RN MATERNAL NEWBORN EXAM–COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS-RATIONALES | EXAM
PREP | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF | GUARANTEED PASS ||
LATEST EXAM 2026-2027
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 10 weeks pregnant and reports persistent
vomiting, inability to tolerate fluids, and a 4-kg weight loss. Which finding requires
the nurse's greatest concern?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Increased urinary frequency
C. Serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/L
D. Food aversion
Severe vomiting can cause dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. A potassium level of 2.9
mEq/L indicates significant hypokalemia and requires prompt intervention because of the risk
for cardiac dysrhythmias and neuromuscular complications.
2. A client at 28 weeks of gestation asks why the nurse measures fundal height at
prenatal visits. Which response is most appropriate?
A. "It determines the fetal presentation."
B. "It estimates fetal growth and helps identify abnormal growth patterns."
C. "It confirms the fetal heart rate."
D. "It determines the exact gestational age."
Serial fundal-height measurements provide an indirect assessment of fetal growth and can
identify discrepancies that warrant further evaluation.
3. A pregnant client with Rh-negative blood type delivers an Rh-positive newborn.
Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Oxytocin
B. Magnesium sulfate
C. Methylergonovine
D. Rho(D) immune globulin
Rho(D) immune globulin prevents maternal sensitization to Rh-positive fetal red blood cells
and is administered to eligible Rh-negative clients after exposure to Rh-positive blood.
4. A client at 34 weeks of gestation reports painless, bright-red vaginal bleeding. The
uterus is soft and nontender. Which complication should the nurse suspect?
,A. Placenta previa
B. Abruptio placentae
C. Uterine rupture
D. Preterm labor
Painless, bright-red bleeding during the second half of pregnancy with a soft, nontender
uterus is characteristic of placenta previa.
5. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected abruptio placentae. Which finding is
most concerning?
A. Painless spotting
B. Soft abdomen
C. Rigid, tender uterus with abdominal pain
D. Increased fetal movement
Abruptio placentae commonly presents with painful vaginal bleeding, abdominal or back pain,
uterine tenderness, and increased uterine tone or rigidity.
6. A pregnant client asks which nutrient is especially important before conception and
during early pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Which response is
correct?
A. Vitamin C
B. Folic acid
C. Vitamin D
D. Calcium
Adequate folic acid intake before conception and during early pregnancy reduces the risk of
fetal neural tube defects.
7. A client receiving magnesium sulfate for severe preeclampsia has a respiratory rate
of 10/min, absent patellar reflexes, and increasing lethargy. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Increase the magnesium infusion
B. Place the client in a supine position
C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Stop the magnesium infusion
Absent reflexes, respiratory depression, and decreased level of consciousness are signs of
magnesium toxicity. The infusion should be stopped immediately and the provider notified;
calcium gluconate may be prescribed as the antidote.
8. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about warning signs that require immediate
evaluation. Which statement indicates correct understanding?
, A. "Severe headache with visual changes should be reported immediately."
B. "Mild ankle swelling always requires emergency care."
C. "Increased appetite is a warning sign."
D. "Urinary frequency during pregnancy is always abnormal."
Severe headache and visual disturbances can indicate severe hypertensive disease and require
prompt assessment.
9. A client with gestational diabetes asks why blood glucose control is important
during pregnancy. Which explanation is best?
A. "It prevents all pregnancy-related infections."
B. "It eliminates the need for prenatal testing."
C. "It reduces the risk of maternal and fetal complications."
D. "It guarantees that the newborn will have normal glucose levels."
Good glycemic control reduces risks associated with gestational diabetes, including excessive
fetal growth, birth complications, neonatal hypoglycemia, and other adverse outcomes.
10. A nurse is teaching a client who is 12 weeks pregnant about expected physiological
changes. Which finding is generally expected?
A. Severe unilateral calf pain
B. Persistent heavy vaginal bleeding
C. Sudden loss of consciousness
D. Increased urinary frequency
Increased urinary frequency is common during pregnancy because of hormonal changes and
pressure on the bladder.
11. A client at 39 weeks reports regular contractions occurring every 4 minutes for the
past hour. What should the nurse assess next?
A. Cervical dilation and effacement
B. Maternal dietary intake
C. Newborn bilirubin level
D. Breast milk production
Regular contractions near term require assessment of cervical change to determine whether
true labor is occurring and whether labor is progressing.
12. A laboring client asks how the nurse knows whether labor is progressing. Which
assessment provides the most direct evidence?
A. Maternal temperature
B. Cervical dilation and effacement
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS-RATIONALES | EXAM
PREP | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF | GUARANTEED PASS ||
LATEST EXAM 2026-2027
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is 10 weeks pregnant and reports persistent
vomiting, inability to tolerate fluids, and a 4-kg weight loss. Which finding requires
the nurse's greatest concern?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Increased urinary frequency
C. Serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/L
D. Food aversion
Severe vomiting can cause dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. A potassium level of 2.9
mEq/L indicates significant hypokalemia and requires prompt intervention because of the risk
for cardiac dysrhythmias and neuromuscular complications.
2. A client at 28 weeks of gestation asks why the nurse measures fundal height at
prenatal visits. Which response is most appropriate?
A. "It determines the fetal presentation."
B. "It estimates fetal growth and helps identify abnormal growth patterns."
C. "It confirms the fetal heart rate."
D. "It determines the exact gestational age."
Serial fundal-height measurements provide an indirect assessment of fetal growth and can
identify discrepancies that warrant further evaluation.
3. A pregnant client with Rh-negative blood type delivers an Rh-positive newborn.
Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Oxytocin
B. Magnesium sulfate
C. Methylergonovine
D. Rho(D) immune globulin
Rho(D) immune globulin prevents maternal sensitization to Rh-positive fetal red blood cells
and is administered to eligible Rh-negative clients after exposure to Rh-positive blood.
4. A client at 34 weeks of gestation reports painless, bright-red vaginal bleeding. The
uterus is soft and nontender. Which complication should the nurse suspect?
,A. Placenta previa
B. Abruptio placentae
C. Uterine rupture
D. Preterm labor
Painless, bright-red bleeding during the second half of pregnancy with a soft, nontender
uterus is characteristic of placenta previa.
5. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected abruptio placentae. Which finding is
most concerning?
A. Painless spotting
B. Soft abdomen
C. Rigid, tender uterus with abdominal pain
D. Increased fetal movement
Abruptio placentae commonly presents with painful vaginal bleeding, abdominal or back pain,
uterine tenderness, and increased uterine tone or rigidity.
6. A pregnant client asks which nutrient is especially important before conception and
during early pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Which response is
correct?
A. Vitamin C
B. Folic acid
C. Vitamin D
D. Calcium
Adequate folic acid intake before conception and during early pregnancy reduces the risk of
fetal neural tube defects.
7. A client receiving magnesium sulfate for severe preeclampsia has a respiratory rate
of 10/min, absent patellar reflexes, and increasing lethargy. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Increase the magnesium infusion
B. Place the client in a supine position
C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Stop the magnesium infusion
Absent reflexes, respiratory depression, and decreased level of consciousness are signs of
magnesium toxicity. The infusion should be stopped immediately and the provider notified;
calcium gluconate may be prescribed as the antidote.
8. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about warning signs that require immediate
evaluation. Which statement indicates correct understanding?
, A. "Severe headache with visual changes should be reported immediately."
B. "Mild ankle swelling always requires emergency care."
C. "Increased appetite is a warning sign."
D. "Urinary frequency during pregnancy is always abnormal."
Severe headache and visual disturbances can indicate severe hypertensive disease and require
prompt assessment.
9. A client with gestational diabetes asks why blood glucose control is important
during pregnancy. Which explanation is best?
A. "It prevents all pregnancy-related infections."
B. "It eliminates the need for prenatal testing."
C. "It reduces the risk of maternal and fetal complications."
D. "It guarantees that the newborn will have normal glucose levels."
Good glycemic control reduces risks associated with gestational diabetes, including excessive
fetal growth, birth complications, neonatal hypoglycemia, and other adverse outcomes.
10. A nurse is teaching a client who is 12 weeks pregnant about expected physiological
changes. Which finding is generally expected?
A. Severe unilateral calf pain
B. Persistent heavy vaginal bleeding
C. Sudden loss of consciousness
D. Increased urinary frequency
Increased urinary frequency is common during pregnancy because of hormonal changes and
pressure on the bladder.
11. A client at 39 weeks reports regular contractions occurring every 4 minutes for the
past hour. What should the nurse assess next?
A. Cervical dilation and effacement
B. Maternal dietary intake
C. Newborn bilirubin level
D. Breast milk production
Regular contractions near term require assessment of cervical change to determine whether
true labor is occurring and whether labor is progressing.
12. A laboring client asks how the nurse knows whether labor is progressing. Which
assessment provides the most direct evidence?
A. Maternal temperature
B. Cervical dilation and effacement
