NSG 3500 Exam 2 – Nursing Practice:
Maternal Health (Galen College of Nursing)
2025–2026 | Verified Exam Review with
Practice-Based Questions
1. A nurse is caring for a client in active labor with variable decelerations on the fetal monitor.
What is the priority action?
Answer: Reposition the client.
Rationale: Variable decelerations are often caused by cord compression; repositioning can
relieve pressure on the cord.
2. A postpartum client reports burning on urination. Which finding suggests a urinary tract
infection?
Answer: Positive leukocytes and nitrites in the urine.
Rationale: These indicate bacterial presence consistent with UTI.
3. A nurse is educating a pregnant client about iron supplementation. Which statement indicates
correct understanding?
Answer: “I should take my iron pill with orange juice.”
Rationale: Vitamin C enhances iron absorption.
4. A nurse notes a boggy uterus and heavy lochia rubra one hour after birth. What is the first
nursing action?
Answer: Massage the fundus.
Rationale: A boggy uterus indicates uterine atony, and fundal massage promotes contraction.
5. A client with preeclampsia is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
Answer: Respiratory rate of 10/min.
, Rationale: Magnesium toxicity depresses respiratory function; notify provider and prepare
calcium gluconate.
6. Which newborn assessment finding requires immediate follow-up?
Answer: Nasal flaring and grunting.
Rationale: These are signs of respiratory distress in a newborn.
7. A client in labor receives an epidural block. What is the most important initial assessment?
Answer: Blood pressure.
Rationale: Hypotension is a common side effect of epidural anesthesia.
8. The nurse is providing postpartum teaching about breastfeeding. Which statement requires
correction?
Answer: “I will wash my nipples with soap before every feeding.”
Rationale: Soap can dry and crack nipples; plain water is recommended.
9. A client at 30 weeks reports painless vaginal bleeding. What condition should the nurse
suspect?
Answer: Placenta previa.
Rationale: Painless bright red bleeding in late pregnancy is characteristic of placenta previa.
10. Which sign indicates placental separation after delivery?
Answer: Lengthening of the umbilical cord.
Rationale: This signals detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall.
11. Which position helps relieve back pain during labor?
Answer: Hands-and-knees position.
Rationale: It helps rotate the fetus and relieve back pressure.
12. The nurse identifies late decelerations on the fetal monitor. What is the priority action?
Answer: Turn the client to the left side.
Rationale: This increases uteroplacental perfusion and oxygen delivery to the fetus.
13. A nurse is assessing a 2-hour-old newborn. Which finding is expected?
Answer: Acrocyanosis.
Rationale: Bluish discoloration of hands and feet is normal in the first 24 hours.
14. The nurse should suspect postpartum hemorrhage when blood loss exceeds:
Answer: 500 mL after vaginal birth.
Rationale: Loss >500 mL (vaginal) or >1000 mL (cesarean) indicates hemorrhage.
15. Which dietary instruction is appropriate for a breastfeeding mother?
Answer: Increase fluid intake.
Rationale: Adequate hydration supports milk production.
Maternal Health (Galen College of Nursing)
2025–2026 | Verified Exam Review with
Practice-Based Questions
1. A nurse is caring for a client in active labor with variable decelerations on the fetal monitor.
What is the priority action?
Answer: Reposition the client.
Rationale: Variable decelerations are often caused by cord compression; repositioning can
relieve pressure on the cord.
2. A postpartum client reports burning on urination. Which finding suggests a urinary tract
infection?
Answer: Positive leukocytes and nitrites in the urine.
Rationale: These indicate bacterial presence consistent with UTI.
3. A nurse is educating a pregnant client about iron supplementation. Which statement indicates
correct understanding?
Answer: “I should take my iron pill with orange juice.”
Rationale: Vitamin C enhances iron absorption.
4. A nurse notes a boggy uterus and heavy lochia rubra one hour after birth. What is the first
nursing action?
Answer: Massage the fundus.
Rationale: A boggy uterus indicates uterine atony, and fundal massage promotes contraction.
5. A client with preeclampsia is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
Answer: Respiratory rate of 10/min.
, Rationale: Magnesium toxicity depresses respiratory function; notify provider and prepare
calcium gluconate.
6. Which newborn assessment finding requires immediate follow-up?
Answer: Nasal flaring and grunting.
Rationale: These are signs of respiratory distress in a newborn.
7. A client in labor receives an epidural block. What is the most important initial assessment?
Answer: Blood pressure.
Rationale: Hypotension is a common side effect of epidural anesthesia.
8. The nurse is providing postpartum teaching about breastfeeding. Which statement requires
correction?
Answer: “I will wash my nipples with soap before every feeding.”
Rationale: Soap can dry and crack nipples; plain water is recommended.
9. A client at 30 weeks reports painless vaginal bleeding. What condition should the nurse
suspect?
Answer: Placenta previa.
Rationale: Painless bright red bleeding in late pregnancy is characteristic of placenta previa.
10. Which sign indicates placental separation after delivery?
Answer: Lengthening of the umbilical cord.
Rationale: This signals detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall.
11. Which position helps relieve back pain during labor?
Answer: Hands-and-knees position.
Rationale: It helps rotate the fetus and relieve back pressure.
12. The nurse identifies late decelerations on the fetal monitor. What is the priority action?
Answer: Turn the client to the left side.
Rationale: This increases uteroplacental perfusion and oxygen delivery to the fetus.
13. A nurse is assessing a 2-hour-old newborn. Which finding is expected?
Answer: Acrocyanosis.
Rationale: Bluish discoloration of hands and feet is normal in the first 24 hours.
14. The nurse should suspect postpartum hemorrhage when blood loss exceeds:
Answer: 500 mL after vaginal birth.
Rationale: Loss >500 mL (vaginal) or >1000 mL (cesarean) indicates hemorrhage.
15. Which dietary instruction is appropriate for a breastfeeding mother?
Answer: Increase fluid intake.
Rationale: Adequate hydration supports milk production.
