NU 170/ NU170 EXAM 1 – MATERNAL-CHILD
NURSING GUIDE – COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL-DETAILED
ANSWERS | DETAILED EXPLANATIONS AND
RATIONALES | COMPLETE EXAM PREPARATION
STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS | LATEST
EXAM UPDATE
CORE DOMAINS
1. Maternal physiologic changes during pregnancy
2. Prenatal assessment, nutrition, and health promotion
3. Fetal development and prenatal surveillance
4. Labor and delivery
5. Postpartum nursing care and complications
6. Newborn assessment and adaptation
7. Newborn nutrition, safety, and routine care
8. Pediatric growth, development, and health promotion
9. Pediatric assessment and family-centered nursing care
10. Common maternal-child nursing complications and interventions
INTRODUCTION
This 100-question assessment is designed as a comprehensive practice resource for NU
170/NU170 Maternal-Child Nursing Exam 1 preparation. It emphasizes foundational
knowledge while also requiring application, clinical reasoning, assessment, prioritization,
safety, and nursing decision-making. Questions address pregnancy, fetal development, labor,
postpartum care, newborn adaptation, and pediatric principles. The assessment is intended
for study and practice rather than representation as official, leaked, or guaranteed
examination content.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1.
,A pregnant client asks why her heart rate has increased slightly during pregnancy. Which
response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. "Pregnancy causes a permanent increase in your resting heart rate."
B. "Your heart rate commonly increases as cardiovascular demands rise during pregnancy."
C. "The increase occurs because the fetus directly controls your heart rate."
D. "An increased heart rate indicates that your pregnancy is becoming high risk."
Correct Answer: B. Your heart rate commonly increases as cardiovascular demands rise
during pregnancy.
Explanation: Maternal cardiac output increases during pregnancy to support maternal
tissues and the uteroplacental circulation. Heart rate commonly rises moderately as part of
normal cardiovascular adaptation. A mild increase alone does not indicate a high-risk
pregnancy.
Question 2.
Which hormone is primarily responsible for maintaining the uterine lining during early
pregnancy?
A. Progesterone
B. Oxytocin
C. Prolactin
D. Follicle-stimulating hormone
Correct Answer: A. Progesterone
Explanation: Progesterone supports the endometrium and helps maintain pregnancy,
particularly during early gestation. Oxytocin primarily promotes uterine contractions and
milk ejection, while prolactin supports milk production.
Question 3.
During a prenatal visit, a client reports nausea that occurs primarily in the morning. Which
instruction is most appropriate?
A. Drink a large glass of water immediately after awakening.
B. Skip breakfast until the nausea resolves.
C. Eat dry crackers or another bland food before getting out of bed.
D. Consume a high-fat meal before bedtime.
Correct Answer: C. Eat dry crackers or another bland food before getting out of bed.
Explanation: Small, frequent meals and bland foods can reduce pregnancy-related nausea.
Eating a dry carbohydrate before rising may help prevent an empty stomach, which can
worsen nausea. Large meals and high-fat foods may aggravate symptoms.
,Question 4.
Which finding during pregnancy should the nurse recognize as requiring prompt evaluation?
A. Mild urinary frequency during early pregnancy
B. Breast tenderness
C. Vaginal bleeding accompanied by abdominal pain
D. Increased fatigue during the first trimester
Correct Answer: C. Vaginal bleeding accompanied by abdominal pain
Explanation: Vaginal bleeding with abdominal pain may indicate miscarriage, ectopic
pregnancy, or another pregnancy complication and requires prompt assessment. Mild
urinary frequency, breast tenderness, and fatigue can occur as normal pregnancy changes.
Question 5.
A pregnant client asks when fetal movement is commonly first perceived by a person who
has previously been pregnant. Which response is most appropriate?
A. "Usually during the first 4 weeks"
B. "Usually around the second trimester"
C. "Only after 30 weeks"
D. "Only during labor"
Correct Answer: B. Usually around the second trimester
Explanation: Quickening, or the mother's perception of fetal movement, is generally noticed
during the second trimester. The timing varies among individuals and may occur earlier in
someone who has experienced pregnancy previously.
Question 6.
Which prenatal finding is most consistent with a normal physiologic change of pregnancy?
A. Severe persistent headache
B. Mild dependent ankle edema late in pregnancy
C. Heavy vaginal bleeding
D. Persistent severe upper abdominal pain
Correct Answer: B. Mild dependent ankle edema late in pregnancy
Explanation: Mild dependent edema can occur during pregnancy because of increased fluid
volume and pressure from the enlarging uterus on venous return. Severe headache, heavy
bleeding, or severe abdominal pain requires evaluation for complications.
Question 7.
, A client in early pregnancy asks why folic acid is emphasized before and during pregnancy.
What is the best explanation?
A. It prevents all congenital abnormalities.
B. It reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
C. It guarantees adequate fetal weight.
D. It prevents gestational hypertension.
Correct Answer: B. It reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
Explanation: Adequate folate intake before conception and during early pregnancy reduces
the risk of neural tube defects. It does not eliminate all congenital abnormalities or
guarantee a particular fetal weight.
Question 8.
Which assessment finding is most concerning for possible preeclampsia in a pregnant client?
A. Mild nausea during the first trimester
B. Increased appetite
C. Severe headache with visual disturbances
D. Increased urinary frequency
Correct Answer: C. Severe headache with visual disturbances
Explanation: Severe headache and visual changes can indicate significant hypertensive
disease of pregnancy and require prompt evaluation. They may reflect cerebral involvement
and should not be dismissed as routine pregnancy discomforts.
Question 9.
A pregnant client asks why iron requirements increase during pregnancy. Which response is
correct?
A. Iron is needed to support increased maternal blood production and fetal needs.
B. Iron is required primarily to stimulate uterine contractions.
C. Iron replaces calcium lost through breast milk.
D. Iron prevents all pregnancy-related nausea.
Correct Answer: A. Iron is needed to support increased maternal blood production and
fetal needs.
Explanation: Maternal blood volume expands during pregnancy, increasing iron
requirements for hemoglobin production. The fetus also requires iron for growth and
development.
Question 10.
Which maternal adaptation is expected during pregnancy?
NURSING GUIDE – COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL-DETAILED
ANSWERS | DETAILED EXPLANATIONS AND
RATIONALES | COMPLETE EXAM PREPARATION
STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS | LATEST
EXAM UPDATE
CORE DOMAINS
1. Maternal physiologic changes during pregnancy
2. Prenatal assessment, nutrition, and health promotion
3. Fetal development and prenatal surveillance
4. Labor and delivery
5. Postpartum nursing care and complications
6. Newborn assessment and adaptation
7. Newborn nutrition, safety, and routine care
8. Pediatric growth, development, and health promotion
9. Pediatric assessment and family-centered nursing care
10. Common maternal-child nursing complications and interventions
INTRODUCTION
This 100-question assessment is designed as a comprehensive practice resource for NU
170/NU170 Maternal-Child Nursing Exam 1 preparation. It emphasizes foundational
knowledge while also requiring application, clinical reasoning, assessment, prioritization,
safety, and nursing decision-making. Questions address pregnancy, fetal development, labor,
postpartum care, newborn adaptation, and pediatric principles. The assessment is intended
for study and practice rather than representation as official, leaked, or guaranteed
examination content.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1.
,A pregnant client asks why her heart rate has increased slightly during pregnancy. Which
response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. "Pregnancy causes a permanent increase in your resting heart rate."
B. "Your heart rate commonly increases as cardiovascular demands rise during pregnancy."
C. "The increase occurs because the fetus directly controls your heart rate."
D. "An increased heart rate indicates that your pregnancy is becoming high risk."
Correct Answer: B. Your heart rate commonly increases as cardiovascular demands rise
during pregnancy.
Explanation: Maternal cardiac output increases during pregnancy to support maternal
tissues and the uteroplacental circulation. Heart rate commonly rises moderately as part of
normal cardiovascular adaptation. A mild increase alone does not indicate a high-risk
pregnancy.
Question 2.
Which hormone is primarily responsible for maintaining the uterine lining during early
pregnancy?
A. Progesterone
B. Oxytocin
C. Prolactin
D. Follicle-stimulating hormone
Correct Answer: A. Progesterone
Explanation: Progesterone supports the endometrium and helps maintain pregnancy,
particularly during early gestation. Oxytocin primarily promotes uterine contractions and
milk ejection, while prolactin supports milk production.
Question 3.
During a prenatal visit, a client reports nausea that occurs primarily in the morning. Which
instruction is most appropriate?
A. Drink a large glass of water immediately after awakening.
B. Skip breakfast until the nausea resolves.
C. Eat dry crackers or another bland food before getting out of bed.
D. Consume a high-fat meal before bedtime.
Correct Answer: C. Eat dry crackers or another bland food before getting out of bed.
Explanation: Small, frequent meals and bland foods can reduce pregnancy-related nausea.
Eating a dry carbohydrate before rising may help prevent an empty stomach, which can
worsen nausea. Large meals and high-fat foods may aggravate symptoms.
,Question 4.
Which finding during pregnancy should the nurse recognize as requiring prompt evaluation?
A. Mild urinary frequency during early pregnancy
B. Breast tenderness
C. Vaginal bleeding accompanied by abdominal pain
D. Increased fatigue during the first trimester
Correct Answer: C. Vaginal bleeding accompanied by abdominal pain
Explanation: Vaginal bleeding with abdominal pain may indicate miscarriage, ectopic
pregnancy, or another pregnancy complication and requires prompt assessment. Mild
urinary frequency, breast tenderness, and fatigue can occur as normal pregnancy changes.
Question 5.
A pregnant client asks when fetal movement is commonly first perceived by a person who
has previously been pregnant. Which response is most appropriate?
A. "Usually during the first 4 weeks"
B. "Usually around the second trimester"
C. "Only after 30 weeks"
D. "Only during labor"
Correct Answer: B. Usually around the second trimester
Explanation: Quickening, or the mother's perception of fetal movement, is generally noticed
during the second trimester. The timing varies among individuals and may occur earlier in
someone who has experienced pregnancy previously.
Question 6.
Which prenatal finding is most consistent with a normal physiologic change of pregnancy?
A. Severe persistent headache
B. Mild dependent ankle edema late in pregnancy
C. Heavy vaginal bleeding
D. Persistent severe upper abdominal pain
Correct Answer: B. Mild dependent ankle edema late in pregnancy
Explanation: Mild dependent edema can occur during pregnancy because of increased fluid
volume and pressure from the enlarging uterus on venous return. Severe headache, heavy
bleeding, or severe abdominal pain requires evaluation for complications.
Question 7.
, A client in early pregnancy asks why folic acid is emphasized before and during pregnancy.
What is the best explanation?
A. It prevents all congenital abnormalities.
B. It reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
C. It guarantees adequate fetal weight.
D. It prevents gestational hypertension.
Correct Answer: B. It reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
Explanation: Adequate folate intake before conception and during early pregnancy reduces
the risk of neural tube defects. It does not eliminate all congenital abnormalities or
guarantee a particular fetal weight.
Question 8.
Which assessment finding is most concerning for possible preeclampsia in a pregnant client?
A. Mild nausea during the first trimester
B. Increased appetite
C. Severe headache with visual disturbances
D. Increased urinary frequency
Correct Answer: C. Severe headache with visual disturbances
Explanation: Severe headache and visual changes can indicate significant hypertensive
disease of pregnancy and require prompt evaluation. They may reflect cerebral involvement
and should not be dismissed as routine pregnancy discomforts.
Question 9.
A pregnant client asks why iron requirements increase during pregnancy. Which response is
correct?
A. Iron is needed to support increased maternal blood production and fetal needs.
B. Iron is required primarily to stimulate uterine contractions.
C. Iron replaces calcium lost through breast milk.
D. Iron prevents all pregnancy-related nausea.
Correct Answer: A. Iron is needed to support increased maternal blood production and
fetal needs.
Explanation: Maternal blood volume expands during pregnancy, increasing iron
requirements for hemoglobin production. The fetus also requires iron for growth and
development.
Question 10.
Which maternal adaptation is expected during pregnancy?
