Page 1 of 66
WOMEN'S HEALTH HESI EXAM STUDY GUIDE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS NEWEST 2026 EXAM VERIFIED 100%
Twenty-four hours after a cesarean birth, a client elects to sign herself and her
baby out of the hospital. Staff members are unable to contact her primary HCP.
The client arrives at the nursery and asks that her infant be given to her to take
home. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
Give the infant to the client and instruct her regarding the infant's care.
Rationale: When a client signs herself and her infant out of the hospital, she is legally
responsible for her infant. The infant is the responsibility of the mother and can leave
with the mother when she signs them out.
During assessment of a newborn in the nursery, the nurse notices a large,
dark pigmentation over the buttons of one of the infants. What is the most
important interventions?
Checking the medical record regarding this finding at birth.
Rationale: Large dark areas of pigmentation over the buttocks are a common birth
defect known as Mongolian spots. These hyper pigmented areas can resemble
bruising but lessen over time and usually disappear by the time the child reaches
school age. The nurse taking care of this infant should check the medical record for
documentation of this finding at birth in the medical record. Mongolian spots are not
caused by bleeding, trauma, or abuse.
The nurse reviews the history of a neonate admitted to the nursery and
discovers that the infant's mother was listed as Gravida 1 Para 1 before the
baby was born. How should the nurse utilize these data in order to gather
more information?
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To consider that someone recorded the gravid and para incorrectly.
Rationale: Gravida refers to pregnancies, including this one, and para refers to
pregnancies terminated (by whatever means) after the age of viability. If this is the
client's only pregnancy (gravida 1), she could not have had a previous pregnancy
that ended after the age of fetal viability.
The nurse is assessing a female preterm neonate after delivery. Which
assessment findings does the nurse document in the hospital reports fo the
infant?
- The infant has a prominent clitoris.
- The hair of the infant is fine and feathery.
-The infant shows no resistance to the heel-to-ear maneuver.
Rationale: A female preterm neonate lacks proper growth fo the labia major;
therefore, the neonate will have a prominent clitoris. A preterm neonate lacks proper
nourishment to the hair, resulting in fine and feathery hair. The knee of an preterm
infant does not offer resistance to the heel-to-ear maneuver. The soles of a preterm
infant's feet appear more turgid and may have only fine wrinkles. The preterm infant
has less subcutaneous tissue, and therefore rests in a relaxed attitude.
The nurse is preparing to bathe a neonate born at 30 weeks of gestation.
Which practices by the nurse ensure the infant's safety?
- immerse the neonate fully except the head in the tub
- measures the body temperature within 2-4 hours before giving the bath
- uses cleansing agents with neutral pH and minimal dyes while giving the bath
Rationale: A neonate born before 32 week of gestational age is known as a preterm
infant. Immersing the neonate's head in water during a bath can increase the risk of
respiratory depression. The neonate's body temperature should be stable 2 to 4
hours before giving the initial bath. Therefore the nurse monitors body temperature
before giving the bath. Cleansing agents with neutral pH and minimal dyes reduce
skin irritation, so these are used when bathing the neonate. The nurse should give a
warm-water bath every 2nd or 3rd day, not daily, to prevent hypothermia. Removing
the vernix completely during the initial bath can alter thermoregulation in a neonate.
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The nurse must continually assess a preterm infant's temperature and provide
appropriate nursing care because, unlike the full-term infant, the preterm
infant has what limitation?
has a limited supply of brown fat available to provide heat
Rationale: Because neonates are unable to shiver, they use the breakdown of brown
fat to supply body heat; the preterm infant has a limited supply of brown fat available
for this purpose. An inability to use shivering to produce heat is not specific to
preterm neonates; all newborns are unable to use shivering to supply body heat. The
breakdown fo glycogen into glucose down not supply body heat. Pituitary hormones
do not regulate body heat.
The nurse is assigned the care for an infant in the newborn nursery who is 24
hours old. During assessment the nurse becomes concerned that the baby is
jaundiced. The nurse knows that jaundice first becomes visible in a newborn
when serum bilirubin reaches what level?
5 to 7 mg/dL (85.5 to 119.7 mcmol/L)
When changing her newborn's diaper a new mother notes a reddened area on
the infant's buttock and reports it to the nurse. How should the nurse best
address this mother's concern?
Encourage the mother to cleanse the area and change the diaper more often.
Rationale: Frequent cleansing and diaper changes will limit the presence of irritation
substances. Having the nurses change the diaper may lower the mother's self-
esteem. Powder and lotion will cake and retain moisture in the area. Requesting that
the HCP prescribe a topical ointment is a nursing, not a medical, problem.
Which factor does the nurse conclude is directly related to an infant's survival
in the neonatal period?
gestational age and birth weight
Rationale: Adaptation to the extrauterine environment is largely dependent on the
functional capacity of vital organ systems, which is established during intrauterine
development; this is measurable in terms of gestational age and weight. Although
the reproductive history of the mother, parenteral health habits, and social class may
all influence health, none of these is critical to neonatal survival. Although adequacy
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of the mother's prenatal care may influence the mother's health and therefore the
fetus's health, it is not critical to neonatal survival as are an adequate gestational age
and birth weight.
A client gives brith to a full-term male with an 8/9 Apgar Score. What should
the immediate nursing care of this newborn include?
Assessing respirations, keeping him warm, and identifying him.
Rationale: Establishing a patent airway, diminishing cold stress, and identifying the
newborn are the priorities. Application of the eye prophylaxis and administration of
the Vit K are often delated to allow the parents to bond with the infant; a bath at this
time will increase the risk of cold stress. Aspriating the oropharynx, rushing him to
the nursery, and stimulating him frequently are measures appropriate for a
compromised newborn; an 8/9 Apgar Score is indicative of a healthy newborn.
Weighing him, placing him in a crib, and waiting until the mother is ready to hold him
are not the priority care for a newborn.
A newborn is experiencing cold stress while being admitted to the nursery.
Which nursing goal has the highest immediate priority?
prevent metabolism of fat stores
Rationale:
Newborns do not shiver. If the newborn is cold, there is increased brown fat
metabolism (non shivering thermogenesis), which increases fatty acid blood levels
and predisposes the infant to acidosis. Hypoglycemia and not hyperglycemia will
occur b/c the newborn's glycogen reserves deplete rapidly while under cold stress.
Although oxygen consumption increases during cold stress, limiting oxygen
consumption is not the priority; reducing non shivering thermogenesis is more
imperative.
After hyperbilirubinemia develops in a neonate, phototherapy is prescribed.
What should the plan of care for an infant undergoing phototherapy include?
Administering additional fluids every 2 hours
Rationale: Insensible and intestinal fluid losses are increased during phototherapy;
extra fluid prevents dehydration. Taking the vital signs every hour is unnecessary
unless a change from the baseline occurs. The eye shields should be removed for
WOMEN'S HEALTH HESI EXAM STUDY GUIDE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS NEWEST 2026 EXAM VERIFIED 100%
Twenty-four hours after a cesarean birth, a client elects to sign herself and her
baby out of the hospital. Staff members are unable to contact her primary HCP.
The client arrives at the nursery and asks that her infant be given to her to take
home. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
Give the infant to the client and instruct her regarding the infant's care.
Rationale: When a client signs herself and her infant out of the hospital, she is legally
responsible for her infant. The infant is the responsibility of the mother and can leave
with the mother when she signs them out.
During assessment of a newborn in the nursery, the nurse notices a large,
dark pigmentation over the buttons of one of the infants. What is the most
important interventions?
Checking the medical record regarding this finding at birth.
Rationale: Large dark areas of pigmentation over the buttocks are a common birth
defect known as Mongolian spots. These hyper pigmented areas can resemble
bruising but lessen over time and usually disappear by the time the child reaches
school age. The nurse taking care of this infant should check the medical record for
documentation of this finding at birth in the medical record. Mongolian spots are not
caused by bleeding, trauma, or abuse.
The nurse reviews the history of a neonate admitted to the nursery and
discovers that the infant's mother was listed as Gravida 1 Para 1 before the
baby was born. How should the nurse utilize these data in order to gather
more information?
, Page 2 of 66
To consider that someone recorded the gravid and para incorrectly.
Rationale: Gravida refers to pregnancies, including this one, and para refers to
pregnancies terminated (by whatever means) after the age of viability. If this is the
client's only pregnancy (gravida 1), she could not have had a previous pregnancy
that ended after the age of fetal viability.
The nurse is assessing a female preterm neonate after delivery. Which
assessment findings does the nurse document in the hospital reports fo the
infant?
- The infant has a prominent clitoris.
- The hair of the infant is fine and feathery.
-The infant shows no resistance to the heel-to-ear maneuver.
Rationale: A female preterm neonate lacks proper growth fo the labia major;
therefore, the neonate will have a prominent clitoris. A preterm neonate lacks proper
nourishment to the hair, resulting in fine and feathery hair. The knee of an preterm
infant does not offer resistance to the heel-to-ear maneuver. The soles of a preterm
infant's feet appear more turgid and may have only fine wrinkles. The preterm infant
has less subcutaneous tissue, and therefore rests in a relaxed attitude.
The nurse is preparing to bathe a neonate born at 30 weeks of gestation.
Which practices by the nurse ensure the infant's safety?
- immerse the neonate fully except the head in the tub
- measures the body temperature within 2-4 hours before giving the bath
- uses cleansing agents with neutral pH and minimal dyes while giving the bath
Rationale: A neonate born before 32 week of gestational age is known as a preterm
infant. Immersing the neonate's head in water during a bath can increase the risk of
respiratory depression. The neonate's body temperature should be stable 2 to 4
hours before giving the initial bath. Therefore the nurse monitors body temperature
before giving the bath. Cleansing agents with neutral pH and minimal dyes reduce
skin irritation, so these are used when bathing the neonate. The nurse should give a
warm-water bath every 2nd or 3rd day, not daily, to prevent hypothermia. Removing
the vernix completely during the initial bath can alter thermoregulation in a neonate.
, Page 3 of 66
The nurse must continually assess a preterm infant's temperature and provide
appropriate nursing care because, unlike the full-term infant, the preterm
infant has what limitation?
has a limited supply of brown fat available to provide heat
Rationale: Because neonates are unable to shiver, they use the breakdown of brown
fat to supply body heat; the preterm infant has a limited supply of brown fat available
for this purpose. An inability to use shivering to produce heat is not specific to
preterm neonates; all newborns are unable to use shivering to supply body heat. The
breakdown fo glycogen into glucose down not supply body heat. Pituitary hormones
do not regulate body heat.
The nurse is assigned the care for an infant in the newborn nursery who is 24
hours old. During assessment the nurse becomes concerned that the baby is
jaundiced. The nurse knows that jaundice first becomes visible in a newborn
when serum bilirubin reaches what level?
5 to 7 mg/dL (85.5 to 119.7 mcmol/L)
When changing her newborn's diaper a new mother notes a reddened area on
the infant's buttock and reports it to the nurse. How should the nurse best
address this mother's concern?
Encourage the mother to cleanse the area and change the diaper more often.
Rationale: Frequent cleansing and diaper changes will limit the presence of irritation
substances. Having the nurses change the diaper may lower the mother's self-
esteem. Powder and lotion will cake and retain moisture in the area. Requesting that
the HCP prescribe a topical ointment is a nursing, not a medical, problem.
Which factor does the nurse conclude is directly related to an infant's survival
in the neonatal period?
gestational age and birth weight
Rationale: Adaptation to the extrauterine environment is largely dependent on the
functional capacity of vital organ systems, which is established during intrauterine
development; this is measurable in terms of gestational age and weight. Although
the reproductive history of the mother, parenteral health habits, and social class may
all influence health, none of these is critical to neonatal survival. Although adequacy
, Page 4 of 66
of the mother's prenatal care may influence the mother's health and therefore the
fetus's health, it is not critical to neonatal survival as are an adequate gestational age
and birth weight.
A client gives brith to a full-term male with an 8/9 Apgar Score. What should
the immediate nursing care of this newborn include?
Assessing respirations, keeping him warm, and identifying him.
Rationale: Establishing a patent airway, diminishing cold stress, and identifying the
newborn are the priorities. Application of the eye prophylaxis and administration of
the Vit K are often delated to allow the parents to bond with the infant; a bath at this
time will increase the risk of cold stress. Aspriating the oropharynx, rushing him to
the nursery, and stimulating him frequently are measures appropriate for a
compromised newborn; an 8/9 Apgar Score is indicative of a healthy newborn.
Weighing him, placing him in a crib, and waiting until the mother is ready to hold him
are not the priority care for a newborn.
A newborn is experiencing cold stress while being admitted to the nursery.
Which nursing goal has the highest immediate priority?
prevent metabolism of fat stores
Rationale:
Newborns do not shiver. If the newborn is cold, there is increased brown fat
metabolism (non shivering thermogenesis), which increases fatty acid blood levels
and predisposes the infant to acidosis. Hypoglycemia and not hyperglycemia will
occur b/c the newborn's glycogen reserves deplete rapidly while under cold stress.
Although oxygen consumption increases during cold stress, limiting oxygen
consumption is not the priority; reducing non shivering thermogenesis is more
imperative.
After hyperbilirubinemia develops in a neonate, phototherapy is prescribed.
What should the plan of care for an infant undergoing phototherapy include?
Administering additional fluids every 2 hours
Rationale: Insensible and intestinal fluid losses are increased during phototherapy;
extra fluid prevents dehydration. Taking the vital signs every hour is unnecessary
unless a change from the baseline occurs. The eye shields should be removed for
