Let us try to answer Maternity Questions NCLEX and read the rationale later . . .
1. The nursing student is preparing to teach a prenatal class about fetal circulation. Which statement should be included in the teaching plan?
a) “One artery carries oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus.”
b) “Two arteries carry oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus.”
c) “Two arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products away from the fetus to the placenta.” d) “Two veins carry blood that is high in carbon dioxide and other waste products away from the fetus to the placenta.”
2. Maternity Questions NCLEX about a nursing student is assigned to care for a client in labor. The nursing instructor asks the student to describe fetal circulation, specifically the ductus venosus. Which statement is correct regarding the ductus venosus?
a) Connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta
b) Is an opening between the right and left atria
c) Connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava
d) Connects the umbilical artery to the inferior vena cava
3. A pregnant client tells the clinic nurse that she wants to know the gender of her baby as soon as it can be determined. The nurse understands that the client should be able to find out the gender at 12 weeks’ gestation because of which factor?
a) The appearance of the fetal external genitalia
b) The beginning of differentiation in the fetal groin
c) The fetal testes are descended into the scrotal sac
d) The internal differences in males and females become apparent
4. Maternity Questions NCLEX about the nurse who is performing an assessment on a client who is at 38 weeks’ gestation and notes that the fetal heart rate is 174 beats/minute. On the basis of this finding, what is the priority nursing action?
a) Document the finding.
b) Check the mother’s heart rate.
c) Notify the health care provider (HCP).
d) Tell the client that the fetal heart rate is normal.
5. The nurse is conducting a prenatal class on the female reproductive system. When a client in the class asks why the fertilized ovum stays in the fallopian tube for 3 days, what is the nurse’s best response?
a) “It promotes the fertilized ovum’s chances of survival.”
b) “It promotes the fertilized ovum’s exposure to estrogen and progesterone.”
c) “It promotes the fertilized ovum’s normal implantation in the top portion of the uterus.”
d) “It promotes the fertilized ovum’s exposure to luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.”
6. Maternity Questions NCLEX about the nursing instructor who asks a nursing student to list the characteristics of the amniotic fluid. The student responds correctly by listing which as characteristics of amniotic fluid? Select all that apply.
a) Allows for fetal movement
b) Surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus
c) Maintains the body temperature of the fetus
d) Can be used to measure fetal kidney function
e) Prevents large particles such as bacteria from passing to the fetus
f) Provides an exchange of nutrients and waste products between the mother and the fetus
7. A couple comes to the family planning clinic and asks about sterilization procedures. Which question by the nurse would determine whether this method of family planning would be most appropriate?
a) “Has either of you ever had surgery?”
b) “Do you plan to have any other children?”
c) “Do either of you have diabetes mellitus?”
d) “Do either of you have problems with high blood pressure?”
8. The nurse should include which statement to a pregnant client found to have a gynecoid pelvis?
a) “Your type of pelvis has a narrow pubic arch.”
b) “Your type of pelvis is the most favorable for labor and birth.”
c) “Your type of pelvis is a wide pelvis, but has a short diameter.”
d) “You will need a cesarean section because this type of pelvis is not favorable for a vaginal delivery.”
9. Which explanation should the nurse provide to the prenatal client about the purpose of the placenta?
a) It cushions and protects the baby.
b) It maintains the temperature of the baby.
c) It is the way the baby gets food and oxygen.
d) It prevents all antibodies and viruses from passing to the baby.
10. Maternity Questions NCLEX about a 55-year-old male client who confides in the nurse that he is concerned about his sexual function. What is the nurse’s best response?
a) “How often do you have sexual relations?”
b) “Please share with me more about your concerns.”
c) “You are still young and have nothing to be concerned about.”
d) “You should not have a decline in testosterone until you are in your 80s.”
Maternity Questions NCLEX
Answers and Rationale
1) C
- Rationale: Blood pumped by the embryo’s heart leaves the embryo through two umbilical arteries. When oxygenated, the blood is returned by one umbilical vein. Arteries carry deoxygenated blood and waste products from the fetus, and the umbilical vein carries oxygenated blood and provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject , fetal circulation. Recall that three umbilical vessels are within the umbilical cord (two arteries and one vein) and that the vein carries oxygenated blood and the arteries carry deoxygenated blood.
2) C
- Maternity Questions NCLEX Rationale: The ductus venosus connects the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava. The foramen ovale is a temporary opening between the right and left atria. The ductus arteriosus joins the aorta and the pulmonary artery.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject , the description of the ductus venosus. Note the relationship of the word venosus in the question and vein in the correct option.
3) A
- Rationale: By the end of the twelfth week, the external genitalia of the fetus have developed to such a degree that the gender of the fetus can be determined visually. Differentiation of the external genitalia occurs at the end of the ninth week. Testes descend into the scrotal sac at the end of the thirty-eighth week. Internal differences in the male and female occur at the end of the seventh week.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject, gender of the fetus. Remember that the gender of the fetus can be recognizable visually by the appearance of the external genitalia by gestational week 12.
4) C
- Maternity Questions NCLEX Rationale: The fetal heart rate (FHR) depends on gestational age and ranges from 160 to 170 beats/minute in the first trimester, but slows with fetal growth to 110 to 160 beats/minute near or at term. At or near term, if the FHR is less than 110 beats/minute or more than 160 beats/minute with the uterus at rest, the fetus may be in distress. Because the FHR is increased from the reference range, the nurse should notify the HCP. Options B and D are inappropriate actions based on the information in the question. Although the nurse documents the findings, based on the information in the question, the HCP needs to be notified.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic word , “priority.” Also note the FHR and that the client is at 38 weeks of gestation. Remember that the normal FHR at or near term is 110 to 160 beats/minute.
5) C
- Rationale: The tubal isthmus remains contracted until 3 days after conception to allow the fertilized ovum to develop within the tube. This initial growth of the fertilized ovum promotes its normal implantation in the fundal portion of the uterine corpus. Estrogen is a hormone produced by the ovarian follicles, corpus luteum, adrenal cortex, and placenta during pregnancy. Progesterone is a hormone secreted by the corpus luteum of the ovary, adrenal glands, and placenta during pregnancy. Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone are excreted by the anterior pituitary gland. The survival of the fertilized ovum does not depend on it staying in the fallopian tube for 3 days.
- Maternity Questions NCLEX Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic word “best” and use knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system. Remember that fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube and the fertilized ovum remains in the fallopian tube for about 3 days. This promotes its normal implantation.
6) A, B, C, D
- Rationale: The amniotic fluid surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus. It allows the fetus to move freely and maintains the body temperature of the fetus. In addition, the amniotic fluid contains urine from the fetus and can be used to assess fetal kidney function. The placenta prevents large particles such as bacteria from passing to the fetus and provides an exchange of nutrients and waste products between the mother and the fetus.
- Maternity Questions NCLEX Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject of the question: the characteristics of amniotic fluid. Visualizing the location of the amniotic fluid will assist in answering this question.
7) B
- Rationale: Sterilization is a method of contraception for couples who have completed their families. It should be considered a permanent end to fertility because reversal surgery is not always successful. The nurse would ask the couple about their plans for having children in the future. Options A, C, and D are unrelated to this procedure.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic words , most appropriate. Focus on the subject , sterilization procedure. Noting the relationship between the word sterilization and the correct option will direct you to this option.
8) B
- Maternity Questions NCLEX Rationale: A gynecoid pelvis is a normal female pelvis and is the most favorable for successful labor and birth. An android pelvis (resembling a male pelvis) would be unfavorable for labor because of the narrow pelvic planes. An anthropoid pelvis has an outlet that is adequate, with a normal or moderately narrow pubic arch. A platypelloid pelvis (flat pelvis) has a wide transverse diameter, but the anteroposterior diameter is short, making the outlet inadequate.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject , female pelvis types. Recalling that the gynecoid pelvis is the normal female pelvis will direct you to the correct option.
9) C
- Rationale: The placenta provides an exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the mother and the fetus. The amniotic fluid surrounds, cushions, and protects the fetus and maintains the body temperature of the fetus. Nutrients, drugs, antibodies, and viruses can pass through the placenta.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject , the purpose of the placenta. Remember that the placenta provides oxygen and nutrients.
10) B
- Maternity Questions NCLEX Rationale: The nurse needs to establish trust when discussing sexual relationships with men. Open the conversation with broad statements to determine the true nature of the client’s concerns. The frequency of intercourse is not a relevant first question to establish trust. Testosterone declines with the aging process.
- Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic word best. Determine whether further assessment or validation is needed. In this case, more information is needed to determine the nature of the client’s concerns. Keeping these concepts in mind and focusing on the subject will assist in directing you to the correct option.
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Maternity Questions NCLEX 11-20
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