HESI MATERNITY PRACTICE TEST 2026
PRACTICE TEST SHEET FULL SOLUTIONS
CORRECT ANSWERS GUARANTEED PASS
◉ A client who delivered by cesarean section 24 hours ago is using a
PCA pump for pain control. Her oral intake has been ice chips only
since surgery. She is now complaining of nausea and bloating, and
states that because she had nothing to eat, she is too weak to
breastfeed her infant. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest
priority?
Answer: Impaired bowel motility related to pain medication and
immobility.Impaired bowel motility caused by surgical anesthesia,
pain medication, and immobility is the priority nursing diagnosis
and addresses the potential problem of a paralytic ileus.
◉ A new mother asks the nurse, "How do I know that my daughter is
getting enough breast milk?" Which explanation is appropriate?
Answer: "Your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale straw-
colored urine 6 to 10 times a day."
The urine will be dilute (straw-colored) and frequent (>6 to 10
times/day) , if the infant is adequately hydrated. Although a weight
gain of 30 grams/day is indicative of adequate nutrition, most home
scales do not measure this accurately and this suggestion is likely to
make the mother very anxious.
,◉ The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information
about conceiving. The couple asks the nurse to explain when
ovulation usually occurs. Which statement by the nurse is correct?
Answer: Two weeks before menstruation.
Ovulation occurs 14 days before the first day of the menstrual
period . While ovulation can occur in the middle of the cycle, or 2
weeks after menstruation, this is only true for a woman who has a
perfect 28-day cycle. For many women, the length of their menstrual
cycle varies.
◉ The nurse is evaluating a full-term multigravida who was induced
3 hours ago. The nurse determines the client is dilated 7 cm, is
100% effaced at 0 station, with intact membranes. The monitor
indicates the fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerates at the onset of
several contractions and returns to baseline before each contraction
ends. What action should the nurse take?
Answer: Continue to monitor labor progress.
The fetal heart rate indicates early decelerations, which are not an
ominous sign, so the nurse should continue to monitor the labor
progress and document the findings in the client's record.
,◉ The nurse instructs a laboring client to use accelerated-blow
breathing. The client begins to complain of tingling fingers and
dizziness. What action should the nurse take?
Answer: Have the client breathe into her cupped hands.
Tingling fingers and dizziness are signs of hyperventilation
(blowing off too much carbon dioxide). Hyperventilation is treated
by retaining carbon dioxide. This can be facilitated by breathing into
a paper bag or cupped hands .
◉ Twenty-four hours after admission to the newborn nursery, a full-
term male infant develops localized swelling on the right side of his
head. What is the most likely cause of this accumulation of blood
between the periosteum and skull that does not cross the suture line
in a newborn?
Answer: A cephalhematoma, which is caused by forceps trauma.
Cephalhematoma , a slight abnormal variation of the newborn,
usually arises within the first 24 hours after delivery. Trauma from
delivery causes capillary bleeding between the periosteum and the
skull.
◉ One hour following a normal vaginal delivery, a newborn infant
boy's axillary temperature is 96° F, his lower lip is shaking, and
when the nurse assesses for a Moro reflex, his hands shake. What
intervention should the nurse implement first?
, Answer: Obtain a serum glucose level.
This infant is demonstrating signs of hypoglycemia, possibly
secondary to a low body temperature. The nurse should first
determine the serum glucose level .
◉ A client in active labor is becoming increasingly fearful because
her contractions are occurring more often than she expected. Her
partner is also becoming anxious. The nurse's response should focus
on which content?
Answer: Asking the client and her partner if they would like the
nurse stay in the room.
Offering to remain with the client and her partner (C) offers support
without providing false reassurance. The length of labor is not
always predictable, but (A and B) do not offer the client the support
that is needed at this time. (D) may be reassuring regarding the fetal
heart rate, but it does not provide the client the emotional support
she needs at this time during the labor process.
◉ A breastfeeding postpartum client is diagnosed with mastitis and
antibiotic therapy is prescribed. What instruction should the nurse
provide to this client?
Answer: Breastfeed the infant, ensuring that both breasts are
completely emptied.
PRACTICE TEST SHEET FULL SOLUTIONS
CORRECT ANSWERS GUARANTEED PASS
◉ A client who delivered by cesarean section 24 hours ago is using a
PCA pump for pain control. Her oral intake has been ice chips only
since surgery. She is now complaining of nausea and bloating, and
states that because she had nothing to eat, she is too weak to
breastfeed her infant. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest
priority?
Answer: Impaired bowel motility related to pain medication and
immobility.Impaired bowel motility caused by surgical anesthesia,
pain medication, and immobility is the priority nursing diagnosis
and addresses the potential problem of a paralytic ileus.
◉ A new mother asks the nurse, "How do I know that my daughter is
getting enough breast milk?" Which explanation is appropriate?
Answer: "Your milk is sufficient if the baby is voiding pale straw-
colored urine 6 to 10 times a day."
The urine will be dilute (straw-colored) and frequent (>6 to 10
times/day) , if the infant is adequately hydrated. Although a weight
gain of 30 grams/day is indicative of adequate nutrition, most home
scales do not measure this accurately and this suggestion is likely to
make the mother very anxious.
,◉ The nurse is counseling a couple who has sought information
about conceiving. The couple asks the nurse to explain when
ovulation usually occurs. Which statement by the nurse is correct?
Answer: Two weeks before menstruation.
Ovulation occurs 14 days before the first day of the menstrual
period . While ovulation can occur in the middle of the cycle, or 2
weeks after menstruation, this is only true for a woman who has a
perfect 28-day cycle. For many women, the length of their menstrual
cycle varies.
◉ The nurse is evaluating a full-term multigravida who was induced
3 hours ago. The nurse determines the client is dilated 7 cm, is
100% effaced at 0 station, with intact membranes. The monitor
indicates the fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerates at the onset of
several contractions and returns to baseline before each contraction
ends. What action should the nurse take?
Answer: Continue to monitor labor progress.
The fetal heart rate indicates early decelerations, which are not an
ominous sign, so the nurse should continue to monitor the labor
progress and document the findings in the client's record.
,◉ The nurse instructs a laboring client to use accelerated-blow
breathing. The client begins to complain of tingling fingers and
dizziness. What action should the nurse take?
Answer: Have the client breathe into her cupped hands.
Tingling fingers and dizziness are signs of hyperventilation
(blowing off too much carbon dioxide). Hyperventilation is treated
by retaining carbon dioxide. This can be facilitated by breathing into
a paper bag or cupped hands .
◉ Twenty-four hours after admission to the newborn nursery, a full-
term male infant develops localized swelling on the right side of his
head. What is the most likely cause of this accumulation of blood
between the periosteum and skull that does not cross the suture line
in a newborn?
Answer: A cephalhematoma, which is caused by forceps trauma.
Cephalhematoma , a slight abnormal variation of the newborn,
usually arises within the first 24 hours after delivery. Trauma from
delivery causes capillary bleeding between the periosteum and the
skull.
◉ One hour following a normal vaginal delivery, a newborn infant
boy's axillary temperature is 96° F, his lower lip is shaking, and
when the nurse assesses for a Moro reflex, his hands shake. What
intervention should the nurse implement first?
, Answer: Obtain a serum glucose level.
This infant is demonstrating signs of hypoglycemia, possibly
secondary to a low body temperature. The nurse should first
determine the serum glucose level .
◉ A client in active labor is becoming increasingly fearful because
her contractions are occurring more often than she expected. Her
partner is also becoming anxious. The nurse's response should focus
on which content?
Answer: Asking the client and her partner if they would like the
nurse stay in the room.
Offering to remain with the client and her partner (C) offers support
without providing false reassurance. The length of labor is not
always predictable, but (A and B) do not offer the client the support
that is needed at this time. (D) may be reassuring regarding the fetal
heart rate, but it does not provide the client the emotional support
she needs at this time during the labor process.
◉ A breastfeeding postpartum client is diagnosed with mastitis and
antibiotic therapy is prescribed. What instruction should the nurse
provide to this client?
Answer: Breastfeed the infant, ensuring that both breasts are
completely emptied.
