Maternity Nursing: Postpartum Flashcards
7 cards from real Maternal Newborn Nursing Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Maternity Nursing: Postpartum flashcards as text
A postpartum client develops a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) on day 3. Which source of infection should the nurse assess first?
Answer: Endometrium
Endometritis is the most common cause of postpartum fever after the first 24 hours and is characterized by uterine tenderness and foul-smelling lochia.
A nurse notes that a postpartum client's lochia has returned to bright red after being pink. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Excessive activity or resuming intercourse too soon
A return to bright red lochia (lochia rubra) after it has lightened usually indicates the client has been too physically active.
Which assessment finding indicates successful postpartum adaptation of the urinary system?
Answer: Voiding at least 150 mL with first void after delivery
The client should void spontaneously within 6–8 hours postpartum; a void of at least 150 mL suggests adequate bladder function.
A postpartum client is being discharged on postpartum day 2. Which instruction about activity is most appropriate?
Answer: Begin gentle walking and gradually increase activity as tolerated
Gradual resumption of activity starting with gentle walking promotes recovery without risking excessive bleeding or fatigue.
A client who delivered 48 hours ago reports painful, hard, warm breast engorgement. She is formula-feeding. What intervention should the nurse recommend?
Answer: Wear a supportive bra, apply ice packs, and avoid nipple stimulation
For non-breastfeeding clients, engorgement is managed by wearing a snug bra, applying cold compresses, and avoiding stimulation that triggers further milk production.
A nurse is assessing a postpartum client's Homans' sign. Which statement about this assessment is accurate?
Answer: Homans' sign is an unreliable indicator and DVT requires further diagnostic testing
Homans' sign has poor sensitivity and specificity for DVT; a positive finding warrants Doppler ultrasound for definitive diagnosis.
A postpartum client reports passing a plum-sized clot. After assessing the fundus is firm, what should the nurse do next?
Answer: Notify the physician and save the clot for evaluation
Clots larger than a quarter (golf-ball or plum-sized) are abnormal and should be reported to the provider and saved for quantification.