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DOH Maternal & Newborn Nursing Practice Questions
Maternal and newborn questions cover pregnancy, labour, postpartum care and the newborn, with a focus on obstetric emergencies. Below are 5 free sample questions for the DOH Registered Nurse exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- Antenatal care and danger signs
- Pre-eclampsia and magnesium sulfate
- Placenta praevia vs abruption
- Fetal heart rate monitoring
- Postpartum haemorrhage
- Newborn assessment and Apgar
The full bank has 100 maternal & newborn nursing questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free DOH maternal & newborn nursing questions
1. Late decelerations on a fetal heart rate tracing are caused by which problem?
- A. Umbilical cord compression
- B. Uteroplacental insufficiency
- C. Fetal head compression
- D. Fetal movement
Show answer and rationale
Late decelerations begin after the contraction starts and return to baseline after it ends; they reflect reduced oxygen transfer across the placenta (uteroplacental insufficiency) and are a concerning pattern.
Reference: Maternal-newborn nursing – fetal heart rate patterns
2. A patient at 34 weeks of gestation is lying flat for an examination and says she feels dizzy and nauseated. She is pale and her blood pressure has dropped. What should the nurse do first?
- A. Raise her legs while she stays flat on her back
- B. Turn her onto her left side
- C. Give her a glass of water and continue the examination
- D. Sit her upright with her legs hanging down
Show answer and rationale
These are signs of supine hypotensive syndrome, caused by the uterus compressing the inferior vena cava. Turning to the left side relieves the compression and restores venous return; staying supine keeps the compression in place.
Reference: Maternal-newborn nursing – supine hypotensive syndrome
3. A patient at 32 weeks of gestation calls the antenatal clinic. Which symptom should the nurse advise her to be seen for immediately?
- A. Ankle swelling at the end of the day
- B. Heartburn after large meals
- C. Leg cramps at night
- D. Severe headache with blurred vision
Show answer and rationale
Severe headache and visual disturbance are danger signs that may indicate pre-eclampsia and need urgent assessment. Dependent ankle oedema, heartburn and leg cramps are common discomforts of the third trimester.
Reference: WHO antenatal care – danger signs in pregnancy
4. A labouring patient's membranes rupture spontaneously. What should the nurse do first?
- A. Perform a vaginal examination to check dilation
- B. Record the time and check again in two hours
- C. Ask the patient to walk around the room
- D. Assess the fetal heart rate
Show answer and rationale
After rupture of membranes the nurse first checks the fetal heart rate, because the cord may have prolapsed. The colour, amount and odour of the fluid and the time are then recorded.
Reference: Maternal-newborn nursing – rupture of membranes
5. One hour after birth, a nurse finds that a patient's fundus is soft, boggy and above the umbilicus, and her lochia is heavy. What should the nurse do first?
- A. Give the prescribed oral analgesic
- B. Increase the rate of the plain IV fluid
- C. Call the provider and wait for orders
- D. Massage the fundus until it is firm
Show answer and rationale
A boggy fundus with heavy bleeding indicates uterine atony, and fundal massage is the immediate first action to stimulate contraction. The nurse then notifies the provider and gives uterotonic drugs as prescribed.
Reference: Maternal-newborn nursing – postpartum haemorrhage
Study tip
For postpartum haemorrhage, the first nursing action is usually fundal massage. Know the '4 Ts' causes.
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