HESI OBSTETRICS CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
▶ A woman who thinks she could be pregnant calls her neighbor, a nurse,
to ask wen she could use a home pregnancy test to diagnose pregnancy.
Which response is best?
a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
b. these tests are most accurate after you have missed your second period
c. home pregnancy tests often give false positives and should not be
trusted
d. the test can provide accurate information when used right after ovulation.
Answer: a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed
period
▶ A newborn, whose mother is HIV positive, is scheduled for follow-up
assessments. The nurse knows that the most likely presenting symptom for
a pediatric client with AIDS is:
a. shortness of breath
b. joint pain
c. a persistent cold
d. organmegaly. Answer: c. a persistent cold
▶ Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a
laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action
should the nurse take?
a. notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist
b. continue to assess the blood pressure q5min
c. place the woman in a lateral position
d. turn off continuous epidural. Answer: c. place the woman in a lateral
position
▶ In developing a teaching plan for expectant parents, the nurse plans to
include information about when the parents can expect the infant's
fontanels to close. The nurse bases the explanation on knowledge that for
the normal newborn, the
a. anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the end of
the first week
,b. anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the end of
the week
c. anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the end of
the second week
d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end
of the second month. Answer: d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18
months and the posterior by the end of the second month
▶ A client in active labor is admitted with preeclampsia. Which assessment
finding is most significant in planning this client's care?
a. patellar reflex 4+
b. blood pressure 158/80
c. four hour urine output 240 ml
d. respiration 12/minute. Answer: a. patellar reflex 4+
▶ A 4 week old premature infant has been receiving epoetin alfa for the
last three weeks. Which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the
drug is effective?
a. slowly increasing urine output over the last week
b. respiratory rate changes from the 40s to the 60s
c. changes in apical heart rate from the 180 to the 140s
d. change in indirect bilirubin from 12 mg/dl to 8 mg/dl. Answer: c. changes
in apical rate from the 180s to the 140s
▶ A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual
period was August 2, 2006. Based on Nagele's rule, what is the estimated
date of delivery?
a. April 25, 2007
b. May 9, 2007
c. May 29, 2007
d. June 2, 2007. Answer: b. May 9, 2007
▶ The nurse is performing a AGA on a full-term newborn during the first
hour of transition using the Dubowitz scale. Based on this assessment, the
nurse determines that the neonate has a maturity rating of 40 weeks.
Which findings should the nurse identify to determine if the neonate is
SGA? (Select all that apply.)
a. admission weight of 4 lbs 15 oz
b. head to heel length of 17 in
c. frontal occipital circumference of 12.5 in
,d. skin smooth with visible veins and abundant vernix
e. anterior plantar crease and smooth heel surfaces
f. full flexion of all extremities in resting supine position. Answer: a, b, c
▶ The nurse assess a client admitted to the labor and delivery unit and
obtains the following data: BP 110/68, FHR 110 bpm, cervix 1 cm dilated
and uneffaced. Based on these assessment findings, what intervention
should the nurse implement?
a. insert a fetal monitor
b. assess for cervical changes q1H
c. monitor bleeding from IV sites
d. perform Leopold's maneuvers. Answer: c. monitor for bleeding from IV
sites
▶ Immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed
under a radiant warmer. The infant has spontaneous respirations and the
nurse assess an apical heart rate of 80 bpm and respirations 20. What
action should the nurse perform next?
a. initiate positive pressure ventilation
b. intervene after one minute APGAR is assessed
c. initiate CPR on the infant
d. assess the infant's blood glucose level. Answer: a. initiate positive
pressure ventilation
▶ A client with no prenatal care arrives at the labor unit screaming, "The
baby is coming!" The nurse performs a vaginal examination that reveals the
cervix is 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. What additional information is most
important for the nurse to obtain?
a. gravidity and parity
b. time and amount of last oral intake
c. date of last normal menstrual period
d. frequency and intensity of contractions. Answer: c. date of last normal
menstrual period
▶ A mutigravida client at 41 weeks gestation present in the labor and
delivery unit after a non-stress test indicated that the fetus is experiencing
some difficulties in utero. Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare
the client for additional information about fetal status?
a. biophysical profile
b. ultrasound for fetal abnormalities
, c. maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening
d. percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Answer: a. biophysical profile
▶ A client receiving epidural anesthesia begins to experience nausea and
becomes pale and clammy. What intervention should the nurse implement
first?
a. raise the foot of the bed
b. assess for vaginal bleeding
c. evaluate the fetal heart rate
d. take the client's blood pressure. Answer: a. raise the foot of the bed
▶ A client at 28 weeks gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that
she is experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding which she
describes as bright red. She further states that she is not experiencing any
uterine contractions or abdominal pain. What instruction should the nurse
provide?
a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
b. go immediately to the emergency room
c. lie on your left side for about one hour and see if the bleeding stops
d. bring a urine specimen to the lab tomorrow to determine if you have a
UTI. Answer: a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
▶ Which nursing intervention is helpful in relieving "afterpains"?
a. using relaxation breathing techniques
b. using a breast pump
c. massaging the abdomen
d. giving oxytocic medications. Answer: a. using relaxation breathing
techniques
▶ The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information about
conceiving. For teaching purposes, the nurses should know that ovulation
usually occurs
a. two weeks before menstruation
b. immediately after menstruation
c. immediately before menstruation
d. three weeks before menstruation. Answer: a. two weeks before
menstruation
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
▶ A woman who thinks she could be pregnant calls her neighbor, a nurse,
to ask wen she could use a home pregnancy test to diagnose pregnancy.
Which response is best?
a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed period
b. these tests are most accurate after you have missed your second period
c. home pregnancy tests often give false positives and should not be
trusted
d. the test can provide accurate information when used right after ovulation.
Answer: a. a home pregnancy test can be used right after your first missed
period
▶ A newborn, whose mother is HIV positive, is scheduled for follow-up
assessments. The nurse knows that the most likely presenting symptom for
a pediatric client with AIDS is:
a. shortness of breath
b. joint pain
c. a persistent cold
d. organmegaly. Answer: c. a persistent cold
▶ Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a
laboring client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action
should the nurse take?
a. notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist
b. continue to assess the blood pressure q5min
c. place the woman in a lateral position
d. turn off continuous epidural. Answer: c. place the woman in a lateral
position
▶ In developing a teaching plan for expectant parents, the nurse plans to
include information about when the parents can expect the infant's
fontanels to close. The nurse bases the explanation on knowledge that for
the normal newborn, the
a. anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the end of
the first week
,b. anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the end of
the week
c. anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the end of
the second week
d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by the end
of the second month. Answer: d. anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18
months and the posterior by the end of the second month
▶ A client in active labor is admitted with preeclampsia. Which assessment
finding is most significant in planning this client's care?
a. patellar reflex 4+
b. blood pressure 158/80
c. four hour urine output 240 ml
d. respiration 12/minute. Answer: a. patellar reflex 4+
▶ A 4 week old premature infant has been receiving epoetin alfa for the
last three weeks. Which assessment finding indicates to the nurse that the
drug is effective?
a. slowly increasing urine output over the last week
b. respiratory rate changes from the 40s to the 60s
c. changes in apical heart rate from the 180 to the 140s
d. change in indirect bilirubin from 12 mg/dl to 8 mg/dl. Answer: c. changes
in apical rate from the 180s to the 140s
▶ A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her last menstrual
period was August 2, 2006. Based on Nagele's rule, what is the estimated
date of delivery?
a. April 25, 2007
b. May 9, 2007
c. May 29, 2007
d. June 2, 2007. Answer: b. May 9, 2007
▶ The nurse is performing a AGA on a full-term newborn during the first
hour of transition using the Dubowitz scale. Based on this assessment, the
nurse determines that the neonate has a maturity rating of 40 weeks.
Which findings should the nurse identify to determine if the neonate is
SGA? (Select all that apply.)
a. admission weight of 4 lbs 15 oz
b. head to heel length of 17 in
c. frontal occipital circumference of 12.5 in
,d. skin smooth with visible veins and abundant vernix
e. anterior plantar crease and smooth heel surfaces
f. full flexion of all extremities in resting supine position. Answer: a, b, c
▶ The nurse assess a client admitted to the labor and delivery unit and
obtains the following data: BP 110/68, FHR 110 bpm, cervix 1 cm dilated
and uneffaced. Based on these assessment findings, what intervention
should the nurse implement?
a. insert a fetal monitor
b. assess for cervical changes q1H
c. monitor bleeding from IV sites
d. perform Leopold's maneuvers. Answer: c. monitor for bleeding from IV
sites
▶ Immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed
under a radiant warmer. The infant has spontaneous respirations and the
nurse assess an apical heart rate of 80 bpm and respirations 20. What
action should the nurse perform next?
a. initiate positive pressure ventilation
b. intervene after one minute APGAR is assessed
c. initiate CPR on the infant
d. assess the infant's blood glucose level. Answer: a. initiate positive
pressure ventilation
▶ A client with no prenatal care arrives at the labor unit screaming, "The
baby is coming!" The nurse performs a vaginal examination that reveals the
cervix is 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. What additional information is most
important for the nurse to obtain?
a. gravidity and parity
b. time and amount of last oral intake
c. date of last normal menstrual period
d. frequency and intensity of contractions. Answer: c. date of last normal
menstrual period
▶ A mutigravida client at 41 weeks gestation present in the labor and
delivery unit after a non-stress test indicated that the fetus is experiencing
some difficulties in utero. Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare
the client for additional information about fetal status?
a. biophysical profile
b. ultrasound for fetal abnormalities
, c. maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening
d. percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Answer: a. biophysical profile
▶ A client receiving epidural anesthesia begins to experience nausea and
becomes pale and clammy. What intervention should the nurse implement
first?
a. raise the foot of the bed
b. assess for vaginal bleeding
c. evaluate the fetal heart rate
d. take the client's blood pressure. Answer: a. raise the foot of the bed
▶ A client at 28 weeks gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that
she is experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding which she
describes as bright red. She further states that she is not experiencing any
uterine contractions or abdominal pain. What instruction should the nurse
provide?
a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
b. go immediately to the emergency room
c. lie on your left side for about one hour and see if the bleeding stops
d. bring a urine specimen to the lab tomorrow to determine if you have a
UTI. Answer: a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
▶ Which nursing intervention is helpful in relieving "afterpains"?
a. using relaxation breathing techniques
b. using a breast pump
c. massaging the abdomen
d. giving oxytocic medications. Answer: a. using relaxation breathing
techniques
▶ The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information about
conceiving. For teaching purposes, the nurses should know that ovulation
usually occurs
a. two weeks before menstruation
b. immediately after menstruation
c. immediately before menstruation
d. three weeks before menstruation. Answer: a. two weeks before
menstruation
