textbook questions for obstetrics

Question 1

What factors would change during a pregnancy if the hormone progesterone were reduced or withdrawn?

a) The woman’s gums would become red and swollen and would bleed easily
b) The uterus would contract more and peristalsis would increase
c) Morning sickness would increase and would be prolonged
d) It would inhibit the secretion of prolactin by the pituitary gland

Answer 1

B) the uterus would contract more and peristalsis would increase

Question 2

Which of the following is a presumptive sign or symptom of pregnancy?

a) Restlessness
b) Elevated mood
c) Urinary frequency
d) Low backache

Answer 2

C) urinary frequency

recall presumptive refers to subjective changes reported by woman

Question 3

3: When obtaining a blood test for pregnancy, which hormone would the nurse expect the test to measure?
a) hCG
b) hPL
c) FSH
d) LH

Answer 3

a) hCG

Question 4

During pregnancy, which of the following should the expectant mother reduce or avoid?

a) Raw meat or uncooked shellfish
b) Fresh, washed fruits and vegetables
c) Whole grains
d) Protein and iron from meat sources

Answer 4

a) raw meat or uncooked shellfish

Question 5

A feeling expressed by most pregnant women upon learning they are pregnant is:

a) acceptance
b) depression
c) jealousy
d) ambivalence

Answer 5

D) ambivalence

Question 6

6: Reva Rubin identified 4 major tasks that the pregnant woman undertakes to form a mutually gratifying relationship with her infant. What is “binding in”?
a) ensuring safe passage through pregnancy, labor, and birth
b) seeking acceptance of this infant by others
c) seeking acceptance of self as mother to the infant
d) learning to give on oneself on behalf of the infant

Answer 6

C) seeking acceptance of self as mother to the infant

Question 7

Which of the following biophysical profile findings indicate poor oxygenation to the fetus?

a) two pockets of amniotic fluid
b) well-flexed arms and legs
c) nonreactive fetal heartbeat
d) fetal breathing movements noted

Answer 7

C) a non-reactive fetal heartbeat

Question 8

The nurse teaches the pregnant woman how to perform Kegel exercises as a way to accomplish which of the following?

a) prevent perineal lacerations
b) stimulate post-date labour
c) increase pelvic muscle tone
d) lose pregnancy weight quickly

Answer 8

C) increase pelvic muscle tone

Question 9

During a clinic visit, a pregnant woman at 30 weeks gestation tells the nurse: “I’ve had some mild cramps and some backache. What does this mean”? The nurse should:

a) prepare the woman as she is in the very early stages of labour
b) assess for other symptoms of preterm labour
c) suggest that her symptoms are related to overhydration
d) discuss Braxton-Hicks contractions, which occur throughout pregnancy

Answer 9

D) discus Braxton-Hicks contractions, which occur throughout pregnancy

Question 10

The nurse teaches a pregnant woman about exercise and activity, including activities not recommended during pregnancy. The nurse determines that the teaching was effective when the pregnant woman states that which of the following activities is not recommended in pregnancy:

a) swimming
b) walking
c) scuba diving
d) bike riding

Answer 10

C) scuba diving

Question 11

A pregnant woman’s last normal menstrual period was on August 10th. Using Nagele’s rule, the nurse calculates that her EDM will be:

a) May 3
b) June 10
c) June 17
d) May 17

Answer 11

D) May `17

based on adding a year, counting back three months (July 10, June 10. May 10) and then adding 7 days

Question 12

When determining the frequency of contractions, the nurse would measure which of the following?

a) start of one contraction to the start of the next contraction
b) beginning of one contraction to the end of the same contraction
c) peak of one contraction to the peak of the next contraction
d) end of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction

Answer 12

A) the start of one contraction to the start of the next contraction

Question 13

Which fetal lie is most conductive to a spontaneous, vaginal birth?

a) transverse
b) longitudinal
c) perpendicular
d) oblique

Answer 13

B) longitudinal (straight up and down)

Question 14

Which of the following observations would suggest that the placental separation is occurring?

a) uterus stops contracting all together
b) umbilical cord pulsations stop
c) uterine shape changes to globular
d) maternal blood pressure drops

Answer 14

C) Uterine shape changes to globular

Question 15

As the nurse is explaining the difference between true VS false labour to her childbirth class, she states that the major difference between them is:

a) discomfort level is greater with false labour
b) progressive cervical changes occur in true labour
c) there is a feeling of nausea with false labour
d) there is more fetal movement with true labour

Answer 15

B) progressive cervical changes occur in true labor

Question 16

The shortest, but most intense phase of labour is the:

a) latent phase
b) active phase
c) transition phase
d) placental expulsion phase

Answer 16

C) the transition phase (end of the first stage, transition phase leads to second stage which is delivery)

Question 17

A laboring woman is admitted to the labour and birth suite at 6 cm dilation. She would be in which phase of the 1st stage of labour?

a) latent
b) active
c) transition
d) early

Answer 17

B) Active

Question 18

Which assessment would indicate that a woman is in true labour?

a) membranes ruptured and fluid is clear
b) presenting part is engaged and not floating
c) cervix is 4 cm dilated, 90% effaced
d) contractions last 30 seconds, every 5-10 mins

Answer 18

C) cervix is 4cm dilated, 90% effaced

Question 19

When a pt in labour is fully dilated, which instruction would be most effective to assist her in encouraging effective pushing?

a) hold your breath and push through entire contraction
b) use chest-breathing with the contraction
c) pant and blow during each contraction
d) push for 6-7 seconds several times during each contraction

Answer 19

d) push for 6-7 seconds several times during each contraction

Question 20

2: During the 4th stage of labour, the nurse palpates the uterus on the right side and sees a saturated perineal pad. What is the nurse’s first action?
a) massage the uterus vigorously
b) have the pt void and reassess her
c) notify the primary care giver
d) document a normal finding

Answer 20

B) have pt void and reassess her

Question 21

When managing a patient’s pain during labour, nurses should:

a) make sure the agents given don’t prolong labour
b) know that all pain-relief measures are similar
c) support the patient’s decisions and requests
d) not recommend non-pharmacological measures

Answer 21

C) support the patient’s decisions and requests

Question 22

When caring for a pt during the active phase of labour without a continuous EFM, the nurse would intermittently assess FHR every:

a) 15 minutes
b) 5 minutes
c) 30 minutes
d) 60 minutes

Answer 22

A) every 15 minutes

recall active phase is not pushing phase

during pushing it is q5m and during push

Question 23

The nurse notes the presence of transient fetal accelerations on the fetal monitoring strip. Which intervention would be most appropriate?

a) reposition the pt on the left side
b) begin 100% O2 via face mask
c) document this reassuring pattern
d) call the heath care provider immediately

Answer 23

C) document this reassuring pattern

Question 24

Which of the following would the nurse include when teaching a pregnant woman about the pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with gestational diabetes?

a) pregnancy fosters the development of carbohydrate cravings
b) there is progressive resistance to the effects of insulin
c) hypoinsulinemia develops early in the first trimester
d) glucose levels decease to accommodate fetal growth

Answer 24

B) there is a progressive resistance to the effects of insulin

Question 25

When providing prenatal education to a pregnant women with asthma, which of the following would be important for the nurse to do?

a) explain that she should avoid steroids during her pregnancy
b) demonstrate how to assess her blood glucose levels
c) teach correct administration of subcutaneous bronchodilators
d) ensure she seeks treatment for any acute exacerbation

Answer 25

D) ensure she seeks treatment of any acute exacerbation

Question 26

Which of the following conditions would most likely cause a pregnant woman with type 1 diabetes the greatest difficulty during her pregnancy?

a) placenta previa
b) hyperemesis gravidarum
c) abruption placentae
d) Rh incompatibility

Answer 26

B) hyperemesis gravidarum

Question 27

Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy:

a) often produce more alcohol dehydrogenase
b) usually become intoxicated faster than before
c) can give birth to an infant with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
d) gain fewer pounds throughout the gestation

Answer 27

C) can give birth to an infant with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Question 28

When explaining to a pregnant woman about HIV infection and transmission, which of the following would the nurse include?

a) it primarily occurs when there is a large viral load in the blood
b) HIV is most commonly transmitted via sexual contact
c) It affects the majority of infants of mothers with HIV infection
d) Nurses are most frequently affected due to needle sticks

Answer 28

B) HIV is most commonly transmitted via sexual contact

Question 29

The nurse documents that a newborn is post-term based on the understanding that he or she was born after:

a) 38 weeks gestation
b) 40 weeks gestation
c) 42 weeks gestation
d) 44 weeks gestation

Answer 29

C) 42 weeks

between 37 and 42 is technically term