GAL E N C O L L E GE OF N U R S IN G
NUR 231 · M AT E R N A L N U R S I N G · EXAM 1
Maternal Nursing
Practice Examination
Seventy NCLEX-style multiple-choice questions covering
antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care —
each with the correct answer and a full rationale for
immediate review.
S TU DEN T N AM E
DATE
S CO RE / 70
2 0 2 6 E D I T I O N · Q U E S T I O N S · A N S WE R S & R AT I O N A L
ES
,NUR 231 Maternal Nursing Exam 1 (2026) - Practice Examination
NUR 231 · GALEN MATERNAL NURSING
Exam 1 - Practice Examination
70 Questions · Single Best Answer · Time Allowed: 90 Minutes · Total Score: 70 Points
(1 point per question)
DIRECTIONS: Read each question carefully and select the single best answer among options A through D. The
correct answer and a full rationale follow each question so you can check your reasoning immediately. For test
simulation, cover the answer block and commit to your first choice before revealing it. Score one point for each
correct answer; a passing score is the benchmark set by your course syllabus.
1. A client's last menstrual period (LMP) began on February 10. Using
Naegele's rule, which estimated date of delivery (EDD) should the nurse
document?
A. November 3
B. November 17
C. October 27
D. December 1
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Naegele's rule requires subtracting 3 months from the first day of the
LMP, adding 7 days, and adjusting the year. February 10 minus 3 months is
November 10 of the previous year; adding 7 days gives November 17. The other
options result from subtracting days or misapplying the rule, which would
misdate the pregnancy and could lead to inappropriate timing of antenatal testing
or interventions.
2. A client is pregnant for the fourth time. She delivered one infant at term,
delivered one set of premature twins (both living), and had one first-trimester
miscarriage. How should the nurse document her GTPAL?
A. G4 T1 P2 A1 L2
B. G4 T1 P1 A1 L2
C. G4 T1 P1 A1 L3
Maternal Nursing Practice Examination 1
,NUR 231 Maternal Nursing Exam 1 (2026) - Practice Examination
D. G4 T2 P1 A1 L3
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Gravida counts every pregnancy, so this client is G4. She has one
term delivery (T1), one preterm delivery (P1 - the twin pregnancy counts as ONE
preterm delivery even though two infants were born), one miscarriage (A1), and
three living children (L3 - both twins plus the term infant). Twins count as one
pregnancy for gravida, para, and delivery counts, but as two for living children.
Maternal Nursing Practice Examination 2
, NUR 231 Maternal Nursing Exam 1 (2026) - Practice Examination
3. Which assessment finding is a positive (diagnostic) sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea for 8 weeks
B. A positive result on a home pregnancy test
C. Fetal heart tones detected by Doppler at 12 weeks' gestation
D. Breast tenderness and enlargement
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Positive signs of pregnancy are attributable only to the presence of
a fetus: audible fetal heart tones, fetal movement palpated by the examiner, and
visualization of the fetus on ultrasound. Amenorrhea and breast tenderness are
presumptive signs (subjective changes), while a positive pregnancy test is only
a probable sign because hCG can be elevated from nonpregnancy causes such
as molar disease.
4. A nurse is counseling a client who is planning to become pregnant about
nutritional supplementation. Which daily dose of folic acid should the nurse
recommend to reduce the risk of neural tube defects?
A. 100 mcg
B. 1,000 mcg
C. 400 mcg
D. 4,000 mcg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: All women of childbearing age should consume 400 mcg of folic
acid daily, beginning at least 1 to 3 months before conception, because the neural
tube closes by week 4 of gestation - often before the client knows she is pregnant.
A higher dose of 4 mg (4,000 mcg) daily is reserved for clients with a previous
pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect.
5. A multigravida at her second prenatal visit reports feeling fetal movement for the
first time. The nurse recognizes that quickening in a multigravid client is expected
at which gestational age?
A. 8 to 10 weeks
Maternal Nursing Practice Examination 3
NUR 231 · M AT E R N A L N U R S I N G · EXAM 1
Maternal Nursing
Practice Examination
Seventy NCLEX-style multiple-choice questions covering
antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care —
each with the correct answer and a full rationale for
immediate review.
S TU DEN T N AM E
DATE
S CO RE / 70
2 0 2 6 E D I T I O N · Q U E S T I O N S · A N S WE R S & R AT I O N A L
ES
,NUR 231 Maternal Nursing Exam 1 (2026) - Practice Examination
NUR 231 · GALEN MATERNAL NURSING
Exam 1 - Practice Examination
70 Questions · Single Best Answer · Time Allowed: 90 Minutes · Total Score: 70 Points
(1 point per question)
DIRECTIONS: Read each question carefully and select the single best answer among options A through D. The
correct answer and a full rationale follow each question so you can check your reasoning immediately. For test
simulation, cover the answer block and commit to your first choice before revealing it. Score one point for each
correct answer; a passing score is the benchmark set by your course syllabus.
1. A client's last menstrual period (LMP) began on February 10. Using
Naegele's rule, which estimated date of delivery (EDD) should the nurse
document?
A. November 3
B. November 17
C. October 27
D. December 1
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Naegele's rule requires subtracting 3 months from the first day of the
LMP, adding 7 days, and adjusting the year. February 10 minus 3 months is
November 10 of the previous year; adding 7 days gives November 17. The other
options result from subtracting days or misapplying the rule, which would
misdate the pregnancy and could lead to inappropriate timing of antenatal testing
or interventions.
2. A client is pregnant for the fourth time. She delivered one infant at term,
delivered one set of premature twins (both living), and had one first-trimester
miscarriage. How should the nurse document her GTPAL?
A. G4 T1 P2 A1 L2
B. G4 T1 P1 A1 L2
C. G4 T1 P1 A1 L3
Maternal Nursing Practice Examination 1
,NUR 231 Maternal Nursing Exam 1 (2026) - Practice Examination
D. G4 T2 P1 A1 L3
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Gravida counts every pregnancy, so this client is G4. She has one
term delivery (T1), one preterm delivery (P1 - the twin pregnancy counts as ONE
preterm delivery even though two infants were born), one miscarriage (A1), and
three living children (L3 - both twins plus the term infant). Twins count as one
pregnancy for gravida, para, and delivery counts, but as two for living children.
Maternal Nursing Practice Examination 2
, NUR 231 Maternal Nursing Exam 1 (2026) - Practice Examination
3. Which assessment finding is a positive (diagnostic) sign of pregnancy?
A. Amenorrhea for 8 weeks
B. A positive result on a home pregnancy test
C. Fetal heart tones detected by Doppler at 12 weeks' gestation
D. Breast tenderness and enlargement
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Positive signs of pregnancy are attributable only to the presence of
a fetus: audible fetal heart tones, fetal movement palpated by the examiner, and
visualization of the fetus on ultrasound. Amenorrhea and breast tenderness are
presumptive signs (subjective changes), while a positive pregnancy test is only
a probable sign because hCG can be elevated from nonpregnancy causes such
as molar disease.
4. A nurse is counseling a client who is planning to become pregnant about
nutritional supplementation. Which daily dose of folic acid should the nurse
recommend to reduce the risk of neural tube defects?
A. 100 mcg
B. 1,000 mcg
C. 400 mcg
D. 4,000 mcg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: All women of childbearing age should consume 400 mcg of folic
acid daily, beginning at least 1 to 3 months before conception, because the neural
tube closes by week 4 of gestation - often before the client knows she is pregnant.
A higher dose of 4 mg (4,000 mcg) daily is reserved for clients with a previous
pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect.
5. A multigravida at her second prenatal visit reports feeling fetal movement for the
first time. The nurse recognizes that quickening in a multigravid client is expected
at which gestational age?
A. 8 to 10 weeks
Maternal Nursing Practice Examination 3
