The nursing student is preparing to teach a prenatal class about fetal circulation. Which statement
should be included in the teaching plan?
"One artery carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus."
2."Two arteries carry oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus."
3. "Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the fetus to the placenta."
4. "Two veins carry blood that is high in carbon dioxide and other waste products away from the fetus to
the placenta." - ANS ✔✔3. "Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the
fetus to the placenta."
A nursing student is assigned to care for a client in labor. The nursing instructor asks the student to
describe fetal circulation, specifically the ductus venosus. Which statement is correct regarding the
ductus venosus?
1. Connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta
2. Is an opening between the right and left atria
3. Connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava
4. Connects the umbilical artery to the inferior vena cava - ANS ✔✔3. Connects the umbilical vein to the
inferior vena cava
A pregnant client tells the clinic nurse that she wants to know the gender of her baby as soon as it can be
determined. The nurse understands that the client should be able to find out the gender at 12 weeks'
gestation because of which factor?
1. The appearance of the fetal external genitalia
2. The beginning of differentiation in the fetal groin
3. The fetal testes are descended into the scrotal sac
4. The internal differences in males and females become apparent - ANS ✔✔1. The appearance of the
fetal external genitalia
The nurse is performing an assessment on a client who is at 38 weeks' gestation and notes that the fetal
heart rate is 174 beats/minute. On the basis of this finding, what is the priority nursing action?
1. Document the finding.
, 2. Check the mother's heart rate.
3. Notify the health care provider (HCP).
4. Tell the client that the fetal heart rate is normal. - ANS ✔✔3. Notify the health care provider (HCP).
The nurse is conducting a prenatal class on the female reproductive system. When a client in the class
asks why the fertilized ovum stays in the fallopian tube for 3 days, what is the nurse's best response?
1. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's chances of survival."
2. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's exposure to estrogen and progesterone."
3. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus."
4. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's exposure to luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone."
- ANS ✔✔3. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus."
The nursing instructor asks a nursing student to list the characteristics of the amniotic fluid. The student
responds correctly by listing which as characteristics of amniotic fluid? Select all that apply.
1. Allows for fetal movement
2. Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus
3. Maintains the body temperature of the fetus
4. Can be used to measure fetal kidney function
5. Prevents large particles such as bacteria from passing to the fetus
6. Provides an exchange of nutrients and waste products between the mother and the fetus - ANS ✔✔1.
Allows for fetal movement
2. Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus
3. Maintains the body temperature of the fetus
4. Can be used to measure fetal kidney function
A couple comes to the family planning clinic and asks about sterilization procedures. Which question by
the nurse would determine whether this method of family planning would be most appropriate?
1. "Has either of you ever had surgery?"
2. "Do you plan to have any other children?"
NURSING NCLEX REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
The nursing student is preparing to teach a prenatal class about fetal circulation. Which statement
should be included in the teaching plan?
"One artery carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus."
2."Two arteries carry oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus."
3. "Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the fetus to the placenta."
4. "Two veins carry blood that is high in carbon dioxide and other waste products away from the fetus to
the placenta." - ANS ✔✔3. "Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the
fetus to the placenta."
A nursing student is assigned to care for a client in labor. The nursing instructor asks the student to
describe fetal circulation, specifically the ductus venosus. Which statement is correct regarding the
ductus venosus?
1. Connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta
2. Is an opening between the right and left atria
3. Connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava
4. Connects the umbilical artery to the inferior vena cava - ANS ✔✔3. Connects the umbilical vein to the
inferior vena cava
A pregnant client tells the clinic nurse that she wants to know the gender of her baby as soon as it can be
determined. The nurse understands that the client should be able to find out the gender at 12 weeks'
gestation because of which factor?
1. The appearance of the fetal external genitalia
2. The beginning of differentiation in the fetal groin
3. The fetal testes are descended into the scrotal sac
4. The internal differences in males and females become apparent - ANS ✔✔1. The appearance of the
fetal external genitalia
The nurse is performing an assessment on a client who is at 38 weeks' gestation and notes that the fetal
heart rate is 174 beats/minute. On the basis of this finding, what is the priority nursing action?
1. Document the finding.
, 2. Check the mother's heart rate.
3. Notify the health care provider (HCP).
4. Tell the client that the fetal heart rate is normal. - ANS ✔✔3. Notify the health care provider (HCP).
The nurse is conducting a prenatal class on the female reproductive system. When a client in the class
asks why the fertilized ovum stays in the fallopian tube for 3 days, what is the nurse's best response?
1. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's chances of survival."
2. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's exposure to estrogen and progesterone."
3. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus."
4. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's exposure to luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone."
- ANS ✔✔3. "It promotes the fertilized ovum's normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus."
The nursing instructor asks a nursing student to list the characteristics of the amniotic fluid. The student
responds correctly by listing which as characteristics of amniotic fluid? Select all that apply.
1. Allows for fetal movement
2. Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus
3. Maintains the body temperature of the fetus
4. Can be used to measure fetal kidney function
5. Prevents large particles such as bacteria from passing to the fetus
6. Provides an exchange of nutrients and waste products between the mother and the fetus - ANS ✔✔1.
Allows for fetal movement
2. Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus
3. Maintains the body temperature of the fetus
4. Can be used to measure fetal kidney function
A couple comes to the family planning clinic and asks about sterilization procedures. Which question by
the nurse would determine whether this method of family planning would be most appropriate?
1. "Has either of you ever had surgery?"
2. "Do you plan to have any other children?"
