50 Easy Maternity Nursing Facts to Pass the NCLEX (2024)

Sources: WEB MD, Saunders NCLEX Review, KAPLAN NCLEX Medication Review

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If you’re about to take the Next Generation NCLEX, then I know for a fact that you’re feeling stressed and anxious right now.

And that’s understandable, the NGN is a big exam, and passing it means you finally get to practice as a nurse.

To help ease your anxiety (and also help you do a quick study session for the NCLEX), today, I’ll be sharing with you 50 maternity nursing facts that you’ll need to know.

These facts have helped me pass the NCLEX, and I’m sure they will help you as well!

Are you ready for the challenge?

Then make sure to keep reading!

50 Maternity Nursing Facts You Need to Know

1. A nonstress test is done to determine the well-being of the fetus.
2. An adolescent pregnancy is considered high-risk.
3. HELLP stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelet count.
4. Painless, bright red vagin*l bleeding is seen in placenta previa.
5. Quickening is a presumptive pregnancy sign, which is the first perception of fetal movement by the pregnant individual.
6. Presentation is the part of the fetus that enters the pelvic inlet first.
7. If the pregnant patient walks around after experiencing contractions upon awakening and they go away, it’s false labor.
8. Stage one is the longest stage of labor.
9. Leopold’s maneuvers should be completed during the first stage of labor.
10. The nurse should assess for respiratory depression and aspiration if the pregnant patient had general anesthesia.
11. The pregnant patient is experiencing true labor when the contractions are increasing in duration and intensity.
12. Nulligravida is a person who has never been pregnant. Nullipara is someone who has not had a birth that occurred greater than 20 weeks of gestation.
13. Signs and symptoms of abruptio placentae include dark red vagin*l bleeding and uterine pain and/or tenderness.
14. Latent, Active, and Transition are the three phases of the first stage of labor.
15. The nurse understands that the pregnant patient has completed stage one of labor when cervical dilation is complete and ready to start stage two.
16. The third stage of labor is the separation of placenta.
17. The fourth stage of labor is physical recovery.
18. Oxytocin is given to increase the frequency and duration of uterine contractions. Oxytocin infusion should be discontinued if the uterine contraction frequency is less than two minutes or the fetus is in distress.
19. Goodell’s sign is the softening of the cervix.
20. Nutrients, medications, and alcohol CAN pass through the placenta.
21. Vena cava syndrome is also known as supine hypotension and should be avoided by avoiding the supine position.
22. A serious complication during childbirth where the uterus partially or entirely turns inside out is known as uterine inversion.
23. The three types of placenta previa are total, partial, and marginal.
24. Hegar’s sign is a probable sign of pregnancy.
25. Cephalic presentation is when the head is first. The most common presentation is the cephalic presentation.
26. Minus station is above the ischial spine, station zero is at the ischial spine, plus station is below the ischial spine.
27. Irregular contractions that do not have progression and lack of dilation indicates false labor.
28. A prolonged and painful labor is called dystocia.
29. Biophysical profile is a noninvasive assessment of the fetus. An ultrasound and electronic fetal monitoring are done to assess for the fetal breathing, movement, tone, heart rates, and amniotic fluid index.
30. The provider should be notified if the patient is experiencing chills and a fever after amniocentesis.
31. Fundal height is evaluated to monitor fetal growth.
32. The fetal heart rate is usually two times the maternal heart rate.
33. The most favorable pelvis for a successful labor and birth is the gynecoid pelvis.
34. A fertilized egg growing outside of the uterus is known as an ectopic pregnancy, which commonly occurs in the fallopian tube.
35. Hydatidiform mole is a molar pregnancy that occurs in which an egg and sperm join improperly to create a noncancerous tumor.
36. Gestational diabetes can occur in pregnant patients without a history of diabetes mellitus. A 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test is done if the 1-hour glucose challenge test is abnormal in order to determine the presence of gestational diabetes mellitus.
37. Respiratory distress syndrome is caused by the inability to produce surfactant, which is commonly seen in premature infants. To treat respiratory distress syndrome, lung surfactants are given to the premature newborn.
38. If there is absent variability on the fetal heart monitor, the nurse must stop the oxytocin infusion.
39. If the dead fetus stays inside the uterus for longer than three to four weeks, the pregnant patient can end up developing DIC, which is disseminated intravascular coagulation.
40. Magnesium sulfate can be given for preeclamptic patients to prevent seizures. Signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity include respirations of 12 breaths per minute or less. The antidote of magnesium sulfate is calcium gluconate.
41. Circumcision cannot be performed if the newborn is a preterm infant or until the newborn is healthy.
42. The APGAR score is assessed and recorded at one minute and five minutes after birth. The five vital indicators of APGAR scoring are Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration. APGAR score of 0 to 3 requires full resuscitation.
43. If the nurse notices tremors in the newborn, the nurse must swaddle the newborn and check for hypothermia, hyperthermia, hypoglycemia, drug withdrawal, hypocalcemia, or other potential causes.
44. A visible umbilical cord through the vagin* is a prolapsed umbilical cord.
45. Station is the measure of the fetus’ descending progression above or below the midplane from the presenting part to the ischial spine, which is measured in centimeters.
46. To detect the presence of amniotic fluid in vagin*l secretions, a nitrazine test is performed.
47. Gestational diabetes can frequently be treated by diet alone. In some cases, insulin may be prescribed.
48. The nurse should expect the pregnant patient in the first trimester to have a decrease in insulin dosage.
49. The nurse should expect the pregnant patient in the second and third trimester to have an increase in insulin dosage.