Inpatient Obstetric Nurse (NCC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free NCC Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary purpose of conducting postnatal assessments is to ensure the mother's physical and emotional recovery after childbirth. This assessment is critical in the postnatal period, as it allows healthcare providers to monitor the mother's vital signs, assess for complications such as hemorrhage or infection, and evaluate her emotional well-being, including screening for postpartum depression or anxiety. By focusing on the mother’s recovery, the assessment helps identify any issues early, ensuring prompt intervention when necessary.

While promoting breastfeeding and evaluating infant feeding methods are important aspects of postpartum care, they are secondary to the overarching goal of the mother’s recovery. Similarly, family counseling is beneficial but does not encompass the comprehensive evaluation of the mother's health, which includes both physiological and psychological components. Thus, the primary focus of postnatal assessments remains on the mother's overall recovery and adaptation to the postpartum period.