Galen College NUR 243 Maternal Exam 3 Practice | 100 Questions
with Answers & Rationales | Labor & Birth 2026/2027
Practice questions 1 to 4
1. Which finding best distinguishes true labor from false labor?
A. Contractions that stop with hydration alone
B. Progressive cervical change
C. Pain without any cervical change
D. Irregular tightening that resolves with rest
2. What does cervical effacement describe?
A. Maternal blood pressure change
B. Fetal shoulder width
C. Thinning and shortening of the cervix
D. Movement of the placenta
3. What does cervical dilation describe?
A. Opening of the cervix
B. Width of the fetal chest
C. Length of the umbilical cord
D. Amount of amniotic fluid
4. At what dilation is the cervix generally considered complete?
A. 5 cm
B. 10 cm
C. 3 cm
D. 7 cm
,Practice questions 5 to 8
5. What does fetal station describe?
A. Presenting-part level relative to the ischial spines
B. Cervical effacement percentage
C. Placental thickness
D. Fetal heart rate category
6. What does zero station indicate?
A. The placenta has delivered
B. The cervix is closed
C. The head is visible outside the vagina
D. The presenting part is at the ischial spines
7. Which fetal presentation is most common at term?
A. Transverse lie with shoulder presentation
B. Face presentation
C. Footling breech
D. Cephalic
8. Why does a transverse lie require prompt birth-plan review?
A. It always resolves during pushing
B. It indicates completed birth
C. It eliminates cord prolapse risk
D. Vaginal birth is generally not feasible with persistent transverse lie
,Practice questions 9 to 12
9. Which maneuver assesses fetal lie and presentation externally?
A. Maternal fundal massage after birth
B. Leopold maneuvers
C. Routine digital rectal examination
D. Newborn Moro testing
10. Why should bladder emptying be encouraged during labor when
appropriate?
A. A full bladder can hinder descent and cause discomfort
B. It replaces cervical assessment
C. It increases fetal heart variability
D. It guarantees immediate delivery
11. Which support is appropriate for a low-risk laboring client?
A. Prohibit all movement regardless of status
B. Offer position changes and individualized comfort measures
C. Require the same position for every client
D. Dismiss all coping preferences
12. A client prefers a chosen support person during labor. What should the
nurse do?
A. Let the visitor override consent
B. Exclude them without explanation
C. Facilitate participation consistent with the client's wishes and clinical conditions
D. Require them to make every decision
, Practice questions 13 to 16
13. Which breathing instruction may help a laboring client who is
hyperventilating?
A. Breathe as rapidly as possible
B. Use a paper bag without assessing causes
C. Hold the breath indefinitely
D. Slow breathing with supportive coaching and assessment
14. A laboring client requests pain medication. What is the best nursing action?
A. Delay all discussion until birth
B. Assess pain, preferences, labor status, and medication safety
C. Give any available medication without checking
D. Tell the client all labor pain must be tolerated
15. Which concern follows systemic opioid administration near delivery?
A. Elimination of aspiration risk
B. Immediate closure of the ductus arteriosus
C. Neonatal respiratory depression
D. Guaranteed neonatal jaundice
16. After an epidural, which assessment is a priority?
A. Only newborn hearing
B. Only hair texture
C. Only maternal food preference
D. Maternal blood pressure and fetal heart response
with Answers & Rationales | Labor & Birth 2026/2027
Practice questions 1 to 4
1. Which finding best distinguishes true labor from false labor?
A. Contractions that stop with hydration alone
B. Progressive cervical change
C. Pain without any cervical change
D. Irregular tightening that resolves with rest
2. What does cervical effacement describe?
A. Maternal blood pressure change
B. Fetal shoulder width
C. Thinning and shortening of the cervix
D. Movement of the placenta
3. What does cervical dilation describe?
A. Opening of the cervix
B. Width of the fetal chest
C. Length of the umbilical cord
D. Amount of amniotic fluid
4. At what dilation is the cervix generally considered complete?
A. 5 cm
B. 10 cm
C. 3 cm
D. 7 cm
,Practice questions 5 to 8
5. What does fetal station describe?
A. Presenting-part level relative to the ischial spines
B. Cervical effacement percentage
C. Placental thickness
D. Fetal heart rate category
6. What does zero station indicate?
A. The placenta has delivered
B. The cervix is closed
C. The head is visible outside the vagina
D. The presenting part is at the ischial spines
7. Which fetal presentation is most common at term?
A. Transverse lie with shoulder presentation
B. Face presentation
C. Footling breech
D. Cephalic
8. Why does a transverse lie require prompt birth-plan review?
A. It always resolves during pushing
B. It indicates completed birth
C. It eliminates cord prolapse risk
D. Vaginal birth is generally not feasible with persistent transverse lie
,Practice questions 9 to 12
9. Which maneuver assesses fetal lie and presentation externally?
A. Maternal fundal massage after birth
B. Leopold maneuvers
C. Routine digital rectal examination
D. Newborn Moro testing
10. Why should bladder emptying be encouraged during labor when
appropriate?
A. A full bladder can hinder descent and cause discomfort
B. It replaces cervical assessment
C. It increases fetal heart variability
D. It guarantees immediate delivery
11. Which support is appropriate for a low-risk laboring client?
A. Prohibit all movement regardless of status
B. Offer position changes and individualized comfort measures
C. Require the same position for every client
D. Dismiss all coping preferences
12. A client prefers a chosen support person during labor. What should the
nurse do?
A. Let the visitor override consent
B. Exclude them without explanation
C. Facilitate participation consistent with the client's wishes and clinical conditions
D. Require them to make every decision
, Practice questions 13 to 16
13. Which breathing instruction may help a laboring client who is
hyperventilating?
A. Breathe as rapidly as possible
B. Use a paper bag without assessing causes
C. Hold the breath indefinitely
D. Slow breathing with supportive coaching and assessment
14. A laboring client requests pain medication. What is the best nursing action?
A. Delay all discussion until birth
B. Assess pain, preferences, labor status, and medication safety
C. Give any available medication without checking
D. Tell the client all labor pain must be tolerated
15. Which concern follows systemic opioid administration near delivery?
A. Elimination of aspiration risk
B. Immediate closure of the ductus arteriosus
C. Neonatal respiratory depression
D. Guaranteed neonatal jaundice
16. After an epidural, which assessment is a priority?
A. Only newborn hearing
B. Only hair texture
C. Only maternal food preference
D. Maternal blood pressure and fetal heart response
