NUR 3500 MATERNAL AND NEWBORN CARE COMPLETE
FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 | MATERNITY & NEWBORN
NURSING EXAM PREP | PRACTICE Q&A | CORRECT
ANSWERS | HIGH-YIELD CONCEPTS | LATEST UPDATE
1. What is the primary action that should be taken immediately after an
amniotomy?
Document the procedure.
Monitor the fetal heart rate.
Administer pain relief medication.
Check the mother's vital signs.
2. What is the immediate priority action when a patient experiences bleeding in
late pregnancy?
Administer intravenous fluids.
Assess the maternal and fetal status.
Notify the physician.
Prepare for an emergency cesarean section.
3. What is a common symptom associated with ectopic pregnancy that a nurse
should monitor for?
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Fatigue
Headache
,4. A patient is using superabsorbent tampons during her menstrual cycle. What
advice should the nurse provide to minimize her risk of developing toxic
shock syndrome (TSS)?
Use tampons continuously for up to 12 hours.
Change tampons every 4-6 hours and use the lowest absorbency
necessary.
Only use tampons during the night.
Switch to pads exclusively for the entire menstrual cycle.
5. The Coombs direct test
Measures serum complement levels
Measures cold agglutinins in primary atypical pneumonia patients
Detects nonagglutinating anti-Rh antibody in maternal circulation
Detects nonagglutinating anti-Rh antibody on infants red blood
cells
6. If a newborn is having difficulty latching during breastfeeding, what should
the nurse advise the mother regarding the positioning of the nipple?
The mother should only offer the tip of the nipple.
The mother should wait until the newborn is more awake.
The mother should use a breast pump instead.
The mother should ensure that as much of the nipple as possible is
in the newborn's mouth.
7. You look at the monitor and notice late decelerations. What is the priority
nursing action?:
, call the doctor
prep patient for ER
nothing; this is normal
help patient roll on her side
8. Describe the significance of the number of arteries and veins in the umbilical
cord for fetal health.
Having 3 arteries indicates a healthier fetus.
The presence of 2 arteries and 1 vein in the umbilical cord is
essential for providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus while
removing waste products.
The umbilical cord's structure is irrelevant to fetal health.
1 artery and 2 veins are necessary for proper fetal circulation.
9. Describe the significance of a fetal heart rate deceleration pattern occurring
after the peak during external monitoring.
It indicates a stable fetal condition.
It may indicate fetal distress and requires further assessment.
It shows normal fetal well-being.
It suggests the need for immediate delivery.
10. In a scenario where a pregnant woman has a family history of genetic
disorders, what action should the nurse take prior to chorionic villus
sampling?
Provide genetic counseling to the patient.
Prepare the patient for a cesarean section.
, Schedule an ultrasound for fetal monitoring.
Administer pain relief medication.
11. A nurses caring for a client who is in preterm labor (occurs when regular
contractions result in the opening of your cervix after week 20 and before
week 37 of pregnancy) and is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which of the
following client data is most important for the nurse to monitor?
Maternal deep-tendon reflexes
Maternal urinary output
Maternal respirations
Fetal heart rate
12. In a scenario where a patient with shoulder dystocia shows signs of fetal
distress, what immediate action should the healthcare provider take?
Increase the frequency of fetal heart rate monitoring
Administer medication to lower maternal blood pressure
Implement maneuvers to relieve the shoulder dystocia
Prepare for an emergency cesarean section
13. What is the primary indicator of fetal lung maturity used to determine the
timing of a C-section?
Lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S ratio)
Fetal heart rate variability
Maternal blood pressure
Amniotic fluid volume
FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 | MATERNITY & NEWBORN
NURSING EXAM PREP | PRACTICE Q&A | CORRECT
ANSWERS | HIGH-YIELD CONCEPTS | LATEST UPDATE
1. What is the primary action that should be taken immediately after an
amniotomy?
Document the procedure.
Monitor the fetal heart rate.
Administer pain relief medication.
Check the mother's vital signs.
2. What is the immediate priority action when a patient experiences bleeding in
late pregnancy?
Administer intravenous fluids.
Assess the maternal and fetal status.
Notify the physician.
Prepare for an emergency cesarean section.
3. What is a common symptom associated with ectopic pregnancy that a nurse
should monitor for?
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Fatigue
Headache
,4. A patient is using superabsorbent tampons during her menstrual cycle. What
advice should the nurse provide to minimize her risk of developing toxic
shock syndrome (TSS)?
Use tampons continuously for up to 12 hours.
Change tampons every 4-6 hours and use the lowest absorbency
necessary.
Only use tampons during the night.
Switch to pads exclusively for the entire menstrual cycle.
5. The Coombs direct test
Measures serum complement levels
Measures cold agglutinins in primary atypical pneumonia patients
Detects nonagglutinating anti-Rh antibody in maternal circulation
Detects nonagglutinating anti-Rh antibody on infants red blood
cells
6. If a newborn is having difficulty latching during breastfeeding, what should
the nurse advise the mother regarding the positioning of the nipple?
The mother should only offer the tip of the nipple.
The mother should wait until the newborn is more awake.
The mother should use a breast pump instead.
The mother should ensure that as much of the nipple as possible is
in the newborn's mouth.
7. You look at the monitor and notice late decelerations. What is the priority
nursing action?:
, call the doctor
prep patient for ER
nothing; this is normal
help patient roll on her side
8. Describe the significance of the number of arteries and veins in the umbilical
cord for fetal health.
Having 3 arteries indicates a healthier fetus.
The presence of 2 arteries and 1 vein in the umbilical cord is
essential for providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus while
removing waste products.
The umbilical cord's structure is irrelevant to fetal health.
1 artery and 2 veins are necessary for proper fetal circulation.
9. Describe the significance of a fetal heart rate deceleration pattern occurring
after the peak during external monitoring.
It indicates a stable fetal condition.
It may indicate fetal distress and requires further assessment.
It shows normal fetal well-being.
It suggests the need for immediate delivery.
10. In a scenario where a pregnant woman has a family history of genetic
disorders, what action should the nurse take prior to chorionic villus
sampling?
Provide genetic counseling to the patient.
Prepare the patient for a cesarean section.
, Schedule an ultrasound for fetal monitoring.
Administer pain relief medication.
11. A nurses caring for a client who is in preterm labor (occurs when regular
contractions result in the opening of your cervix after week 20 and before
week 37 of pregnancy) and is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which of the
following client data is most important for the nurse to monitor?
Maternal deep-tendon reflexes
Maternal urinary output
Maternal respirations
Fetal heart rate
12. In a scenario where a patient with shoulder dystocia shows signs of fetal
distress, what immediate action should the healthcare provider take?
Increase the frequency of fetal heart rate monitoring
Administer medication to lower maternal blood pressure
Implement maneuvers to relieve the shoulder dystocia
Prepare for an emergency cesarean section
13. What is the primary indicator of fetal lung maturity used to determine the
timing of a C-section?
Lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S ratio)
Fetal heart rate variability
Maternal blood pressure
Amniotic fluid volume
