Postpartum NCLEX Style Questions &
Answers With Rationales
A nurse is preparing a list of self-care instructions for a postpartum client who was
diagnosed with mastitis. Which of the following instructions would be included on the
list?
A. Wear a supportive bra
B. Rest during the acute phase
C. Maintain a fluid intake of at least 3000 ml
D Continue to breast-feed if the breasts are not too sore.
E. Take the prescribed antibiotics until the soreness subsides.
F. Avoid decompression of the breasts by breast-feeding or breast pump. - A, B, C, D
Client instructions include resting during the acute phase, maintaining a fluid intake of
at least 3000ml/day (if not contraindicated), taking analgesics to relieve discomfort.
Antibiotics may be prescribed and are taken UNTIL THE COMPLETE PRESCRIBED
COURSE IS FINISHED. Additional supportive measures include the use of moist heat
or ice packs and wearing a supportive bra. CONTINUED DECOMPRESSION of the
breast by breast-feeding or breast pump is important to empty the breast and prevent
the formation of an abscess.
A nurse is teaching a postpartum client about breast-feeding. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include?
A. The diet should include additional fluids
B. Prenatal vitamins should be discontinued
C. Soap should be used to cleanse the breasts.
D. Birth control measures are unnecessary while breast-feeding. - A.
A diet for a breast-feeding patient should include additional fluids. Prenatal vitamins
should be taken as prescribed and soap should not be used on the breast because it
removes natural oils which increases the chance of cracked nipples. Breast-feeding is
not a sole method of contraception, so birth control measures should be resumed.
A postpartum client is diagnosed with cystitis .The nurse plans for which priority
nursing intervention in the care of the client?
A. Providing Sitz baths
, B. Encouraging fluid intake
C. Placing ice on the perineum
D. Monitoring hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. - B.
Cystitis is an infection of the bladder. The client should consume 3000ml/day if not
contraindicated. Sitz baths and ice would be appropriate interventions for perineal
discomfort. H&H would be monitored with hemorrhage.
After a precipitous delivery, a nurse notes that the new mother is passive and only
touches her newborn infant briefly with her fingertips. The nurse should do which of
the following to help the woman process what has happened?
A. Encourage the mother to breast-feed soon after birth.
B. Support the mother in her reaction to the newborn infant.
C. Tell the mother that it is important to hold the newborn infant.
D. Document a complete account of the mother's reaction on the birth record. - B.
Precipitous labor is labor that lasts less than 3 hours. Women who have experienced
precipitous labor often describe the feelings of disbelief that their labor progressed so
rapidly. To assist the client to process what has happened the best option is to support
the client in her reaction to the newborn infant. Options A, C, and D do not
acknowledge the client's feelings.
A client who is breast-feeding her newborn infant is experiencing nipple soreness. To
relieve the soreness, the nurse suggests that the client:
A. Avoid rotating breast-feeding positions.
B. Stop nursing until the nipples heal
C. Substitute a bottle-feeding until the nipples heal.
D. Position the infant with the ear, shoulder, and hip in straight alignment with the
infant's stomach against the mother. - D.
The nurse would suggest the mother position the infant in this manner. Rotating breast-
feeding positions; breaking suction with the little finger; nursing frequently; begin
feeding on the less sore nipple; not allowing the newborn to chew on the nipple or to
sleep holding the nipple in the mouth and applying tea bags soaked in warm water to
the nipple are also measures to alleviate nipple soreness.
On assessment of a client who is 30 minutes into the fourth stage of labor, the nurse
finds the client's perineal pad saturated with blood and blood soaked into the bed linen
under the client's buttocks. The nurse's initial action is which of the following.
Answers With Rationales
A nurse is preparing a list of self-care instructions for a postpartum client who was
diagnosed with mastitis. Which of the following instructions would be included on the
list?
A. Wear a supportive bra
B. Rest during the acute phase
C. Maintain a fluid intake of at least 3000 ml
D Continue to breast-feed if the breasts are not too sore.
E. Take the prescribed antibiotics until the soreness subsides.
F. Avoid decompression of the breasts by breast-feeding or breast pump. - A, B, C, D
Client instructions include resting during the acute phase, maintaining a fluid intake of
at least 3000ml/day (if not contraindicated), taking analgesics to relieve discomfort.
Antibiotics may be prescribed and are taken UNTIL THE COMPLETE PRESCRIBED
COURSE IS FINISHED. Additional supportive measures include the use of moist heat
or ice packs and wearing a supportive bra. CONTINUED DECOMPRESSION of the
breast by breast-feeding or breast pump is important to empty the breast and prevent
the formation of an abscess.
A nurse is teaching a postpartum client about breast-feeding. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include?
A. The diet should include additional fluids
B. Prenatal vitamins should be discontinued
C. Soap should be used to cleanse the breasts.
D. Birth control measures are unnecessary while breast-feeding. - A.
A diet for a breast-feeding patient should include additional fluids. Prenatal vitamins
should be taken as prescribed and soap should not be used on the breast because it
removes natural oils which increases the chance of cracked nipples. Breast-feeding is
not a sole method of contraception, so birth control measures should be resumed.
A postpartum client is diagnosed with cystitis .The nurse plans for which priority
nursing intervention in the care of the client?
A. Providing Sitz baths
, B. Encouraging fluid intake
C. Placing ice on the perineum
D. Monitoring hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. - B.
Cystitis is an infection of the bladder. The client should consume 3000ml/day if not
contraindicated. Sitz baths and ice would be appropriate interventions for perineal
discomfort. H&H would be monitored with hemorrhage.
After a precipitous delivery, a nurse notes that the new mother is passive and only
touches her newborn infant briefly with her fingertips. The nurse should do which of
the following to help the woman process what has happened?
A. Encourage the mother to breast-feed soon after birth.
B. Support the mother in her reaction to the newborn infant.
C. Tell the mother that it is important to hold the newborn infant.
D. Document a complete account of the mother's reaction on the birth record. - B.
Precipitous labor is labor that lasts less than 3 hours. Women who have experienced
precipitous labor often describe the feelings of disbelief that their labor progressed so
rapidly. To assist the client to process what has happened the best option is to support
the client in her reaction to the newborn infant. Options A, C, and D do not
acknowledge the client's feelings.
A client who is breast-feeding her newborn infant is experiencing nipple soreness. To
relieve the soreness, the nurse suggests that the client:
A. Avoid rotating breast-feeding positions.
B. Stop nursing until the nipples heal
C. Substitute a bottle-feeding until the nipples heal.
D. Position the infant with the ear, shoulder, and hip in straight alignment with the
infant's stomach against the mother. - D.
The nurse would suggest the mother position the infant in this manner. Rotating breast-
feeding positions; breaking suction with the little finger; nursing frequently; begin
feeding on the less sore nipple; not allowing the newborn to chew on the nipple or to
sleep holding the nipple in the mouth and applying tea bags soaked in warm water to
the nipple are also measures to alleviate nipple soreness.
On assessment of a client who is 30 minutes into the fourth stage of labor, the nurse
finds the client's perineal pad saturated with blood and blood soaked into the bed linen
under the client's buttocks. The nurse's initial action is which of the following.
