Question 1

A client who is 36 weeks of gestation is at her prenatal visit. The nurse tells the client that she will be screened for group B Streptococcus during today's visit. Which of the following statements would be made by the nurse when providing client education about this screening test?

Accepted Answer

Screening at 36 to 37 weeks of pregnancy for group B Streptococcus infection has been recommended because this infection causes preterm rupture of the amniotic membranes, premature labor, fetal respiratory distress syndrome, fetal septicemia, and meningitis.

Question 2

A woman who just found out she is pregnant starts crying. She tells the nurse that over the last 3 days she was not feeling herself, so she took some Tylenol. She states if she knew she was pregnant, she never would have taken the medication. Which of the following actions should be taken by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Research on aspirin and Tylenol indicates that both medications are safe in recommended doses. Little is known about the effects of herbal products and their interaction with other medications. As a result, the nurse may need to encourage a client to reconsider the use of herbs when evidence exists that the herbs may harm the fetus or the mother. Providing the mother with appropriate information will help to decrease the mother's anxiety level.

Question 3

A nurse makes a home visit to monitor the blood pressure of a pregnant woman who is single. Which finding would be of most concern to the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoan that infects people through undercooked meat, handling of cat feces, and exposure to infected soil. Sixty percent of maternal infections acquired during the third trimester result in fetal infection, which can lead to rash, enlarged lymph nodes and liver, inflammation of the heart, pneumonia, jaundice, and severe central nervous system damage after birth or years later. Thus, pregnant women should avoid handling cats or cleaning cat litter boxes to avoid exposure to toxoplasmosis.

Question 4

A woman is Rh negative and the father of her baby is Rh negative. The woman states that her friend told her that she would need a "shot" to keep her baby alive. Which of the following statements would be the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Rh incompatibility sometimes affects fetal development. The problem usually occurs when the mother has Rh-negative blood cells and the fetus has Rh-positive blood cells, inherited from the father who also has Rh-positive blood cells. All women should be assessed for blood type, Rh factor, and antibody development at their first prenatal visits and again at 24 to 28 weeks, unless the father is Rh-negative. Rh incompatibility may be prevented by administering RhoGAM at 28 weeks and within 72 hours after birth. In this case, because the father is Rh negative, RhoGAM is not necessary.

Question 5

A nurse is assessing a woman for positive signs of pregnancy. Which of the following assessment findings would the nurse discover? (select all that apply)

Accepted Answer

Positive signs of pregnancy include: detection of fetal heart tones by auscultation, ultrasonography, or a Doppler; palpation of fetal body parts using Leopold maneuvers; fetal movements visible and detected by examiner; and radiological or ultrasonographic demonstration of fetal parts. Enlargement of the uterus and positive test for HCG in the maternal urine are both probable signs of pregnancy.

Question 6

A Mexican American woman comes to the office for a visit. She is found to be 30 weeks pregnant. Which of the following conclusions can the nurse draw from this finding?

Accepted Answer

Cultural groups have unique ideas and beliefs related to pregnancy, childbirth, and childbearing that must be understood by the nurse to render individualized care to each pregnant woman. Mexican Americans may consider prenatal care not needed because pregnancy is a normal life event. In addition, education influences their prenatal care access. Therefore finding out that she is 30 weeks pregnant may be an indication that this woman may require a different approach to education because of dissimilar cultural beliefs.

Question 7

A pregnant woman is having a TORCH screening done at today's prenatal visit. She states she is anxious to get the results back because she recently had unprotected sex with someone she just met and is afraid she might have HIV. Which of the following statements would be the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The TORCH screening helps detect toxoplasmosis, hepatitis B, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex. HIV is not detected with the TORCH screen. Therefore she should tell the woman that she will require additional testing for HIV.

Question 8

During a prenatal visit, a pregnant woman informs the nurse that she and her husband have chosen godparents for the baby. This finding is based on an assessment of which functional health pattern?

Accepted Answer

For women with strong spiritual needs related to their cultural backgrounds, spiritual interventions will help them integrate various dimensions of their lives, develop the ability to parent successfully, and find meaning in the changes and goals of pregnancy. Identifying godparents will help the woman find meaning in the changes and goals of pregnancy. Such religious beliefs assessments are components of the values-beliefs pattern.

Question 9

At 1 minute of age, an infant has a heart rate of 95, a strong cry, some flexion of extremities, a cry reflex, and is completely pink. Which of the following is a correct assessment of the infant's Apgar score?

Accepted Answer

There are five signs that are scored using the Apgar scoring system. A heart rate under 100 receives a score of 1, a strong cry receives a score of 2, some flexion of extremities receives a score of 1, a cry for the reflex irritability sign receives a score of 2, and an infant whose color is completely pink receives a score of 2: 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 8.

Question 10

Which properties must the sperm possess for conception to occur? (select all that apply)

Accepted Answer

The sperm must be of uniform size, be normally formed, possess high motility, and have an ability to secrete enzymes that dissolve the membrane surrounding the egg.

Question 11

A nurse is discussing the harmful effects that chemical agents can have on an unborn child with a woman who is pregnant. Which of the following statements made by the woman indicates a need for further teaching?

Accepted Answer

Numerous studies have shown that no safe level of alcohol use exists during pregnancy; therefore alcohol should be avoided during this time and when attempting conception.

Question 12

A woman usually eats an 1800-calorie diet. She is now in the second trimester of her pregnancy. Which of the following best describes the caloric nutritional needs for this woman during the second and third trimester?

Accepted Answer

During pregnancy, a woman's caloric needs increase by 300 calories. Someone who usually eats an 1800-calorie diet should increase her caloric intake to 2100 calories (1800 + 300 = 2100).

Question 13

During a prenatal visit, pregnant parents ask the nurse what they can do to prepare their 4-year-old child for the birth of the new baby. Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for the nurse to suggest?

Accepted Answer

Children in the family also experience role changes during and after the pregnancy. Having a child participate in decisions about the baby helps to prepare the child for the arrival of the neonate. Helping the parents decorate the new baby's room allows the child to participate in the arrival of the new baby.

Quiz 16: The Prenatal Period