NSG 3500 Exam 2 Review
Questions & Answers | Galen
College of Nursing
Based on the publicly documented NSG 3500 Exam 2 blueprint, this exam covers
Intrapartum Nursing Care (labor stages, fetal monitoring, complications), Postpartum
Assessment (BUBBLE-HE, fundal assessment, lochia, hemorrhage), and related
medications. Below are 100 practice questions with rationales built from these core
topics.
Section 1: Stages of Labor & True vs. False Labor (Questions
1–25)
Question 1: The first stage of labor begins with which of the following events?
A. Full cervical dilation
B. Delivery of the placenta
C. Onset of true labor contractions
D. Rupture of membranes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The first stage of labor begins with the onset of true labor contractions and
ends with full cervical dilation at 10 cm. Full dilation marks the transition to the second
stage.
,Question 2: During the latent phase of the first stage of labor, contractions are typically:
A. 2-3 minutes apart, lasting 60-90 seconds
B. 5-10 minutes apart, lasting 30-45 seconds
C. 1-2 minutes apart, lasting 90 seconds
D. Irregular and unpredictable
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The latent phase is characterized by mild contractions occurring every 5 to
10 minutes and lasting 30 to 45 seconds, with cervical dilation of 1 to 3 cm.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing a patient in the active phase of the first stage of labor.
Which finding indicates that the patient is progressing through this phase?
A. Cervical dilation from 4 to 7 cm
B. Contractions every 10 minutes
C. Cervical dilation of 8 cm
D. Maternal talkativeness and engagement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The active phase is characterized by cervical dilation progressing from 4 to 8
cm with moderate to strong contractions every 2 to 5 minutes. Cervical dilation of 8 cm
indicates the transition phase.
Question 4: A laboring patient in the transition phase reports an overwhelming urge to
push. The nurse should first:
,A. Encourage the patient to push with each contraction
B. Perform a cervical examination to determine dilation
C. Administer pain medication
D. Coach the patient to take slow, deep breaths
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The urge to push can occur before full dilation (10 cm). The nurse must first
perform a cervical examination to confirm complete dilation before allowing pushing.
Pushing before full dilation can cause cervical edema and injury.
Question 5: Which of the following is a characteristic of the second stage of labor?
A. Delivery of the placenta
B. Complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby
C. Recovery period immediately after birth
D. Onset of true labor contractions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The second stage of labor begins with complete cervical dilation (10 cm) and
ends with the birth of the baby. The third stage involves placental delivery, and the
fourth stage is the immediate recovery period.
Question 6: A nurse is assessing a patient in the fourth stage of labor. Which finding is a
priority for the nurse to monitor?
, A. Maternal bonding with the newborn
B. Uterine firmness and lochia rubra
C. Initiation of breastfeeding
D. Pain level
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During the fourth stage (recovery, 1-2 hours post-delivery), the priority is to
monitor uterine firmness and lochia rubra to detect postpartum hemorrhage. Bonding
and breastfeeding are important but secondary to physiological assessments.
Question 7: A nurse is teaching a patient about the cardinal movements of labor. Which
movement involves the fetal head rotating to align with the maternal pelvis?
A. Descent
B. Flexion
C. Internal rotation
D. Extension
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Internal rotation occurs when the fetal head rotates to align with the
anteroposterior diameter of the maternal pelvis. Descent is the downward movement,
flexion is chin to chest, and extension occurs as the head passes under the pubic
symphysis.
Question 8: A patient asks the nurse about the signs of true labor. Which of the
following is a characteristic of true labor?
Questions & Answers | Galen
College of Nursing
Based on the publicly documented NSG 3500 Exam 2 blueprint, this exam covers
Intrapartum Nursing Care (labor stages, fetal monitoring, complications), Postpartum
Assessment (BUBBLE-HE, fundal assessment, lochia, hemorrhage), and related
medications. Below are 100 practice questions with rationales built from these core
topics.
Section 1: Stages of Labor & True vs. False Labor (Questions
1–25)
Question 1: The first stage of labor begins with which of the following events?
A. Full cervical dilation
B. Delivery of the placenta
C. Onset of true labor contractions
D. Rupture of membranes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The first stage of labor begins with the onset of true labor contractions and
ends with full cervical dilation at 10 cm. Full dilation marks the transition to the second
stage.
,Question 2: During the latent phase of the first stage of labor, contractions are typically:
A. 2-3 minutes apart, lasting 60-90 seconds
B. 5-10 minutes apart, lasting 30-45 seconds
C. 1-2 minutes apart, lasting 90 seconds
D. Irregular and unpredictable
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The latent phase is characterized by mild contractions occurring every 5 to
10 minutes and lasting 30 to 45 seconds, with cervical dilation of 1 to 3 cm.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing a patient in the active phase of the first stage of labor.
Which finding indicates that the patient is progressing through this phase?
A. Cervical dilation from 4 to 7 cm
B. Contractions every 10 minutes
C. Cervical dilation of 8 cm
D. Maternal talkativeness and engagement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The active phase is characterized by cervical dilation progressing from 4 to 8
cm with moderate to strong contractions every 2 to 5 minutes. Cervical dilation of 8 cm
indicates the transition phase.
Question 4: A laboring patient in the transition phase reports an overwhelming urge to
push. The nurse should first:
,A. Encourage the patient to push with each contraction
B. Perform a cervical examination to determine dilation
C. Administer pain medication
D. Coach the patient to take slow, deep breaths
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The urge to push can occur before full dilation (10 cm). The nurse must first
perform a cervical examination to confirm complete dilation before allowing pushing.
Pushing before full dilation can cause cervical edema and injury.
Question 5: Which of the following is a characteristic of the second stage of labor?
A. Delivery of the placenta
B. Complete cervical dilation to birth of the baby
C. Recovery period immediately after birth
D. Onset of true labor contractions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The second stage of labor begins with complete cervical dilation (10 cm) and
ends with the birth of the baby. The third stage involves placental delivery, and the
fourth stage is the immediate recovery period.
Question 6: A nurse is assessing a patient in the fourth stage of labor. Which finding is a
priority for the nurse to monitor?
, A. Maternal bonding with the newborn
B. Uterine firmness and lochia rubra
C. Initiation of breastfeeding
D. Pain level
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During the fourth stage (recovery, 1-2 hours post-delivery), the priority is to
monitor uterine firmness and lochia rubra to detect postpartum hemorrhage. Bonding
and breastfeeding are important but secondary to physiological assessments.
Question 7: A nurse is teaching a patient about the cardinal movements of labor. Which
movement involves the fetal head rotating to align with the maternal pelvis?
A. Descent
B. Flexion
C. Internal rotation
D. Extension
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Internal rotation occurs when the fetal head rotates to align with the
anteroposterior diameter of the maternal pelvis. Descent is the downward movement,
flexion is chin to chest, and extension occurs as the head passes under the pubic
symphysis.
Question 8: A patient asks the nurse about the signs of true labor. Which of the
following is a characteristic of true labor?
