Maternal, Newborn and Pediatric Nursing
What the exam tests
This domain tests safe care during pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, the newborn transition, and common paediatric conditions, with weight-based practice and family-centred communication.
Core rules
- Recognize maternal danger signs: severe headache, visual changes, epigastric pain, vaginal bleeding, fever, reduced fetal movement, and convulsions. Report immediately.
- Postpartum haemorrhage is an emergency: assess uterine tone, bleeding, vital signs, and bladder; massage the uterus per protocol and escalate.
- Newborn: dry and warm immediately, assess breathing, tone, and colour, support breastfeeding, and check glucose in at-risk infants.
- Normal newborn respiratory rate is up to 60/min; grunting, retractions, cyanosis, or persistent tachypnea needs urgent review.
- Paediatric doses are per kilogram; use a weight-based reference and double-check calculations. Reassess hydration and respiratory status.
- Promote immunization according to the national calendar and counsel families using plain language.
Worked example
At 6 hours of life, a term newborn has RR 72/min, grunting, subcostal retractions, and SpO2 90% in room air. The nurse warms the infant, positions the airway, checks glucose, and calls the paediatrician. Reasoning: grunting and retractions indicate respiratory distress; transient tachypnea is possible, but sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome must be excluded. The nurse does not wait for the next routine observation.
Traps
Assuming all newborn jaundice is benign; giving an adult tablet to a child; using “baby spoons” instead of measured syringes; ignoring maternal blood pressure after birth; and placing a newborn prone to sleep. Also do not separate a stable newborn from the mother unnecessarily.