Test Bank Exam High-Risk
Pregnancy & Maternal
Complications Practice Exam
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
|DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM
PREP GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A pregnant client with chronic hypertension is at increased risk
for which complication?
A. Hyperemesis gravidarum
B. Preeclampsia
C. Placenta previa
D. Polyhydramnios
Chronic hypertension increases the risk of superimposed
preeclampsia during pregnancy.
2. Which finding in a pregnant client with preeclampsia requires
immediate attention?
,A. Mild ankle edema
B. Urinary frequency
C. Severe headache with visual disturbances
D. Increased appetite
Severe headache and visual disturbances can indicate cerebral
involvement and worsening preeclampsia.
3. Which medication is commonly administered to prevent seizures
in severe preeclampsia?
A. Oxytocin
B. Terbutaline
C. Magnesium sulfate
D. Methylergonovine
Magnesium sulfate is used for seizure prophylaxis in severe
preeclampsia and for treatment of eclampsia.
4. Which assessment is most important when a client is receiving
magnesium sulfate?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Skin temperature
C. Deep tendon reflexes and respiratory rate
D. Visual acuity only
Magnesium toxicity can cause diminished reflexes, respiratory
depression, and eventually cardiac arrest.
5. Which medication should be available as the antidote for
magnesium toxicity?
A. Naloxone
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Vitamin K
D. Calcium gluconate
Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity.
,6. A client with severe preeclampsia develops a generalized tonic-
clonic seizure. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Restrain the client's extremities
B. Insert an oral airway immediately
C. Protect the client from injury and maintain the airway
D. Place the client in a supine position
During an eclamptic seizure, the priority is maintaining safety, airway
patency, and oxygenation.
7. Which finding is characteristic of eclampsia?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Seizures in a client with preeclampsia
C. Persistent vomiting only
D. Mild dependent edema
Eclampsia is defined by the occurrence of seizures associated with a
hypertensive pregnancy disorder.
8. Which laboratory finding may indicate HELLP syndrome?
A. Increased platelet count
B. Decreased liver enzymes
C. Elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count
D. Increased serum calcium
HELLP stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet
count.
9. A client with HELLP syndrome reports severe right upper
quadrant pain. The nurse should recognize this as:
A. Normal third-trimester discomfort
B. Urinary tract infection
C. Possible hepatic involvement
D. Round-ligament pain
, Right upper quadrant or epigastric pain can indicate liver
involvement and possible hepatic complications.
10. Which position is generally preferred for a pregnant client with
severe hypertension?
A. Supine
B. Prone
C. Left lateral
D. Lithotomy
Left lateral positioning can improve venous return and uteroplacental
perfusion while reducing vena cava compression.
11. Which blood pressure finding meets the commonly used
threshold for hypertension in pregnancy?
A. 110/70 mm Hg
B. 118/76 mm Hg
C. 124/80 mm Hg
D. 140/90 mm Hg or higher
A blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is the commonly used
threshold for hypertension in pregnancy when confirmed
appropriately.
12. A pregnant client has hypertension without proteinuria but
with thrombocytopenia. How should this be interpreted?
A. Normal pregnancy
B. Gestational diabetes
C. Possible preeclampsia with severe features
D. Hyperemesis gravidarum
Thrombocytopenia can be a severe feature of preeclampsia even in
the absence of proteinuria.
Pregnancy & Maternal
Complications Practice Exam
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
|DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM
PREP GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A pregnant client with chronic hypertension is at increased risk
for which complication?
A. Hyperemesis gravidarum
B. Preeclampsia
C. Placenta previa
D. Polyhydramnios
Chronic hypertension increases the risk of superimposed
preeclampsia during pregnancy.
2. Which finding in a pregnant client with preeclampsia requires
immediate attention?
,A. Mild ankle edema
B. Urinary frequency
C. Severe headache with visual disturbances
D. Increased appetite
Severe headache and visual disturbances can indicate cerebral
involvement and worsening preeclampsia.
3. Which medication is commonly administered to prevent seizures
in severe preeclampsia?
A. Oxytocin
B. Terbutaline
C. Magnesium sulfate
D. Methylergonovine
Magnesium sulfate is used for seizure prophylaxis in severe
preeclampsia and for treatment of eclampsia.
4. Which assessment is most important when a client is receiving
magnesium sulfate?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Skin temperature
C. Deep tendon reflexes and respiratory rate
D. Visual acuity only
Magnesium toxicity can cause diminished reflexes, respiratory
depression, and eventually cardiac arrest.
5. Which medication should be available as the antidote for
magnesium toxicity?
A. Naloxone
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Vitamin K
D. Calcium gluconate
Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity.
,6. A client with severe preeclampsia develops a generalized tonic-
clonic seizure. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Restrain the client's extremities
B. Insert an oral airway immediately
C. Protect the client from injury and maintain the airway
D. Place the client in a supine position
During an eclamptic seizure, the priority is maintaining safety, airway
patency, and oxygenation.
7. Which finding is characteristic of eclampsia?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Seizures in a client with preeclampsia
C. Persistent vomiting only
D. Mild dependent edema
Eclampsia is defined by the occurrence of seizures associated with a
hypertensive pregnancy disorder.
8. Which laboratory finding may indicate HELLP syndrome?
A. Increased platelet count
B. Decreased liver enzymes
C. Elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count
D. Increased serum calcium
HELLP stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet
count.
9. A client with HELLP syndrome reports severe right upper
quadrant pain. The nurse should recognize this as:
A. Normal third-trimester discomfort
B. Urinary tract infection
C. Possible hepatic involvement
D. Round-ligament pain
, Right upper quadrant or epigastric pain can indicate liver
involvement and possible hepatic complications.
10. Which position is generally preferred for a pregnant client with
severe hypertension?
A. Supine
B. Prone
C. Left lateral
D. Lithotomy
Left lateral positioning can improve venous return and uteroplacental
perfusion while reducing vena cava compression.
11. Which blood pressure finding meets the commonly used
threshold for hypertension in pregnancy?
A. 110/70 mm Hg
B. 118/76 mm Hg
C. 124/80 mm Hg
D. 140/90 mm Hg or higher
A blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is the commonly used
threshold for hypertension in pregnancy when confirmed
appropriately.
12. A pregnant client has hypertension without proteinuria but
with thrombocytopenia. How should this be interpreted?
A. Normal pregnancy
B. Gestational diabetes
C. Possible preeclampsia with severe features
D. Hyperemesis gravidarum
Thrombocytopenia can be a severe feature of preeclampsia even in
the absence of proteinuria.
