Page 1 of 93
HESI MATERNITY & OB NURSING MASTERY COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED- VERIFIED ANSWERS- ALREADY
GRADED A+ || NEWEST EXAM
Nursing – Maternal-Newborn Nursing (Ob/Gyn)
HESI Maternity/OB nursing covers antepartum care (prenatal
assessment, GDM, preeclampsia, PPROM, placenta previa, abruption,
cervical insufficiency, genetics/ultrasound); intrapartum care (labor
stages, fetal monitoring, epidural complications, shoulder dystocia,
prolapsed cord, GBS prophylaxis, meconium, uterine rupture);
postpartum care (hemorrhage, mastitis, endometritis, DVT, spinal
headache, breastfeeding, contraception, mental health: blues,
depression, psychosis); newborn assessment (Apgar, hypoglycemia,
TTN, RDS, NAS, jaundice, NEC, PDA, cleft lip); pharmacology
(magnesium, terbutaline, oxytocin, betamethasone, labetalol,
nifedipine, misoprostol, penicillin, Rh immune globulin); and
ethical/legal considerations
SECTION 1: ANTEPARTUM CARE – Prenatal Assessment & Teaching
1. A 26-year-old primigravida at 28 weeks gestation is admitted with
preterm labor and given three doses of terbutaline sulfate 0.25 mg
subcutaneously. The nurse should monitor the client for which adverse
effect?
A. Bradycardia and hypotension
B. Tachycardia and hyperglycemia (Correct)
, Page 2 of 93
C. Hypokalemia and muscle weakness
D. Respiratory depression and sedation
Rationale: Terbutaline is a beta-adrenergic agonist that stimulates beta-2
receptors to relax uterine smooth muscle, but it also stimulates beta-1
receptors, causing tachycardia, palpitations, and hyperglycemia.
Bradycardia and respiratory depression are not typical; hypokalemia can
occur but is less immediate. Monitoring maternal heart rate and blood
glucose is essential during terbutaline therapy.
2. A 38-week primigravida who works as a secretary and sits at a
computer for 8 hours daily tells the nurse that her feet have begun to
swell. Which instruction would be most effective in preventing pooling of
blood in the lower extremities?
A. Wear support stockings.
B. Reduce salt in her diet.
C. Move about every hour. (Correct)
D. Avoid constrictive clothing.
Rationale: Pooling of blood in the lower extremities results from the
enlarged uterus exerting pressure on the pelvic veins. Moving about every
hour straightens the pelvic veins and increases venous return. Support
stockings help with varicose veins but are less effective for generalized
edema. Salt reduction addresses generalized edema from pregnancy-
induced hypertension, not dependent edema from venous stasis.
, Page 3 of 93
3. During a prenatal visit, the nurse discusses with a client the effects of
smoking on the fetus. When compared with nonsmokers, mothers who
smoke during pregnancy tend to produce infants who have:
A. Lower Apgar scores.
B. Lower birth weights. (Correct)
C. Respiratory distress.
D. A higher rate of congenital anomalies.
Rationale: Smoking during pregnancy is strongly associated with low-
birth-weight infants due to nicotine-induced vasoconstriction, reduced
placental blood flow, and carbon monoxide exposure. Significant
relationships have not been established between smoking and lower
Apgar scores, respiratory distress, or congenital anomalies.
4. A woman who thinks she could be pregnant calls her neighbor, a
nurse, to ask when 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. (Correct)
B. These tests are most accurate after you have missed your second
period.
, Page 4 of 93
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.
Rationale: Home pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG) in urine. By the time of the first missed period, hCG levels are
typically high enough for accurate detection. Testing immediately after
ovulation is too early, as implantation has not yet occurred. False
positives are uncommon with modern tests.
5. 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:
A. The anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the
end of the first week.
B. The anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the
end of the first week.
C. The anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the
end of the second week.
D. The anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by
the end of the second month. (Correct)
HESI MATERNITY & OB NURSING MASTERY COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED- VERIFIED ANSWERS- ALREADY
GRADED A+ || NEWEST EXAM
Nursing – Maternal-Newborn Nursing (Ob/Gyn)
HESI Maternity/OB nursing covers antepartum care (prenatal
assessment, GDM, preeclampsia, PPROM, placenta previa, abruption,
cervical insufficiency, genetics/ultrasound); intrapartum care (labor
stages, fetal monitoring, epidural complications, shoulder dystocia,
prolapsed cord, GBS prophylaxis, meconium, uterine rupture);
postpartum care (hemorrhage, mastitis, endometritis, DVT, spinal
headache, breastfeeding, contraception, mental health: blues,
depression, psychosis); newborn assessment (Apgar, hypoglycemia,
TTN, RDS, NAS, jaundice, NEC, PDA, cleft lip); pharmacology
(magnesium, terbutaline, oxytocin, betamethasone, labetalol,
nifedipine, misoprostol, penicillin, Rh immune globulin); and
ethical/legal considerations
SECTION 1: ANTEPARTUM CARE – Prenatal Assessment & Teaching
1. A 26-year-old primigravida at 28 weeks gestation is admitted with
preterm labor and given three doses of terbutaline sulfate 0.25 mg
subcutaneously. The nurse should monitor the client for which adverse
effect?
A. Bradycardia and hypotension
B. Tachycardia and hyperglycemia (Correct)
, Page 2 of 93
C. Hypokalemia and muscle weakness
D. Respiratory depression and sedation
Rationale: Terbutaline is a beta-adrenergic agonist that stimulates beta-2
receptors to relax uterine smooth muscle, but it also stimulates beta-1
receptors, causing tachycardia, palpitations, and hyperglycemia.
Bradycardia and respiratory depression are not typical; hypokalemia can
occur but is less immediate. Monitoring maternal heart rate and blood
glucose is essential during terbutaline therapy.
2. A 38-week primigravida who works as a secretary and sits at a
computer for 8 hours daily tells the nurse that her feet have begun to
swell. Which instruction would be most effective in preventing pooling of
blood in the lower extremities?
A. Wear support stockings.
B. Reduce salt in her diet.
C. Move about every hour. (Correct)
D. Avoid constrictive clothing.
Rationale: Pooling of blood in the lower extremities results from the
enlarged uterus exerting pressure on the pelvic veins. Moving about every
hour straightens the pelvic veins and increases venous return. Support
stockings help with varicose veins but are less effective for generalized
edema. Salt reduction addresses generalized edema from pregnancy-
induced hypertension, not dependent edema from venous stasis.
, Page 3 of 93
3. During a prenatal visit, the nurse discusses with a client the effects of
smoking on the fetus. When compared with nonsmokers, mothers who
smoke during pregnancy tend to produce infants who have:
A. Lower Apgar scores.
B. Lower birth weights. (Correct)
C. Respiratory distress.
D. A higher rate of congenital anomalies.
Rationale: Smoking during pregnancy is strongly associated with low-
birth-weight infants due to nicotine-induced vasoconstriction, reduced
placental blood flow, and carbon monoxide exposure. Significant
relationships have not been established between smoking and lower
Apgar scores, respiratory distress, or congenital anomalies.
4. A woman who thinks she could be pregnant calls her neighbor, a
nurse, to ask when 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. (Correct)
B. These tests are most accurate after you have missed your second
period.
, Page 4 of 93
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.
Rationale: Home pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG) in urine. By the time of the first missed period, hCG levels are
typically high enough for accurate detection. Testing immediately after
ovulation is too early, as implantation has not yet occurred. False
positives are uncommon with modern tests.
5. 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:
A. The anterior fontanel closes at 2 to 4 months and the posterior by the
end of the first week.
B. The anterior fontanel closes at 5 to 7 months and the posterior by the
end of the first week.
C. The anterior fontanel closes at 8 to 11 months and the posterior by the
end of the second week.
D. The anterior fontanel closes at 12 to 18 months and the posterior by
the end of the second month. (Correct)
