Page | 1
Labor & Delivery Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
Question: A nurse assesses a client during the third stage of labor. Which
assessment findings indicate that the client is experiencing postpartum
hemorrhage?
Ans: Heart rate 120 beats/minute, respiratory rate 28 breaths/minute, blood
pressure 80/40 mm Hg
Question: A client in the first stage of labor is being monitored using an
external fetal monitor. A nurse notes variable decelerations on the monitoring
strip. Into what position should the nurse assist the client?
Ans: lateral
Question: A client with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet
count (HELLP) syndrome is admitted to the labor and delivery unit. The
client's condition rapidly deteriorates and despite efforts by the staff, the
client dies. After the client's death, the nursing staff displays many emotions.
Who should the nurse manager consult to help the staff cope with this
unexpected death?
1. The human resource director, so she can arrange vacation time for the staff
, Page | 2
2. The physician, so he can provide education about HELLP syndrome
3. The social worker, so she can contact the family about funeral
arrangements and pass along the information to the nursing staff
4. The chaplain, because his educational background includes strategies for
handling grief
Ans: Answer: 4
RATIONALES: The chaplain should be consulted because his educational
background provides strategies for helping others handle grief. Providing the
staff with vacation isn't feasible from a staffing standpoint and doesn't help
staff cope with their grief. The staff needs grief counseling, not education
about HELLP syndrome. Asking the social worker to contact the family about
the funeral arrangements isn't appropriate.
Question: Two clients arrive at the labor and delivery triage area at the same
time. The first client states that her water has been leaking, but that she hasn't
had any contractions. The second client says she's having 1-minute
contractions every 3 minutes and that she feels like pushing. How should a
nurse prioritize these clients?
, Page | 3
Ans: The nurse should assign priority to the second client. Her signs and
symptoms indicate that her baby's birth is imminent.
Question: A primigravid client in active labor has had no anesthesia. The
client's cervix is 7 cm dilated, and she is starting to feel considerable
discomfort during contractions. The nurse should instruct the client to change
from slow chest breathing to which breathing technique?
a) deep chest breathing
b) rapid pant-blow breathing
c) slow abdominal breathing
d) rapid, shallow chest breathing
, Page | 4
Ans: Rapid, shallow chest breathing
The psychoprophylaxis method of childbirth suggests using slow chest
breathing until it becomes ineffective during labor contractions, then
switching to shallow chest breathing (mostly at the sternum) during the peak
of a contraction. The rate is 50 to 70 breaths/min.
Deep chest breathing is appropriate for the early phase of labor, in which the
client exhibits less frequent contractions.
When transition nears, a rapid pant-blow pattern of breathing is used.
Slow abdominal breathing is very difficult for clients in labor.
Question: While a 31-year-old multigravida at 39 weeks' gestation in active
labor is being admitted, her amniotic membranes rupture spontaneously. The
client's cervix is 5 cm dilated and the presenting part is at 0 station. Which of
the following should the nurse do first?
a) Prepare the client for imminent birth.
Labor & Delivery Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
Question: A nurse assesses a client during the third stage of labor. Which
assessment findings indicate that the client is experiencing postpartum
hemorrhage?
Ans: Heart rate 120 beats/minute, respiratory rate 28 breaths/minute, blood
pressure 80/40 mm Hg
Question: A client in the first stage of labor is being monitored using an
external fetal monitor. A nurse notes variable decelerations on the monitoring
strip. Into what position should the nurse assist the client?
Ans: lateral
Question: A client with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet
count (HELLP) syndrome is admitted to the labor and delivery unit. The
client's condition rapidly deteriorates and despite efforts by the staff, the
client dies. After the client's death, the nursing staff displays many emotions.
Who should the nurse manager consult to help the staff cope with this
unexpected death?
1. The human resource director, so she can arrange vacation time for the staff
, Page | 2
2. The physician, so he can provide education about HELLP syndrome
3. The social worker, so she can contact the family about funeral
arrangements and pass along the information to the nursing staff
4. The chaplain, because his educational background includes strategies for
handling grief
Ans: Answer: 4
RATIONALES: The chaplain should be consulted because his educational
background provides strategies for helping others handle grief. Providing the
staff with vacation isn't feasible from a staffing standpoint and doesn't help
staff cope with their grief. The staff needs grief counseling, not education
about HELLP syndrome. Asking the social worker to contact the family about
the funeral arrangements isn't appropriate.
Question: Two clients arrive at the labor and delivery triage area at the same
time. The first client states that her water has been leaking, but that she hasn't
had any contractions. The second client says she's having 1-minute
contractions every 3 minutes and that she feels like pushing. How should a
nurse prioritize these clients?
, Page | 3
Ans: The nurse should assign priority to the second client. Her signs and
symptoms indicate that her baby's birth is imminent.
Question: A primigravid client in active labor has had no anesthesia. The
client's cervix is 7 cm dilated, and she is starting to feel considerable
discomfort during contractions. The nurse should instruct the client to change
from slow chest breathing to which breathing technique?
a) deep chest breathing
b) rapid pant-blow breathing
c) slow abdominal breathing
d) rapid, shallow chest breathing
, Page | 4
Ans: Rapid, shallow chest breathing
The psychoprophylaxis method of childbirth suggests using slow chest
breathing until it becomes ineffective during labor contractions, then
switching to shallow chest breathing (mostly at the sternum) during the peak
of a contraction. The rate is 50 to 70 breaths/min.
Deep chest breathing is appropriate for the early phase of labor, in which the
client exhibits less frequent contractions.
When transition nears, a rapid pant-blow pattern of breathing is used.
Slow abdominal breathing is very difficult for clients in labor.
Question: While a 31-year-old multigravida at 39 weeks' gestation in active
labor is being admitted, her amniotic membranes rupture spontaneously. The
client's cervix is 5 cm dilated and the presenting part is at 0 station. Which of
the following should the nurse do first?
a) Prepare the client for imminent birth.
