,2026/2027 Galen College of Nursing NUR254 Concepts of Nursing:
The Childbearing and Child Caring Families | Questions, Answers
& Detailed Rationales.
An adult reports amenorrhea, fatigue, nausea, and breast tenderness. How should
these findings be classified?
A) Positive signs of pregnancy
B) Presumptive signs of pregnancy
C) Probable signs of pregnancy
D) Diagnostic signs of fetal viability
Correct Answer: Presumptive signs of pregnancy
Rationale: Presumptive signs are subjective changes experienced by the pregnant person,
such as amenorrhea, nausea, fatigue, urinary frequency, and breast tenderness. They
suggest pregnancy but are not diagnostic because other conditions can produce similar
manifestations.
2. Which finding is considered a probable rather than presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A) Fatigue
B) Positive urine pregnancy test
C) Nausea
D) Breast tenderness
Correct Answer: Positive urine pregnancy test
Rationale: A positive pregnancy test is classified as a probable sign because it objectively
identifies human chorionic gonadotropin. It strongly suggests pregnancy but is not
absolutely diagnostic because rare nonpregnancy conditions can also produce hCG.
3. Which finding provides positive evidence of pregnancy?
A) Fetal cardiac activity detected by appropriate assessment
B) Chadwick sign
C) Amenorrhea
D) Positive serum hCG
Correct Answer: Fetal cardiac activity detected by appropriate assessment
Rationale: Positive signs are findings attributable directly to the fetus, such as fetal cardiac
activity, visualization of the fetus, or fetal movement detected by an examiner. Probable
and presumptive signs do not independently establish fetal presence.
4. During a prenatal assessment, the cervix is noted to be softened. This finding is
known as:
A) Chadwick sign
, B) Goodell sign
C) Hegar sign
D) Ballottement
Correct Answer: Goodell sign
Rationale: Goodell sign refers to softening of the cervix caused by increased vascularity
during pregnancy. Hegar sign refers to softening of the lower uterine segment, while
Chadwick sign is a bluish discoloration of the cervix and vaginal mucosa.
5. Bluish discoloration of the cervix and vaginal mucosa during early pregnancy is
called:
A) Chadwick sign
B) Goodell sign
C) Hegar sign
D) McDonald sign
Correct Answer: Chadwick sign
Rationale: Chadwick sign results from increased vascularity and venous congestion of the
cervix and vagina during pregnancy, producing a bluish or violet color.
6. Softening of the lower uterine segment during early pregnancy is:
A) Goodell sign
B) Hegar sign
C) Chadwick sign
D) Braxton Hicks sign
Correct Answer: Hegar sign
Rationale: Hegar sign describes softening and compressibility of the lower uterine segment.
It is a probable sign of pregnancy.
7. A patient whose last menstrual period began May 10 asks for the estimated date of
birth using Naegele’s rule. Which date is correct?
A) February 17
B) February 10
C) January 17
D) March 17
Correct Answer: February 17
Rationale: Naegele’s rule adds 7 days to the first day of the last menstrual period, subtracts
3 months, and adds 1 year. May 10 becomes May 17, then February 17 of the following
year.
The Childbearing and Child Caring Families | Questions, Answers
& Detailed Rationales.
An adult reports amenorrhea, fatigue, nausea, and breast tenderness. How should
these findings be classified?
A) Positive signs of pregnancy
B) Presumptive signs of pregnancy
C) Probable signs of pregnancy
D) Diagnostic signs of fetal viability
Correct Answer: Presumptive signs of pregnancy
Rationale: Presumptive signs are subjective changes experienced by the pregnant person,
such as amenorrhea, nausea, fatigue, urinary frequency, and breast tenderness. They
suggest pregnancy but are not diagnostic because other conditions can produce similar
manifestations.
2. Which finding is considered a probable rather than presumptive sign of pregnancy?
A) Fatigue
B) Positive urine pregnancy test
C) Nausea
D) Breast tenderness
Correct Answer: Positive urine pregnancy test
Rationale: A positive pregnancy test is classified as a probable sign because it objectively
identifies human chorionic gonadotropin. It strongly suggests pregnancy but is not
absolutely diagnostic because rare nonpregnancy conditions can also produce hCG.
3. Which finding provides positive evidence of pregnancy?
A) Fetal cardiac activity detected by appropriate assessment
B) Chadwick sign
C) Amenorrhea
D) Positive serum hCG
Correct Answer: Fetal cardiac activity detected by appropriate assessment
Rationale: Positive signs are findings attributable directly to the fetus, such as fetal cardiac
activity, visualization of the fetus, or fetal movement detected by an examiner. Probable
and presumptive signs do not independently establish fetal presence.
4. During a prenatal assessment, the cervix is noted to be softened. This finding is
known as:
A) Chadwick sign
, B) Goodell sign
C) Hegar sign
D) Ballottement
Correct Answer: Goodell sign
Rationale: Goodell sign refers to softening of the cervix caused by increased vascularity
during pregnancy. Hegar sign refers to softening of the lower uterine segment, while
Chadwick sign is a bluish discoloration of the cervix and vaginal mucosa.
5. Bluish discoloration of the cervix and vaginal mucosa during early pregnancy is
called:
A) Chadwick sign
B) Goodell sign
C) Hegar sign
D) McDonald sign
Correct Answer: Chadwick sign
Rationale: Chadwick sign results from increased vascularity and venous congestion of the
cervix and vagina during pregnancy, producing a bluish or violet color.
6. Softening of the lower uterine segment during early pregnancy is:
A) Goodell sign
B) Hegar sign
C) Chadwick sign
D) Braxton Hicks sign
Correct Answer: Hegar sign
Rationale: Hegar sign describes softening and compressibility of the lower uterine segment.
It is a probable sign of pregnancy.
7. A patient whose last menstrual period began May 10 asks for the estimated date of
birth using Naegele’s rule. Which date is correct?
A) February 17
B) February 10
C) January 17
D) March 17
Correct Answer: February 17
Rationale: Naegele’s rule adds 7 days to the first day of the last menstrual period, subtracts
3 months, and adds 1 year. May 10 becomes May 17, then February 17 of the following
year.
