HESI MATERNITY PEDIATRIC EXAM SCRIPT
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
◉ A client who delivered a healthy infant 5 days ago calls the clinic
nurse and reports that her lochia is getting lighter in color. Which
action should the nurse take?
A.Instruct the client to go to the emergency room.
B.Recommend vaginal douching.
C.Explain this is a normal finding.
D.Determine if ovulation has occurred.
Answer: C.Explain this is a normal finding.
Rationale:The client is describing lochia serosa, a normal change in
the lochial flow. Options A, B, and D are not recommended for this
normal finding.
,◉ A client at 30 weeks of gestation is on bed rest at home because of
increased blood pressure. The home health nurse has taught her
how to take her own blood pressure and gave her parameters to
judge a significant increase in blood pressure. When the client calls
the clinic complaining of indigestion, which instruction should the
nurse provide?
A.Lie on your left side and call 911 for emergency assistance.
B.Take an antacid and call back if the pain has not subsided.
C.Take your blood pressure now, and if it is seriously elevated, go to
the hospital.
D.See your health care provider to obtain a prescription for a
histamine blocking agent.
Answer: C.Take your blood pressure now, and if it is seriously
elevated, go to the hospital.
Rationale: Checking the blood pressure for an elevation is the best
instruction to give at this time. A blood pressure exceeding 140/90
mm Hg is indicative of preeclampsia. Epigastric pain can be a sign of
an impending seizure (eclampsia), a life-threatening complication of
gestational hypertension. Additional data are needed to confirm an
emergency situation as described in option A. Options B and D
,ignore the threat to client safety posed by a significant increase in
blood pressure.
◉ 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?
A.Two weeks before menstruation
B.Immediately after menstruation
C.Immediately before menstruation
D.Three weeks before menstruation
Answer: A.Two weeks before menstruation
Rationale:Ovulation occurs 14 days before the first day of the
menstrual period. Although 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 the
menstrual cycle varies. Options B, C, and D are incorrect.
◉ A client in active labor is becoming increasingly fearful because
her contractions are occurring more often than she had expected.
, Her partner is also becoming anxious. Which of the following should
be the focus of the nurse's response?
A.Telling the client and her partner that the labor process is often
unpredictable
B.Informing the client that this means she will give birth sooner than
expected
C.Asking the client and her partner if they would like the nurse to
stay in the room
D.Affirming that the fetal heart rate is remaining within normal
limits
Answer: C.Asking the client and her partner if they would like the
nurse to stay in the room
Rationale: Offering to remain with the client and her partner offers
support without providing false reassurance. The length of labor is
not always predictable, but options A and B do not offer the client
the support that is needed at this time. Option D may be reassuring
regarding the fetal heart rate but does not provide the client the
emotional support she needs at this time during the labor process.
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
◉ A client who delivered a healthy infant 5 days ago calls the clinic
nurse and reports that her lochia is getting lighter in color. Which
action should the nurse take?
A.Instruct the client to go to the emergency room.
B.Recommend vaginal douching.
C.Explain this is a normal finding.
D.Determine if ovulation has occurred.
Answer: C.Explain this is a normal finding.
Rationale:The client is describing lochia serosa, a normal change in
the lochial flow. Options A, B, and D are not recommended for this
normal finding.
,◉ A client at 30 weeks of gestation is on bed rest at home because of
increased blood pressure. The home health nurse has taught her
how to take her own blood pressure and gave her parameters to
judge a significant increase in blood pressure. When the client calls
the clinic complaining of indigestion, which instruction should the
nurse provide?
A.Lie on your left side and call 911 for emergency assistance.
B.Take an antacid and call back if the pain has not subsided.
C.Take your blood pressure now, and if it is seriously elevated, go to
the hospital.
D.See your health care provider to obtain a prescription for a
histamine blocking agent.
Answer: C.Take your blood pressure now, and if it is seriously
elevated, go to the hospital.
Rationale: Checking the blood pressure for an elevation is the best
instruction to give at this time. A blood pressure exceeding 140/90
mm Hg is indicative of preeclampsia. Epigastric pain can be a sign of
an impending seizure (eclampsia), a life-threatening complication of
gestational hypertension. Additional data are needed to confirm an
emergency situation as described in option A. Options B and D
,ignore the threat to client safety posed by a significant increase in
blood pressure.
◉ 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?
A.Two weeks before menstruation
B.Immediately after menstruation
C.Immediately before menstruation
D.Three weeks before menstruation
Answer: A.Two weeks before menstruation
Rationale:Ovulation occurs 14 days before the first day of the
menstrual period. Although 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 the
menstrual cycle varies. Options B, C, and D are incorrect.
◉ A client in active labor is becoming increasingly fearful because
her contractions are occurring more often than she had expected.
, Her partner is also becoming anxious. Which of the following should
be the focus of the nurse's response?
A.Telling the client and her partner that the labor process is often
unpredictable
B.Informing the client that this means she will give birth sooner than
expected
C.Asking the client and her partner if they would like the nurse to
stay in the room
D.Affirming that the fetal heart rate is remaining within normal
limits
Answer: C.Asking the client and her partner if they would like the
nurse to stay in the room
Rationale: Offering to remain with the client and her partner offers
support without providing false reassurance. The length of labor is
not always predictable, but options A and B do not offer the client
the support that is needed at this time. Option D may be reassuring
regarding the fetal heart rate but does not provide the client the
emotional support she needs at this time during the labor process.
