NCC ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 UPDATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ Intrinsic influences on FHR. Answer: Fetal circulation
Autonomic Nervous system response
Baroreceptors- respond to changes in BP
Chemoreceptors-respond to increased CO2 and decreased O2
hormonal response
◉ Function of parasympathetic response. Answer: Releases
acetylcholine
decreases heart rate
◉ What part of the nervous system contributes to variability.
Answer: Parasympathetic nervous system
◉ Function of sympathetic nervous system. Answer: Release
catecholamines which increase HR
◉ Recurrent decelerations. Answer: Occur with at least 50% of
contractions in a 20 min period
,◉ Intermittent deceleration. Answer: Occur with less than 50% of
contractions in a 20 min period
◉ Early decelerations. Answer: Head compression
◉ Late decelerations. Answer: uteroplacental insufficiency
◉ Mechanism of Late decelerations Without acidemia. Answer: 1.
Chemoreceptors stimulated
2. alpha-adrenergic response
3. Fetal HTN
4. Baroreceptor stimulation
5. parasympathetic response
6. Late decel
◉ Variable Deceleration. Answer: Cord compression
◉ What type of response is a variable deceleration. Answer: Vagal/
baroreceptors
◉ What vein is compressed first in a variable deceleration. Answer:
Umbilical Vein
,◉ Causes of a variable deceleration. Answer: Oligo
Fetal descent (nuchal)
cord prolapse
◉ What controls the FHR. Answer: SA node
◉ Causes of bradycardia. Answer: Medications: beta blockers
O2 interruption
Heart defects
Maternal hypothyroid
Maternal lupus
Sjorgens
maternal hypoglycemia
◉ Maternal Causes of fetal tachycardia. Answer: Infection/ maternal
fever (fetus site 1 degree higher)
Dehydration
Terbutaline
hydralazine
SVT
Hyperthyroid
, smoking
◉ Fetal causes of fetal tachycardia. Answer: Fetal anemia
increased metabolic rate
compensatory response to transient hypoxia
prematurity
prolonged fetal stimulation/activity
heart failure
◉ What is the best indicator of fetal well being. Answer: Variability
◉ Hypoxic causes of minimal variability. Answer: cord
prolapse/compression
maternal hypotension
tachysystole
placental abruption
tachycardia
dusrhythmia
◉ Non hypoxic causes of minimal variability. Answer: prematurity
fetal sleep (20-60 min)
medicartions
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 UPDATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ Intrinsic influences on FHR. Answer: Fetal circulation
Autonomic Nervous system response
Baroreceptors- respond to changes in BP
Chemoreceptors-respond to increased CO2 and decreased O2
hormonal response
◉ Function of parasympathetic response. Answer: Releases
acetylcholine
decreases heart rate
◉ What part of the nervous system contributes to variability.
Answer: Parasympathetic nervous system
◉ Function of sympathetic nervous system. Answer: Release
catecholamines which increase HR
◉ Recurrent decelerations. Answer: Occur with at least 50% of
contractions in a 20 min period
,◉ Intermittent deceleration. Answer: Occur with less than 50% of
contractions in a 20 min period
◉ Early decelerations. Answer: Head compression
◉ Late decelerations. Answer: uteroplacental insufficiency
◉ Mechanism of Late decelerations Without acidemia. Answer: 1.
Chemoreceptors stimulated
2. alpha-adrenergic response
3. Fetal HTN
4. Baroreceptor stimulation
5. parasympathetic response
6. Late decel
◉ Variable Deceleration. Answer: Cord compression
◉ What type of response is a variable deceleration. Answer: Vagal/
baroreceptors
◉ What vein is compressed first in a variable deceleration. Answer:
Umbilical Vein
,◉ Causes of a variable deceleration. Answer: Oligo
Fetal descent (nuchal)
cord prolapse
◉ What controls the FHR. Answer: SA node
◉ Causes of bradycardia. Answer: Medications: beta blockers
O2 interruption
Heart defects
Maternal hypothyroid
Maternal lupus
Sjorgens
maternal hypoglycemia
◉ Maternal Causes of fetal tachycardia. Answer: Infection/ maternal
fever (fetus site 1 degree higher)
Dehydration
Terbutaline
hydralazine
SVT
Hyperthyroid
, smoking
◉ Fetal causes of fetal tachycardia. Answer: Fetal anemia
increased metabolic rate
compensatory response to transient hypoxia
prematurity
prolonged fetal stimulation/activity
heart failure
◉ What is the best indicator of fetal well being. Answer: Variability
◉ Hypoxic causes of minimal variability. Answer: cord
prolapse/compression
maternal hypotension
tachysystole
placental abruption
tachycardia
dusrhythmia
◉ Non hypoxic causes of minimal variability. Answer: prematurity
fetal sleep (20-60 min)
medicartions
