OB / MATERNITY PRACTICE EXAM Q&A
One hour after giving birth to an 8-pound infant, a client's lochia rubra has increased
from small to large and her fundus is boggy despite massage. The client's pulse is 84
beats/minute and blood pressure is 156/96. The healthcare provider prescribes
Methergine 0.2 mg IM X 1. What action should the nurse take immediately?
a. Give the medication as prescribed and monitor for efficacy.
b. Encourage the client to breastfeed rather than bottle feed.
c. Have the client empty her bladder and massage the fundus.
d. Call the healthcare provider to question the prescription. - Answer-D
Which assessment finding should the nursery nurse report to the pediatric healthcare
provider?
a. Blood glucose level of 45 mg/dl.
b. Blood pressure of 82/45 mmHg.
c. Non-bulging anterior fontanel.
d. Central cyanosis when crying. - Answer-D
A client at 28-weeks gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that she is
experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding which she describes as bright red. She
further states that she is not experiencing any uterine contractions or abdominal pain.
What instruction should the nurse provide?
a. Come to the clinic today for an ultrasound.
b. Go immediately to the emergency room.
c. Lie on your left side for about one hour and see if the bleeding stops.
d. Bring a urine specimen to the lab tomorrow to determine if you have a urinary tract
infection. - Answer-A
The nurse instructs a laboring client to use accelerated-blow breathing. The client
begins to complain of tingling fingers and dizziness. What action should the nurse take?
a. Administer oxygen by face mask.
b. Notify the healthcare provider of the client's symptoms.
c. Have the client breathe into her cupped hands.
d. Check the client's blood pressure and fetal heart rate. - Answer-C
20. The nurse is assessing the umbilical cord of a newborn. Which finding constitutes a
normal finding?
a. Two vessels: one artery and one vein.
b. Two vessels: two arteries and no veins.
c. Three vessels: two arteries and one vein.
,d. Three vessels: two veins and one artery. - Answer-C
21. A client who gave birth to a healthy 8 pound infant 3 hours ago is admitted to the
postpartum unit. Which nursing plan is best in assisting this mother to bond with her
newborn infant?
a. Encourage the mother to provide total care for her infant.
b. Provide privacy so the mother can develop a relationship with the infant.
c. Encourage the father to provide most of the infant's care during hospitalization.
d. Meet the mother's physical needs and demonstrate warmth toward the infant. -
Answer-D
22. While breastfeeding, a new mother strokes the top of her baby's head and asks the
nurse about the baby's swollen scalp. The nurse responds that the swelling is caput
succedaneum. Which additional information should the nurse provide this new mother?
a. The infant should be positioned to reduce the swelling.
b. The swelling is a subperiosteal collection of blood.
c. The pediatrician will aspirate the blood if it gets larger.
d. The scalp edema will subside in a few days after birth. - Answer-D
23. A 40-week gestation primigravida client is being induced with an oxytocin (Pitocin)
secondary infusion and complains of pain in her lower back. Which intervention should
the nurse implement?
a. Discontinue the oxytocin (Pitocin) infusion.
b. Place the client in a semi-Fowler's position.
c. Inform the healthcare provider.
d. Apply firm pressure to sacral area. - Answer-D
24. A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual period was
August 2, 2016. Based on Naegele's rule, what is the estimated date of delivery?
a. April 25, 2017.
b. May 9, 2017.
c. May 29, 2017.
d. June 2, 2017. - Answer-B
25. Immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed under a
radiant warmer. The infant has spontaneous respirations and the nurse assesses an
apical heart rate of 80 beats/minute and respirations of 20 breaths/minute. What action
should the nurse perform next?
a. Initiate positive pressure ventilation.
b. Intervene after the one minute Apgar is assessed.
c. Initiate CPR on the infant.
, d. Assess the infant's blood glucose level. - Answer-A
26. A multigravida client at 41-weeks gestation presents in the labor and delivery unit
after a non-stress test indicated that the fetus is experiencing some difficulties in utero.
Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare the client for additional information
about fetal status?
a. Biophysical profile (BPP).
b. Ultrasound for fetal anomalies.
c. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AF) screening.
d. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS). - Answer-A
27. A woman with Type 2 diabetes mellitus becomes pregnant, and her oral
hypoglycemic agents are discontinued. Which intervention is most important for the
nurse to implement?
a. Describe diet changes that can improve the management of her diabetes.
b. Inform the client that oral hypoglycemic agents are teratogenic during pregnancy.
c. Demonstrate self-administration of insulin.
d. Evaluate the client's ability to do glucose monitoring. - Answer-A
28. The nurse is preparing a client with a term pregnancy who is in active labor for an
amniotomy. What equipment should the nurse have available at the client's bedside?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Litmus paper.
b. Fetal scalp electrode.
c. A sterile glove.
d. An amnihook.
e. Sterile vaginal speculum.
f. Lubricant. - Answer-C, D, F
29. A client who is in the second trimester of pregnancy tells the nurse that she wants to
use herbal therapy. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
a. "Herbs are a cornerstone of good health to include in your treatment."
b. "Touch is also therapeutic in relieving discomfort and anxiety."
c. "Your healthcare provider should direct treatment options for herbal therapy."
d. "It is important that you want to take part in your care." - Answer-D
30. A 30-year-old gravida 2, para 1 client is admitted to the hospital at 26-weeks
gestation in preterm labor. She is given a dose of terbutaline sulfate (Brethine) 0.25 mg
subcutaneous . Which assessment is the highest priority for the nurse to monitor during
the administration of this drug?
a. Maternal blood pressure and respirations.
One hour after giving birth to an 8-pound infant, a client's lochia rubra has increased
from small to large and her fundus is boggy despite massage. The client's pulse is 84
beats/minute and blood pressure is 156/96. The healthcare provider prescribes
Methergine 0.2 mg IM X 1. What action should the nurse take immediately?
a. Give the medication as prescribed and monitor for efficacy.
b. Encourage the client to breastfeed rather than bottle feed.
c. Have the client empty her bladder and massage the fundus.
d. Call the healthcare provider to question the prescription. - Answer-D
Which assessment finding should the nursery nurse report to the pediatric healthcare
provider?
a. Blood glucose level of 45 mg/dl.
b. Blood pressure of 82/45 mmHg.
c. Non-bulging anterior fontanel.
d. Central cyanosis when crying. - Answer-D
A client at 28-weeks gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that she is
experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding which she describes as bright red. She
further states that she is not experiencing any uterine contractions or abdominal pain.
What instruction should the nurse provide?
a. Come to the clinic today for an ultrasound.
b. Go immediately to the emergency room.
c. Lie on your left side for about one hour and see if the bleeding stops.
d. Bring a urine specimen to the lab tomorrow to determine if you have a urinary tract
infection. - Answer-A
The nurse instructs a laboring client to use accelerated-blow breathing. The client
begins to complain of tingling fingers and dizziness. What action should the nurse take?
a. Administer oxygen by face mask.
b. Notify the healthcare provider of the client's symptoms.
c. Have the client breathe into her cupped hands.
d. Check the client's blood pressure and fetal heart rate. - Answer-C
20. The nurse is assessing the umbilical cord of a newborn. Which finding constitutes a
normal finding?
a. Two vessels: one artery and one vein.
b. Two vessels: two arteries and no veins.
c. Three vessels: two arteries and one vein.
,d. Three vessels: two veins and one artery. - Answer-C
21. A client who gave birth to a healthy 8 pound infant 3 hours ago is admitted to the
postpartum unit. Which nursing plan is best in assisting this mother to bond with her
newborn infant?
a. Encourage the mother to provide total care for her infant.
b. Provide privacy so the mother can develop a relationship with the infant.
c. Encourage the father to provide most of the infant's care during hospitalization.
d. Meet the mother's physical needs and demonstrate warmth toward the infant. -
Answer-D
22. While breastfeeding, a new mother strokes the top of her baby's head and asks the
nurse about the baby's swollen scalp. The nurse responds that the swelling is caput
succedaneum. Which additional information should the nurse provide this new mother?
a. The infant should be positioned to reduce the swelling.
b. The swelling is a subperiosteal collection of blood.
c. The pediatrician will aspirate the blood if it gets larger.
d. The scalp edema will subside in a few days after birth. - Answer-D
23. A 40-week gestation primigravida client is being induced with an oxytocin (Pitocin)
secondary infusion and complains of pain in her lower back. Which intervention should
the nurse implement?
a. Discontinue the oxytocin (Pitocin) infusion.
b. Place the client in a semi-Fowler's position.
c. Inform the healthcare provider.
d. Apply firm pressure to sacral area. - Answer-D
24. A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual period was
August 2, 2016. Based on Naegele's rule, what is the estimated date of delivery?
a. April 25, 2017.
b. May 9, 2017.
c. May 29, 2017.
d. June 2, 2017. - Answer-B
25. Immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed under a
radiant warmer. The infant has spontaneous respirations and the nurse assesses an
apical heart rate of 80 beats/minute and respirations of 20 breaths/minute. What action
should the nurse perform next?
a. Initiate positive pressure ventilation.
b. Intervene after the one minute Apgar is assessed.
c. Initiate CPR on the infant.
, d. Assess the infant's blood glucose level. - Answer-A
26. A multigravida client at 41-weeks gestation presents in the labor and delivery unit
after a non-stress test indicated that the fetus is experiencing some difficulties in utero.
Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare the client for additional information
about fetal status?
a. Biophysical profile (BPP).
b. Ultrasound for fetal anomalies.
c. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AF) screening.
d. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS). - Answer-A
27. A woman with Type 2 diabetes mellitus becomes pregnant, and her oral
hypoglycemic agents are discontinued. Which intervention is most important for the
nurse to implement?
a. Describe diet changes that can improve the management of her diabetes.
b. Inform the client that oral hypoglycemic agents are teratogenic during pregnancy.
c. Demonstrate self-administration of insulin.
d. Evaluate the client's ability to do glucose monitoring. - Answer-A
28. The nurse is preparing a client with a term pregnancy who is in active labor for an
amniotomy. What equipment should the nurse have available at the client's bedside?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Litmus paper.
b. Fetal scalp electrode.
c. A sterile glove.
d. An amnihook.
e. Sterile vaginal speculum.
f. Lubricant. - Answer-C, D, F
29. A client who is in the second trimester of pregnancy tells the nurse that she wants to
use herbal therapy. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
a. "Herbs are a cornerstone of good health to include in your treatment."
b. "Touch is also therapeutic in relieving discomfort and anxiety."
c. "Your healthcare provider should direct treatment options for herbal therapy."
d. "It is important that you want to take part in your care." - Answer-D
30. A 30-year-old gravida 2, para 1 client is admitted to the hospital at 26-weeks
gestation in preterm labor. She is given a dose of terbutaline sulfate (Brethine) 0.25 mg
subcutaneous . Which assessment is the highest priority for the nurse to monitor during
the administration of this drug?
a. Maternal blood pressure and respirations.
