ATI RN Capstone Maternal-Newborn and Women's
Health Comprehensive Questions with Answers &
Detailed Rationales
ATI RN Capstone Maternal-Newborn and Women's Health Content
Areas (Approximate Weighting):
• Antepartum Care (25–35%)
• Intrapartum Care (20–30%)
• Postpartum Care (20–25%)
• Newborn Care (20–25%)
• Women's Health & Reproduction
Section 1: Antepartum Care (Q1–Q25)
Q1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is at 8 weeks of
gestation about manifestations to report to the provider. Which of the
following findings should the nurse include?
A. Nausea upon awakening
B. Blurred or double vision
C. Increase in white vaginal discharge
D. Leg cramps when sleeping
Answer: B
Rationale: Blurred or double vision can indicate preeclampsia or
gestational hypertension and should be reported immediately. Nausea
upon awakening is a common manifestation of early pregnancy (morning
sickness). Increased white vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) is normal in
pregnancy. Leg cramps are common due to changes in circulation and
calcium-phosphorus balance.
,Q2. A nurse is teaching a client about signs of preterm labor. Which
finding should the client report immediately?
A. Increased Braxton Hicks contractions
B. Low back pain that comes and goes
C. Menstrual-like cramping with diarrhea
D. Fetal movement greater than 10 per hour
Answer: C
Rationale: Menstrual-like cramping with diarrhea can indicate preterm
labor and should be reported immediately. Increased Braxton Hicks
contractions are normal and irregular. Low back pain without a regular
pattern may be normal. Fetal movement greater than 10 per hour is
reassuring.
Q3. A client at 32 weeks of gestation reports sudden, painless, bright
red vaginal bleeding. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Placental abruption
B. Placenta previa
C. Preterm labor
D. Uterine rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: Painless bright red vaginal bleeding in the second or third
trimester is characteristic of placenta previa, where the placenta implants in
the lower uterus and obstructs the cervical os. Placental abruption typically
presents with painful bleeding and a rigid, tender uterus. Preterm labor
presents with contractions and cervical changes. Uterine rupture is
associated with severe abdominal pain and fetal distress.
Q4. A client with placental abruption will most likely present with
which of the following?
A. Painless bleeding
,B. Severe abdominal pain and uterine tenderness
C. No bleeding
D. Increased fetal movement
Answer: B
Rationale: Placental abruption causes painful bleeding with a firm, tender
uterus due to premature separation of the placenta. Painless bleeding is
characteristic of placenta previa. While some bleeding may be concealed,
the hallmark is pain.
Q5. A nurse is calculating the estimated date of delivery (EDD) using
Naegele's rule for a client whose last menstrual period (LMP) was
April 1st. What is the EDD?
A. January 8
B. January 1
C. December 25
D. January 15
Answer: A
Rationale: Naegele's rule: subtract 3 months and add 7 days to the first
day of the LMP. April 1 − 3 months = January 1; + 7 days = January 8.
Q6. A client at 32 weeks of gestation presents with blood pressure
158/98 mm Hg, 3+ proteinuria, hyperreflexia, and persistent RUQ pain.
Fetal movement is decreased. Which condition should the nurse
suspect?
A. Gestational hypertension
B. Preeclampsia with severe features
C. Chronic hypertension
D. Eclampsia
Answer: B
Rationale: Preeclampsia with severe features is characterized by BP
≥160/110 mm Hg, proteinuria, hyperreflexia, RUQ pain (indicating liver
, involvement), and decreased fetal movement. Eclampsia would include
seizures.
Q7. A nurse is caring for a client receiving magnesium sulfate for
preeclampsia. Which finding indicates magnesium toxicity?
A. Respiratory rate 18/min
B. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
C. Respiratory rate 10/min and absent reflexes
D. Blood pressure 130/80 mm Hg
Answer: C
Rationale: Magnesium toxicity causes respiratory depression, absent
reflexes, and decreased urine output. The antidote is calcium gluconate.
Q8. A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client at 29 weeks of
gestation. Which finding should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Hemoglobin 11.5 g/dL
B. Platelet count 95,000/mm³
C. WBC 9,000/mm³
D. Blood glucose 85 mg/dL
Answer: B
Rationale: Platelet count <100,000/mm³ may indicate HELLP syndrome or
severe preeclampsia and requires immediate reporting.
Q9. A client is Rh-negative and her partner is Rh-positive. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate administering at 28 weeks?
A. Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM)
B. Oxytocin
C. Magnesium sulfate
D. Betamethasone
Health Comprehensive Questions with Answers &
Detailed Rationales
ATI RN Capstone Maternal-Newborn and Women's Health Content
Areas (Approximate Weighting):
• Antepartum Care (25–35%)
• Intrapartum Care (20–30%)
• Postpartum Care (20–25%)
• Newborn Care (20–25%)
• Women's Health & Reproduction
Section 1: Antepartum Care (Q1–Q25)
Q1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is at 8 weeks of
gestation about manifestations to report to the provider. Which of the
following findings should the nurse include?
A. Nausea upon awakening
B. Blurred or double vision
C. Increase in white vaginal discharge
D. Leg cramps when sleeping
Answer: B
Rationale: Blurred or double vision can indicate preeclampsia or
gestational hypertension and should be reported immediately. Nausea
upon awakening is a common manifestation of early pregnancy (morning
sickness). Increased white vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) is normal in
pregnancy. Leg cramps are common due to changes in circulation and
calcium-phosphorus balance.
,Q2. A nurse is teaching a client about signs of preterm labor. Which
finding should the client report immediately?
A. Increased Braxton Hicks contractions
B. Low back pain that comes and goes
C. Menstrual-like cramping with diarrhea
D. Fetal movement greater than 10 per hour
Answer: C
Rationale: Menstrual-like cramping with diarrhea can indicate preterm
labor and should be reported immediately. Increased Braxton Hicks
contractions are normal and irregular. Low back pain without a regular
pattern may be normal. Fetal movement greater than 10 per hour is
reassuring.
Q3. A client at 32 weeks of gestation reports sudden, painless, bright
red vaginal bleeding. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Placental abruption
B. Placenta previa
C. Preterm labor
D. Uterine rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: Painless bright red vaginal bleeding in the second or third
trimester is characteristic of placenta previa, where the placenta implants in
the lower uterus and obstructs the cervical os. Placental abruption typically
presents with painful bleeding and a rigid, tender uterus. Preterm labor
presents with contractions and cervical changes. Uterine rupture is
associated with severe abdominal pain and fetal distress.
Q4. A client with placental abruption will most likely present with
which of the following?
A. Painless bleeding
,B. Severe abdominal pain and uterine tenderness
C. No bleeding
D. Increased fetal movement
Answer: B
Rationale: Placental abruption causes painful bleeding with a firm, tender
uterus due to premature separation of the placenta. Painless bleeding is
characteristic of placenta previa. While some bleeding may be concealed,
the hallmark is pain.
Q5. A nurse is calculating the estimated date of delivery (EDD) using
Naegele's rule for a client whose last menstrual period (LMP) was
April 1st. What is the EDD?
A. January 8
B. January 1
C. December 25
D. January 15
Answer: A
Rationale: Naegele's rule: subtract 3 months and add 7 days to the first
day of the LMP. April 1 − 3 months = January 1; + 7 days = January 8.
Q6. A client at 32 weeks of gestation presents with blood pressure
158/98 mm Hg, 3+ proteinuria, hyperreflexia, and persistent RUQ pain.
Fetal movement is decreased. Which condition should the nurse
suspect?
A. Gestational hypertension
B. Preeclampsia with severe features
C. Chronic hypertension
D. Eclampsia
Answer: B
Rationale: Preeclampsia with severe features is characterized by BP
≥160/110 mm Hg, proteinuria, hyperreflexia, RUQ pain (indicating liver
, involvement), and decreased fetal movement. Eclampsia would include
seizures.
Q7. A nurse is caring for a client receiving magnesium sulfate for
preeclampsia. Which finding indicates magnesium toxicity?
A. Respiratory rate 18/min
B. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
C. Respiratory rate 10/min and absent reflexes
D. Blood pressure 130/80 mm Hg
Answer: C
Rationale: Magnesium toxicity causes respiratory depression, absent
reflexes, and decreased urine output. The antidote is calcium gluconate.
Q8. A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client at 29 weeks of
gestation. Which finding should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Hemoglobin 11.5 g/dL
B. Platelet count 95,000/mm³
C. WBC 9,000/mm³
D. Blood glucose 85 mg/dL
Answer: B
Rationale: Platelet count <100,000/mm³ may indicate HELLP syndrome or
severe preeclampsia and requires immediate reporting.
Q9. A client is Rh-negative and her partner is Rh-positive. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate administering at 28 weeks?
A. Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM)
B. Oxytocin
C. Magnesium sulfate
D. Betamethasone
