RN Exam Practice
Management of CareQuestion 1137 of 2368

The fetal head has been delivered, but the shoulders do not deliver with gentle downward traction. Which action should the nurse assist with first?

  1. Turning the client to hands and knees to free the shoulders
  2. Applying firm fundal pressure to help push the shoulders out
  3. Flexing the client's legs until the thighs touch the abdomen
  4. Preparing for an immediate episiotomy to widen the outlet
Show answer

Correct answer: Flexing the client's legs until the thighs touch the abdomen

This is shoulder dystocia. McRoberts maneuver is first, followed by suprapubic pressure.

Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Labor & Delivery Care: Shoulder Dystocia. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Management of Care"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026