NCLEX Maternity Review
Updated October 27, 2026
Maternity questions on the NCLEX-RN cover pregnancy, labor and birth, the postpartum period and the newborn. Most ask you to recognize what’s normal, spot danger signs and choose the priority action. Here are the high-yield points, followed by free practice questions.
Ranges and protocols vary. Follow your facility’s policies and evidence-based guidelines.
Pregnancy and labor
| Topic | Key point |
|---|---|
| Normal fetal heart rate | 110 to 160 beats per minute |
| Early decelerations | Mirror contractions, from head compression; usually benign |
| Late decelerations | Begin after a contraction peaks, from reduced placental blood flow; reposition (left side), stop oxytocin, give oxygen per protocol and notify the provider |
| Variable decelerations | Abrupt drops, from cord compression; change the client’s position |
| Preeclampsia | High blood pressure after 20 weeks with signs such as protein in the urine, severe headache or vision changes |
| Magnesium sulfate toxicity | Loss of deep tendon reflexes, respirations below 12, low urine output; calcium gluconate is the antidote |
Mnemonic for decelerations: VEAL CHOP (Variable = Cord compression, Early = Head compression, Accelerations = OK, Late = Placental insufficiency).
Postpartum
| Topic | Key point |
|---|---|
| Fundus | Firm and midline; displaced to one side suggests a full bladder |
| Boggy fundus | Massage it; uterine atony is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage |
| Lochia | Rubra, then serosa, then alba; large clots or saturating a pad in an hour should be reported |
Free maternity practice questions
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The fetal monitor shows late decelerations. What should the nurse do first?Answer: BLate decelerations suggest reduced blood flow to the placenta. Repositioning to the left side and stopping oxytocin improve flow. Give oxygen and IV fluids per protocol and notify the provider.
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A postpartum client's fundus is firm but displaced to the right of the midline. What is the most likely cause?Answer: AA full bladder pushes the uterus up and to one side and can prevent it from contracting well. Help the client empty her bladder.
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Variable decelerations are most often caused by:Answer: CVariable decelerations come from umbilical cord compression. Changing the client's position is usually the first action.
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A client receiving magnesium sulfate has a respiratory rate of 10 and absent knee-jerk reflexes. Which medication should the nurse prepare?Answer: DThese are signs of magnesium toxicity. Stop the infusion per protocol and have calcium gluconate, the antidote, ready.
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Which finding in a client at 34 weeks of pregnancy should be reported immediately?Answer: BA severe headache and vision changes can be signs of preeclampsia with severe features, which needs prompt evaluation.
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What is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage?Answer: AUterine atony, when the uterus doesn't contract firmly, is the most common cause. Fundal massage is the first nursing action.
Pass the NCLEX-RN on your first try
- All 178 questions across the eight Client Needs categories of the 2026 NCLEX-RN test plan
- An explanation for every answer, with the guideline, drug label or priority rule behind it
- Unlimited full 85-question practice exams, with each area in its test plan share