ATI-PN Maternal Newborn Practice 2025–2026 | 100 High-
Yield Scenario-Based Questions, Answers & Rationales
Q1. A client at 28 weeks gestation complains of swelling in hands and face and
persistent headache. What complication is suspected?
Answer: Preeclampsia.
Rationale: Hypertension + edema + headache are hallmark features.
Q2. A postpartum client has heavy bleeding, a boggy uterus, and tachycardia. What is
the priority intervention?
Answer: Fundal massage.
Rationale: Stimulates contraction and reduces hemorrhage.
Q3. A newborn delivered by cesarean section has nasal flaring and grunting. What is
the likely condition?
Answer: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN).
Rationale: Common after C-section due to retained fluid.
Q4. A laboring client shows umbilical cord protrusion at the vaginal opening. What is the
nurse’s immediate action?
Answer: Place the client in knee-chest position.
Rationale: Relieves cord compression until delivery.
Q5. A client at 10 weeks gestation reports severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and
ketones in urine. What condition is suspected?
Answer: Hyperemesis gravidarum.
Rationale: Severe dehydration and ketonuria distinguish it from normal morning
sickness.
,Q6. A postpartum client reports severe perineal pain, but her uterus is firm and lochia is
minimal. What is the likely complication?
Answer: Vaginal hematoma.
Rationale: Firm uterus + pain + concealed bleeding = hematoma.
Q7. A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 hour after birth. HR is 130 bpm, irregular
respirations at 55/min, acrocyanosis present. What is the interpretation?
Answer: Normal transition findings.
Rationale: Irregular respirations and acrocyanosis are expected in the first hours.
Q8. A laboring client is receiving oxytocin and has contractions every 90 seconds lasting
80 seconds. What is the concern?
Answer: Uterine tachysystole.
Rationale: Frequent/prolonged contractions reduce fetal oxygenation.
Q9. A postpartum client with a history of depression states she has no interest in caring
for her newborn. What condition is suspected?
Answer: Postpartum depression.
Rationale: Persistent loss of interest beyond 2 weeks requires intervention.
Q10. A nurse is caring for a client in labor with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. What is
the priority action for the newborn at birth?
Answer: Suction below the vocal cords if depressed.
Rationale: Prevents aspiration and meconium aspiration syndrome.
Q11. A newborn has a blood glucose of 32 mg/dL. The infant is jittery and lethargic.
What is the first intervention?
Answer: Feed with breast milk or formula.
Rationale: Stable hypoglycemia corrected with feeding.
, Q12. A client at 36 weeks presents with painless bright-red vaginal bleeding. What
complication is suspected?
Answer: Placenta previa.
Rationale: Painless bleeding in late pregnancy is a classic sign.
Q13. A laboring client’s FHR shows recurrent late decelerations. What is the first action?
Answer: Reposition the client to left lateral.
Rationale: Improves uteroplacental blood flow.
Q14. A nurse notes a postpartum client has a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) on day 2.
What complication is most likely?
Answer: Endometritis.
Rationale: Infection of uterine lining common after delivery.
Q15. A client asks why folic acid is important in pregnancy. What is the best response?
Answer: “It prevents neural tube defects in your baby.”
Rationale: Folic acid is essential for CNS development.
Q16. A newborn is 3 days old and has yellow skin and sclera. What is the likely
condition?
Answer: Physiologic jaundice.
Rationale: Normal bilirubin elevation after 24 hours.
Q17. A nurse is assessing a postpartum client. The uterus is firm and midline, but lochia
remains heavy. What is suspected?
Answer: Vaginal or cervical laceration.
Rationale: Firm uterus + bleeding suggests trauma, not atony.
Yield Scenario-Based Questions, Answers & Rationales
Q1. A client at 28 weeks gestation complains of swelling in hands and face and
persistent headache. What complication is suspected?
Answer: Preeclampsia.
Rationale: Hypertension + edema + headache are hallmark features.
Q2. A postpartum client has heavy bleeding, a boggy uterus, and tachycardia. What is
the priority intervention?
Answer: Fundal massage.
Rationale: Stimulates contraction and reduces hemorrhage.
Q3. A newborn delivered by cesarean section has nasal flaring and grunting. What is
the likely condition?
Answer: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN).
Rationale: Common after C-section due to retained fluid.
Q4. A laboring client shows umbilical cord protrusion at the vaginal opening. What is the
nurse’s immediate action?
Answer: Place the client in knee-chest position.
Rationale: Relieves cord compression until delivery.
Q5. A client at 10 weeks gestation reports severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and
ketones in urine. What condition is suspected?
Answer: Hyperemesis gravidarum.
Rationale: Severe dehydration and ketonuria distinguish it from normal morning
sickness.
,Q6. A postpartum client reports severe perineal pain, but her uterus is firm and lochia is
minimal. What is the likely complication?
Answer: Vaginal hematoma.
Rationale: Firm uterus + pain + concealed bleeding = hematoma.
Q7. A nurse is assessing a newborn 1 hour after birth. HR is 130 bpm, irregular
respirations at 55/min, acrocyanosis present. What is the interpretation?
Answer: Normal transition findings.
Rationale: Irregular respirations and acrocyanosis are expected in the first hours.
Q8. A laboring client is receiving oxytocin and has contractions every 90 seconds lasting
80 seconds. What is the concern?
Answer: Uterine tachysystole.
Rationale: Frequent/prolonged contractions reduce fetal oxygenation.
Q9. A postpartum client with a history of depression states she has no interest in caring
for her newborn. What condition is suspected?
Answer: Postpartum depression.
Rationale: Persistent loss of interest beyond 2 weeks requires intervention.
Q10. A nurse is caring for a client in labor with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. What is
the priority action for the newborn at birth?
Answer: Suction below the vocal cords if depressed.
Rationale: Prevents aspiration and meconium aspiration syndrome.
Q11. A newborn has a blood glucose of 32 mg/dL. The infant is jittery and lethargic.
What is the first intervention?
Answer: Feed with breast milk or formula.
Rationale: Stable hypoglycemia corrected with feeding.
, Q12. A client at 36 weeks presents with painless bright-red vaginal bleeding. What
complication is suspected?
Answer: Placenta previa.
Rationale: Painless bleeding in late pregnancy is a classic sign.
Q13. A laboring client’s FHR shows recurrent late decelerations. What is the first action?
Answer: Reposition the client to left lateral.
Rationale: Improves uteroplacental blood flow.
Q14. A nurse notes a postpartum client has a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) on day 2.
What complication is most likely?
Answer: Endometritis.
Rationale: Infection of uterine lining common after delivery.
Q15. A client asks why folic acid is important in pregnancy. What is the best response?
Answer: “It prevents neural tube defects in your baby.”
Rationale: Folic acid is essential for CNS development.
Q16. A newborn is 3 days old and has yellow skin and sclera. What is the likely
condition?
Answer: Physiologic jaundice.
Rationale: Normal bilirubin elevation after 24 hours.
Q17. A nurse is assessing a postpartum client. The uterus is firm and midline, but lochia
remains heavy. What is suspected?
Answer: Vaginal or cervical laceration.
Rationale: Firm uterus + bleeding suggests trauma, not atony.
