©EVERLY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1/29/2025. EY
Chapter 32: Labor and Birth Complications
Lowdermilk: Maternity & Women's Health
Care Exam Questions With Correct Answers
100% Verified.
1. In planning for home care of a woman with preterm labor, which concern should the nurse
need to address? a. Nursing assessments are different from those performed in the hospital
setting.
b. Restricted activity and medications are necessary to prevent a recurrence of preterm labor.
c. Prolonged bed rest may cause negative physiologic effects.
d. Home health care providers are necessary. - Answer✔ANS: C
Prolonged bed rest may cause adverse effects such as weight loss, loss of appetite, muscle
wasting, weakness, bone demineralization, decreased cardiac output, risk for thrombophlebitis,
alteration in bowel functions, sleep disturbance, and prolonged postpartum recovery. Nursing
assessments differ somewhat from those performed in the acute care setting, but this concern
does not need to be addressed. Restricted activity and medications may prevent preterm labor
but not in all women. In addition, the plan of care is individualized to meet the needs of each
client. Many women receive home health nurse visits, but care is individualized for each
woman.
2. Which nursing intervention is paramount when providing care to a client with preterm labor
who has received terbutaline?
a. Assess deep tendon reflexes (DTRs).
b. Assess for dyspnea and crackles.
c. Assess for bradycardia.
d. Assess for hypoglycemia. - Answer✔ANS: B
Terbutaline is a beta2-adrenergic agonist that affects the mother's cardiopulmonary and
metabolic systems. Signs of cardiopulmonary decompensation include adventitious breath
sounds and dyspnea. An assessment for dyspnea and crackles is important for the nurse to
, ©EVERLY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1/29/2025. EY
perform if the woman is taking magnesium sulfate. Assessing DTRs does not address the
possible respiratory side effects of using terbutaline. Since terbutaline is a beta2-adrenergic
agonist, it can lead to hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia. Beta2-adrenergic agonist drugs cause
tachycardia, not bradycardia.
3. In evaluating the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate for the treatment of preterm labor,
which finding alerts the nurse to possible side effects?
a. Urine output of 160 ml in 4 hours
b. DTRs 2+ and no clonus
c. Respiratory rate (RR) of 16 breaths per minute
d. Serum magnesium level of 10 mg/dl - Answer✔ANS: D
The therapeutic range for magnesium sulfate management is 4 to 7.5 mg/dl. A serum
magnesium level of 10 mg/dl could lead to signs and symptoms of magnesium toxicity,
including oliguria and respiratory distress. Urine output of 160 ml in 4 hours, DTRs of 2+, and a
RR of 16 breaths per minute are all normal findings
4. A woman in preterm labor at 30 weeks of gestation receives two 12-mg intramuscular (IM)
doses of betamethasone. What is the purpose of this pharmacologic intervention?
a. To stimulate fetal surfactant production
b. To reduce maternal and fetal tachycardia associated with ritodrine administration
c. To suppress uterine contractions
d. To maintain adequate maternal respiratory effort and ventilation during magnesium sulfate
therapy - Answer✔ANS: A
Antenatal glucocorticoids administered as IM injections to the mother accelerate fetal lung
maturity. Propranolol (Inderal) is given to reduce the effects of ritodrine administration.
Betamethasone has no effect on uterine contractions. Calcium gluconate is given to reverse the
respiratory depressive effects of magnesium sulfate therapy.
5. A primigravida at 40 weeks of gestation is having uterine contractions every to 2 minutes and
states that they are very painful. Her cervix is dilated 2 cm and has not changed in 3 hours. The
woman is crying and wants an epidural. What is the likely status of this woman's labor?
a. She is exhibiting hypotonic uterine dysfunction.
b. She is experiencing a normal latent stage.
c. She is exhibiting hypertonic uterine dysfunction.
d. She is experiencing precipitous labor. - Answer✔ANS: C
The contraction pattern observed in this woman signifies hypertonic uterine activity. Typically,
uterine activity in this phase occurs at 4- to 5-minute intervals lasting 30 to 45 seconds. Women
Chapter 32: Labor and Birth Complications
Lowdermilk: Maternity & Women's Health
Care Exam Questions With Correct Answers
100% Verified.
1. In planning for home care of a woman with preterm labor, which concern should the nurse
need to address? a. Nursing assessments are different from those performed in the hospital
setting.
b. Restricted activity and medications are necessary to prevent a recurrence of preterm labor.
c. Prolonged bed rest may cause negative physiologic effects.
d. Home health care providers are necessary. - Answer✔ANS: C
Prolonged bed rest may cause adverse effects such as weight loss, loss of appetite, muscle
wasting, weakness, bone demineralization, decreased cardiac output, risk for thrombophlebitis,
alteration in bowel functions, sleep disturbance, and prolonged postpartum recovery. Nursing
assessments differ somewhat from those performed in the acute care setting, but this concern
does not need to be addressed. Restricted activity and medications may prevent preterm labor
but not in all women. In addition, the plan of care is individualized to meet the needs of each
client. Many women receive home health nurse visits, but care is individualized for each
woman.
2. Which nursing intervention is paramount when providing care to a client with preterm labor
who has received terbutaline?
a. Assess deep tendon reflexes (DTRs).
b. Assess for dyspnea and crackles.
c. Assess for bradycardia.
d. Assess for hypoglycemia. - Answer✔ANS: B
Terbutaline is a beta2-adrenergic agonist that affects the mother's cardiopulmonary and
metabolic systems. Signs of cardiopulmonary decompensation include adventitious breath
sounds and dyspnea. An assessment for dyspnea and crackles is important for the nurse to
, ©EVERLY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1/29/2025. EY
perform if the woman is taking magnesium sulfate. Assessing DTRs does not address the
possible respiratory side effects of using terbutaline. Since terbutaline is a beta2-adrenergic
agonist, it can lead to hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia. Beta2-adrenergic agonist drugs cause
tachycardia, not bradycardia.
3. In evaluating the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate for the treatment of preterm labor,
which finding alerts the nurse to possible side effects?
a. Urine output of 160 ml in 4 hours
b. DTRs 2+ and no clonus
c. Respiratory rate (RR) of 16 breaths per minute
d. Serum magnesium level of 10 mg/dl - Answer✔ANS: D
The therapeutic range for magnesium sulfate management is 4 to 7.5 mg/dl. A serum
magnesium level of 10 mg/dl could lead to signs and symptoms of magnesium toxicity,
including oliguria and respiratory distress. Urine output of 160 ml in 4 hours, DTRs of 2+, and a
RR of 16 breaths per minute are all normal findings
4. A woman in preterm labor at 30 weeks of gestation receives two 12-mg intramuscular (IM)
doses of betamethasone. What is the purpose of this pharmacologic intervention?
a. To stimulate fetal surfactant production
b. To reduce maternal and fetal tachycardia associated with ritodrine administration
c. To suppress uterine contractions
d. To maintain adequate maternal respiratory effort and ventilation during magnesium sulfate
therapy - Answer✔ANS: A
Antenatal glucocorticoids administered as IM injections to the mother accelerate fetal lung
maturity. Propranolol (Inderal) is given to reduce the effects of ritodrine administration.
Betamethasone has no effect on uterine contractions. Calcium gluconate is given to reverse the
respiratory depressive effects of magnesium sulfate therapy.
5. A primigravida at 40 weeks of gestation is having uterine contractions every to 2 minutes and
states that they are very painful. Her cervix is dilated 2 cm and has not changed in 3 hours. The
woman is crying and wants an epidural. What is the likely status of this woman's labor?
a. She is exhibiting hypotonic uterine dysfunction.
b. She is experiencing a normal latent stage.
c. She is exhibiting hypertonic uterine dysfunction.
d. She is experiencing precipitous labor. - Answer✔ANS: C
The contraction pattern observed in this woman signifies hypertonic uterine activity. Typically,
uterine activity in this phase occurs at 4- to 5-minute intervals lasting 30 to 45 seconds. Women
