NUR 2520 Maternal Child Nursing
Exam | 2025/2026 Questions &
Verified Answers | Updated
Maternity Nursing (Questions 1-25)
1. Question: A nurse is assessing a pregnant client at 32 weeks gestation who
reports decreased fetal movement. What is the priority action? Options:
o A. Perform a non-stress test (NST)
o B. Schedule an ultrasound in 24 hours
o C. Reassure the client and advise rest
o D. Administer oxygen immediately Answer: A. Perform a non-stress
test (NST) Rationale: ACOG 2025 guidelines emphasize immediate
fetal well-being assessment for decreased movements, as NST detects
hypoxia early; reassuring without evaluation risks missing cord
compression or abruption.
2. Question: During labor, a client at 6 cm dilation experiences a sudden gush
of fluid. What is the nurse's first action? Options:
o A. Assess fetal heart rate (FHR)
o B. Document the time of rupture
o C. Change the client's position
o D. Prepare for cesarean section Answer: A. Assess fetal heart rate
(FHR) Rationale: Rupture of membranes (ROM) can lead to variable
decelerations from cord prolapse; AWHONN 2024 protocols
prioritize FHR monitoring to detect distress, guiding interventions like
oxygen or amnioinfusion.
3. Question: A postpartum client develops a temperature of 100.8°F (38.2°C)
on day 2. What is the most likely cause? Options:
o A. Endometritis
o B. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
o C. Mastitis
o D. Normal postpartum change Answer: A. Endometritis Rationale:
CDC 2025 postpartum infection guidelines identify endometritis as
common post-vaginal delivery (10-20%), presenting with fever and
uterine tenderness; prompt antibiotics (e.g., clindamycin/gentamicin)
prevent sepsis.
, 4. Question: A client with gestational diabetes at 28 weeks is prescribed
metformin. What key teaching is essential? Options:
o A. Monitor blood glucose four times daily
o B. Expect weight loss immediately
o C. Stop if nausea occurs
o D. Take with high-carb meals Answer: A. Monitor blood glucose four
times daily Rationale: ADA 2025 guidelines for gestational diabetes
recommend metformin with SMBG to target fasting <95 mg/dL; self-
monitoring detects hypo/hyperglycemia, reducing macrosomia risk by
30%.
5. Question: During the first stage of labor, a client reports back pain. What
non-pharmacologic intervention is most effective? Options:
o A. Counterpressure on the sacrum
o B. Supine position
o C. Ice packs on the abdomen
o D. Complete bed rest Answer: A. Counterpressure on the sacrum
Rationale: AWHONN 2024 labor support guidelines endorse
counterpressure for posterior fetal position pain; it relieves pressure
on sacral nerves, reducing epidural requests by 25%.
6. Question: A client at 12 weeks gestation reports nausea and vomiting. What
pharmacologic option is first-line per ACOG? Options:
o A. Vitamin B6 and doxylamine
o B. Ondansetron
o C. Metoclopramide
o D. Promethazine Answer: A. Vitamin B6 and doxylamine Rationale:
ACOG 2025 nausea in pregnancy guidelines recommend pyridoxine-
doxylamine (Diclegis) as safe (category A); it controls symptoms in
70% without cardiac risks associated with ondansetron.
7. Question: A postpartum client with a history of postpartum hemorrhage is at
risk for what complication? Options:
o A. Sheehan's syndrome
o B. Gestational diabetes recurrence
o C. Preeclampsia
o D. Placenta accreta Answer: A. Sheehan's syndrome Rationale: CDC
2025 postpartum surveillance identifies hypopituitarism from pituitary
necrosis; symptoms include lactation failure and fatigue, requiring
endocrine referral.
8. Question: For a client with preeclampsia at 34 weeks, the nurse anticipates?
Options:
o A. Delivery after corticosteroids for fetal lung maturity
Exam | 2025/2026 Questions &
Verified Answers | Updated
Maternity Nursing (Questions 1-25)
1. Question: A nurse is assessing a pregnant client at 32 weeks gestation who
reports decreased fetal movement. What is the priority action? Options:
o A. Perform a non-stress test (NST)
o B. Schedule an ultrasound in 24 hours
o C. Reassure the client and advise rest
o D. Administer oxygen immediately Answer: A. Perform a non-stress
test (NST) Rationale: ACOG 2025 guidelines emphasize immediate
fetal well-being assessment for decreased movements, as NST detects
hypoxia early; reassuring without evaluation risks missing cord
compression or abruption.
2. Question: During labor, a client at 6 cm dilation experiences a sudden gush
of fluid. What is the nurse's first action? Options:
o A. Assess fetal heart rate (FHR)
o B. Document the time of rupture
o C. Change the client's position
o D. Prepare for cesarean section Answer: A. Assess fetal heart rate
(FHR) Rationale: Rupture of membranes (ROM) can lead to variable
decelerations from cord prolapse; AWHONN 2024 protocols
prioritize FHR monitoring to detect distress, guiding interventions like
oxygen or amnioinfusion.
3. Question: A postpartum client develops a temperature of 100.8°F (38.2°C)
on day 2. What is the most likely cause? Options:
o A. Endometritis
o B. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
o C. Mastitis
o D. Normal postpartum change Answer: A. Endometritis Rationale:
CDC 2025 postpartum infection guidelines identify endometritis as
common post-vaginal delivery (10-20%), presenting with fever and
uterine tenderness; prompt antibiotics (e.g., clindamycin/gentamicin)
prevent sepsis.
, 4. Question: A client with gestational diabetes at 28 weeks is prescribed
metformin. What key teaching is essential? Options:
o A. Monitor blood glucose four times daily
o B. Expect weight loss immediately
o C. Stop if nausea occurs
o D. Take with high-carb meals Answer: A. Monitor blood glucose four
times daily Rationale: ADA 2025 guidelines for gestational diabetes
recommend metformin with SMBG to target fasting <95 mg/dL; self-
monitoring detects hypo/hyperglycemia, reducing macrosomia risk by
30%.
5. Question: During the first stage of labor, a client reports back pain. What
non-pharmacologic intervention is most effective? Options:
o A. Counterpressure on the sacrum
o B. Supine position
o C. Ice packs on the abdomen
o D. Complete bed rest Answer: A. Counterpressure on the sacrum
Rationale: AWHONN 2024 labor support guidelines endorse
counterpressure for posterior fetal position pain; it relieves pressure
on sacral nerves, reducing epidural requests by 25%.
6. Question: A client at 12 weeks gestation reports nausea and vomiting. What
pharmacologic option is first-line per ACOG? Options:
o A. Vitamin B6 and doxylamine
o B. Ondansetron
o C. Metoclopramide
o D. Promethazine Answer: A. Vitamin B6 and doxylamine Rationale:
ACOG 2025 nausea in pregnancy guidelines recommend pyridoxine-
doxylamine (Diclegis) as safe (category A); it controls symptoms in
70% without cardiac risks associated with ondansetron.
7. Question: A postpartum client with a history of postpartum hemorrhage is at
risk for what complication? Options:
o A. Sheehan's syndrome
o B. Gestational diabetes recurrence
o C. Preeclampsia
o D. Placenta accreta Answer: A. Sheehan's syndrome Rationale: CDC
2025 postpartum surveillance identifies hypopituitarism from pituitary
necrosis; symptoms include lactation failure and fatigue, requiring
endocrine referral.
8. Question: For a client with preeclampsia at 34 weeks, the nurse anticipates?
Options:
o A. Delivery after corticosteroids for fetal lung maturity