Labor & Delivery - 2026 Intrapartum Nursing: Exam 3 -
Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. The android pelvis increases the risk of:
A. Arrest of descent and persistent occiput posterior positions
B. Precipitous birth
C. Placenta previa
D. Polyhydramnios
Correct Answer: A. Arrest of descent and persistent occiput posterior positions
Rationale: Its heart-shaped inlet and narrow forepelvis limit space. Placental location and
amniotic fluid volume are unrelated to pelvic shape.
2. The false pelvis is located:
A. Below the ischial spines
B. Above the linea terminalis and supports the pregnant uterus
C. At the pelvic outlet
D. Inside the true pelvis
Correct Answer: B. Above the linea terminalis and supports the pregnant uterus
Rationale: The false pelvis does not determine birth passage. The true pelvis forms the bony
birth canal.
3. Caput succedaneum is:
A. Bleeding beneath the periosteum limited by sutures
B. A skull fracture
C. A sign of infection
D. Scalp edema from pressure that crosses suture lines and resolves within days
Correct Answer: D. Scalp edema from pressure that crosses suture lines and resolves within
days
Rationale: Caput is common after prolonged pressure. A cephalohematoma, by contrast, does
not cross sutures.
,4. The anterior fontanel is:
A. Diamond-shaped and formed by the junction of the sagittal, frontal and coronal sutures
B. Triangular and at the back of the head
C. Closed at birth
D. The presenting landmark in vertex presentation
Correct Answer: A. Diamond-shaped and formed by the junction of the sagittal, frontal and
coronal sutures
Rationale: Feeling the posterior triangular fontanel anteriorly suggests occiput anterior. The
anterior fontanel closes around 12 to 18 months.
5. During contractions, maternal cardiac output:
A. Increases as blood is shifted from the uterus into the circulation
B. Decreases sharply
C. Remains unchanged
D. Falls to zero
Correct Answer: A. Increases as blood is shifted from the uterus into the circulation
Rationale: Each contraction autotransfuses about 300 to 500 mL. Patients with heart disease
need close monitoring.
6. The traditional "5 Ps" that influence the labor process are:
A. Pulse, pressure, pain, position and perfusion
B. Placenta, plasma, platelets, protein and pH
C. Passenger, passageway, powers, position of the laboring person and psychologic response
D. Parity, prenatal care, payer, provider and pharmacy
Correct Answer: C. Passenger, passageway, powers, position of the laboring person and
psychologic response
Rationale: These factors interact to determine labor progress. The other lists mix unrelated
vital-sign, laboratory or administrative terms.
,7. Fetal presentation with the fetal chin leading is a:
A. Vertex presentation
B. Frank breech
C. Face presentation, in which mentum anterior may deliver vaginally but mentum posterior
cannot
D. Shoulder presentation
Correct Answer: C. Face presentation, in which mentum anterior may deliver vaginally but
mentum posterior cannot
Rationale: Mentum posterior requires cesarean because the head cannot extend further.
Vertex involves the occiput.
8. The gynecoid pelvis is considered most favorable for vaginal birth because it:
A. Has a round inlet with adequate diameters throughout
B. Is heart-shaped and narrow
C. Is flattened anteroposteriorly
D. Is long and oval anteroposteriorly
Correct Answer: A. Has a round inlet with adequate diameters throughout
Rationale: The gynecoid type is the classic female pelvis. The android (heart-shaped) and
platypelloid (flat) types are less favorable.
9. When labor is progressing normally, a nurse can promote progress by:
A. Encouraging voiding, position changes, hydration and emotional support
B. Restricting mobility
C. Using fundal pressure
D. Routine amniotomy
Correct Answer: A. Encouraging voiding, position changes, hydration and emotional support
Rationale: Basic supportive care improves comfort and progress. Routine amniotomy does not
shorten labor meaningfully.
, 10. A patient's labor progress may be documented on:
A. A partograph or labor curve that tracks dilation, descent and time
B. A medication administration record only
C. A fluid balance chart only
D. A growth chart
Correct Answer: A. A partograph or labor curve that tracks dilation, descent and time
Rationale: Visual tracking helps identify slow progress. Contemporary curves reflect Zhang's
data.
11. Positions that open the pelvic outlet during the second stage include:
A. Lithotomy with legs together
B. Supine flat
C. Trendelenburg
D. Squatting, hands-and-knees and side-lying
Correct Answer: D. Squatting, hands-and-knees and side-lying
Rationale: Squatting increases outlet diameter. Supine and lithotomy positions can reduce
pelvic space.
12. Port-wine colored amniotic fluid suggests:
A. Normal labor
B. Meconium
C. Chorioamnionitis only
D. Placental abruption
Correct Answer: D. Placental abruption
Rationale: Blood-stained fluid with pain and uterine tenderness raises concern for abruption.
Meconium is green.
Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. The android pelvis increases the risk of:
A. Arrest of descent and persistent occiput posterior positions
B. Precipitous birth
C. Placenta previa
D. Polyhydramnios
Correct Answer: A. Arrest of descent and persistent occiput posterior positions
Rationale: Its heart-shaped inlet and narrow forepelvis limit space. Placental location and
amniotic fluid volume are unrelated to pelvic shape.
2. The false pelvis is located:
A. Below the ischial spines
B. Above the linea terminalis and supports the pregnant uterus
C. At the pelvic outlet
D. Inside the true pelvis
Correct Answer: B. Above the linea terminalis and supports the pregnant uterus
Rationale: The false pelvis does not determine birth passage. The true pelvis forms the bony
birth canal.
3. Caput succedaneum is:
A. Bleeding beneath the periosteum limited by sutures
B. A skull fracture
C. A sign of infection
D. Scalp edema from pressure that crosses suture lines and resolves within days
Correct Answer: D. Scalp edema from pressure that crosses suture lines and resolves within
days
Rationale: Caput is common after prolonged pressure. A cephalohematoma, by contrast, does
not cross sutures.
,4. The anterior fontanel is:
A. Diamond-shaped and formed by the junction of the sagittal, frontal and coronal sutures
B. Triangular and at the back of the head
C. Closed at birth
D. The presenting landmark in vertex presentation
Correct Answer: A. Diamond-shaped and formed by the junction of the sagittal, frontal and
coronal sutures
Rationale: Feeling the posterior triangular fontanel anteriorly suggests occiput anterior. The
anterior fontanel closes around 12 to 18 months.
5. During contractions, maternal cardiac output:
A. Increases as blood is shifted from the uterus into the circulation
B. Decreases sharply
C. Remains unchanged
D. Falls to zero
Correct Answer: A. Increases as blood is shifted from the uterus into the circulation
Rationale: Each contraction autotransfuses about 300 to 500 mL. Patients with heart disease
need close monitoring.
6. The traditional "5 Ps" that influence the labor process are:
A. Pulse, pressure, pain, position and perfusion
B. Placenta, plasma, platelets, protein and pH
C. Passenger, passageway, powers, position of the laboring person and psychologic response
D. Parity, prenatal care, payer, provider and pharmacy
Correct Answer: C. Passenger, passageway, powers, position of the laboring person and
psychologic response
Rationale: These factors interact to determine labor progress. The other lists mix unrelated
vital-sign, laboratory or administrative terms.
,7. Fetal presentation with the fetal chin leading is a:
A. Vertex presentation
B. Frank breech
C. Face presentation, in which mentum anterior may deliver vaginally but mentum posterior
cannot
D. Shoulder presentation
Correct Answer: C. Face presentation, in which mentum anterior may deliver vaginally but
mentum posterior cannot
Rationale: Mentum posterior requires cesarean because the head cannot extend further.
Vertex involves the occiput.
8. The gynecoid pelvis is considered most favorable for vaginal birth because it:
A. Has a round inlet with adequate diameters throughout
B. Is heart-shaped and narrow
C. Is flattened anteroposteriorly
D. Is long and oval anteroposteriorly
Correct Answer: A. Has a round inlet with adequate diameters throughout
Rationale: The gynecoid type is the classic female pelvis. The android (heart-shaped) and
platypelloid (flat) types are less favorable.
9. When labor is progressing normally, a nurse can promote progress by:
A. Encouraging voiding, position changes, hydration and emotional support
B. Restricting mobility
C. Using fundal pressure
D. Routine amniotomy
Correct Answer: A. Encouraging voiding, position changes, hydration and emotional support
Rationale: Basic supportive care improves comfort and progress. Routine amniotomy does not
shorten labor meaningfully.
, 10. A patient's labor progress may be documented on:
A. A partograph or labor curve that tracks dilation, descent and time
B. A medication administration record only
C. A fluid balance chart only
D. A growth chart
Correct Answer: A. A partograph or labor curve that tracks dilation, descent and time
Rationale: Visual tracking helps identify slow progress. Contemporary curves reflect Zhang's
data.
11. Positions that open the pelvic outlet during the second stage include:
A. Lithotomy with legs together
B. Supine flat
C. Trendelenburg
D. Squatting, hands-and-knees and side-lying
Correct Answer: D. Squatting, hands-and-knees and side-lying
Rationale: Squatting increases outlet diameter. Supine and lithotomy positions can reduce
pelvic space.
12. Port-wine colored amniotic fluid suggests:
A. Normal labor
B. Meconium
C. Chorioamnionitis only
D. Placental abruption
Correct Answer: D. Placental abruption
Rationale: Blood-stained fluid with pain and uterine tenderness raises concern for abruption.
Meconium is green.
