HESI MATERNAL NEWBORN (OB) EXAM COMPLETE TEST BANK 2026 | MASTER YOU… EXAM
P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E M AT E R I A L S
HESI Maternal Newborn (OB)
Exam Complete Test Bank
2026 | Master Your Maternity
Exam | Verified Answers
Verified Answers Exam Ready With Rationales 100 Questions
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This document provides a comprehensive review of maternal-newborn (OB) nursing, covering topics from HIV in infants
and breastfeeding challenges to preconception counseling, gestational diabetes, and postpartum emotional lability. It
features 100 questions with pre-provided correct answers and detailed explanations, allowing students to study and
deeply understand key concepts and clinical scenarios for exam mastery.
E XA M Q U EST I O N S
Q1 QUESTION 1 OF 100
A nurse is reviewing the care plan for a 6-month-old infant born to an HIV-positive mother. The infant has had
recurrent otitis media and persistent rhinorrhea for the past 3 weeks. The nurse recognizes that these findings are
MOST indicative of:
A) Atypical pneumonia
B) Opportunistic infection secondary to HIV
Page 1
,C) Common viral upper respiratory infection
D) Allergic reaction to formula
CORRECT ANSWER
B) Opportunistic infection secondary to HIV
RATIONALE
In pediatric clients with AIDS, signs of immune compromise such as recurrent infections (like otitis media) and persistent
symptoms (like rhinorrhea) are indicative of opportunistic infections, not typical childhood illnesses.
Q2 QUESTION 2 OF 100
A nurse is providing care for a mother and her 12-hour-old newborn in the postpartum unit. The mother expresses
concern about her ability to breastfeed, stating, "I'm worried I won't be able to do this right for my baby." Which
nursing intervention MOST embodies the principle of family-centered care in this situation?
A) Reassuring the mother that breastfeeding challenges are common and offering to demonstrate latch
techniques.
B) Documenting the mother's anxiety and planning to assess the infant's weight trends daily.
C) Instructing the mother on the hospital's established breastfeeding protocol and expected milk transfer
amounts.
D) Suggesting the mother consult with a lactation consultant to address her specific feeding concerns.
CORRECT ANSWER
A) Reassuring the mother that breastfeeding challenges are common and offering to demonstrate latch techniques.
RATIONALE
Family-centered care prioritizes supporting families in achieving optimal health and well-being by actively involving them
and addressing their expressed concerns and learning needs directly. Offering reassurance and demonstrating
techniques validates her feelings and provides immediate, practical support for optimal infant feeding.
Q3 QUESTION 3 OF 100
A client with a history of a previous spontaneous abortion is now 8 weeks pregnant. The nurse is providing
preconception counseling. Which of the following nutritional recommendations is most crucial for this client to
prevent neural tube defects?
A) Consume at least 1500 mg of calcium daily.
B) Increase iron intake to 27 mg per day.
Page 2
,C) Ensure a daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid.
D) Supplement with 1000 IU of vitamin D daily.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) Ensure a daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid.
RATIONALE
Folic acid supplementation is essential for neural tube development, significantly reducing the risk of defects like spina
bifida, especially in clients with a history of pregnancy loss. Other nutrients are important but not as critical for this
specific complication.
Q4 QUESTION 4 OF 100
A 28-year-old G1P0 client with a 10-year history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus presents for her initial prenatal visit at
8 weeks gestation. Her current medication regimen includes metformin 1000 mg BID. The obstetrician has
discontinued her oral hypoglycemic agents. Which nursing interventions are most important for the nurse to
implement at this time? (Select all that apply.)
A) Instruct the client on recommended dietary modifications for gestational diabetes management.
B) Explain that metformin is a known teratogen and can cause birth defects.
C) Inquire about the client's experience and comfort level with subcutaneous insulin injections.
D) Assess the client's understanding and previous experience with self-monitoring of blood glucose.
E) Provide a prescription for a continuous glucose monitoring system.
CORRECT ANSWER
A) Instruct the client on recommended dietary modifications for gestational diabetes management.
D) Assess the client's understanding and previous experience with self-monitoring of blood glucose.
RATIONALE
The most critical interventions are to educate on nutrition, the cornerstone of diabetes management in pregnancy, and
assess prior glucose monitoring knowledge, as insulin therapy will likely be required. Metformin is not typically
contraindicated due to teratogenicity in the first trimester for pre-existing diabetes.
Q5 QUESTION 5 OF 100
During a routine prenatal visit at 28 weeks gestation, a patient admits to occasional use of benzodiazepines to
manage anxiety. The nurse's initial plan of care, aimed at promoting maternal-fetal well-being, should prioritize
which of the following nursing actions?
A) Reassure the patient that occasional use is unlikely to cause harm.
Page 3
, B) Immediately refer the patient to a mental health specialist for medication management.
C) Encourage the patient to discontinue benzodiazepine use immediately.
D) Discuss the potential risks of benzodiazepine use during pregnancy with the patient.
E) Advise the patient to only use prescribed doses of benzodiazepines.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) Encourage the patient to discontinue benzodiazepine use immediately.
D) Discuss the potential risks of benzodiazepine use during pregnancy with the patient.
RATIONALE
Benzodiazepine use during pregnancy poses significant risks to the fetus, necessitating direct encouragement of
cessation and comprehensive patient education regarding these dangers to ensure informed decision-making and
optimal fetal outcomes.
Q6 QUESTION 6 OF 100
The postpartum nurse is reviewing the care plan for a client admitted yesterday following a vaginal delivery. The
client is exhibiting emotional lability, crying spells without apparent cause, and states she feels "overwhelmed" by
her new responsibilities. Which of the following findings, if present, MOST strongly indicates the client is
experiencing "baby blues" rather than a more serious postpartum mood disorder?
A) The client expresses significant anxiety about her ability to care for her newborn.
B) The client reports experiencing intense mood swings that resolve within a few hours.
C) The client is unable to sleep even when her infant is sleeping.
D) The client reports a persistent feeling of detachment from her infant.
CORRECT ANSWER
B) The client reports experiencing intense mood swings that resolve within a few hours.
RATIONALE
Baby blues are characterized by transient mood swings, tearfulness, and anxiety that typically resolve within 2 weeks,
distinguishing them from postpartum depression which involves more persistent and severe symptoms.
Q7 QUESTION 7 OF 100
A pregnant client presents for her first prenatal visit on November 15, 2023. She states that the first day of her last
menstrual period was October 20, 2023. Using Nagele's rule, the nurse calculates the estimated date of delivery.
What subsequent actions are indicated based on this calculation? (Select all that apply.)
A) Document the estimated date of delivery as July 27, 2024.
Page 4
P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E M AT E R I A L S
HESI Maternal Newborn (OB)
Exam Complete Test Bank
2026 | Master Your Maternity
Exam | Verified Answers
Verified Answers Exam Ready With Rationales 100 Questions
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This document provides a comprehensive review of maternal-newborn (OB) nursing, covering topics from HIV in infants
and breastfeeding challenges to preconception counseling, gestational diabetes, and postpartum emotional lability. It
features 100 questions with pre-provided correct answers and detailed explanations, allowing students to study and
deeply understand key concepts and clinical scenarios for exam mastery.
E XA M Q U EST I O N S
Q1 QUESTION 1 OF 100
A nurse is reviewing the care plan for a 6-month-old infant born to an HIV-positive mother. The infant has had
recurrent otitis media and persistent rhinorrhea for the past 3 weeks. The nurse recognizes that these findings are
MOST indicative of:
A) Atypical pneumonia
B) Opportunistic infection secondary to HIV
Page 1
,C) Common viral upper respiratory infection
D) Allergic reaction to formula
CORRECT ANSWER
B) Opportunistic infection secondary to HIV
RATIONALE
In pediatric clients with AIDS, signs of immune compromise such as recurrent infections (like otitis media) and persistent
symptoms (like rhinorrhea) are indicative of opportunistic infections, not typical childhood illnesses.
Q2 QUESTION 2 OF 100
A nurse is providing care for a mother and her 12-hour-old newborn in the postpartum unit. The mother expresses
concern about her ability to breastfeed, stating, "I'm worried I won't be able to do this right for my baby." Which
nursing intervention MOST embodies the principle of family-centered care in this situation?
A) Reassuring the mother that breastfeeding challenges are common and offering to demonstrate latch
techniques.
B) Documenting the mother's anxiety and planning to assess the infant's weight trends daily.
C) Instructing the mother on the hospital's established breastfeeding protocol and expected milk transfer
amounts.
D) Suggesting the mother consult with a lactation consultant to address her specific feeding concerns.
CORRECT ANSWER
A) Reassuring the mother that breastfeeding challenges are common and offering to demonstrate latch techniques.
RATIONALE
Family-centered care prioritizes supporting families in achieving optimal health and well-being by actively involving them
and addressing their expressed concerns and learning needs directly. Offering reassurance and demonstrating
techniques validates her feelings and provides immediate, practical support for optimal infant feeding.
Q3 QUESTION 3 OF 100
A client with a history of a previous spontaneous abortion is now 8 weeks pregnant. The nurse is providing
preconception counseling. Which of the following nutritional recommendations is most crucial for this client to
prevent neural tube defects?
A) Consume at least 1500 mg of calcium daily.
B) Increase iron intake to 27 mg per day.
Page 2
,C) Ensure a daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid.
D) Supplement with 1000 IU of vitamin D daily.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) Ensure a daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid.
RATIONALE
Folic acid supplementation is essential for neural tube development, significantly reducing the risk of defects like spina
bifida, especially in clients with a history of pregnancy loss. Other nutrients are important but not as critical for this
specific complication.
Q4 QUESTION 4 OF 100
A 28-year-old G1P0 client with a 10-year history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus presents for her initial prenatal visit at
8 weeks gestation. Her current medication regimen includes metformin 1000 mg BID. The obstetrician has
discontinued her oral hypoglycemic agents. Which nursing interventions are most important for the nurse to
implement at this time? (Select all that apply.)
A) Instruct the client on recommended dietary modifications for gestational diabetes management.
B) Explain that metformin is a known teratogen and can cause birth defects.
C) Inquire about the client's experience and comfort level with subcutaneous insulin injections.
D) Assess the client's understanding and previous experience with self-monitoring of blood glucose.
E) Provide a prescription for a continuous glucose monitoring system.
CORRECT ANSWER
A) Instruct the client on recommended dietary modifications for gestational diabetes management.
D) Assess the client's understanding and previous experience with self-monitoring of blood glucose.
RATIONALE
The most critical interventions are to educate on nutrition, the cornerstone of diabetes management in pregnancy, and
assess prior glucose monitoring knowledge, as insulin therapy will likely be required. Metformin is not typically
contraindicated due to teratogenicity in the first trimester for pre-existing diabetes.
Q5 QUESTION 5 OF 100
During a routine prenatal visit at 28 weeks gestation, a patient admits to occasional use of benzodiazepines to
manage anxiety. The nurse's initial plan of care, aimed at promoting maternal-fetal well-being, should prioritize
which of the following nursing actions?
A) Reassure the patient that occasional use is unlikely to cause harm.
Page 3
, B) Immediately refer the patient to a mental health specialist for medication management.
C) Encourage the patient to discontinue benzodiazepine use immediately.
D) Discuss the potential risks of benzodiazepine use during pregnancy with the patient.
E) Advise the patient to only use prescribed doses of benzodiazepines.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) Encourage the patient to discontinue benzodiazepine use immediately.
D) Discuss the potential risks of benzodiazepine use during pregnancy with the patient.
RATIONALE
Benzodiazepine use during pregnancy poses significant risks to the fetus, necessitating direct encouragement of
cessation and comprehensive patient education regarding these dangers to ensure informed decision-making and
optimal fetal outcomes.
Q6 QUESTION 6 OF 100
The postpartum nurse is reviewing the care plan for a client admitted yesterday following a vaginal delivery. The
client is exhibiting emotional lability, crying spells without apparent cause, and states she feels "overwhelmed" by
her new responsibilities. Which of the following findings, if present, MOST strongly indicates the client is
experiencing "baby blues" rather than a more serious postpartum mood disorder?
A) The client expresses significant anxiety about her ability to care for her newborn.
B) The client reports experiencing intense mood swings that resolve within a few hours.
C) The client is unable to sleep even when her infant is sleeping.
D) The client reports a persistent feeling of detachment from her infant.
CORRECT ANSWER
B) The client reports experiencing intense mood swings that resolve within a few hours.
RATIONALE
Baby blues are characterized by transient mood swings, tearfulness, and anxiety that typically resolve within 2 weeks,
distinguishing them from postpartum depression which involves more persistent and severe symptoms.
Q7 QUESTION 7 OF 100
A pregnant client presents for her first prenatal visit on November 15, 2023. She states that the first day of her last
menstrual period was October 20, 2023. Using Nagele's rule, the nurse calculates the estimated date of delivery.
What subsequent actions are indicated based on this calculation? (Select all that apply.)
A) Document the estimated date of delivery as July 27, 2024.
Page 4
