HESI OB/Maternity – Fetal Monitoring Exam with 300+
detailed Questions and Answers with Rationales
2026/2027 Update
Questions 1
1. Which fetal heart rate (FHR) baseline is considered normal at
term?
A. 90–110 bpm
B. 100–120 bpm
C. 110–160 bpm
D. 160–190 bpm
Answer: C
Rationale: A baseline FHR of 110–160 bpm is considered
normal.
2. The nurse notes a fetal heart rate baseline of 175 bpm for 15
minutes. How should this finding be classified?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Normal baseline
D. Sinusoidal pattern
Answer: B
Rationale: Fetal tachycardia is a baseline above 160 bpm lasting
at least 10 minutes.
3. Which maternal condition can contribute to fetal
tachycardia?
,A. Maternal hypothermia
B. Maternal fever
C. Maternal hypertension alone
D. Maternal fasting
Answer: B
Rationale: Maternal fever, infection, medications, and fetal
hypoxia can contribute to fetal tachycardia.
4. A baseline FHR of 105 bpm persisting for 12 minutes is
documented. The nurse should identify this as:
A. Normal variability
B. Fetal bradycardia
C. Fetal tachycardia
D. Variable deceleration
Answer: B
Rationale: Fetal bradycardia is a baseline below 110 bpm for at
least 10 minutes.
5. Which finding represents moderate FHR variability?
A. Undetectable fluctuations
B. 1 bpm fluctuations
C. 6–25 bpm fluctuations
D. Greater than 40 bpm fluctuations
Answer: C
Rationale: Moderate variability is defined as fluctuations of 6–
25 bpm around the baseline.
,6. Moderate variability is generally considered reassuring
because it indicates:
A. Fetal cardiac arrest
B. Adequate fetal oxygenation and neurologic function
C. Maternal dehydration
D. Uterine rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: Moderate variability reflects intact fetal autonomic
function and is generally reassuring.
7. Which tracing is characterized by gradual decreases in FHR
that mirror contractions?
A. Early decelerations
B. Late decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Prolonged decelerations
Answer: A
Rationale: Early decelerations typically begin and end with
contractions and are associated with fetal head compression.
8. Early decelerations are most commonly caused by:
A. Umbilical cord compression
B. Uteroplacental insufficiency
C. Fetal head compression
D. Maternal hypoglycemia
, Answer: C
Rationale: Head compression during labor stimulates the vagus
nerve and produces early decelerations.
9. Which type of deceleration begins after the contraction
begins and reaches its lowest point after the contraction peak?
A. Early
B. Late
C. Variable
D. Accelerated
Answer: B
Rationale: Late decelerations are delayed relative to uterine
contractions.
10. Late decelerations are most concerning for:
A. Fetal head compression
B. Uteroplacental insufficiency
C. Normal fetal sleep
D. Umbilical cord prolapse only
Answer: B
Rationale: Late decelerations reflect impaired oxygen exchange
between the placenta and fetus.
11. Variable decelerations are primarily associated with:
A. Head compression
B. Cord compression
C. Maternal fever
D. Fetal sleep
detailed Questions and Answers with Rationales
2026/2027 Update
Questions 1
1. Which fetal heart rate (FHR) baseline is considered normal at
term?
A. 90–110 bpm
B. 100–120 bpm
C. 110–160 bpm
D. 160–190 bpm
Answer: C
Rationale: A baseline FHR of 110–160 bpm is considered
normal.
2. The nurse notes a fetal heart rate baseline of 175 bpm for 15
minutes. How should this finding be classified?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Normal baseline
D. Sinusoidal pattern
Answer: B
Rationale: Fetal tachycardia is a baseline above 160 bpm lasting
at least 10 minutes.
3. Which maternal condition can contribute to fetal
tachycardia?
,A. Maternal hypothermia
B. Maternal fever
C. Maternal hypertension alone
D. Maternal fasting
Answer: B
Rationale: Maternal fever, infection, medications, and fetal
hypoxia can contribute to fetal tachycardia.
4. A baseline FHR of 105 bpm persisting for 12 minutes is
documented. The nurse should identify this as:
A. Normal variability
B. Fetal bradycardia
C. Fetal tachycardia
D. Variable deceleration
Answer: B
Rationale: Fetal bradycardia is a baseline below 110 bpm for at
least 10 minutes.
5. Which finding represents moderate FHR variability?
A. Undetectable fluctuations
B. 1 bpm fluctuations
C. 6–25 bpm fluctuations
D. Greater than 40 bpm fluctuations
Answer: C
Rationale: Moderate variability is defined as fluctuations of 6–
25 bpm around the baseline.
,6. Moderate variability is generally considered reassuring
because it indicates:
A. Fetal cardiac arrest
B. Adequate fetal oxygenation and neurologic function
C. Maternal dehydration
D. Uterine rupture
Answer: B
Rationale: Moderate variability reflects intact fetal autonomic
function and is generally reassuring.
7. Which tracing is characterized by gradual decreases in FHR
that mirror contractions?
A. Early decelerations
B. Late decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Prolonged decelerations
Answer: A
Rationale: Early decelerations typically begin and end with
contractions and are associated with fetal head compression.
8. Early decelerations are most commonly caused by:
A. Umbilical cord compression
B. Uteroplacental insufficiency
C. Fetal head compression
D. Maternal hypoglycemia
, Answer: C
Rationale: Head compression during labor stimulates the vagus
nerve and produces early decelerations.
9. Which type of deceleration begins after the contraction
begins and reaches its lowest point after the contraction peak?
A. Early
B. Late
C. Variable
D. Accelerated
Answer: B
Rationale: Late decelerations are delayed relative to uterine
contractions.
10. Late decelerations are most concerning for:
A. Fetal head compression
B. Uteroplacental insufficiency
C. Normal fetal sleep
D. Umbilical cord prolapse only
Answer: B
Rationale: Late decelerations reflect impaired oxygen exchange
between the placenta and fetus.
11. Variable decelerations are primarily associated with:
A. Head compression
B. Cord compression
C. Maternal fever
D. Fetal sleep
