NCC ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING
CERTIFICATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
●● How does the fetus compensate for decreased maternal circulating
volume?
a. Increases cardiac output by increasing stroke volume.
b. Increases cardiac output by increasing it's heart rate.
c. Increases cardiac output by increasing fetal movement.
Answer: b. Increases cardiac output by increasing it's heart rate.
●● Stimulating the vagus nerve typically produces:
a. A decrease in the heart rate
b. An increase in the heart rate
c. An increase in stroke volume
d. No change
Answer: a. A decrease in the heart rate
●● What initially causes a chemoreceptor response?
a. Epidurals
b. Supine maternal position
,c. Increased CO2 levels
d. Decreased O2 levels
e. A & C
f. A & B
g. C & D
Answer: g. C & D
●● The vagus nerve begins maturation 26 to 28 weeks. Its dominance
results in what effect to the FHR baseline?
a. Increases baseline
b. Decreases baseline
Answer: b. Decreases baseline
●● T/F: Oxygen exchange in the placenta takes place in the intervillous
space.
Answer: True
●● T/F: The parasympathetic nervous system is a cardioaccelerator.
Answer: False
●● T/F: Baroreceptors are stretch receptors which respond to increases
or decreases in blood pressure.
Answer: True
,●● T/F: There are two electronic fetal monitoring methods of obtaining
the fetal heart rate: the ultrasound transducer and the fetal spiral
electrode.
Answer: True
●● T/F: Variability can be determined with the fetoscope.
Answer: False
●● T/F: Because the ultrasound transducer and toco transducer are
sealed units, they can be dipped in warm water to make cleaning easier.
Answer: False
●● T/F: The most common artifact with the ultrasound transducer
system for fetal heart rate is increased variability.
Answer: True
●● T/F: All fetal monitors contain a logic system designed to reject
artifact.
Answer: True
●● T/F: The monitor should always be tested before starting a tracing,
either external or internal mode and labeled a test.
Answer: True
, ●● T/F: The paper speed on the fetal monitor should always be set at
1cm/min.
Answer: False
●● T/F: Both internal and external monitoring methods are equally
accurate means of obtaining the fetal heart rate and contraction patterns.
Answer: False
●● T/F: The external toco is usually placed over the uterine fundus to
pick up contractions.
Answer: True
●● T/F: The external toco gives measurable uterine pressure.
Answer: False
●● T/F: The fetal spiral electrode can be placed when vaginal bleeding
of unknown origin is present.
Answer: False
●● T/F: The ultrasound transducer is usually placed on the side of the
uterus over the baby's back, as the fetal heart is heard best there.
Answer: True
CERTIFICATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
●● How does the fetus compensate for decreased maternal circulating
volume?
a. Increases cardiac output by increasing stroke volume.
b. Increases cardiac output by increasing it's heart rate.
c. Increases cardiac output by increasing fetal movement.
Answer: b. Increases cardiac output by increasing it's heart rate.
●● Stimulating the vagus nerve typically produces:
a. A decrease in the heart rate
b. An increase in the heart rate
c. An increase in stroke volume
d. No change
Answer: a. A decrease in the heart rate
●● What initially causes a chemoreceptor response?
a. Epidurals
b. Supine maternal position
,c. Increased CO2 levels
d. Decreased O2 levels
e. A & C
f. A & B
g. C & D
Answer: g. C & D
●● The vagus nerve begins maturation 26 to 28 weeks. Its dominance
results in what effect to the FHR baseline?
a. Increases baseline
b. Decreases baseline
Answer: b. Decreases baseline
●● T/F: Oxygen exchange in the placenta takes place in the intervillous
space.
Answer: True
●● T/F: The parasympathetic nervous system is a cardioaccelerator.
Answer: False
●● T/F: Baroreceptors are stretch receptors which respond to increases
or decreases in blood pressure.
Answer: True
,●● T/F: There are two electronic fetal monitoring methods of obtaining
the fetal heart rate: the ultrasound transducer and the fetal spiral
electrode.
Answer: True
●● T/F: Variability can be determined with the fetoscope.
Answer: False
●● T/F: Because the ultrasound transducer and toco transducer are
sealed units, they can be dipped in warm water to make cleaning easier.
Answer: False
●● T/F: The most common artifact with the ultrasound transducer
system for fetal heart rate is increased variability.
Answer: True
●● T/F: All fetal monitors contain a logic system designed to reject
artifact.
Answer: True
●● T/F: The monitor should always be tested before starting a tracing,
either external or internal mode and labeled a test.
Answer: True
, ●● T/F: The paper speed on the fetal monitor should always be set at
1cm/min.
Answer: False
●● T/F: Both internal and external monitoring methods are equally
accurate means of obtaining the fetal heart rate and contraction patterns.
Answer: False
●● T/F: The external toco is usually placed over the uterine fundus to
pick up contractions.
Answer: True
●● T/F: The external toco gives measurable uterine pressure.
Answer: False
●● T/F: The fetal spiral electrode can be placed when vaginal bleeding
of unknown origin is present.
Answer: False
●● T/F: The ultrasound transducer is usually placed on the side of the
uterus over the baby's back, as the fetal heart is heard best there.
Answer: True
