TEST BANK WITH COMPLETE ANSWER GUIDE
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– MATERNITY NURSING EXAM SCRIPT
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2026/2027 | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | = = = = = =
GRADED A+ | LATEST EDITION = = = = =
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RATIONALE FOR EXAM QUESTIONS = = = =
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PART I: THEMATIC REVIEW EXAMS
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Theme 1: Physiological and Psychosocial Foundations of
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Maternal-Newborn Care = =
1. A nurse is caring for a client in the first trimester of
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pregnancy. Which physiologic adaptation is most important for
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the nurse to monitor for potential complications?
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A. Increased cardiac output = = =
B. Decreased red blood cell count = = = = =
C. Increased glomerular filtration rate = = = =
D. Decreased gastrointestinal motility = = =
Answer: A = =
Rationale: Cardiac output increases by 30-
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50% during pregnancy, peaking in the second trimester. This place
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s significant demand on the cardiovascular system and may
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exacerbate underlying cardiac conditions. While decreased RBC
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,count (physiologic anemia), increased GFR, and decreased GI
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motility all occur, the cardiovascular adaptation carries the highest
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=risk for complications such as heart failure in susceptible clients.
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2. A client at 38 weeks gestation is admitted with preeclampsia
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. Which assessment finding indicates progression to severe
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preeclampsia? =
A. Blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg= = = = =
B. 1+ proteinuria = =
C. Platelet count of 98,000/mm³ = = = =
D. Mild headache = =
Answer: C = =
Rationale: A platelet count below 100,000/mm³ is a sign of severe
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=preeclampsia, indicating HELLP syndrome risk. Blood pressure ≥1
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60/110 mmHg, proteinuria ≥5g/24hr, and severe headache also
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=indicate severe features. HELLP syndrome involves hemolysis, elev
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ated liver enzymes, and low platelets, which can be life-
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threatening if not recognized early. = = = = =
=
3. The nurse is teaching a postpartum client about signs of infec
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tion. Which statement indicates the client understands the teachi
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ng? =
A. "I should expect my lochia to have a foul odor for the first few
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days." =
B. "A slight fever up to 100.4°F is normal after delivery."
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,C. "If I have pain, redness, or swelling in my breasts, I should call m
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y provider." = =
D. "My incision can be submerged in water once I get home."
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Answer: C = =
Rationale: Pain, redness, or swelling in the breasts may indicate ma
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stitis, a breast infection that requires prompt treatment. Foulsmellin
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g lochia is a sign of infection, not a normal finding. A temperature
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above 100.4°F (38°C) after the first 24 hours suggests infection. In
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cisions should not be submerged until fully healed and cleared by t
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he provider.
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=
4. A newborn is 12 hours old. The nurse notes that the infant's s
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kin is slightly yellow. The mother asks if this is normal. Which r
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esponse is most appropriate? = = = =
A. "This is concerning. We need to do an immediate blood transfus
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ion." =
B. "This is likely physiologic jaundice, which is common in newborns.
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" =
C. "This means your baby is dehydrated and needs more formula.
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" =
D. "This indicates your baby has a serious liver problem."
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Answer: B = =
Rationale: Physiologic jaundice typically appears after 24 hours of
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life and is caused by immature liver function and increased break
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down of fetal hemoglobin. It is a normal finding in many newborns.
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Jaundice within the first 24 hours (pathologic jaundice) requires im
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, mediate evaluation. Physiological jaundice typically resolves withi
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n 1-
=
2 weeks without intervention, though phototherapy may be neede
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d if bilirubin levels are high.
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=
5. The nurse is assessing a newborn's reflexes. Which finding
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would be considered abnormal?
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A. Moro reflex present bilaterally
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B. Rooting reflex absent = = =
C. Palmar grasp reflex present = = = =
D. Babinski reflex present = = =
Answer: B = =
Rationale: The rooting reflex should be present in a healthy newbo
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rn. It is elicited by stroking the corner of the mouth, causing the infa
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nt to turn toward the stimulus. Absence may indicate neurological i
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mpairment or that the infant is too sleepy to respond effectively. T
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he Moro, palmar grasp, and Babinski reflexes are all normal findi
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ngs in newborns.
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=
6. A client at 32 weeks gestation reports experiencing uterine c
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ontractions. The nurse's priority assessment is: = = = = = =
A. Fetal heart rate = = =
B. Cervical dilation = =
C. Frequency and duration of contractions = = = = =
D. Blood pressure = =
Answer: C = =
= = = = = =
– MATERNITY NURSING EXAM SCRIPT
= = = = =
2026/2027 | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | = = = = = =
GRADED A+ | LATEST EDITION = = = = =
=
RATIONALE FOR EXAM QUESTIONS = = = =
=
PART I: THEMATIC REVIEW EXAMS
= = =
=
Theme 1: Physiological and Psychosocial Foundations of
= = = = = = =
Maternal-Newborn Care = =
1. A nurse is caring for a client in the first trimester of
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
pregnancy. Which physiologic adaptation is most important for
= = = = = = = =
the nurse to monitor for potential complications?
= = = = = = =
A. Increased cardiac output = = =
B. Decreased red blood cell count = = = = =
C. Increased glomerular filtration rate = = = =
D. Decreased gastrointestinal motility = = =
Answer: A = =
Rationale: Cardiac output increases by 30-
= = = = =
50% during pregnancy, peaking in the second trimester. This place
= = = = = = = = =
s significant demand on the cardiovascular system and may
= = = = = = = = =
exacerbate underlying cardiac conditions. While decreased RBC
= = = = = = =
,count (physiologic anemia), increased GFR, and decreased GI
= = = = = = = =
motility all occur, the cardiovascular adaptation carries the highest
= = = = = = = =
=risk for complications such as heart failure in susceptible clients.
= = = = = = = = = =
=
2. A client at 38 weeks gestation is admitted with preeclampsia
= = = = = = = = = =
. Which assessment finding indicates progression to severe
= = = = = = = =
preeclampsia? =
A. Blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg= = = = =
B. 1+ proteinuria = =
C. Platelet count of 98,000/mm³ = = = =
D. Mild headache = =
Answer: C = =
Rationale: A platelet count below 100,000/mm³ is a sign of severe
= = = = = = = = = =
=preeclampsia, indicating HELLP syndrome risk. Blood pressure ≥1
= = = = = = =
60/110 mmHg, proteinuria ≥5g/24hr, and severe headache also
= = = = = = =
=indicate severe features. HELLP syndrome involves hemolysis, elev
= = = = = = =
ated liver enzymes, and low platelets, which can be life-
= = = = = = = = =
threatening if not recognized early. = = = = =
=
3. The nurse is teaching a postpartum client about signs of infec
= = = = = = = = = = =
tion. Which statement indicates the client understands the teachi
= = = = = = = =
ng? =
A. "I should expect my lochia to have a foul odor for the first few
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
days." =
B. "A slight fever up to 100.4°F is normal after delivery."
= = = = = = = = = =
,C. "If I have pain, redness, or swelling in my breasts, I should call m
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
y provider." = =
D. "My incision can be submerged in water once I get home."
= = = = = = = = = = =
Answer: C = =
Rationale: Pain, redness, or swelling in the breasts may indicate ma
= = = = = = = = = =
stitis, a breast infection that requires prompt treatment. Foulsmellin
= = = = = = = =
g lochia is a sign of infection, not a normal finding. A temperature
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
above 100.4°F (38°C) after the first 24 hours suggests infection. In
= = = = = = = = = =
cisions should not be submerged until fully healed and cleared by t
= = = = = = = = = = =
he provider.
= =
=
4. A newborn is 12 hours old. The nurse notes that the infant's s
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
kin is slightly yellow. The mother asks if this is normal. Which r
= = = = = = = = = = = =
esponse is most appropriate? = = = =
A. "This is concerning. We need to do an immediate blood transfus
= = = = = = = = = =
ion." =
B. "This is likely physiologic jaundice, which is common in newborns.
= = = = = = = = =
" =
C. "This means your baby is dehydrated and needs more formula.
= = = = = = = = =
" =
D. "This indicates your baby has a serious liver problem."
= = = = = = = = =
Answer: B = =
Rationale: Physiologic jaundice typically appears after 24 hours of
= = = = = = = =
life and is caused by immature liver function and increased break
= = = = = = = = = = =
down of fetal hemoglobin. It is a normal finding in many newborns.
= = = = = = = = = = =
Jaundice within the first 24 hours (pathologic jaundice) requires im
= = = = = = = = = =
, mediate evaluation. Physiological jaundice typically resolves withi
= = = = = =
n 1-
=
2 weeks without intervention, though phototherapy may be neede
= = = = = = = =
d if bilirubin levels are high.
= = = = = =
=
5. The nurse is assessing a newborn's reflexes. Which finding
= = = = = = = = = =
would be considered abnormal?
= = = =
A. Moro reflex present bilaterally
= = = =
B. Rooting reflex absent = = =
C. Palmar grasp reflex present = = = =
D. Babinski reflex present = = =
Answer: B = =
Rationale: The rooting reflex should be present in a healthy newbo
= = = = = = = = = =
rn. It is elicited by stroking the corner of the mouth, causing the infa
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
nt to turn toward the stimulus. Absence may indicate neurological i
= = = = = = = = = =
mpairment or that the infant is too sleepy to respond effectively. T
= = = = = = = = = = =
he Moro, palmar grasp, and Babinski reflexes are all normal findi
= = = = = = = = = =
ngs in newborns.
= = =
=
6. A client at 32 weeks gestation reports experiencing uterine c
= = = = = = = = = =
ontractions. The nurse's priority assessment is: = = = = = =
A. Fetal heart rate = = =
B. Cervical dilation = =
C. Frequency and duration of contractions = = = = =
D. Blood pressure = =
Answer: C = =
