8/17/25, 11:43 PM RN Maternal Newborn
RN Maternal Newborn Nursing Exam Study
Guide 2025-2026 |ATI & HESI Questions and
answers with Rationales
Dome-shaped cup with a flexible rim made of silicone that fits
snugly over the cervix with
spermicidal cream or gel applied on dome and around the rim
Available in different sizes; client should be
properly fitted with a diaphragm by a provider (requires a
prescription)
Empty bladder prior to insertion
Requires proper insertion and removal to be effective
Interferes with spontaneity; inconvenient
What is the diaphragm and
spermicide form of
contraception?
Every 2 years; and refitted for a 20% weight fluctuation, after
How often are diaphragms
abdominal or pelvic surgery and after every pregnancy
and cervical caps for
contraception replaced?
Can be inserted up to 6 hours before intercourse and must stay in
When can a diaphragm or
place 6 hours after intercourse
cervical cap for contraception
be inserted into the vagina diaphragm: no more than 24 hours cervical cap: no more than 48
and how long can it stay in hours
for?
Risk for allergic reaction
What are potential
risks/complications Not recommended for clients who have a hx of toxic shock
syndrome (TSS) or frequent/recurrent UTIs; prevented by
associated with diaphragm proper hand hygiene and removal of
contraceptive use? diaphragm promptly at 6 hour after sex
Coitus
what is another name for
sexual intercourse?
Abstinence
What forms of contraception
protect against STIs? Male condoms Female condoms
o Given at 28 weeks and also within 72 hours of delivery
When is Rhogam given?
o Also given after abortion, ectopic pregnancy, amniocentesis
1/27
,8/17/25, 11:43 PM RN Maternal Newborn
Number of pregnancies
What is gravidity? Example. Nulligravida: never been
pregnant Primigravida: first
pregnancy
Perceived by the woman
Signs: amenorrhea, fatigue,
What are presumptive signs of nausea, vomiting Urinary
pregnancy?
frequency, uterine
enlargement
Breast changes (darkened areolae, enlarged
Montgomery glands Quickening
Quickening is the term used to describe when the
Define quickening. When does mother first detects fetal movements, usually at 18 to
it occur?
20 weeks of gestation in a primigravida and 16 to 18
weeks of gestation in a multigravida.
Perceived by the examiner
Signs: Abdominal enlargement, positive pregnancy test,
What are probable signs of
fetal outline felt by examiner Braxton Hicks
pregnancy?
contractions, Ballottement
Hegar's sign, Goodell's sign, Chadwick's sign
false labor contractions that can begin as early as the
sixth month of pregnancy; painless, irregular, and
What are Braxton Hicks
contractions? usually relieved by walking or changing position
- if contractions increase in intensity and
frequency (true contractions) with regularity,
notify provider
Light tap of examining finger on cervix causes fetus to
What is ballottement? rise in amniotic fluid & then rebound to original position
(16-18 wks); used to diagnose pregnancy
rebound of unengaged fetus
Hegar's sign softening and compressibility of lower uterus
2/27
, 8/17/25, 11:43 PM RN Maternal Newborn
Goodell's sign softening of the cervix
Bluish purple discoloration of the cervix, vagina, and
Chadwick's sign
labia during pregnancy as a result of increased
vascular congestion.
Fetal heart sounds
What are positive signs of Fetal movement felt by
pregnancy? examiner Ultrasound
visualization of fetus
During what week of 10 weeks; using a doppler device
pregnancy is the fetal
heartbeat detectable?
How early can a fetus be 4-5weeks
visualized using an
ultrasound?
Coitus interruptus (withdrawal)
What is the least effective Advantage: possible choice for
method of contraception? monogamous couples No
protection against STIs
Usually influenced by male partner's control
Also known as the "calendar
method" Abstinence during
What is the rhythm method?
fertile periods
Woman records her menstrual cycle by calculating her fertile
period
most useful when combined with basal body temperature or
cervical mucus method
Record the number of days in each menstrual cycle for
atleast 6 cycles (From beginning of first period to
beginning of next period)
Subtract 18 days from the number of days in the
woman's shortest cycle (start of the fertile period)
How is the fertile period
calculate? Subtract 11 days from the number of days in the longest
cycle (end of the fertile period)
Example:
Shortest cycle: 26-
18 = 8th day
Longest cycle: 30-
11=19th day
Fertile period: days 8-19; avoid intercourse
3/27
RN Maternal Newborn Nursing Exam Study
Guide 2025-2026 |ATI & HESI Questions and
answers with Rationales
Dome-shaped cup with a flexible rim made of silicone that fits
snugly over the cervix with
spermicidal cream or gel applied on dome and around the rim
Available in different sizes; client should be
properly fitted with a diaphragm by a provider (requires a
prescription)
Empty bladder prior to insertion
Requires proper insertion and removal to be effective
Interferes with spontaneity; inconvenient
What is the diaphragm and
spermicide form of
contraception?
Every 2 years; and refitted for a 20% weight fluctuation, after
How often are diaphragms
abdominal or pelvic surgery and after every pregnancy
and cervical caps for
contraception replaced?
Can be inserted up to 6 hours before intercourse and must stay in
When can a diaphragm or
place 6 hours after intercourse
cervical cap for contraception
be inserted into the vagina diaphragm: no more than 24 hours cervical cap: no more than 48
and how long can it stay in hours
for?
Risk for allergic reaction
What are potential
risks/complications Not recommended for clients who have a hx of toxic shock
syndrome (TSS) or frequent/recurrent UTIs; prevented by
associated with diaphragm proper hand hygiene and removal of
contraceptive use? diaphragm promptly at 6 hour after sex
Coitus
what is another name for
sexual intercourse?
Abstinence
What forms of contraception
protect against STIs? Male condoms Female condoms
o Given at 28 weeks and also within 72 hours of delivery
When is Rhogam given?
o Also given after abortion, ectopic pregnancy, amniocentesis
1/27
,8/17/25, 11:43 PM RN Maternal Newborn
Number of pregnancies
What is gravidity? Example. Nulligravida: never been
pregnant Primigravida: first
pregnancy
Perceived by the woman
Signs: amenorrhea, fatigue,
What are presumptive signs of nausea, vomiting Urinary
pregnancy?
frequency, uterine
enlargement
Breast changes (darkened areolae, enlarged
Montgomery glands Quickening
Quickening is the term used to describe when the
Define quickening. When does mother first detects fetal movements, usually at 18 to
it occur?
20 weeks of gestation in a primigravida and 16 to 18
weeks of gestation in a multigravida.
Perceived by the examiner
Signs: Abdominal enlargement, positive pregnancy test,
What are probable signs of
fetal outline felt by examiner Braxton Hicks
pregnancy?
contractions, Ballottement
Hegar's sign, Goodell's sign, Chadwick's sign
false labor contractions that can begin as early as the
sixth month of pregnancy; painless, irregular, and
What are Braxton Hicks
contractions? usually relieved by walking or changing position
- if contractions increase in intensity and
frequency (true contractions) with regularity,
notify provider
Light tap of examining finger on cervix causes fetus to
What is ballottement? rise in amniotic fluid & then rebound to original position
(16-18 wks); used to diagnose pregnancy
rebound of unengaged fetus
Hegar's sign softening and compressibility of lower uterus
2/27
, 8/17/25, 11:43 PM RN Maternal Newborn
Goodell's sign softening of the cervix
Bluish purple discoloration of the cervix, vagina, and
Chadwick's sign
labia during pregnancy as a result of increased
vascular congestion.
Fetal heart sounds
What are positive signs of Fetal movement felt by
pregnancy? examiner Ultrasound
visualization of fetus
During what week of 10 weeks; using a doppler device
pregnancy is the fetal
heartbeat detectable?
How early can a fetus be 4-5weeks
visualized using an
ultrasound?
Coitus interruptus (withdrawal)
What is the least effective Advantage: possible choice for
method of contraception? monogamous couples No
protection against STIs
Usually influenced by male partner's control
Also known as the "calendar
method" Abstinence during
What is the rhythm method?
fertile periods
Woman records her menstrual cycle by calculating her fertile
period
most useful when combined with basal body temperature or
cervical mucus method
Record the number of days in each menstrual cycle for
atleast 6 cycles (From beginning of first period to
beginning of next period)
Subtract 18 days from the number of days in the
woman's shortest cycle (start of the fertile period)
How is the fertile period
calculate? Subtract 11 days from the number of days in the longest
cycle (end of the fertile period)
Example:
Shortest cycle: 26-
18 = 8th day
Longest cycle: 30-
11=19th day
Fertile period: days 8-19; avoid intercourse
3/27
