Exam 1 - Chapter 1 Flashcards
In evaluating the level of a pregnant womans 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
A - 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
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
C - 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
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.
D - 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.
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
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.
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
C - 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 ones 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: C
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
B - Contemporary maternity nursing focuses on the familys needs and desires. Fathers, partners,
grandparents, and siblings may be present for the birth and participate in activities such as
cutting the babys 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.
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
C - 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.
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 clients physician.
c. Look up the procedure in a nursing textbook.
d. Consult the agency procedure manual, and follow the guidelines for the procedure
D - Following the agencys policies and procedures manual is always best when seeking information
on correct client procedures. These policies should reflect the current standards of care and the
individual states guidelines. Each nurse is responsible for his or her own practice. Relying on
another nurse may not always be a safe practice. Each nurse is obligated to follow the standards
of care for safe client care delivery. Physicians are responsible for their own client care activity.
Nurses may follow safe orders from physicians, but they are also responsible for the activities
that they, as nurses, are to carry out. Information provided in a nursing textbook is basic
information for general knowledge. Furthermore, the information in a textbook may not reflect
the current standard of care or the individual state or hospital policies.
The National Quality Forum has issued a list of never events specifically pertaining to
maternal and child health. These include all of the following except:
a. infant discharged to the wrong person.
b. kernicterus associated with the failure to identify and treat hyperbilirubinemia.
c. artificial insemination with the wrong donor sperm or egg.
d. foreign object retained after surgery
D - Although a foreign object retained after surgery is a never event, it does not specifically pertain
to obstetric clients. A client undergoing any type of surgery may be at risk for this event. An
infant discharged to the wrong person specifically pertains to postpartum care. Death or serious
disability as a result of kernicterus pertains to newborn assessment and care. Artificial
insemination affects families seeking care for infertility.
A nurse caring for a pregnant client should be aware that the U.S. birth rate shows what
trend?
a. Births to unmarried women are more likely to have less favorable outcomes.
b. Birth rates for women 40 to 44 years of age are declining.
c. Cigarette smoking among pregnant women continues to increase.
d. Rates of pregnancy and abortion among teenagers are lower in the United States than in
any other industrialized country.
A - LBW infants and preterm births are more likely because of the large number of teenagers in the
unmarried group. Birth rates for women in their early 40s continue to increase. Fewer pregnant
women smoke. Teen pregnancy and abortion rates are higher in the United States than in any
other industrial country.
A recently graduated nurse is attempting to understand the reason for increasing health
care spending in the United States. Which information gathered from her research best explains
the rationale for these higher costs compared with other developed countries?
a. Higher rate of obesity among pregnant women
b. Limited access to technology
c. Increased use of health care services along with lower prices
d. Homogeneity of the population
A - Health care is one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. economy. Currently, 17.4% of the
gross domestic product is spent on health care. Higher spending in the United States, as
compared with 12 other industrialized countries, is related to higher prices and readily accessible
technology along with greater obesity rates among women. More than one third of women in the
United States are obese. In the population in the United States, 16% are uninsured and have
limited access to health care. Maternal morbidity and mortality are directly related to racial
disparities.
Which statement best describes maternity nursing care that is based on knowledge gained
through research and clinical trials?
a. Maternity nursing care is derived from the Nursing Intervention Classification.
b. Maternity nursing care is known as evidence-based practice.
c. Maternity nursing care is at odds with the Cochrane School of traditional nursing.
d. Maternity nursing care is an outgrowth of telemedicine.
B - Evidence-based practice is based on knowledge gained from research and clinical trials. The
Nursing Intervention Classification is a method of standardizing language and categorizing care.
Dr. Cochrane systematically reviewed research trials and is part of the evidence-based practice
movement. Telemedicine uses communication technologies to support health care
What is the minimum level of practice that a reasonably prudent nurse is expected to provide? a. Standard of care b. Risk management c. Sentinel event d. Failure to rescue
A - Guidelines for standards of care are published by various professional nursing organizations.
Risk management identifies risks and establishes preventive practices, but it does not define the
standard of care. Sentinel events are unexpected negative occurrences. They do not establish the
standard of care. Failure to rescue is an evaluative process for nursing, but it does not define the
standard of care.
Through the use of social media technology, nurses can link with other nurses who may
share similar interests, insights about practice, and advocate for clients. Which factor is the most
concerning pitfall for nurses using this technology?
a. Violation of client privacy and confidentiality
b. Institutions and colleagues who may be cast in an unfavorable light
c. Unintended negative consequences for using social media
d. Lack of institutional policy governing online contact
A - The most significant pitfall for nurses using this technology is the violation of client privacy and
confidentiality. Furthermore, institutions and colleagues can be cast in an unfavorable light with
negative consequences for those posting information. Nursing students have been expelled from
school and nurses have been fired or reprimanded by their Board of Nursing for injudicious
posts. The American Nurses Association has published six principles for social networking and
the nurse. All institutions should have policies guiding the use of social media, and the nurse
should be familiar with these guidelines
During a prenatal intake interview, the client informs the nurse that she would prefer a
midwife to provide both her care during pregnancy and deliver her infant. Which information is
most appropriate for the nurse to share with this client?
a. Midwifery care is only available to clients who are uninsured because their services are
less expensive than an obstetrician.
b. She will receive fewer interventions during the birth process.
c. She should be aware that midwives are not certified.
d. Her delivery can take place only at home or in a birth center
B - This client will be able to participate actively in all decisions related to the birth process and is
likely to receive fewer interventions during the birth process. Midwifery services are available to
all low-risk pregnant women, regardless of the type of insurance they have. Midwifery care in all
developed countries is strictly regulated by a governing body to ensure that core competencies
are met. In the United States, this body is the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).
Midwives can provide care and delivery at home, in freestanding birth centers, and in community
and teaching hospitals.
