PNC Licensing Examination Maternal, Child and Obstetric Nursing Syllabus

Maternal, Child and Obstetric Nursing syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Maternal, Child and Obstetric Nursing in PNC Licensing Examination, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Reproductive Health and Antenatal Care

   3 topics

   • Female reproductive physiology and conception
   • Antenatal assessment and care
   • Family planning and contraception
2. 2

   Labour and Delivery

   4 topics

   • Stages of labour
   • Intrapartum monitoring
   • Conduct of normal delivery
   • Pain relief in labour
3. 3

   Postnatal and Newborn Care

   4 topics

   • Postpartum assessment and care
   • Breastfeeding and lactation
   • Newborn assessment and immediate care
   • Neonatal resuscitation
4. 4

   High-Risk Pregnancy and Obstetric Emergencies

   3 topics

   • Pregnancy-induced hypertension and eclampsia
   • Antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage
   • Obstructed labour and complications
5. 5

   Pediatric Nursing Fundamentals

   3 topics

   • Growth and development
   • Nutrition in children
   • Pediatric assessment and care
6. 6

   Common Childhood Illnesses

   4 topics

   • Respiratory and diarrheal diseases
   • Malnutrition and dehydration
   • Communicable diseases of childhood
   • Care of the hospitalized child

Maternal, Child and Obstetric Nursing flashcards for PNC Licensing Examination

19 of 73 cards from the Maternal, Child and Obstetric Nursing deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is ovulation and when does it typically occur in a standard 28-day menstrual cycle?

   Ovulation is the release of a mature ovum from the dominant ovarian follicle. It typically occurs around day 14 (about 14 days before the next period), triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH).

2. Which hormone surge directly triggers ovulation, and from which gland is it released?

   A surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), released from the anterior pituitary gland, triggers ovulation.

3. What are the four phases of the ovarian/menstrual cycle?

   Menstrual phase, follicular (proliferative) phase, ovulation, and luteal (secretory) phase.

4. Which hormone maintains the corpus luteum and supports early pregnancy until the placenta takes over?

   Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), secreted by the trophoblast/early embryo, maintains the corpus luteum so it continues producing progesterone in early pregnancy.

5. Where does fertilization of the ovum normally take place?

   In the ampulla (outer third) of the fallopian tube.

6. What is the normal duration of a full-term pregnancy, and how is the expected date of delivery (EDD) calculated by Naegele's rule?

   Term pregnancy is about 40 weeks (280 days) from the last menstrual period. Naegele's rule: add 7 days to the first day of the LMP, subtract 3 months, and add 1 year.

7. Define gravidity and parity.

   Gravidity is the total number of times a woman has been pregnant (regardless of outcome). Parity is the number of pregnancies carried to a viable gestational age (about 24 weeks or more).

8. At what gestational age does the embryo become known as a fetus?

   From the end of the 8th week of gestation onward, the developing organism is called a fetus.

9. What is the recommended schedule of antenatal visits per WHO for a low-risk pregnancy (2016 model)?

   WHO recommends a minimum of 8 antenatal contacts: first before 12 weeks, then at 20, 26, 30, 34, 36, 38, and 40 weeks.

10. What daily folic acid dose is recommended periconceptionally to prevent neural tube defects in low-risk women?

    400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid daily, ideally starting before conception and continuing through the first trimester.

11. What are the presumptive, probable, and positive signs of pregnancy (give an example of each)?

    Presumptive (subjective, e.g., amenorrhea, nausea); Probable (objective signs in the examiner, e.g., positive hCG, Goodell's/Hegar's/Chadwick's signs, ballottement); Positive (definitive, e.g., fetal heart sounds, fetal movements felt by examiner, ultrasound visualization of fetus).

12. What is Goodell's sign and what does it indicate?

    Goodell's sign is softening of the cervix, a probable sign of pregnancy noted around 6-8 weeks.

13. When can the fetal heartbeat normally first be detected by Doppler and by fetoscope?

    By Doppler ultrasound at about 10-12 weeks; by fetoscope (auscultation) at about 18-20 weeks.

14. What is the normal fetal heart rate range at term?

    110-160 beats per minute.

15. What are Leopold's maneuvers used for?

    They are four systematic abdominal palpation maneuvers to determine fetal lie, presentation, position, attitude, and degree of descent/engagement.

16. How is fundal height (in cm) related to gestational age between 20 and 36 weeks?

    Between about 20 and 36 weeks, the symphysis-fundal height in centimeters roughly equals the gestational age in weeks (+/- 2 cm).

17. What is quickening and when is it usually first felt?

    Quickening is the first maternal perception of fetal movement, usually felt around 16-20 weeks (earlier in multigravidas).

18. What are the major mechanisms of action of combined oral contraceptive pills?

    They inhibit ovulation (suppress FSH/LH), thicken cervical mucus to impede sperm, and thin the endometrium to discourage implantation.

19. List the WHO temporary versus permanent methods of contraception with one example each.

    Temporary: hormonal (pills, injectables, implants), barrier (condoms, diaphragm), IUDs, and natural methods. Permanent: tubal ligation (female) and vasectomy (male).

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