Question 1

All of the following conditions have contributed to the increase in maternity-related health care costs except:

Accepted Answer

Early postpartum discharges generally reduce costs by shortening the hospital stay, whereas the other options increase costs due to additional care, technology, and legal expenses.

Question 2

To ensure patient safety, the practicing nurse must have knowledge of the current Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list of abbreviations. Which of the following abbreviations is acceptable for use?

Accepted Answer

The use of "International Unit" is acceptable as it is not included in the Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list. A) "q.o.d." or "Q.O.D." is not acceptable as it can be misinterpreted as "every day" or "daily." B) Using "MSO4" instead of "MgSO4" or "morphine sulfate" instead of "magnesium sulfate" can lead to medication errors. D) Omitting a leading zero in medication dosages can also contribute to medication errors.

Question 3

When attempting to communicate with a patient who speaks a different language, the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Providing privacy is important for the patient to feel comfortable and communicate freely. Using a family member as an interpreter can result in inaccurate translations and breaches patient confidentiality. The nurse should communicate directly with the patient and use a qualified interpreter if necessary, speaking with the interpreter as appropriate to ensure clear communication. Responding promptly and positively is respectful but projecting authority is not necessarily helpful in establishing trust and rapport.

Question 4

The nurse should be aware that a statistic widely used to compare the health status of different populations would be the:

Accepted Answer

The infant mortality rate is a widely used statistic for comparing the health status of different populations. It reflects not only the quality of medical care but also various social and economic factors that contribute to infant health. The incidence of specific infections such as AIDS and tuberculosis, maternal morbidity rate, and incidence of low-birth-weight infants are important indicators of health status but may not be as widely used for comparison purposes.

Question 5

Maternity nursing care that is based on knowledge gained through research and clinical trials is:

Accepted Answer

Maternity nursing care that is based on knowledge gained through research and clinical trials is known as evidence-based practice. This approach involves integrating the best available evidence from research with clinical expertise, patient preferences, and resources to inform nursing care decisions. It is a widely accepted and effective way to improve patient outcomes and promote quality care. Choice A is incorrect because the Nursing Intervention Classification is a standardized language for documenting nursing interventions, but it does not specifically refer to research-based care. Choice C is incorrect because the Cochrane Collaboration is a global independent network of researchers focused on evidence-based healthcare, so it is not at odds with evidence-based maternity nursing care. Choice D is incorrect because telemedicine refers to the use of technology for remote healthcare delivery, which is not directly related to evidence-based care practices.

Question 6

Recent trends in childbirth practices in the United States indicate that:

Accepted Answer

Hospital births are the norm in the United States, with the vast majority occurring in hospitals.

Question 7

The level of practice a reasonably prudent nurse provides is called:

Accepted Answer

The standard of care is the level of care that a reasonably prudent nurse would provide in similar circumstances. It is used as a benchmark for determining whether a nurse has provided adequate care or if there has been a breach of duty.

Question 8

A 38-year-old Hispanic woman delivered a 9-pound, 6-ounce baby girl vaginally after being in labor for 43 hours. The baby died 3 days later from sepsis. On what grounds would the woman potentially have a legitimate legal case for negligence?

Accepted Answer

The woman could potentially have a legitimate legal case for negligence if the standards of care were not met during her delivery and the subsequent care of her baby's sepsis. Factors such as her ethnicity, the gender of her baby, and her refusal of fetal monitoring are not relevant to the issue of negligence.

Question 9

A married couple lives in a single-family house with their newborn son and the husband's daughter from a previous marriage. On the basis of the information given, what family form best describes this family?

Accepted Answer

A married-blended family describes a family in which one or both partners had children from a previous marriage or relationship and are now combined into a new family unit with biological children from the current marriage/relationship. This family includes a husband's daughter from a previous marriage and a newborn son with the current wife, which fits the description of a blended family.

Question 10

What is the primary role of practicing nurses in the research process?

Accepted Answer

The primary role of practicing nurses in the research process is identifying researchable problems. Nurses working in clinical settings are in a unique position to identify clinical problems that need to be addressed through research. They observe patients, their conditions, and interactions with healthcare providers and can recognize areas where improvement is needed. Therefore, they are best positioned to identify researchable problems.

Question 11

When the nurse is unsure about how to perform a patient care procedure, the best action would be to:

Accepted Answer

Consulting the agency procedure manual and following the guidelines for the procedure is the best action as it ensures that the procedure is done according to the facility's specific policies and procedures. Asking another nurse or discussing with the physician may not provide accurate information, and looking up the procedure in a textbook may not have information that is specific to the facility's policies.

Question 12

The nurse's care of a Hispanic family includes teaching about infant care. When developing a plan of care, the nurse bases interventions on the knowledge that in traditional Hispanic families:

Accepted Answer

In the Hispanic family,the expectant mother is influenced strongly by her mother or mother-in-law.Breastfeeding often is delayed until the third postpartum day.Hispanic male infants usually are not circumcised.Olive or castor oil may be given to stimulate the passage of meconium.

Question 13

The nurse caring for the pregnant woman should be aware that the U.S. birth rate shows what trend?

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. birth rate trend, births to unmarried women are more likely to have less favorable outcomes, such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality rates. This trend has been observed for several years and underscores the importance of promoting healthy behaviors and supportive services for pregnant women, especially those who are unmarried or facing social and economic disadvantages.

Question 14

The term used to describe legal and professional responsibility for practice for maternity nurses is:

Accepted Answer

Accountability refers to the legal and professional responsibility of a maternity nurse for their practice, which includes the care and well-being of their patients. This includes complying with professional standards, policies, and procedures, as well as providing safe and effective care. While collegiality (working together as a team), ethics (moral principles), and evaluation (assessing performance) are all important aspects of nursing practice, they do not specifically describe the legal and professional responsibility for practice.

Question 15

The nurse should be aware that the criteria used to make decisions and solve problems within families are based primarily on family:

Accepted Answer

Values and beliefs are the foundational principles that guide decision-making and problem-solving within families. Rituals and customs, boundaries and channels, and socialization processes all contribute to family dynamics but do not play as significant a role in decision-making and problem-solving.

Question 16

Alternative and complementary therapies:

Accepted Answer

Alternative and complementary therapies often place a greater emphasis on patients' involvement in their own health care and recognize the value of their input, rather than solely focusing on the disease or condition they are experiencing. They are not intended to replace conventional Western modalities of treatment but to supplement them. The use of these therapies by American adults is also increasing, with a significant portion of the population incorporating them into their health care regimen.

Question 17

When managing health care for pregnant women at a prenatal clinic, the nurse should recognize that the most significant barrier to access to care is the pregnant woman's:

Accepted Answer

Inability to pay is the most significant barrier to access to prenatal care. Many pregnant women who lack health insurance or have inadequate coverage may delay or forgo prenatal care due to financial limitations. This can lead to adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and other pregnancy complications. Healthcare providers should work to ensure that pregnant women have access to affordable and comprehensive prenatal care.

Question 18

Maternity nurses can work to dispel the health disparities among women through:

Accepted Answer

Maternity nurses can work to dispel the health disparities among women by providing increased education for mothers. This can help ensure that all women have access to information and resources that can improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Late prenatal care and an increased number of cesarean sections are not effective strategies for addressing health disparities, and making all women take more vitamins may not be feasible or effective in improving health outcomes.

Question 19

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?

Accepted Answer

Prenatal care has been shown to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce infant mortality. Therefore, it is the most important plan for the nurse to implement in this situation. While nutrition assessment, social worker referral, and choosing between an obstetrician and midwife may also be important, they are not as crucial as ensuring the woman attends her prenatal care appointments.

Question 20

Contemporary maternity nursing is exemplified by:

Accepted Answer

Contemporary maternity nursing emphasizes family-centered care, which involves the active participation of the mother, her family, and healthcare providers in decision-making, communication, and education. It focuses on the whole woman, not just her medical needs. While midwives and birth clinics may be part of this approach, they are not the defining characteristics of contemporary maternity nursing. Physician-driven care, though still common in some settings, is not ideal because it can lead to a lack of respect for the autonomy and preferences of women and their families.

Quiz 1: 21st Century Maternity Nursing: Culturally Competent, Family and Community Focused