Maternity and Pediatric Nursing
Comprehensive Review Guide
Practice Questions with Detailed Answers
Based on Core Maternal-Child Nursing Concepts
1. Antepartum Care and Assessment
Question 1:
A pregnant woman at 10 weeks gestation reports nausea and vomiting. The nurse
should recommend:
A) Eating three large meals per day
B) Small, frequent meals and dry crackers
C) Avoiding all fluids during meals
D) Taking prenatal vitamins on an empty stomach
Answer: B) Small, frequent meals and dry crackers
Morning sickness management includes eating small, frequent meals, consuming dry
crackers before rising, avoiding triggers, and staying hydrated. This approach
prevents stomach emptiness which can worsen nausea.
Question 2:
The nurse is teaching a pregnant client about danger signs to report. Which symptom
requires immediate attention?
A) Mild ankle swelling at the end of the day
B) Persistent severe headache with blurred vision
C) Increased urinary frequency
D) Occasional mild backache
Answer: B) Persistent severe headache with blurred vision
Severe headache with visual changes may indicate preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy
complication. This requires immediate evaluation for blood pressure, proteinuria, and
other signs of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Question 3:
Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy is primarily important for preventing:
A) Gestational diabetes
B) Neural tube defects
C) Preterm labor
D) Iron deficiency anemia
Answer: B) Neural tube defects
Folic acid (400-800 mcg daily) taken before conception and during early pregnancy
significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly.
Neural tube closure occurs by 28 days gestation.
Question 4:
Leopold's maneuvers are performed to assess:
A) Cervical dilation
, B) Fetal heart rate patterns
C) Fetal position and presentation
D) Uterine contractions
Answer: C) Fetal position and presentation
Leopold's maneuvers are systematic abdominal palpation techniques used to
determine fetal lie, presentation, position, and engagement. This information helps
plan delivery approach and anticipate potential complications.
NURSING PRIORITY: Monitor for signs of preeclampsia - hypertension,
proteinuria, edema, headache, visual changes, and epigastric pain.
2. High-Risk Pregnancy Conditions
Question 5:
A client with gestational diabetes is taught to monitor blood glucose. The target
fasting glucose level is:
A) Less than 95 mg/dL
B) Less than 120 mg/dL
C) Less than 140 mg/dL
D) Less than 180 mg/dL
Answer: A) Less than 95 mg/dL
For gestational diabetes, target glucose levels are stricter than non-pregnant adults:
fasting <95 mg/dL, 1-hour postprandial <140 mg/dL, and 2-hour postprandial <120
mg/dL to prevent maternal and fetal complications.
Question 6:
A pregnant client with preeclampsia is receiving magnesium sulfate. The nurse should
monitor for signs of:
A) Hypertensive crisis
B) Magnesium toxicity
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Infection
Answer: B) Magnesium toxicity
Magnesium sulfate toxicity signs include loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory
depression (<12/min), oliguria (<30 mL/hr), and altered consciousness. Calcium
gluconate is the antidote. Therapeutic serum level is 4-7 mg/dL.
Question 7:
The most serious complication of placenta previa is:
A) Maternal infection
B) Fetal malformation
C) Hemorrhage
D) Preterm rupture of membranes
Answer: C) Hemorrhage
Comprehensive Review Guide
Practice Questions with Detailed Answers
Based on Core Maternal-Child Nursing Concepts
1. Antepartum Care and Assessment
Question 1:
A pregnant woman at 10 weeks gestation reports nausea and vomiting. The nurse
should recommend:
A) Eating three large meals per day
B) Small, frequent meals and dry crackers
C) Avoiding all fluids during meals
D) Taking prenatal vitamins on an empty stomach
Answer: B) Small, frequent meals and dry crackers
Morning sickness management includes eating small, frequent meals, consuming dry
crackers before rising, avoiding triggers, and staying hydrated. This approach
prevents stomach emptiness which can worsen nausea.
Question 2:
The nurse is teaching a pregnant client about danger signs to report. Which symptom
requires immediate attention?
A) Mild ankle swelling at the end of the day
B) Persistent severe headache with blurred vision
C) Increased urinary frequency
D) Occasional mild backache
Answer: B) Persistent severe headache with blurred vision
Severe headache with visual changes may indicate preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy
complication. This requires immediate evaluation for blood pressure, proteinuria, and
other signs of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Question 3:
Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy is primarily important for preventing:
A) Gestational diabetes
B) Neural tube defects
C) Preterm labor
D) Iron deficiency anemia
Answer: B) Neural tube defects
Folic acid (400-800 mcg daily) taken before conception and during early pregnancy
significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly.
Neural tube closure occurs by 28 days gestation.
Question 4:
Leopold's maneuvers are performed to assess:
A) Cervical dilation
, B) Fetal heart rate patterns
C) Fetal position and presentation
D) Uterine contractions
Answer: C) Fetal position and presentation
Leopold's maneuvers are systematic abdominal palpation techniques used to
determine fetal lie, presentation, position, and engagement. This information helps
plan delivery approach and anticipate potential complications.
NURSING PRIORITY: Monitor for signs of preeclampsia - hypertension,
proteinuria, edema, headache, visual changes, and epigastric pain.
2. High-Risk Pregnancy Conditions
Question 5:
A client with gestational diabetes is taught to monitor blood glucose. The target
fasting glucose level is:
A) Less than 95 mg/dL
B) Less than 120 mg/dL
C) Less than 140 mg/dL
D) Less than 180 mg/dL
Answer: A) Less than 95 mg/dL
For gestational diabetes, target glucose levels are stricter than non-pregnant adults:
fasting <95 mg/dL, 1-hour postprandial <140 mg/dL, and 2-hour postprandial <120
mg/dL to prevent maternal and fetal complications.
Question 6:
A pregnant client with preeclampsia is receiving magnesium sulfate. The nurse should
monitor for signs of:
A) Hypertensive crisis
B) Magnesium toxicity
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Infection
Answer: B) Magnesium toxicity
Magnesium sulfate toxicity signs include loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory
depression (<12/min), oliguria (<30 mL/hr), and altered consciousness. Calcium
gluconate is the antidote. Therapeutic serum level is 4-7 mg/dL.
Question 7:
The most serious complication of placenta previa is:
A) Maternal infection
B) Fetal malformation
C) Hemorrhage
D) Preterm rupture of membranes
Answer: C) Hemorrhage
