Question 1

During the assessment of a woman in her 22nd week of pregnancy, the nurse is unable to hear fetal heart tones with the fetoscope. How should the nurse proceed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Wait 10 minutes, and try again. 
B)  Use ultrasound to verify cardiac activity. 
C)  Ask the woman if she has felt the baby move today. 
D)  Immediately notify the physician, then wait 10 minutes and try again. 
A)  Wait 10 minutes, and try again. 
B)  Use ultrasound to verify cardiac activity. 
C)  Ask the woman if she has felt the baby move today. 
D)  Immediately notify the physician, then wait 10 minutes and try again.

Question 2

A female patient has nausea, breast tenderness, fatigue, and amenorrhea. Her last menstrual period was 6 weeks ago. What signs of pregnancy is this patient experiencing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Positive 
B)  Possible 
C)  Probable 
D)  Presumptive 
A)  Positive 
B)  Possible 
C)  Probable 
D)  Presumptive

Question 3

The nurse is palpating the fundus of a pregnant woman. Which statement about palpation of the fundus is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The fundus should be hard and slightly tender to palpation during the first trimester. 
B)  Fetal movement may not be felt by the examiner until the end of the second trimester. 
C)  After 20 weeks' gestation, the number of centimeters should approximate the number of weeks' gestation. 
D)  Fundal height is usually less than the number of weeks' gestation, unless an abnormal condition such as excessive amniotic fluid is present. 
A)  The fundus should be hard and slightly tender to palpation during the first trimester. 
B)  Fetal movement may not be felt by the examiner until the end of the second trimester. 
C)  After 20 weeks' gestation, the number of centimeters should approximate the number of weeks' gestation. 
D)  Fundal height is usually less than the number of weeks' gestation, unless an abnormal condition such as excessive amniotic fluid is present.

Question 4

A woman at 25 weeks' gestation comes to the clinic for her prenatal visit. The nurse notices that her face and lower extremities are swollen, and her blood pressure is 154/94 mm Hg. The woman states that she has had headaches and blurry vision but thinks it is just because she is tired. What should the nurse suspect?

Accepted Answer

A)  Eclampsia 
B)  Preeclampsia 
C)  Preterm labor 
D)  Diabetes type 1 
A)  Eclampsia 
B)  Preeclampsia 
C)  Preterm labor 
D)  Diabetes type 1

Question 5

When examining the face of a woman who is 28 weeks' pregnant, the nurse notices the presence of a butterfly-shaped increase in pigmentation on the face. How should the nurse document this finding?

Accepted Answer

A)  Striae 
B)  Chloasma 
C)  Linea nigra 
D)  Mask of pregnancy 
A)  Striae 
B)  Chloasma 
C)  Linea nigra 
D)  Mask of pregnancy

Question 6

A patient who is in her first trimester of pregnancy tells the nurse that she is experiencing significant nausea and vomiting and asks when it will improve. What is an appropriate response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Did your mother have significant nausea and vomiting?" 
B)  "Many women experience nausea and vomiting until the third trimester." 
C)  "Usually, by the beginning of the second trimester, the nausea and vomiting improve." 
D)  "At approximately the time you begin to feel the baby move, the nausea and vomiting will subside." 
A)  "Did your mother have significant nausea and vomiting?" 
B)  "Many women experience nausea and vomiting until the third trimester." 
C)  "Usually, by the beginning of the second trimester, the nausea and vomiting improve." 
D)  "At approximately the time you begin to feel the baby move, the nausea and vomiting will subside."

Question 7

A woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant is visiting the clinic for a checkup. Her systolic blood pressure is 30 mm Hg higher than her prepregnancy systolic blood pressure. How should the nurse proceed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Consider this a normal finding. 
B)  Expect the blood pressure to decrease as the estrogen levels increase throughout the pregnancy. 
C)  Consider this an abnormal finding because blood pressure is typically lower at this point in the pregnancy. 
D)  Recommend that the patient decreases her salt intake in an attempt to decrease her peripheral vascular resistance. 
A)  Consider this a normal finding. 
B)  Expect the blood pressure to decrease as the estrogen levels increase throughout the pregnancy. 
C)  Consider this an abnormal finding because blood pressure is typically lower at this point in the pregnancy. 
D)  Recommend that the patient decreases her salt intake in an attempt to decrease her peripheral vascular resistance.

Question 8

When performing an examination of a woman who is 34 weeks' pregnant, the nurse notices a midline linear protrusion in the abdomen over the area of the rectus abdominis muscles as the woman raises her head and shoulders off of the bed. Which response by the nurse is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  The presence of diastasis recti should be documented. 
B)  This condition should be discussed with the physician because it will most likely need to be surgically repaired. 
C)  The possibility that the woman has a hernia attributable to the increased pressure within the abdomen from the pregnancy should be suspected. 
D)  The woman should be told that she may have a difficult time with delivery because of the weakness in her abdominal muscles. 
A)  The presence of diastasis recti should be documented. 
B)  This condition should be discussed with the physician because it will most likely need to be surgically repaired. 
C)  The possibility that the woman has a hernia attributable to the increased pressure within the abdomen from the pregnancy should be suspected. 
D)  The woman should be told that she may have a difficult time with delivery because of the weakness in her abdominal muscles.

Question 9

The nurse is palpating the uterus of a woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant. Which finding would be most consistent with a normal finding at this stage of pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

A)  The uterus seems slightly enlarged and softened. 
B)  It reaches the pelvic brim and is approximately the size of a grapefruit. 
C)  The uterus rises above the pelvic brim and is approximately the size of a cantaloupe. 
D)  The uterus is about the size of an avocado, approximately 8 cm across the fundus. 
A)  The uterus seems slightly enlarged and softened. 
B)  It reaches the pelvic brim and is approximately the size of a grapefruit. 
C)  The uterus rises above the pelvic brim and is approximately the size of a cantaloupe. 
D)  The uterus is about the size of an avocado, approximately 8 cm across the fundus.

Question 10

A patient who is 24 weeks' pregnant asks about wearing a seatbelt while driving. Which response by the nurse is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Seatbelts should not be worn during pregnancy." 
B)  "Place the lap belt below the uterus and use the shoulder strap at the same time." 
C)  "Place the lap belt below the uterus but omit the shoulder strap during pregnancy." 
D)  "Place the lap belt at your waist above the uterus and use the shoulder strap at the same time." 
A)  "Seatbelts should not be worn during pregnancy." 
B)  "Place the lap belt below the uterus and use the shoulder strap at the same time." 
C)  "Place the lap belt below the uterus but omit the shoulder strap during pregnancy." 
D)  "Place the lap belt at your waist above the uterus and use the shoulder strap at the same time."

Exam 31: The Pregnant Woman

During the assessment of a woman in her 22nd week of pregnancy, the nurse is unable to hear fetal heart tones with the fetoscope. How should the nurse proceed?

A female patient has nausea, breast tenderness, fatigue, and amenorrhea. Her last menstrual period was 6 weeks ago. What signs of pregnancy is this patient experiencing?

The nurse is palpating the fundus of a pregnant woman. Which statement about palpation of the fundus is true?

When examining the face of a woman who is 28 weeks' pregnant, the nurse notices the presence of a butterfly-shaped increase in pigmentation on the face. How should the nurse document this finding?

A patient who is in her first trimester of pregnancy tells the nurse that she is experiencing significant nausea and vomiting and asks when it will improve. What is an appropriate response by the nurse?

A woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant is visiting the clinic for a checkup. Her systolic blood pressure is 30 mm Hg higher than her prepregnancy systolic blood pressure. How should the nurse proceed?

When performing an examination of a woman who is 34 weeks' pregnant, the nurse notices a midline linear protrusion in the abdomen over the area of the rectus abdominis muscles as the woman raises her head and shoulders off of the bed. Which response by the nurse is correct?

The nurse is palpating the uterus of a woman who is 8 weeks' pregnant. Which finding would be most consistent with a normal finding at this stage of pregnancy?

A patient who is 24 weeks' pregnant asks about wearing a seatbelt while driving. Which response by the nurse is correct?

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