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MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING (6TH EDITION) QUESTIONS 2026 EXAM LATEST VERSION
SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Maternal-Child Nursing (6th Edition) – Questions with Detailed Rationales
Q1. Which factor most significantly contributed to the shift from home births to
hospital births in the early 20th century?
A) Puerperal sepsis was identified as a risk factor in labor and delivery
B) Forceps were developed to facilitate difficult births
C) The importance of early parental-infant contact was identified
D) Technologic developments became available to physicians
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Technologic developments were available to physicians, not lay midwives,
so in-hospital births increased to take advantage of these advancements. While forceps
development was an important advance, it was not the only reason birthplaces moved.
Early hospital births actually hindered bonding between parents and infants.
Q2. Family-centered maternity care developed primarily in response to:
A) Demands by physicians for family involvement in childbirth
B) The Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921
C) Parental requests that infants be allowed to remain with them rather than in a nursery
D) Changes in pharmacologic management of labor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: As research identified the benefits of early extended parent-infant contact,
parents began to insist that the infant remain with them. This gradually developed into
rooming-in and finally to family-centered maternity care. Family-centered care was a
request by parents, not physicians.
Q3. Which setting for childbirth traditionally allows the least amount of parent-
infant contact?
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A) Labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum room
B) Birth center
C) Traditional hospital birth
D) Home birth
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the traditional hospital setting, the mother may see the infant for only
short feeding periods, and the infant is cared for in a separate nursery. The LDRP room,
birth center, and home birth settings all allow increased parent-infant contact.
Q4. A characteristic of clinical pathways is that they:
A) Are developed and implemented exclusively by nurses
B) Set specific time lines for sequencing interventions
C) Are used primarily in the pediatric setting
D) Replace the nursing process
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical pathways are standardized, interdisciplinary plans of care that
identify patient outcomes, specify timelines, direct appropriate interventions, and
promote collaboration. They do not replace the nursing process but complement it.
Q5. Which statement reflects a core ethical responsibility of the maternal-child
nurse according to the ANA Code of Ethics?
A) The nurse should always follow physician orders without question
B) The nurse should practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity of
every patient
C) The nurse should prioritize hospital policy over patient preferences
D) The nurse should avoid involvement in ethical dilemmas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ANA Code of Ethics states that nurses should practice with compassion
and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person. This is
a fundamental ethical responsibility in all nursing practice.
Q6. The leading cause of death in children 1 to 4 years of age in the United States is:
A) Premature birth
B) Congenital anomalies
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C) Accidental death (unintentional injury)
D) Respiratory tract illness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Although rates have dropped, unintentional injury (accidents) remains the
leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 19. Other options contribute to morbidity
and mortality but are not the leading cause.
Q7. Which statement is true regarding incident (occurrence) reports?
A) The report assures the legal department that no problem exists
B) Incident reports are a permanent part of the patient's chart
C) The nurse's notes should contain "Incident report filed"
D) This report is a form of documentation of an event that may result in legal action
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An incident report is a form of documentation of an event that may result in
legal action. It is not part of the patient's permanent chart, and the nurse's notes should
not mention the incident report.
Q8. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a routine fetal monitoring strip. What
is the nurse's first action?
A) Document the refusal in the nurse's notes
B) Consult the patient's family for support
C) Notify the healthcare provider of the situation
D) Make a referral to the hospital ethics committee
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment. The provider should be notified
immediately to ensure the patient understands the rationale and possible
consequences of refusal. Documentation should occur, but notification is the priority.
Q9. Which situation reflects a potential ethical dilemma for the nurse?
A) A nurse administers analgesics to a patient with cancer as ordered
B) A neonatal nurse provides care to a newborn with a defect incompatible with life
C) A labor nurse, whose religion opposes abortion, is asked to assist with an elective
abortion
D) A postpartum nurse provides adoption information to a new mother
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Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An ethical dilemma exists when the nurse is asked to assist with a
procedure that conflicts with personal moral beliefs. The other situations do not contain
elements of conflict for the nurse.
Q10. What is the primary focus of maternal-child nursing?
A) Treating only the child during illness
B) Promoting the health of women, children, and families across the lifespan
C) Providing care only during pregnancy and childbirth
D) Focusing exclusively on pediatric care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary focus of maternal-child nursing is to promote the health of
women, children, and families across the lifespan, encompassing prenatal,
intrapartum, postpartum, and pediatric care.
Q11. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about folic acid. Which statement
indicates a need for further teaching?
A) "I will take folic acid 400 mcg daily."
B) "I will increase my intake of leafy green vegetables."
C) "I only need it if I'm anemic."
D) "Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Folic acid is recommended for all women of childbearing age to prevent
neural tube defects, not just those who are anemic. Leafy green vegetables are a good
source, and 400 mcg daily is the standard recommendation.
Q12. The nurse is preparing a presentation on infant mortality. Which factor is a
leading cause of infant death in the United States?
A) Congenital anomalies
B) Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
C) Preterm birth and low birth weight
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Leading causes of infant mortality include congenital anomalies, preterm
birth and low birth weight, and SIDS.
MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING (6TH EDITION) QUESTIONS 2026 EXAM LATEST VERSION
SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Maternal-Child Nursing (6th Edition) – Questions with Detailed Rationales
Q1. Which factor most significantly contributed to the shift from home births to
hospital births in the early 20th century?
A) Puerperal sepsis was identified as a risk factor in labor and delivery
B) Forceps were developed to facilitate difficult births
C) The importance of early parental-infant contact was identified
D) Technologic developments became available to physicians
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Technologic developments were available to physicians, not lay midwives,
so in-hospital births increased to take advantage of these advancements. While forceps
development was an important advance, it was not the only reason birthplaces moved.
Early hospital births actually hindered bonding between parents and infants.
Q2. Family-centered maternity care developed primarily in response to:
A) Demands by physicians for family involvement in childbirth
B) The Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921
C) Parental requests that infants be allowed to remain with them rather than in a nursery
D) Changes in pharmacologic management of labor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: As research identified the benefits of early extended parent-infant contact,
parents began to insist that the infant remain with them. This gradually developed into
rooming-in and finally to family-centered maternity care. Family-centered care was a
request by parents, not physicians.
Q3. Which setting for childbirth traditionally allows the least amount of parent-
infant contact?
, Page 2 of 86
A) Labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum room
B) Birth center
C) Traditional hospital birth
D) Home birth
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the traditional hospital setting, the mother may see the infant for only
short feeding periods, and the infant is cared for in a separate nursery. The LDRP room,
birth center, and home birth settings all allow increased parent-infant contact.
Q4. A characteristic of clinical pathways is that they:
A) Are developed and implemented exclusively by nurses
B) Set specific time lines for sequencing interventions
C) Are used primarily in the pediatric setting
D) Replace the nursing process
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical pathways are standardized, interdisciplinary plans of care that
identify patient outcomes, specify timelines, direct appropriate interventions, and
promote collaboration. They do not replace the nursing process but complement it.
Q5. Which statement reflects a core ethical responsibility of the maternal-child
nurse according to the ANA Code of Ethics?
A) The nurse should always follow physician orders without question
B) The nurse should practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity of
every patient
C) The nurse should prioritize hospital policy over patient preferences
D) The nurse should avoid involvement in ethical dilemmas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ANA Code of Ethics states that nurses should practice with compassion
and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person. This is
a fundamental ethical responsibility in all nursing practice.
Q6. The leading cause of death in children 1 to 4 years of age in the United States is:
A) Premature birth
B) Congenital anomalies
, Page 3 of 86
C) Accidental death (unintentional injury)
D) Respiratory tract illness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Although rates have dropped, unintentional injury (accidents) remains the
leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 19. Other options contribute to morbidity
and mortality but are not the leading cause.
Q7. Which statement is true regarding incident (occurrence) reports?
A) The report assures the legal department that no problem exists
B) Incident reports are a permanent part of the patient's chart
C) The nurse's notes should contain "Incident report filed"
D) This report is a form of documentation of an event that may result in legal action
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An incident report is a form of documentation of an event that may result in
legal action. It is not part of the patient's permanent chart, and the nurse's notes should
not mention the incident report.
Q8. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a routine fetal monitoring strip. What
is the nurse's first action?
A) Document the refusal in the nurse's notes
B) Consult the patient's family for support
C) Notify the healthcare provider of the situation
D) Make a referral to the hospital ethics committee
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment. The provider should be notified
immediately to ensure the patient understands the rationale and possible
consequences of refusal. Documentation should occur, but notification is the priority.
Q9. Which situation reflects a potential ethical dilemma for the nurse?
A) A nurse administers analgesics to a patient with cancer as ordered
B) A neonatal nurse provides care to a newborn with a defect incompatible with life
C) A labor nurse, whose religion opposes abortion, is asked to assist with an elective
abortion
D) A postpartum nurse provides adoption information to a new mother
, Page 4 of 86
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An ethical dilemma exists when the nurse is asked to assist with a
procedure that conflicts with personal moral beliefs. The other situations do not contain
elements of conflict for the nurse.
Q10. What is the primary focus of maternal-child nursing?
A) Treating only the child during illness
B) Promoting the health of women, children, and families across the lifespan
C) Providing care only during pregnancy and childbirth
D) Focusing exclusively on pediatric care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary focus of maternal-child nursing is to promote the health of
women, children, and families across the lifespan, encompassing prenatal,
intrapartum, postpartum, and pediatric care.
Q11. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about folic acid. Which statement
indicates a need for further teaching?
A) "I will take folic acid 400 mcg daily."
B) "I will increase my intake of leafy green vegetables."
C) "I only need it if I'm anemic."
D) "Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Folic acid is recommended for all women of childbearing age to prevent
neural tube defects, not just those who are anemic. Leafy green vegetables are a good
source, and 400 mcg daily is the standard recommendation.
Q12. The nurse is preparing a presentation on infant mortality. Which factor is a
leading cause of infant death in the United States?
A) Congenital anomalies
B) Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
C) Preterm birth and low birth weight
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Leading causes of infant mortality include congenital anomalies, preterm
birth and low birth weight, and SIDS.
