Test Bank for Maternity and Pediatric
Nursing, 5th Edition by Ricci, Kyle &
Carman (2025/2026 Updated)
UNIT I: INTRODUCTION TO MATERNITY AND PEDIATRIC NURSING (Questions 1–15)
1. A community health nurse is designing a program to reduce infant mortality in a high-risk
neighborhood. Which initial action best reflects a population-based approach?
A. Offer individualized home visits to the 20 highest-risk pregnant clients
B. Create a breastfeeding promotion campaign with community leaders and local clinics
C. Provide extra prenatal vitamins to clients who request them
D. Refer each pregnant client to a tertiary perinatal center for care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A community campaign partnering with local leaders targets the population,
addresses social determinants, and promotes sustainable prevention. Home visits focus on
individuals, vitamin distribution is passive, and tertiary referrals address high-risk cases rather
than community-level prevention.
2. The nurse is working with community health members to develop a plan addressing special
health needs of women. Which condition should the group address as the major problem?
A. Smoking
B. Heart disease
C. Diabetes
D. Cancer
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States,
surpassing cancer, diabetes, and other conditions. Women's health initiatives should prioritize
cardiovascular screening, education, and risk reduction.
,3. When integrating family-centered care into the birthing process, the nurse bases care on
which belief?
A. Birth is viewed as a medical event
B. Families are unable to make informed choices due to stress
C. Birth results in changes in relationships
D. Families require little information to make decisions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Family-centered care recognizes that birth affects the entire family and changes
relationships. It views birth as a normal, healthy event and believes families can make informed
decisions when given adequate information and support.
4. A nurse is reviewing informed consent. Which situation constitutes a violation of informed
consent?
A. Performing a procedure on a 15-year-old without parental consent
B. Serving as a witness to the signature process
C. Asking whether the client understands what she is signing
D. Getting verbal consent over the phone for an emergency procedure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In most states, only clients over 18 can legally provide consent. Performing a
procedure on a minor without parental consent violates informed consent. Witnessing
signatures and confirming understanding are appropriate nursing responsibilities.
5. A nurse is teaching about fetal development. At which gestational week does the fetal
heart begin to beat?
A. 2 weeks
B. 4 weeks
C. 6 weeks
D. 8 weeks
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The fetal heart begins to form at approximately 3 weeks and begins to beat at
approximately 4 weeks of gestation.
,6. A nurse is reviewing maternal mortality. Which factor is the most significant contributor to
maternal mortality in the United States?
A. Hemorrhage
B. Cardiovascular conditions
C. Infection
D. Hypertensive disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiovascular conditions are the leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S.,
followed by other medical conditions, hemorrhage, and hypertensive disorders.
7. During a prenatal class, a nurse explains how historical trends inform current practice.
Which statement demonstrates correct application of historical data?
A. "Because mortality was high in the past, we should rely only on modern technology."
B. "Understanding causes of past maternal deaths helps target present prevention and policy."
C. "History shows interventions don't influence mortality, so prevention is futile."
D. "Maternal mortality rates are unimportant."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using historical causes of death to inform current prevention and policy reflects
appropriate application of trends to modern practice. History shows interventions have reduced
mortality when appropriately applied.
8. Which historical intervention most directly reduced maternal mortality in the early 20th
century?
A. Growth chart development
B. School health programs
C. Advances in surgical safety and antisepsis
D. Telemedicine for family planning
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Advances in surgical safety and antisepsis directly reduced childbirth-related
infections and hemorrhage, lowering maternal mortality. Growth charts and school health
programs affected child health later.
9. A nurse is preparing a teaching plan about maternity care changes in the 20th century.
Which development should be included?
A. Epidemics of puerperal fever
B. Performance of the first cesarean birth
C. Development of x-ray to assess pelvic size
D. Creation of free-standing birth centers
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Free-standing birth centers emerged in the 20th century, representing a shift
toward more personalized, less institutional birth experiences and supporting family-centered
care.
10. A nurse is adopting a family-centered care model on a pediatric unit. Which action best
demonstrates this philosophy?
A. Restricting visitation to parents during daytime hours only
B. Collaborating with parents as equal partners in the child's care plan
C. Making all clinical decisions independently to relieve parental anxiety
D. Allowing the child to dictate all medication administration times
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Family-centered care recognizes the family as the constant in the child's life. It
emphasizes collaboration, open communication, and partnering with parents as vital members
of the health care team.
11. A nurse is evaluating the health profile of a neighborhood. Which statistic provides the
most accurate definition of infant mortality rate?
A. The number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births occurring within the first year of life
B. The number of neonatal deaths per 10,000 live births occurring in the first 28 days
Nursing, 5th Edition by Ricci, Kyle &
Carman (2025/2026 Updated)
UNIT I: INTRODUCTION TO MATERNITY AND PEDIATRIC NURSING (Questions 1–15)
1. A community health nurse is designing a program to reduce infant mortality in a high-risk
neighborhood. Which initial action best reflects a population-based approach?
A. Offer individualized home visits to the 20 highest-risk pregnant clients
B. Create a breastfeeding promotion campaign with community leaders and local clinics
C. Provide extra prenatal vitamins to clients who request them
D. Refer each pregnant client to a tertiary perinatal center for care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A community campaign partnering with local leaders targets the population,
addresses social determinants, and promotes sustainable prevention. Home visits focus on
individuals, vitamin distribution is passive, and tertiary referrals address high-risk cases rather
than community-level prevention.
2. The nurse is working with community health members to develop a plan addressing special
health needs of women. Which condition should the group address as the major problem?
A. Smoking
B. Heart disease
C. Diabetes
D. Cancer
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States,
surpassing cancer, diabetes, and other conditions. Women's health initiatives should prioritize
cardiovascular screening, education, and risk reduction.
,3. When integrating family-centered care into the birthing process, the nurse bases care on
which belief?
A. Birth is viewed as a medical event
B. Families are unable to make informed choices due to stress
C. Birth results in changes in relationships
D. Families require little information to make decisions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Family-centered care recognizes that birth affects the entire family and changes
relationships. It views birth as a normal, healthy event and believes families can make informed
decisions when given adequate information and support.
4. A nurse is reviewing informed consent. Which situation constitutes a violation of informed
consent?
A. Performing a procedure on a 15-year-old without parental consent
B. Serving as a witness to the signature process
C. Asking whether the client understands what she is signing
D. Getting verbal consent over the phone for an emergency procedure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In most states, only clients over 18 can legally provide consent. Performing a
procedure on a minor without parental consent violates informed consent. Witnessing
signatures and confirming understanding are appropriate nursing responsibilities.
5. A nurse is teaching about fetal development. At which gestational week does the fetal
heart begin to beat?
A. 2 weeks
B. 4 weeks
C. 6 weeks
D. 8 weeks
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The fetal heart begins to form at approximately 3 weeks and begins to beat at
approximately 4 weeks of gestation.
,6. A nurse is reviewing maternal mortality. Which factor is the most significant contributor to
maternal mortality in the United States?
A. Hemorrhage
B. Cardiovascular conditions
C. Infection
D. Hypertensive disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiovascular conditions are the leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S.,
followed by other medical conditions, hemorrhage, and hypertensive disorders.
7. During a prenatal class, a nurse explains how historical trends inform current practice.
Which statement demonstrates correct application of historical data?
A. "Because mortality was high in the past, we should rely only on modern technology."
B. "Understanding causes of past maternal deaths helps target present prevention and policy."
C. "History shows interventions don't influence mortality, so prevention is futile."
D. "Maternal mortality rates are unimportant."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using historical causes of death to inform current prevention and policy reflects
appropriate application of trends to modern practice. History shows interventions have reduced
mortality when appropriately applied.
8. Which historical intervention most directly reduced maternal mortality in the early 20th
century?
A. Growth chart development
B. School health programs
C. Advances in surgical safety and antisepsis
D. Telemedicine for family planning
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Advances in surgical safety and antisepsis directly reduced childbirth-related
infections and hemorrhage, lowering maternal mortality. Growth charts and school health
programs affected child health later.
9. A nurse is preparing a teaching plan about maternity care changes in the 20th century.
Which development should be included?
A. Epidemics of puerperal fever
B. Performance of the first cesarean birth
C. Development of x-ray to assess pelvic size
D. Creation of free-standing birth centers
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Free-standing birth centers emerged in the 20th century, representing a shift
toward more personalized, less institutional birth experiences and supporting family-centered
care.
10. A nurse is adopting a family-centered care model on a pediatric unit. Which action best
demonstrates this philosophy?
A. Restricting visitation to parents during daytime hours only
B. Collaborating with parents as equal partners in the child's care plan
C. Making all clinical decisions independently to relieve parental anxiety
D. Allowing the child to dictate all medication administration times
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Family-centered care recognizes the family as the constant in the child's life. It
emphasizes collaboration, open communication, and partnering with parents as vital members
of the health care team.
11. A nurse is evaluating the health profile of a neighborhood. Which statistic provides the
most accurate definition of infant mortality rate?
A. The number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births occurring within the first year of life
B. The number of neonatal deaths per 10,000 live births occurring in the first 28 days
