Maternity Exam Practice Questions and
Answers 2
A woman who have birth 2 hours ago has a temperature of 37.9 *C. Select all of the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
immediate nursing actions
b b b
A) Have pt drink 2 glasses of fluid over the next hour
b b b b b b b b b b b
B) Explain to the patient that she needs to rest and assist her into a comfortable position
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
C) Medicate pt with 500 mg of acetaminophen as per orders
b b b b b b b b b b
D) Call the patient's physician or midwife to report the elevated temp - ANS >> A & B
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Reasoning:
A mild temperature elevation within a few hours of birth can be related to dehydration
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
and exhaustion. Acetaminophen is given if temperature remains elevated after the
b b b b b b b b b b b
woman has been hydrated and rested. The physician or midwife is notified if
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
temperature remains elevated after initial interventions.
b b b b b b
3 hours after a vaginal delivery, the client complains of increased perineal pain. What
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
should the nurse do first?
b b b b b
A) Administer analgesia as ordered
b b b b
B) Assess the perineum
b b b
C) Perform perineal care
b b b
D) Apply ice to perineum - ANS >> B
b b b b b b b b
A woman gave birth to a 3200 g baby girl with an estimated gestational age of 40
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
weeks. The baby is 1 hour of age. In preparation of giving the baby an injection of
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Vitamin K, the nurse will:
b b b b b
A) Explain to the parents the action of the medication and answer their questions
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
B) Remove neonate from the room so parents will not be distressed by seeing the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
injection
b
C) Completely undress the neonate to identify the injection site
b b b b b b b b b
D) Replace needle with a 21 gauge ⅝ needle - ANS >> A
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Reasoning: It is important to always explain to parents wHat and why a procedure is
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
being done on the newborn
b b b b b
When assessing a placenta and umbilical cord at delivery, the nurse must know that the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
normal cord has:
b b b
A) 1 vein and 2 arteries
b b b b b
B) 2 veins and 1 artery
b b b b b
C) 1 vein and 1 artery
b b b b b
D) 2 veins and 2 arteries - ANS >> A
b b b b b b b b b b
,(AVA)
When reviewing a potential cause for postpartum hemorrhage with the student nurse,
b b b b b b b b b b b
bthe nurse is sure to include the finding of a(n) ____________ bladder - ANS >>
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bFULL/OVERDISTENDED
Reasoning:
An overdistended bladder, which displaces the uterus above and to the right of the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
umbilicus, can cause uterine atony and lead to hemorrhage
b b b b b b b b b
Maddy, a G3 P1 woman, gave birth 12 hrs ago to a 9lb 13 oz daughter. She
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
experiences severe cramps with breastfeeding. The perinatal nurse best describes this
b b b b b b b b b b b
condition as:
b b
A) Afterpains
b
B) Uterine hypertonia
b b
C) Bladder hypertonia
b b
D) Rectus abdominis diastasis - ANS >> A
b b b b b b b
Reasoning
Afterpains are intermittent uterine contractions that occur during the process of
b b b b b b b b b b
involution. Afterpains are more pronounced in patients w/ decreased uterine tone due
b b b b b b b b b b b b
to overdistension, which is associated w/ multiparity and macrosomia. Patients often
b b b b b b b b b b b
describe the sensation as a discomfort similar to menstrual cramps
b b b b b b b b b b
What does GTPAL mean? - ANS >> G: Gravida → # of times a woman has conceived
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
including current pregnancy
b b b
T: Term Births → # of times a woman has carried a pregnancy to at least 37 weeks and
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
delivered
b
P: Preterm Births → # of births a woman has delivered before 37 weeks gestation but
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
after 20 weeks
b b b
A: Abortions → # of times a woman has lost a pregnancy, whether it was elective or
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
spontaneous (miscarriage), before 20 weeks gestation
b b b b b b
L: living children → live births
b b b b b
The best way for the nurse to enhance parental confidence is to
b b b b b b b b b b b
A) Have the parents watch a video tape of infant care, then discuss it with them
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
B) Demonstrate skills on the newborn while providing care
b b b b b b b b
C) Encourage new parents to ask their friends about infant care
b b b b b b b b b b
D) Provide encouragement and positive feedback - ANS >> D
b b b b b b b b b
The nurse is teaching the parents of a female baby how to change a baby's diapers.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Which of the following should be included in the teaching?
b b b b b b b b b b
A) Always wipe the perineum from front to back
b b b b b b b b
B) Remove any vernix caseosa from labia folds
b b b b b b b
C) Put powder on buttocks every time the baby stools
b b b b b b b b b
D) Weigh every diaper in order to assess for hydration - ANS >> A
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
, Reasoning
To decrease risk of infection from bacteria from the rectum, the perineum of female
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
babies should always be cleansed from front to back
b b b b b b b b b
After birth, the perinatal nurse explains to the new mom that Progesterone is the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
hormone responsible for stimulating milk production
b b b b b b
A) True b
B) False - ANS >> FALSE
b b b b b
A 6 hour infant passes an unformed, black, tar like stool. The nurse should conclude
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
this is a:
b b b
A) Meconium stool expected at the time of birth
b b b b b b b b
B) Transitional stool expected at this time
b b b b b b
C) Meconium stool expected at this time
b b b b b b
D) Transitional stool expected later - ANS >> C
b b b b b b b b
A woman's postpartum vaginal discharge is dark red and contains shreds of decidua
b b b b b b b b b b b b
and epithelial cells. The nurse should describe the discharge in the nurse's notes as:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A) Rubra b
B) Serosa b
C) Alba b
D) Erythra - ANS >> A
b b b b b
Which of the following statements indicates that a new mom needs additional teaching?
b b b b b b b b b b b b
A) I will need to supervise my cat when she is in the same room as my baby
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
B) I will place by baby on her back when she is sleeping
b b b b b b b b b b b b
C) I will not leave my baby on an elevated flat surface after she is able to turn over on
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
her own
b b
D) I have asked my husband to install safety latches on the lower cabinets - ANS >> C
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Reasoning:
Newborns/infants should never be left on an elevated flat surface because they may roll b b b b b b b b b b b b b
or wiggle & fall off
b b b b b
The perinatal nurse explains to the student nurse that the growing embryo is called a
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
___________ at the end of 8 weeks of gestational age
b b b b b b b b b b
A) Neonate b
B) Fetus b
C) Zygote b
D) Gamete - ANS >> B
b b b b b
Reasoning
- Zygote = fertilization - 2nd week
b b b b b b
- Embryo = end of 2nd week - 8th week
b b b b b b b b b
- Fetus = end of 8th week - birth
b b b b b b b b
A mother refused to allow her son to receive the vitamin K injection at birth. Which of
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bthe following s/s might the nurse observe in the baby as a result?
b b b b b b b b b b b b
A) Skin color is dusky
b b b b
B) Vitals signs are labile
b b b b
C) Glucose levels are subnormal
b b b b
Answers 2
A woman who have birth 2 hours ago has a temperature of 37.9 *C. Select all of the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
immediate nursing actions
b b b
A) Have pt drink 2 glasses of fluid over the next hour
b b b b b b b b b b b
B) Explain to the patient that she needs to rest and assist her into a comfortable position
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
C) Medicate pt with 500 mg of acetaminophen as per orders
b b b b b b b b b b
D) Call the patient's physician or midwife to report the elevated temp - ANS >> A & B
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Reasoning:
A mild temperature elevation within a few hours of birth can be related to dehydration
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
and exhaustion. Acetaminophen is given if temperature remains elevated after the
b b b b b b b b b b b
woman has been hydrated and rested. The physician or midwife is notified if
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
temperature remains elevated after initial interventions.
b b b b b b
3 hours after a vaginal delivery, the client complains of increased perineal pain. What
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
should the nurse do first?
b b b b b
A) Administer analgesia as ordered
b b b b
B) Assess the perineum
b b b
C) Perform perineal care
b b b
D) Apply ice to perineum - ANS >> B
b b b b b b b b
A woman gave birth to a 3200 g baby girl with an estimated gestational age of 40
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
weeks. The baby is 1 hour of age. In preparation of giving the baby an injection of
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Vitamin K, the nurse will:
b b b b b
A) Explain to the parents the action of the medication and answer their questions
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
B) Remove neonate from the room so parents will not be distressed by seeing the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
injection
b
C) Completely undress the neonate to identify the injection site
b b b b b b b b b
D) Replace needle with a 21 gauge ⅝ needle - ANS >> A
b b b b b b b b b b b b
Reasoning: It is important to always explain to parents wHat and why a procedure is
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
being done on the newborn
b b b b b
When assessing a placenta and umbilical cord at delivery, the nurse must know that the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
normal cord has:
b b b
A) 1 vein and 2 arteries
b b b b b
B) 2 veins and 1 artery
b b b b b
C) 1 vein and 1 artery
b b b b b
D) 2 veins and 2 arteries - ANS >> A
b b b b b b b b b b
,(AVA)
When reviewing a potential cause for postpartum hemorrhage with the student nurse,
b b b b b b b b b b b
bthe nurse is sure to include the finding of a(n) ____________ bladder - ANS >>
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bFULL/OVERDISTENDED
Reasoning:
An overdistended bladder, which displaces the uterus above and to the right of the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
umbilicus, can cause uterine atony and lead to hemorrhage
b b b b b b b b b
Maddy, a G3 P1 woman, gave birth 12 hrs ago to a 9lb 13 oz daughter. She
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
experiences severe cramps with breastfeeding. The perinatal nurse best describes this
b b b b b b b b b b b
condition as:
b b
A) Afterpains
b
B) Uterine hypertonia
b b
C) Bladder hypertonia
b b
D) Rectus abdominis diastasis - ANS >> A
b b b b b b b
Reasoning
Afterpains are intermittent uterine contractions that occur during the process of
b b b b b b b b b b
involution. Afterpains are more pronounced in patients w/ decreased uterine tone due
b b b b b b b b b b b b
to overdistension, which is associated w/ multiparity and macrosomia. Patients often
b b b b b b b b b b b
describe the sensation as a discomfort similar to menstrual cramps
b b b b b b b b b b
What does GTPAL mean? - ANS >> G: Gravida → # of times a woman has conceived
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
including current pregnancy
b b b
T: Term Births → # of times a woman has carried a pregnancy to at least 37 weeks and
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
delivered
b
P: Preterm Births → # of births a woman has delivered before 37 weeks gestation but
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
after 20 weeks
b b b
A: Abortions → # of times a woman has lost a pregnancy, whether it was elective or
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
spontaneous (miscarriage), before 20 weeks gestation
b b b b b b
L: living children → live births
b b b b b
The best way for the nurse to enhance parental confidence is to
b b b b b b b b b b b
A) Have the parents watch a video tape of infant care, then discuss it with them
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
B) Demonstrate skills on the newborn while providing care
b b b b b b b b
C) Encourage new parents to ask their friends about infant care
b b b b b b b b b b
D) Provide encouragement and positive feedback - ANS >> D
b b b b b b b b b
The nurse is teaching the parents of a female baby how to change a baby's diapers.
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Which of the following should be included in the teaching?
b b b b b b b b b b
A) Always wipe the perineum from front to back
b b b b b b b b
B) Remove any vernix caseosa from labia folds
b b b b b b b
C) Put powder on buttocks every time the baby stools
b b b b b b b b b
D) Weigh every diaper in order to assess for hydration - ANS >> A
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
, Reasoning
To decrease risk of infection from bacteria from the rectum, the perineum of female
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
babies should always be cleansed from front to back
b b b b b b b b b
After birth, the perinatal nurse explains to the new mom that Progesterone is the
b b b b b b b b b b b b b
hormone responsible for stimulating milk production
b b b b b b
A) True b
B) False - ANS >> FALSE
b b b b b
A 6 hour infant passes an unformed, black, tar like stool. The nurse should conclude
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
this is a:
b b b
A) Meconium stool expected at the time of birth
b b b b b b b b
B) Transitional stool expected at this time
b b b b b b
C) Meconium stool expected at this time
b b b b b b
D) Transitional stool expected later - ANS >> C
b b b b b b b b
A woman's postpartum vaginal discharge is dark red and contains shreds of decidua
b b b b b b b b b b b b
and epithelial cells. The nurse should describe the discharge in the nurse's notes as:
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
A) Rubra b
B) Serosa b
C) Alba b
D) Erythra - ANS >> A
b b b b b
Which of the following statements indicates that a new mom needs additional teaching?
b b b b b b b b b b b b
A) I will need to supervise my cat when she is in the same room as my baby
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
B) I will place by baby on her back when she is sleeping
b b b b b b b b b b b b
C) I will not leave my baby on an elevated flat surface after she is able to turn over on
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
her own
b b
D) I have asked my husband to install safety latches on the lower cabinets - ANS >> C
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Reasoning:
Newborns/infants should never be left on an elevated flat surface because they may roll b b b b b b b b b b b b b
or wiggle & fall off
b b b b b
The perinatal nurse explains to the student nurse that the growing embryo is called a
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
___________ at the end of 8 weeks of gestational age
b b b b b b b b b b
A) Neonate b
B) Fetus b
C) Zygote b
D) Gamete - ANS >> B
b b b b b
Reasoning
- Zygote = fertilization - 2nd week
b b b b b b
- Embryo = end of 2nd week - 8th week
b b b b b b b b b
- Fetus = end of 8th week - birth
b b b b b b b b
A mother refused to allow her son to receive the vitamin K injection at birth. Which of
b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
bthe following s/s might the nurse observe in the baby as a result?
b b b b b b b b b b b b
A) Skin color is dusky
b b b b
B) Vitals signs are labile
b b b b
C) Glucose levels are subnormal
b b b b
