HESI MATERNITY PEDIATRICS EXAM
SCRIPT 2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
AND FULL SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ A healthcare provider informs the charge nurse of a labor and delivery
unit that a client is coming to the unit with suspected abruptio placentae.
What findings should the charge nurse expect the client to demonstrate?
(Select all that apply)
a. Dark, red vaginal bleeding
b. Lower back pain
c. Premature rupture of membranes
d. Increased uterine irritability
e. Bilateral pitting edema
f. A rigid abdomen.
Answer: a. Dark, red vaginal bleeding
d. Increased uterine irritability
f. A rigid abdomen
The symptoms of abruptio placentae include dark red vaginal bleeding
(A), increased uterine irritability (D), and a rigid abdomen (F).
⩥ The nurse assesses a client admitted to the labor and delivery unit and
obtains the following data: dark red vaginal bleeding, uterus slightly
,tense between contractions, BP 110/68, FHR 110 beats/minute, cervix 1
cm dilated and uneffaced. Based on these assessment findings, what
intervention should the nurse implement?
a. Insert an internal fetal monitor
b. Assess for cervical changes q1h
c. Monitor bleeding from IV sites
d. Perform Leopold's maneuvers.
Answer: c. Monitor bleeding from IV sites
Monitoring bleeding from peripheral sites (C) is the priority
intervention. This client is presenting with signs of placental abruption.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a complication of
placental abruption, characterized by abnormal bleeding.
⩥ A client who is attending antepartum classes asks the nurse why her
healthcare provider has prescribed iron tablets. The nurse's response is
based on what knowledge?
a. Supplementary iron is more efficiently utilized during pregnancy
b. It it difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
c. Iron absorption is decreased in the GI tract during pregnancy
d. Iron is needed to prevent megaloblastic anemia in the last trimester.
Answer: b. It is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet
alone
,Consuming enough iron-containing foods to facilitate adequate fetal
storage of iron and to meet the demands of pregnancy is difficult (B) so
iron supplements are often recommended.
⩥ A 42-week gestational client is receiving an intravenous infusion of
oxytocin (Pitocin) to augment early labor. The nurse should discontinue
the oxytocin infusion for which pattern of contractions?
a. Transition labor with contractions every 2 minutes, lasting 90 seconds
each
a. Early labor with contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 40 seconds each
c. Active labor with contractions every 31 minutes, lasting 60 seconds
each
d. Active labor with contractions every 2 to 3 minutes, lasting 70 to 80
seconds each.
Answer: a. Transition labor with contractions every 2 minutes, lasting 90
seconds each
Contractions pattern (A) describes hyperstimulation and an inadequate
resting time between contractions to allow for placental perfusion. The
oxytocin infusion should be discontinued.
⩥ Which maternal behavior is the nurse most likely to see when a new
mother receives her infant for the first time?
a. She eagerly reaches for the infant, undresses the infants, and examines
the infant completely
, b. Her arms and hands receive the infant and she then traces the infant's
profile with her fingertips
c. Her arms and hands receive the infant and she then cuddles the infant
to her own body
d. She eagerly reaches for the infant and then holds the infant close to
her own body.
Answer: b. Her arms and hands receive the infant and she then traces the
infant's profile with her fingertips
Attachment/bonding theory indicates that most mothers will demonstrate
behaviors described in (B) during the first visit with the newborn, which
may be at delivery of later.
⩥ Client teaching is an important part of the maternity nurse's role.
Which factor has the greatest influence on successful teaching on the
gravid client?
a. The client's readiness to learn
b. The client's educational background
c. The order in which the information is presented
d. The extent to which the pregnancy was planned.
Answer: a. the client's readiness to learn
When teaching any client, readiness to learn (A) is the most important
criterion. For example, the client with severe morning sickness in the
SCRIPT 2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
AND FULL SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ A healthcare provider informs the charge nurse of a labor and delivery
unit that a client is coming to the unit with suspected abruptio placentae.
What findings should the charge nurse expect the client to demonstrate?
(Select all that apply)
a. Dark, red vaginal bleeding
b. Lower back pain
c. Premature rupture of membranes
d. Increased uterine irritability
e. Bilateral pitting edema
f. A rigid abdomen.
Answer: a. Dark, red vaginal bleeding
d. Increased uterine irritability
f. A rigid abdomen
The symptoms of abruptio placentae include dark red vaginal bleeding
(A), increased uterine irritability (D), and a rigid abdomen (F).
⩥ The nurse assesses a client admitted to the labor and delivery unit and
obtains the following data: dark red vaginal bleeding, uterus slightly
,tense between contractions, BP 110/68, FHR 110 beats/minute, cervix 1
cm dilated and uneffaced. Based on these assessment findings, what
intervention should the nurse implement?
a. Insert an internal fetal monitor
b. Assess for cervical changes q1h
c. Monitor bleeding from IV sites
d. Perform Leopold's maneuvers.
Answer: c. Monitor bleeding from IV sites
Monitoring bleeding from peripheral sites (C) is the priority
intervention. This client is presenting with signs of placental abruption.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a complication of
placental abruption, characterized by abnormal bleeding.
⩥ A client who is attending antepartum classes asks the nurse why her
healthcare provider has prescribed iron tablets. The nurse's response is
based on what knowledge?
a. Supplementary iron is more efficiently utilized during pregnancy
b. It it difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet alone
c. Iron absorption is decreased in the GI tract during pregnancy
d. Iron is needed to prevent megaloblastic anemia in the last trimester.
Answer: b. It is difficult to consume 18 mg of additional iron by diet
alone
,Consuming enough iron-containing foods to facilitate adequate fetal
storage of iron and to meet the demands of pregnancy is difficult (B) so
iron supplements are often recommended.
⩥ A 42-week gestational client is receiving an intravenous infusion of
oxytocin (Pitocin) to augment early labor. The nurse should discontinue
the oxytocin infusion for which pattern of contractions?
a. Transition labor with contractions every 2 minutes, lasting 90 seconds
each
a. Early labor with contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 40 seconds each
c. Active labor with contractions every 31 minutes, lasting 60 seconds
each
d. Active labor with contractions every 2 to 3 minutes, lasting 70 to 80
seconds each.
Answer: a. Transition labor with contractions every 2 minutes, lasting 90
seconds each
Contractions pattern (A) describes hyperstimulation and an inadequate
resting time between contractions to allow for placental perfusion. The
oxytocin infusion should be discontinued.
⩥ Which maternal behavior is the nurse most likely to see when a new
mother receives her infant for the first time?
a. She eagerly reaches for the infant, undresses the infants, and examines
the infant completely
, b. Her arms and hands receive the infant and she then traces the infant's
profile with her fingertips
c. Her arms and hands receive the infant and she then cuddles the infant
to her own body
d. She eagerly reaches for the infant and then holds the infant close to
her own body.
Answer: b. Her arms and hands receive the infant and she then traces the
infant's profile with her fingertips
Attachment/bonding theory indicates that most mothers will demonstrate
behaviors described in (B) during the first visit with the newborn, which
may be at delivery of later.
⩥ Client teaching is an important part of the maternity nurse's role.
Which factor has the greatest influence on successful teaching on the
gravid client?
a. The client's readiness to learn
b. The client's educational background
c. The order in which the information is presented
d. The extent to which the pregnancy was planned.
Answer: a. the client's readiness to learn
When teaching any client, readiness to learn (A) is the most important
criterion. For example, the client with severe morning sickness in the
