Inpatient Obstetric Nursing
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Exam outline
Areas of knowledge to be tested on the Inpatient Obstetric Nursing examination are listed in the following outline. This list is not intended as an all-inclusive review of the scope of knowledge of the inpatient obstetric nurse. It is provided only to help certification candidates evaluate their own nursing practice.
Percentages identified for the topic areas represent a range of the number of test questions assigned to each content area and therefore might total more or less than 100 percent. These ranges do not necessarily reflect the content of future examinations.
Focus of the examination will primarily be on the pregnant woman after 20 weeks of gestation through discharge.
1. Maternal Factors Affecting The Fetus and Newborn (10-20%)
- Disease Processes
- Pregnancy Risks
2. Fetal Assessment (15-25%)
- Antepartum Assessment
- Electronic Fetal Monitoring
- Non-electronic Fetal Monitoring
- Acid-base Assessment
3. Labor And Delivery (25-35%)
- Physiology of Labor
- Labor Management (General Assessment & Stages of Labor
- Obstetrical Procedures
- Pain Management
4. Obstetric Complications (15-25%)
- Labor and Placental Disorders
- Preterm Labor
- Multiple Gestation
- Prolonged Pregnancy
5. Maternal (Postpartum) and Newborn (10-20%)
Maternal
- Physiology of the Postpartum Woman
- Family Adaptation
- Lactation
- Complications of Postpartum Period
- Discharge Planning & Home Care
Newborn
- Adaptation to Extrauterine Life
- Assessment
- Resuscitation
- Pathophysiology
- Infant Nutrition
6. Professional Issues (2% or less)
- Ethical Principles
- Legal Issues
- Research
- Patient Safety
More detailed outline can be found in the Candidate Guide. Click on Policies and Procedures to download a copy.