Maternal-Newborn
Nursing and Women's
Health 2026/2027
---
---
### Question 1
A nurse is assessing a newborn 5 minutes after birth. The newborn has a heart rate of 120 beats per
minute, cries vigorously, moves all extremities, has a pink body with blue extremities, and coughs in
response to suctioning. What Apgar score should the nurse assign?
A. 7
B. 8
C. 9
D. 10
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The Apgar score is assessed at 1 and 5 minutes of life. This newborn receives:
Heart rate 120 (>100 = 2 points), Respiratory effort cries vigorously (2 points), Muscle tone moves all
extremities (2 points), Color pink body with blue extremities (1 point), Reflex irritability coughs in
response to suctioning (2 points). Total score = 9.
,💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. 9
---
### Question 2
A patient at 39 weeks gestation is in active labor. The nurse notes variable decelerations on the fetal
heart rate tracing. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Change the patient's position
B. Administer oxygen via non-rebreather mask
C. Increase the intravenous fluid rate
D. Notify the healthcare provider
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Variable decelerations are typically caused by cord compression. The first
intervention is to change the patient's position (usually to the side-lying position) to relieve pressure on
the umbilical cord.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Change the patient's position
---
### Question 3
A postpartum patient is diagnosed with endometritis. Which finding is most consistent with this
condition?
,A. Breast engorgement and mastitis
B. Uterine tenderness and fever
C. Urinary frequency and dysuria
D. Incisional pain and erythema
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Endometritis is an infection of the endometrium (uterine lining) characterized by
uterine tenderness, fever, and foul-smelling lochia. It is more common after cesarean delivery.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Uterine tenderness and fever
---
### Question 4
The nurse is assessing a patient in the first trimester of pregnancy. Which finding is considered a normal
physiological change of pregnancy?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Decreased respiratory rate
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Nausea and vomiting are common in the first trimester, often referred to as
morning sickness. Heart rate increases, blood pressure decreases slightly, and respiratory rate may
increase.
, 💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Nausea and vomiting
---
### Question 5
A patient with preeclampsia is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which finding indicates magnesium
toxicity?
A. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
B. Respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
C. Urinary output of 25 mL per hour
D. Serum magnesium level of 8 mEq/L
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: A serum magnesium level of 8 mEq/L is above the therapeutic range (4-7 mEq/L)
and indicates magnesium toxicity. Signs include loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory depression,
and cardiac arrest.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: D. Serum magnesium level of 8 mEq/L
---
### Question 6
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a postpartum patient about breastfeeding. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
Nursing and Women's
Health 2026/2027
---
---
### Question 1
A nurse is assessing a newborn 5 minutes after birth. The newborn has a heart rate of 120 beats per
minute, cries vigorously, moves all extremities, has a pink body with blue extremities, and coughs in
response to suctioning. What Apgar score should the nurse assign?
A. 7
B. 8
C. 9
D. 10
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The Apgar score is assessed at 1 and 5 minutes of life. This newborn receives:
Heart rate 120 (>100 = 2 points), Respiratory effort cries vigorously (2 points), Muscle tone moves all
extremities (2 points), Color pink body with blue extremities (1 point), Reflex irritability coughs in
response to suctioning (2 points). Total score = 9.
,💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. 9
---
### Question 2
A patient at 39 weeks gestation is in active labor. The nurse notes variable decelerations on the fetal
heart rate tracing. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Change the patient's position
B. Administer oxygen via non-rebreather mask
C. Increase the intravenous fluid rate
D. Notify the healthcare provider
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Variable decelerations are typically caused by cord compression. The first
intervention is to change the patient's position (usually to the side-lying position) to relieve pressure on
the umbilical cord.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Change the patient's position
---
### Question 3
A postpartum patient is diagnosed with endometritis. Which finding is most consistent with this
condition?
,A. Breast engorgement and mastitis
B. Uterine tenderness and fever
C. Urinary frequency and dysuria
D. Incisional pain and erythema
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Endometritis is an infection of the endometrium (uterine lining) characterized by
uterine tenderness, fever, and foul-smelling lochia. It is more common after cesarean delivery.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Uterine tenderness and fever
---
### Question 4
The nurse is assessing a patient in the first trimester of pregnancy. Which finding is considered a normal
physiological change of pregnancy?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Decreased respiratory rate
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Nausea and vomiting are common in the first trimester, often referred to as
morning sickness. Heart rate increases, blood pressure decreases slightly, and respiratory rate may
increase.
, 💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Nausea and vomiting
---
### Question 5
A patient with preeclampsia is receiving magnesium sulfate. Which finding indicates magnesium
toxicity?
A. Deep tendon reflexes 2+
B. Respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
C. Urinary output of 25 mL per hour
D. Serum magnesium level of 8 mEq/L
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: A serum magnesium level of 8 mEq/L is above the therapeutic range (4-7 mEq/L)
and indicates magnesium toxicity. Signs include loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory depression,
and cardiac arrest.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: D. Serum magnesium level of 8 mEq/L
---
### Question 6
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a postpartum patient about breastfeeding. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
