Maternal & Newborn Nursing Flashcards
7 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Maternal & Newborn Nursing flashcards as text
A client at 28 weeks is admitted with preterm labor. Which medication does the nurse expect to administer to promote fetal lung maturity?
Answer: Betamethasone
Betamethasone is a corticosteroid given to mothers before 34 weeks to accelerate fetal lung surfactant production and reduce respiratory distress syndrome.
During a routine prenatal visit at 28 weeks, a Rh-negative client with a Rh-positive partner is prescribed Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM). What is the purpose?
Answer: Prevent maternal sensitization to Rh-positive fetal blood cells
RhoGAM prevents Rh sensitization by destroying any fetal Rh-positive cells before the mother's immune system can produce antibodies.
The nurse is performing a newborn assessment and notes the Moro reflex is absent on one side. This finding is most associated with:
Answer: Brachial plexus injury
A unilateral absent Moro reflex suggests brachial plexus injury (Erb's palsy), often resulting from shoulder dystocia during delivery.
A client with gestational hypertension is being monitored. Which additional finding would upgrade the diagnosis to preeclampsia?
Answer: Proteinuria of 300 mg in a 24-hour urine
Preeclampsia is diagnosed when gestational hypertension is accompanied by proteinuria ≥300 mg/24 hours or other end-organ involvement.
A nurse assists with the delivery of a newborn with shoulder dystocia. After delivery, which assessment is the priority?
Answer: Brachial plexus function and clavicle integrity
Shoulder dystocia can cause brachial plexus injury and clavicle fractures, so assessing arm movement and clavicle palpation is the priority.
Which position is contraindicated for a client with a confirmed diagnosis of placenta previa?
Answer: Digital vaginal examination position
Digital vaginal examinations are absolutely contraindicated in placenta previa because they can cause catastrophic hemorrhage by disturbing the placenta.
A new mother asks the nurse how to tell if her breastfed infant is getting enough milk. What is the most reliable indicator?
Answer: The infant produces 6 or more wet diapers and 3–4 stools per day by day 4
Adequate wet diapers (6+) and stool output are objective markers of sufficient breast milk intake and newborn hydration.