Unit 4 Practice Questions
1. During pregnancy a woman’s cardiovascular system expands to care for the growing fetus. After birth, during th
early postpartum period, the woman eliminates the additional fluid volume she has been carrying. What is one
way she does this?
a. Urinary elimination
b. Elimination of solid wastes
c. Being too tired to eat
d. Breathing off fluid vapor
2. Based on the nurse’s knowledge about the postpartum period and an increase in blood coagulability during the
first 48 hours, the nurse closely assesses the client for which condition?
a. Hyperglycemia
b. Varicose veins
c. Thromboembolism
d. Calcium depletion
3. Healthy bonding behaviors are important to note when the nurse is assessing the new family. What statement
or action would the nurse consider a warning sign that the mother and infant were not attaching as they should?
a. Mother states she wanted a boy this time, not another girl
b. Mother cries and says “I have no family nearby and my mother-in-law doesn’t like me”
c. Mother wants you in the room while she breastfeeds as she is afraid she is not doing it right.
d. Mother states she is concerned about one of her other children not liking the new baby
4. A postpartum client reports urinary frequency and burning. What cause would the nurse suspect?
a. Uterine atony
b. Urinary tract infection
c. Subinvolution
d. Stress incontinence
5. The nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client who is 2 days postpartum. Which action should the nurse
prioritize to encourage prevention of constipation?
a. Use a stimulant laxative
b. Encourage fiber-rich foods
c. Increase coffee intake
d. Get plenty of rest
6. Which action would most make the nurse believe that a postpartum woman is accepting a child well?
a. She states she named the child after a well-loved friend
b. She turns her face to meet the infant’s eyes when she holds her
c. She comments that her baby has the most hair of any in the nursery
d. She asks the nurse to use her camera to take a photo of the child
7. A woman who delivered her infant 2 days ago asks the nurse why she wakes up at night drenched in sweat. She
is concerned that this is a problem. The nurse’s best reply would be:
a. “Many women sweat after delivery but you seem to be perspiring far more than normal, I will call the
doctor.”
b. “Often, when a postpartum woman perspires like you are reporting, it means that they have an
infection.”
c. “I need to get you vital signs and check your fundus to be sure you are not going into shock.”
, d. “Sweating is very normal for the first few days after childbirth because your body needs to get rid of all
the excess water from pregnancy.”
8. The physician ordered the rubella vaccine to be given to a postpartum woman who is being discharged. Which
should be included when providing education about the vaccine to the woman?
a. Breastfeeding is contraindicated
b. The woman should avoid becoming pregnant after receiving the vaccine
c. The vaccine can safely be given to women with egg allergies
d. The woman must be separated from her infant for 24 hours after receiving the vaccine
9. The nurse is assessing her patient, who is 1 day postpartum. The nurse notes that the fundus is firm and at
midline, the lochia is moderate in amount, and the presence of rubra with two dime-sized clots is on her peri-
pad. What should the nurse determine from these assessment findings?
a. They are normal
b. They indicate the presence of infection
c. The physician should be notified of abnormal findings
d. The patient should be instructed to increase her fluid intake
10. The nurse is educating the postpartum client on lactation suppression. Which instructions to the client regardin
lactation suppression should be included? Select all that apply
a. “Take warm showers twice a day.”
b. “Pump each breast three times a day.”
c. “Apply a heating pad to each breast.”
d. “Apply ice packs to the axillary area of each breast.”
e. “Wear a well-fitting bra for the first 5 to 6 days.”
11. A breastfeeding postpartum woman tells the nurse, “I am not sure I want to breastfeed because I notice that
when I feed my baby, I have strong contraction-like pain. Is something wrong?” Which response by the nurse is
the most appropriate?
a. “I will call the doctor and let him know your concern.”
b. “You may be getting an infection and will have to stop breastfeeding.”
c. “This is normal because your uterus is shrinking back to the normal size.”
d. “The baby’s sucking during breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the uterus to
contract.”
12. The nurse is educating a new postpartum woman about peri-care. Which action by the patient indicates
understanding?
a. The woman applied her peri-pad from back to front
b. The woman performed peri-care three times a day
c. The woman washed her hands before and after performing peri-care
d. The woman mixed tap water and hydrogen peroxide in her peri-bottle
13. What is the priority risk factor for the health care team to assess related to postpartum depression?
a. A previous pregnancy and birth
b. A history of postpartum or other depression
c. Attendance at prenatal classes
d. Employment status
1. During pregnancy a woman’s cardiovascular system expands to care for the growing fetus. After birth, during th
early postpartum period, the woman eliminates the additional fluid volume she has been carrying. What is one
way she does this?
a. Urinary elimination
b. Elimination of solid wastes
c. Being too tired to eat
d. Breathing off fluid vapor
2. Based on the nurse’s knowledge about the postpartum period and an increase in blood coagulability during the
first 48 hours, the nurse closely assesses the client for which condition?
a. Hyperglycemia
b. Varicose veins
c. Thromboembolism
d. Calcium depletion
3. Healthy bonding behaviors are important to note when the nurse is assessing the new family. What statement
or action would the nurse consider a warning sign that the mother and infant were not attaching as they should?
a. Mother states she wanted a boy this time, not another girl
b. Mother cries and says “I have no family nearby and my mother-in-law doesn’t like me”
c. Mother wants you in the room while she breastfeeds as she is afraid she is not doing it right.
d. Mother states she is concerned about one of her other children not liking the new baby
4. A postpartum client reports urinary frequency and burning. What cause would the nurse suspect?
a. Uterine atony
b. Urinary tract infection
c. Subinvolution
d. Stress incontinence
5. The nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client who is 2 days postpartum. Which action should the nurse
prioritize to encourage prevention of constipation?
a. Use a stimulant laxative
b. Encourage fiber-rich foods
c. Increase coffee intake
d. Get plenty of rest
6. Which action would most make the nurse believe that a postpartum woman is accepting a child well?
a. She states she named the child after a well-loved friend
b. She turns her face to meet the infant’s eyes when she holds her
c. She comments that her baby has the most hair of any in the nursery
d. She asks the nurse to use her camera to take a photo of the child
7. A woman who delivered her infant 2 days ago asks the nurse why she wakes up at night drenched in sweat. She
is concerned that this is a problem. The nurse’s best reply would be:
a. “Many women sweat after delivery but you seem to be perspiring far more than normal, I will call the
doctor.”
b. “Often, when a postpartum woman perspires like you are reporting, it means that they have an
infection.”
c. “I need to get you vital signs and check your fundus to be sure you are not going into shock.”
, d. “Sweating is very normal for the first few days after childbirth because your body needs to get rid of all
the excess water from pregnancy.”
8. The physician ordered the rubella vaccine to be given to a postpartum woman who is being discharged. Which
should be included when providing education about the vaccine to the woman?
a. Breastfeeding is contraindicated
b. The woman should avoid becoming pregnant after receiving the vaccine
c. The vaccine can safely be given to women with egg allergies
d. The woman must be separated from her infant for 24 hours after receiving the vaccine
9. The nurse is assessing her patient, who is 1 day postpartum. The nurse notes that the fundus is firm and at
midline, the lochia is moderate in amount, and the presence of rubra with two dime-sized clots is on her peri-
pad. What should the nurse determine from these assessment findings?
a. They are normal
b. They indicate the presence of infection
c. The physician should be notified of abnormal findings
d. The patient should be instructed to increase her fluid intake
10. The nurse is educating the postpartum client on lactation suppression. Which instructions to the client regardin
lactation suppression should be included? Select all that apply
a. “Take warm showers twice a day.”
b. “Pump each breast three times a day.”
c. “Apply a heating pad to each breast.”
d. “Apply ice packs to the axillary area of each breast.”
e. “Wear a well-fitting bra for the first 5 to 6 days.”
11. A breastfeeding postpartum woman tells the nurse, “I am not sure I want to breastfeed because I notice that
when I feed my baby, I have strong contraction-like pain. Is something wrong?” Which response by the nurse is
the most appropriate?
a. “I will call the doctor and let him know your concern.”
b. “You may be getting an infection and will have to stop breastfeeding.”
c. “This is normal because your uterus is shrinking back to the normal size.”
d. “The baby’s sucking during breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates the uterus to
contract.”
12. The nurse is educating a new postpartum woman about peri-care. Which action by the patient indicates
understanding?
a. The woman applied her peri-pad from back to front
b. The woman performed peri-care three times a day
c. The woman washed her hands before and after performing peri-care
d. The woman mixed tap water and hydrogen peroxide in her peri-bottle
13. What is the priority risk factor for the health care team to assess related to postpartum depression?
a. A previous pregnancy and birth
b. A history of postpartum or other depression
c. Attendance at prenatal classes
d. Employment status
