ATI RN
labor and delivery questions and answers Questions
Question 1 of 5
Pregnant patients can usually tolerate the normal blood loss associated with childbirth because of which physiologic adaptation to pregnancy?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Increased blood volume. During pregnancy, blood volume increases by about 40-50% to support the growing fetus and prepare for potential blood loss during childbirth. This increased blood volume helps pregnant patients tolerate the normal blood loss during delivery. A higher hematocrit (choice A) could indicate dehydration, not increased blood volume. Increased leukocytes (choice B) are related to the immune response, not blood loss tolerance. A lower fibrinogen level (choice D) could lead to increased bleeding risk, not tolerance to blood loss.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient in the active phase of labor. What should the nurse expect during this phase?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: During the active phase of labor, contractions become stronger and more frequent, leading to cervical dilation. This is when the patient typically experiences the urge to push as the cervix reaches around 7-10 cm dilation. This signifies progress towards the second stage of labor. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not specifically align with the characteristics of the active phase of labor. A patient may exhibit a range of emotions and behaviors during labor, but the key indicator of the active phase is the urge to push due to cervical dilation.
Question 3 of 5
The primary difference between the labor of a nullipara and that of a multipara is
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: total duration of labor. This is because nulliparas (women who have never given birth before) generally have longer labors compared to multiparas (women who have given birth before). This is due to factors such as the first-time stretching of the birth canal and the body's learning process. The level of pain experience (B) can vary among individuals and is not a primary difference between nulliparas and multiparas. The amount of cervical dilation (C) can be influenced by various factors and is not a defining difference between the two groups. The sequence of labor mechanisms (D) is a universal process in labor and does not differ based on whether a woman is a nullipara or multipara.
Question 4 of 5
On admission to the labor and birth unit, a 38-year-old female, gravida 4, para 3, at term in early labor is found to have a transverse lie on vaginal examination. What is the priority intervention at this time?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Notify the health care provider. This is the priority intervention because a transverse lie is a malpresentation that can lead to complications during labor and delivery. The healthcare provider needs to be informed immediately to determine the best course of action, which may include attempting to manually rotate the baby or preparing for a cesarean section. Performing a vaginal exam (A) can be dangerous and should be avoided in cases of transverse lie. Initiating parenteral therapy (C) and applying oxygen (D) are not priorities in this situation as addressing the malpresentation is more urgent.
Question 5 of 5
To determine if the patient is in true labor, the nurse would assess for changes in
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. The pattern of uterine contractions is crucial in determining true labor as true contractions are regular, increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity. 2. Assessing cervical dilation alone may not confirm true labor as some women may have cervical changes without being in active labor. 3. Bloody show may occur in both true and false labor, making it an unreliable indicator. 4. Fetal position and station are important for labor progression but do not definitively confirm true labor. Therefore, by assessing the pattern of uterine contractions, the nurse can accurately determine if the patient is in true labor.