Chapter 05: Nursing Care of Women with
Complications During Pregnancy
Leifer: Introduction to Maternity and Pediatric Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What will the nurse begin with when asking a patient about drug use during a prenatal history?
a. “Do you smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs?”
b. “Do you ever use prescription or street drugs?”
c. “What over-the-counter and prescription drugs have you taken in the past 3 months?”
d. “We need to know if you take drugs so we can help your baby.”
ANS: C
Screening for drug use should begin in a nonthreatening way by asking about prescription
and OTC medications and how the information can help provide safe and appropriate
prenatal care.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: pp. 115-116 | Table 5.9
OBJ: 5 TOP: Interviewing Relative to Drug Use
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection
of Disease
2. The nurse assesses a pregnant woman for pregnancy-induced hypertension. What is the first sign
of fluid retention suggestive of this complication?
a. Abdominal enlargement
b. Facial swelling
c. Sudden weight gain
d. Swelling of the feet and ankles
ANS: C
, Sudden, excessive weight gain is the first sign of fluid retention; facial swelling and swelling
of the feet, legs, and hands follow weight gain.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 102 OBJ: 3
TOP: Hypertension KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection
of Disease
3. A patient with gestational hypertension is exhibiting all of the signs below. What should the
nurse report immediately?
a. Diarrhea
b. Urticaria
c. Blurred vision
d. Backache
ANS: C
Visual disturbances indicate worsening pregnancy-induced hypertension and must be
reported promptly for effective intervention to prevent preeclampsia and convulsion.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 90, Patient Teaching Box
OBJ: 3 TOP: Hypertension
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection
of Disease
4. A patient who is 28 weeks pregnant presents with consistent hypertension. What need would the
home health nurse make the first priority?
a. Activity restriction
b. Balanced nutrition
c. Increased fluid intake to ensure adequate hydration
d. Instruction about the effect of diuretics
ANS: A
Bed rest reduces the flow of blood to skeletal muscles, making more blood available to the
placenta and enhancing fetal oxygenation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 102 OBJ: 3
, TOP: Hypertension KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection
of Disease
5. The nurse is caring for a pregnant woman diagnosed with preeclampsia. What will the nurse
explain is the objective of magnesium sulfate therapy for this patient?
a. To prevent convulsions
b. To promote diaphoresis
c. To increase reflex irritability
d. To act as a saline cathartic
ANS: A
Magnesium sulfate is a central nervous system depressant given to prevent seizures.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 102 OBJ: 3
TOP: Magnesium Sulfate KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies
6. A pregnant patient tells the nurse that she has been nauseated and vomiting. How will the nurse
explain that hyperemesis gravidarum is distinguished from morning sickness?
a. Hyperemesis gravidarum usually lasts for the duration of the pregnancy.
b. Hyperemesis gravidarum causes dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
c. Sensitivity to smells is usually the cause of vomiting in hyperemesis gravidarum.
d. The woman with hyperemesis gravidarum will have persistent vomiting without weight
loss.
ANS: B
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances result from persistent nausea and vomiting associated
with hyperemesis gravidarum. Dehydration impairs the perfusion to the placenta.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 90 OBJ: 3
TOP: Hyperemesis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
Complications During Pregnancy
Leifer: Introduction to Maternity and Pediatric Nursing, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What will the nurse begin with when asking a patient about drug use during a prenatal history?
a. “Do you smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs?”
b. “Do you ever use prescription or street drugs?”
c. “What over-the-counter and prescription drugs have you taken in the past 3 months?”
d. “We need to know if you take drugs so we can help your baby.”
ANS: C
Screening for drug use should begin in a nonthreatening way by asking about prescription
and OTC medications and how the information can help provide safe and appropriate
prenatal care.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: pp. 115-116 | Table 5.9
OBJ: 5 TOP: Interviewing Relative to Drug Use
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection
of Disease
2. The nurse assesses a pregnant woman for pregnancy-induced hypertension. What is the first sign
of fluid retention suggestive of this complication?
a. Abdominal enlargement
b. Facial swelling
c. Sudden weight gain
d. Swelling of the feet and ankles
ANS: C
, Sudden, excessive weight gain is the first sign of fluid retention; facial swelling and swelling
of the feet, legs, and hands follow weight gain.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 102 OBJ: 3
TOP: Hypertension KEY: Nursing Process Step: Data Collection
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection
of Disease
3. A patient with gestational hypertension is exhibiting all of the signs below. What should the
nurse report immediately?
a. Diarrhea
b. Urticaria
c. Blurred vision
d. Backache
ANS: C
Visual disturbances indicate worsening pregnancy-induced hypertension and must be
reported promptly for effective intervention to prevent preeclampsia and convulsion.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 90, Patient Teaching Box
OBJ: 3 TOP: Hypertension
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection
of Disease
4. A patient who is 28 weeks pregnant presents with consistent hypertension. What need would the
home health nurse make the first priority?
a. Activity restriction
b. Balanced nutrition
c. Increased fluid intake to ensure adequate hydration
d. Instruction about the effect of diuretics
ANS: A
Bed rest reduces the flow of blood to skeletal muscles, making more blood available to the
placenta and enhancing fetal oxygenation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 102 OBJ: 3
, TOP: Hypertension KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection
of Disease
5. The nurse is caring for a pregnant woman diagnosed with preeclampsia. What will the nurse
explain is the objective of magnesium sulfate therapy for this patient?
a. To prevent convulsions
b. To promote diaphoresis
c. To increase reflex irritability
d. To act as a saline cathartic
ANS: A
Magnesium sulfate is a central nervous system depressant given to prevent seizures.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 102 OBJ: 3
TOP: Magnesium Sulfate KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies
6. A pregnant patient tells the nurse that she has been nauseated and vomiting. How will the nurse
explain that hyperemesis gravidarum is distinguished from morning sickness?
a. Hyperemesis gravidarum usually lasts for the duration of the pregnancy.
b. Hyperemesis gravidarum causes dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
c. Sensitivity to smells is usually the cause of vomiting in hyperemesis gravidarum.
d. The woman with hyperemesis gravidarum will have persistent vomiting without weight
loss.
ANS: B
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances result from persistent nausea and vomiting associated
with hyperemesis gravidarum. Dehydration impairs the perfusion to the placenta.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 90 OBJ: 3
TOP: Hyperemesis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
