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NUR 230 MATERNAL EXAM 2 PREP 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Part I: Fetal Monitoring & Labor Assessment (Questions 1–30)
1. A nurse is reviewing a fetal heart rate tracing and notes a baseline of 145 bpm
with moderate variability. Which interpretation is most accurate?
A. The tracing is non-reassuring and requires immediate intervention.
B. The tracing is reassuring and indicates adequate fetal oxygenation.
C. The tracing indicates fetal tachycardia.
D. The tracing indicates minimal variability.
Rationale: A baseline FHR of 110–160 bpm with moderate variability (6–25 bpm)
is a reassuring pattern, indicating an intact fetal central nervous system and
adequate oxygenation. Tachycardia is >160 bpm, and minimal variability is ≤5
bpm.
2. Which of the following describes the normal range for cervical dilation during
labor?
A. 0–100%
B. 0–10 cm
C. –5 to +5 cm
D. 0–5 cm
Rationale: Cervical dilation is measured in centimeters, from 0 cm (closed) to 10
cm (fully dilated). Effacement is measured in percentages (0–100%), and station is
measured in centimeters from –5 to +5 relative to the ischial spines.
3. Which pelvic type is considered the most favorable for a vaginal birth?
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A. Anthropoid pelvis
B. Gynecoid pelvis
C. Platypelloid pelvis
D. Android pelvis
Rationale: The gynecoid pelvis is the classic female pelvis, with a rounded inlet
and optimal dimensions for vaginal delivery. It is found in approximately 50% of
women and is considered the most favorable shape.
4. Which pelvic type would most likely lead to a cesarean delivery due to a flat,
widened transverse diameter and shortened anteroposterior diameter?
A. Anthropoid
B. Gynecoid
C. Platypelloid
D. Android
Rationale: The platypelloid pelvis is flat, making vaginal delivery difficult and often
resulting in cesarean section. The android pelvis (male-shaped) is also less
favorable, but the platypelloid is the least favorable.
5. A nurse is assessing a laboring client and notes that the fetal heart rate
decreases uniformly with each contraction, mirroring the contraction. This is most
consistent with which type of deceleration?
A. Early deceleration
B. Late deceleration
C. Variable deceleration
D. Prolonged deceleration
Rationale: Early decelerations mirror uterine contractions and are caused by fetal
head compression. They are benign and do not require intervention. Late
decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency, and variable decelerations
indicate cord compression.
6. A nurse notes a fetal heart rate pattern of late decelerations. Which action
should the nurse take first?
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A. Increase the oxytocin infusion rate.
B. Reposition the client to a side-lying position and administer oxygen.
C. Document the finding and continue to monitor.
D. Prepare for an immediate cesarean delivery.
Rationale: Late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency and fetal
hypoxemia. The initial response is to improve uterine blood flow by repositioning
the mother (typically left lateral), administering oxygen, and stopping any oxytocin
infusion. Immediate cesarean is not the first step unless the pattern does not
resolve.
7. Which of the following is considered a non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern?
A. Baseline of 140 bpm with moderate variability
B. Repetitive late decelerations
C. Early decelerations
D. Baseline of 150 bpm with accelerations
Rationale: Repetitive late decelerations are a non-reassuring pattern that
indicates fetal hypoxemia and requires immediate intervention. Early
decelerations and moderate variability are reassuring.
8. A nurse is assessing uterine contractions and notes they are occurring every 2–3
minutes, lasting 60 seconds, and are strong on palpation. This pattern is most
consistent with which phase of labor?
A. Latent phase
B. Active phase
C. Transition phase
D. Second stage
Rationale: The active phase of the first stage of labor is characterized by cervical
dilation from 4 to 7 cm, strong contractions every 2–3 minutes, and 100%
effacement. The latent phase has milder, less frequent contractions, and the
transition phase (8–10 cm) has even stronger, more frequent contractions.
9. Which of the following is a premonitory sign of impending labor?
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A. Lightening (descent of the fetus into the pelvis)
B. Increased fetal movement
C. Weight gain
D. Decreased Braxton Hicks contractions
Rationale: Lightening, or the descent of the fetal presenting part into the pelvis, is
a premonitory sign of labor. It often occurs 2–3 weeks before labor in first-time
mothers and relieves pressure on the diaphragm, making breathing easier but
increasing urinary frequency.
10. A client at 39 weeks gestation presents with contractions that are irregular and
do not increase in frequency or intensity with walking. This is most consistent with
which of the following?
A. True labor
B. False labor (Braxton Hicks contractions)
C. Preterm labor
D. Prolonged latent phase
Rationale: False labor contractions (Braxton Hicks) are irregular, do not increase
with activity, and are typically felt in the lower abdomen. True labor contractions
are regular, increase in frequency and intensity, and often intensify with walking.
11. Which of the five P's of labor refers to the fetal head, attitude, lie, and
presentation?
A. Passageway
B. Passenger
C. Powers
D. Psyche
Rationale: The passenger refers to the fetus, including the fetal head, attitude
(relationship of fetal parts to one another), lie (relationship of the fetal long axis to
the mother's long axis), and presentation (the part of the fetus that enters the
pelvis first).
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NUR 230 MATERNAL EXAM 2 PREP 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Part I: Fetal Monitoring & Labor Assessment (Questions 1–30)
1. A nurse is reviewing a fetal heart rate tracing and notes a baseline of 145 bpm
with moderate variability. Which interpretation is most accurate?
A. The tracing is non-reassuring and requires immediate intervention.
B. The tracing is reassuring and indicates adequate fetal oxygenation.
C. The tracing indicates fetal tachycardia.
D. The tracing indicates minimal variability.
Rationale: A baseline FHR of 110–160 bpm with moderate variability (6–25 bpm)
is a reassuring pattern, indicating an intact fetal central nervous system and
adequate oxygenation. Tachycardia is >160 bpm, and minimal variability is ≤5
bpm.
2. Which of the following describes the normal range for cervical dilation during
labor?
A. 0–100%
B. 0–10 cm
C. –5 to +5 cm
D. 0–5 cm
Rationale: Cervical dilation is measured in centimeters, from 0 cm (closed) to 10
cm (fully dilated). Effacement is measured in percentages (0–100%), and station is
measured in centimeters from –5 to +5 relative to the ischial spines.
3. Which pelvic type is considered the most favorable for a vaginal birth?
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A. Anthropoid pelvis
B. Gynecoid pelvis
C. Platypelloid pelvis
D. Android pelvis
Rationale: The gynecoid pelvis is the classic female pelvis, with a rounded inlet
and optimal dimensions for vaginal delivery. It is found in approximately 50% of
women and is considered the most favorable shape.
4. Which pelvic type would most likely lead to a cesarean delivery due to a flat,
widened transverse diameter and shortened anteroposterior diameter?
A. Anthropoid
B. Gynecoid
C. Platypelloid
D. Android
Rationale: The platypelloid pelvis is flat, making vaginal delivery difficult and often
resulting in cesarean section. The android pelvis (male-shaped) is also less
favorable, but the platypelloid is the least favorable.
5. A nurse is assessing a laboring client and notes that the fetal heart rate
decreases uniformly with each contraction, mirroring the contraction. This is most
consistent with which type of deceleration?
A. Early deceleration
B. Late deceleration
C. Variable deceleration
D. Prolonged deceleration
Rationale: Early decelerations mirror uterine contractions and are caused by fetal
head compression. They are benign and do not require intervention. Late
decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency, and variable decelerations
indicate cord compression.
6. A nurse notes a fetal heart rate pattern of late decelerations. Which action
should the nurse take first?
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A. Increase the oxytocin infusion rate.
B. Reposition the client to a side-lying position and administer oxygen.
C. Document the finding and continue to monitor.
D. Prepare for an immediate cesarean delivery.
Rationale: Late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency and fetal
hypoxemia. The initial response is to improve uterine blood flow by repositioning
the mother (typically left lateral), administering oxygen, and stopping any oxytocin
infusion. Immediate cesarean is not the first step unless the pattern does not
resolve.
7. Which of the following is considered a non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern?
A. Baseline of 140 bpm with moderate variability
B. Repetitive late decelerations
C. Early decelerations
D. Baseline of 150 bpm with accelerations
Rationale: Repetitive late decelerations are a non-reassuring pattern that
indicates fetal hypoxemia and requires immediate intervention. Early
decelerations and moderate variability are reassuring.
8. A nurse is assessing uterine contractions and notes they are occurring every 2–3
minutes, lasting 60 seconds, and are strong on palpation. This pattern is most
consistent with which phase of labor?
A. Latent phase
B. Active phase
C. Transition phase
D. Second stage
Rationale: The active phase of the first stage of labor is characterized by cervical
dilation from 4 to 7 cm, strong contractions every 2–3 minutes, and 100%
effacement. The latent phase has milder, less frequent contractions, and the
transition phase (8–10 cm) has even stronger, more frequent contractions.
9. Which of the following is a premonitory sign of impending labor?
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A. Lightening (descent of the fetus into the pelvis)
B. Increased fetal movement
C. Weight gain
D. Decreased Braxton Hicks contractions
Rationale: Lightening, or the descent of the fetal presenting part into the pelvis, is
a premonitory sign of labor. It often occurs 2–3 weeks before labor in first-time
mothers and relieves pressure on the diaphragm, making breathing easier but
increasing urinary frequency.
10. A client at 39 weeks gestation presents with contractions that are irregular and
do not increase in frequency or intensity with walking. This is most consistent with
which of the following?
A. True labor
B. False labor (Braxton Hicks contractions)
C. Preterm labor
D. Prolonged latent phase
Rationale: False labor contractions (Braxton Hicks) are irregular, do not increase
with activity, and are typically felt in the lower abdomen. True labor contractions
are regular, increase in frequency and intensity, and often intensify with walking.
11. Which of the five P's of labor refers to the fetal head, attitude, lie, and
presentation?
A. Passageway
B. Passenger
C. Powers
D. Psyche
Rationale: The passenger refers to the fetus, including the fetal head, attitude
(relationship of fetal parts to one another), lie (relationship of the fetal long axis to
the mother's long axis), and presentation (the part of the fetus that enters the
pelvis first).
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