Test Bank for Maternity & Women’s Health Care 13th Edition by
Lowdermilk, Perry, Cashion & Alden – 21st Century Maternity and
Women’s Health Nursing Exam Questions with Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Updated PDF 2026/2027
,Comprehensive Test Bank for Maternity and Women’s Health Care, 12th Edition by Deitra Leonard Lowdermilk, Shannon E. Perry,
Kitty Cashion, and Kathryn Alden.
Chapter 01
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In evaluating the level of a pregnant woman’s risk of having a low-birth-weight (LBW) infant, which factor is the most
important for the nurse to consider?
A. African-American race
B. Cigarette smoking
C. Poor nutritional status
D. Limited maternal education
Correct answer: A
Rationale:
For African-American births, the incidence of LBW infants is twice that of Caucasian births. Race is a nonmodifiable risk factor.
Cigarette smoking is an important factor in potential infant mortality rates, but it is not the most important. Additionally, smoking
is a modifiable risk factor. Poor nutrition is an important factor in potential infant mortality rates, but it is not the most important.
Additionally, nutritional status is a modifiable risk factor. Maternal education is an important factor in potential infant mortality
rates, but it is not the most important. Additionally, maternal education is a modifiable risk factor.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 6 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance, Antepartum Care
2. What is the primary role of practicing nurses in the research process?
A. Designing research studies
B. Collecting data for other researchers
C. Identifying researchable problems
D. Seeking funding to support research studies
Correct answer: C
Rationale:
When problems are identified, research can be properly conducted. Research of health care issues leads to evidence-based
practice guidelines. Designing research studies is only one factor of the research process. Data collection is another factor of
research. Financial support is necessary to conduct research, but it is not the primary role of the nurse in the research process.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 14 TOP: Nursing Process: N/A MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective
Care Environment
3. A 23-year-old African-American woman is pregnant with her first child. Based on the statistics for infant mortality,
which plan is most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Perform a nutrition assessment.
, B. Refer the woman to a social worker.
C. Advise the woman to see an obstetrician, not a midwife.
D. Explain to the woman the importance of keeping her prenatal care appointments.
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale:
Consistent prenatal care is the best method of preventing or controlling risk factors associated with infant mortality. Nutritional
status is an important modifiable risk factor, but it is not the most important action a nurse should take in this situation. The client
may need assistance from a social worker at some time during her pregnancy, but a referral to a social worker is not the most
important aspect the nurse should address at this time. If the woman has identifiable high-risk problems, then her health care
may need to be provided by a physician. However, it cannot be assumed that all African-American women have high-risk issues.
In addition, advising the woman to see an obstetrician is not the most important aspect on which the nurse should focus at this
time, and it is not appropriate for a nurse to advise or manage the type of care a client is to receive.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 6 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: Client Needs: Health
Promotion and Maintenance
4. During a prenatal intake interview, the nurse is in the process of obtaining an initial assessment of a 21-year-old
Hispanic client with limited English proficiency. Which action is the most important for the nurse to perform?
A. Use maternity jargon to enable the client to become familiar with these terms.
B. Speak quickly and efficiently to expedite the visit.
C. Provide the client with handouts.
D. Assess whether the client understands the discussion.
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Nurses contribute to health literacy by using simple, common words, avoiding jargon, and evaluating whether the client
understands the discussion. Speaking slowly and clearly and focusing on what is important will increase understanding. Most
client education materials are written at a level too high for the average adult and may not be useful for a client with limited
English proficiency.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 5 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and
Maintenance
5. The nurses working at a newly established birthing center have begun to compare their performance in providing
maternal-newborn care against clinical standards. This comparison process is most commonly known as what?
A. Best practices network
B. Clinical benchmarking
C. Outcomes-oriented practice
D. Evidence-based practice
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Outcomes-oriented practice measures the effectiveness of the interventions and quality of care against benchmarks or standards.
The term best practice refers to a program or service that has been recognized for its excellence. Clinical benchmarking is a
,process used to compare one’s own performance against the performance of the best in an area of service. The term evidence-
based practice refers to the provision of care based on evidence gained through research and clinical trials.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 11 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Safe and
Effective Care Environment
, 6. Which statement best exemplifies contemporary maternity nursing?
A. Use of midwives for all vaginal deliveries
B. Family-centered care
C. Free-standing birth clinics
D. Physician-driven care
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Contemporary maternity nursing focuses on the family’s needs and desires. Fathers, partners, grandparents, and siblings may be
present for the birth and participate in activities such as cutting the baby’s umbilical cord. Both midwives and physicians perform
vaginal deliveries. Free-standing clinics are an example of alternative birth options. Contemporary maternity nursing is driven by
the relationship between nurses and their clients.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: pp. 8-9 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: Client Needs: Health
Promotion and Maintenance
7. A 38-year-old Hispanic woman vaginally delivered a 9-pound, 6-ounce baby girl after being in labor for 43 hours. The
baby died 3 days later from sepsis. On what grounds could the woman have a legitimate legal case for negligence?
A. Inexperienced maternity nurse was assigned to care for the client.
B. Client was past her due date by 3 days.
C. Standard of care was not met.
D. Client refused electronic fetal monitoring.
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Not meeting the standard of care is a legitimate factor for a case of negligence. An inexperienced maternity nurse would need to
display competency before being assigned to care for clients on his or her own. This client may have been past her due date;
however, a term pregnancy often goes beyond 40 weeks of gestation. Although fetal monitoring is the standard of care, the client
has the right to refuse treatment. This refusal is not a case for negligence, but informed consent should be properly obtained, and
the client should have signed an against medical advice form when refusing any treatment that is within the standard of care.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze REF: p. 13 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment
8. When the nurse is unsure how to perform a client care procedure that is high risk and low volume, his or her best
action in this situation would be what?
A. Ask another nurse.
B. Discuss the procedure with the client’s physician.
C. Look up the procedure in a nursing textbook.
D. Consult the agency procedure manual, and follow the guidelines for the procedure.
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Lowdermilk, Perry, Cashion & Alden – 21st Century Maternity and
Women’s Health Nursing Exam Questions with Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Updated PDF 2026/2027
,Comprehensive Test Bank for Maternity and Women’s Health Care, 12th Edition by Deitra Leonard Lowdermilk, Shannon E. Perry,
Kitty Cashion, and Kathryn Alden.
Chapter 01
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In evaluating the level of a pregnant woman’s risk of having a low-birth-weight (LBW) infant, which factor is the most
important for the nurse to consider?
A. African-American race
B. Cigarette smoking
C. Poor nutritional status
D. Limited maternal education
Correct answer: A
Rationale:
For African-American births, the incidence of LBW infants is twice that of Caucasian births. Race is a nonmodifiable risk factor.
Cigarette smoking is an important factor in potential infant mortality rates, but it is not the most important. Additionally, smoking
is a modifiable risk factor. Poor nutrition is an important factor in potential infant mortality rates, but it is not the most important.
Additionally, nutritional status is a modifiable risk factor. Maternal education is an important factor in potential infant mortality
rates, but it is not the most important. Additionally, maternal education is a modifiable risk factor.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 6 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance, Antepartum Care
2. What is the primary role of practicing nurses in the research process?
A. Designing research studies
B. Collecting data for other researchers
C. Identifying researchable problems
D. Seeking funding to support research studies
Correct answer: C
Rationale:
When problems are identified, research can be properly conducted. Research of health care issues leads to evidence-based
practice guidelines. Designing research studies is only one factor of the research process. Data collection is another factor of
research. Financial support is necessary to conduct research, but it is not the primary role of the nurse in the research process.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 14 TOP: Nursing Process: N/A MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective
Care Environment
3. A 23-year-old African-American woman is pregnant with her first child. Based on the statistics for infant mortality,
which plan is most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Perform a nutrition assessment.
, B. Refer the woman to a social worker.
C. Advise the woman to see an obstetrician, not a midwife.
D. Explain to the woman the importance of keeping her prenatal care appointments.
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale:
Consistent prenatal care is the best method of preventing or controlling risk factors associated with infant mortality. Nutritional
status is an important modifiable risk factor, but it is not the most important action a nurse should take in this situation. The client
may need assistance from a social worker at some time during her pregnancy, but a referral to a social worker is not the most
important aspect the nurse should address at this time. If the woman has identifiable high-risk problems, then her health care
may need to be provided by a physician. However, it cannot be assumed that all African-American women have high-risk issues.
In addition, advising the woman to see an obstetrician is not the most important aspect on which the nurse should focus at this
time, and it is not appropriate for a nurse to advise or manage the type of care a client is to receive.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 6 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: Client Needs: Health
Promotion and Maintenance
4. During a prenatal intake interview, the nurse is in the process of obtaining an initial assessment of a 21-year-old
Hispanic client with limited English proficiency. Which action is the most important for the nurse to perform?
A. Use maternity jargon to enable the client to become familiar with these terms.
B. Speak quickly and efficiently to expedite the visit.
C. Provide the client with handouts.
D. Assess whether the client understands the discussion.
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Nurses contribute to health literacy by using simple, common words, avoiding jargon, and evaluating whether the client
understands the discussion. Speaking slowly and clearly and focusing on what is important will increase understanding. Most
client education materials are written at a level too high for the average adult and may not be useful for a client with limited
English proficiency.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 5 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and
Maintenance
5. The nurses working at a newly established birthing center have begun to compare their performance in providing
maternal-newborn care against clinical standards. This comparison process is most commonly known as what?
A. Best practices network
B. Clinical benchmarking
C. Outcomes-oriented practice
D. Evidence-based practice
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Outcomes-oriented practice measures the effectiveness of the interventions and quality of care against benchmarks or standards.
The term best practice refers to a program or service that has been recognized for its excellence. Clinical benchmarking is a
,process used to compare one’s own performance against the performance of the best in an area of service. The term evidence-
based practice refers to the provision of care based on evidence gained through research and clinical trials.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 11 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Safe and
Effective Care Environment
, 6. Which statement best exemplifies contemporary maternity nursing?
A. Use of midwives for all vaginal deliveries
B. Family-centered care
C. Free-standing birth clinics
D. Physician-driven care
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Contemporary maternity nursing focuses on the family’s needs and desires. Fathers, partners, grandparents, and siblings may be
present for the birth and participate in activities such as cutting the baby’s umbilical cord. Both midwives and physicians perform
vaginal deliveries. Free-standing clinics are an example of alternative birth options. Contemporary maternity nursing is driven by
the relationship between nurses and their clients.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: pp. 8-9 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: Client Needs: Health
Promotion and Maintenance
7. A 38-year-old Hispanic woman vaginally delivered a 9-pound, 6-ounce baby girl after being in labor for 43 hours. The
baby died 3 days later from sepsis. On what grounds could the woman have a legitimate legal case for negligence?
A. Inexperienced maternity nurse was assigned to care for the client.
B. Client was past her due date by 3 days.
C. Standard of care was not met.
D. Client refused electronic fetal monitoring.
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Not meeting the standard of care is a legitimate factor for a case of negligence. An inexperienced maternity nurse would need to
display competency before being assigned to care for clients on his or her own. This client may have been past her due date;
however, a term pregnancy often goes beyond 40 weeks of gestation. Although fetal monitoring is the standard of care, the client
has the right to refuse treatment. This refusal is not a case for negligence, but informed consent should be properly obtained, and
the client should have signed an against medical advice form when refusing any treatment that is within the standard of care.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze REF: p. 13 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment
8. When the nurse is unsure how to perform a client care procedure that is high risk and low volume, his or her best
action in this situation would be what?
A. Ask another nurse.
B. Discuss the procedure with the client’s physician.
C. Look up the procedure in a nursing textbook.
D. Consult the agency procedure manual, and follow the guidelines for the procedure.
CORRECT ANSWER: D
