AWHONN Advanced Fetal Heart Monitoring
Exam |Questions with Correct Answers 2026
latest update!!
Section 1: Maternal-Fetal Physiology & Oxygenation
Question 1
How can a nurse maximize uterine blood flow to improve fetal oxygenation?
A) Administering oxygen at 10 L/min via non-rebreather mask
B) Position changes, hydration, decreasing uterine contractions, and reducing
fear and anxiety
C) Increasing intravenous fluid rate to 200 mL/hr
D) Placing the patient in Trendelenburg position
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Uterine blood flow is maximized by ensuring optimal maternal
positioning (usually left lateral), adequate hydration, reducing uterine activity
(tocolytic medications if indicated), and minimizing maternal catecholamine
release through anxiety reduction and pain management .
Question 2
How can a nurse maximize umbilical circulation?
A) Position changes and amnioinfusion
B) Increasing maternal oxygen
C) Administering IV fluids
D) Maternal breathing techniques
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale: Umbilical circulation can be optimized through maternal position
changes (relieving cord compression) and amnioinfusion (replacing
oligohydramnios to reduce cord compression risk) .
Question 3
Which factors can diminish oxygen delivery to the fetus?
A) Fever and infection
B) Maternal anemia, decreased maternal cardiac output, and maternal bleeding
C) Gestational diabetes
D) Polyhydramnios
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen delivery can be interrupted by maternal anemia (reduced
oxygen-carrying capacity), decreases in maternal cardiac output, and maternal
bleeding (hypovolemia). These conditions reduce the oxygen available for
placental transfer .
Question 4
Increased fetal oxygen consumption occurs with which maternal condition?
A) Hypothermia
B) Hyperthermia
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Hypotension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperthermia increases metabolic rate and oxygen consumption in
both the mother and fetus, potentially leading to fetal hypoxia if oxygen delivery
cannot meet increased demand .
, Question 5
Fetal oxygenation is dependent on blood flow to the uterus and the placenta via
the:
A) Umbilical arteries
B) Umbilical vein, and the integrity of the placenta
C) Fetal aorta
D) Maternal renal arteries
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fetal oxygenation depends on oxygenated blood traveling from the
placenta to the fetus via the umbilical vein and the structural and functional
integrity of the placenta itself .
Question 6
What is the effect of post-date pregnancy on fetal oxygenation?
A) Increased placental perfusion
B) Decreased fetal oxygenation because the SaO2 drops by 30% at 43 weeks
C) No significant change
D) Increased oxygen-carrying capacity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Post-date pregnancies are associated with placental aging and
dysfunction. The maternal arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) drops by
approximately 30% at 43 weeks gestation, leading to decreased fetal
oxygenation .
Question 7
What are the four fetal responses to decreased oxygen delivery?
A) Increased fetal movement, increased variability, decreased pH, and tachycardia
B) Decreased fetal movement, decreased reactivity, decreased variability, and
Exam |Questions with Correct Answers 2026
latest update!!
Section 1: Maternal-Fetal Physiology & Oxygenation
Question 1
How can a nurse maximize uterine blood flow to improve fetal oxygenation?
A) Administering oxygen at 10 L/min via non-rebreather mask
B) Position changes, hydration, decreasing uterine contractions, and reducing
fear and anxiety
C) Increasing intravenous fluid rate to 200 mL/hr
D) Placing the patient in Trendelenburg position
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Uterine blood flow is maximized by ensuring optimal maternal
positioning (usually left lateral), adequate hydration, reducing uterine activity
(tocolytic medications if indicated), and minimizing maternal catecholamine
release through anxiety reduction and pain management .
Question 2
How can a nurse maximize umbilical circulation?
A) Position changes and amnioinfusion
B) Increasing maternal oxygen
C) Administering IV fluids
D) Maternal breathing techniques
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale: Umbilical circulation can be optimized through maternal position
changes (relieving cord compression) and amnioinfusion (replacing
oligohydramnios to reduce cord compression risk) .
Question 3
Which factors can diminish oxygen delivery to the fetus?
A) Fever and infection
B) Maternal anemia, decreased maternal cardiac output, and maternal bleeding
C) Gestational diabetes
D) Polyhydramnios
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen delivery can be interrupted by maternal anemia (reduced
oxygen-carrying capacity), decreases in maternal cardiac output, and maternal
bleeding (hypovolemia). These conditions reduce the oxygen available for
placental transfer .
Question 4
Increased fetal oxygen consumption occurs with which maternal condition?
A) Hypothermia
B) Hyperthermia
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Hypotension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperthermia increases metabolic rate and oxygen consumption in
both the mother and fetus, potentially leading to fetal hypoxia if oxygen delivery
cannot meet increased demand .
, Question 5
Fetal oxygenation is dependent on blood flow to the uterus and the placenta via
the:
A) Umbilical arteries
B) Umbilical vein, and the integrity of the placenta
C) Fetal aorta
D) Maternal renal arteries
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fetal oxygenation depends on oxygenated blood traveling from the
placenta to the fetus via the umbilical vein and the structural and functional
integrity of the placenta itself .
Question 6
What is the effect of post-date pregnancy on fetal oxygenation?
A) Increased placental perfusion
B) Decreased fetal oxygenation because the SaO2 drops by 30% at 43 weeks
C) No significant change
D) Increased oxygen-carrying capacity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Post-date pregnancies are associated with placental aging and
dysfunction. The maternal arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) drops by
approximately 30% at 43 weeks gestation, leading to decreased fetal
oxygenation .
Question 7
What are the four fetal responses to decreased oxygen delivery?
A) Increased fetal movement, increased variability, decreased pH, and tachycardia
B) Decreased fetal movement, decreased reactivity, decreased variability, and
