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MATERNITY HESI 1 & 2 QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
1. A nurse is assessing a client at 10 weeks gestation. Which finding requires
immediate follow-up?
A. Nausea with vomiting once daily
B. Breast tenderness and urinary frequency
C. Unilateral lower quadrant abdominal pain
D. Fatigue and increased appetite
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Unilateral lower quadrant pain during early pregnancy is a classic
warning sign of ectopic pregnancy, which requires immediate medical evaluation
to prevent rupture and life-threatening hemorrhage. Nausea, breast tenderness,
urinary frequency, and fatigue are normal physiological adaptations of early
pregnancy .
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2. A client at 32 weeks gestation reports sudden, painless vaginal bleeding. The
nurse should first suspect:
A. Placenta previa
B. Abruptio placentae
C. Labor
D. Cervical insufficiency
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding in the third trimester is the
hallmark presentation of placenta previa. Abruptio placentae typically presents
with painful bleeding, uterine tenderness, and a rigid uterus .
3. A nurse is teaching a primigravida about signs of true labor. Which statement
indicates understanding?
A. "Pain will be felt only in my lower back"
B. "Walking will make the contractions stop"
C. "Contractions will occur at regular intervals and increase in intensity"
D. "My cervix will not change if it is true labor"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: True labor contractions are characterized by regular intervals,
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progressive intensification, and accompanying cervical dilation and effacement.
False labor contractions are typically irregular and may subside with ambulation .
4. A client with gestational diabetes at 36 weeks has an amniotic fluid index (AFI)
of 24 cm. The nurse understands this indicates:
A. Oligohydramnios
B. Polyhydramnios
C. Normal fluid level
D. Rupture of membranes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An AFI greater than 24 cm is considered polyhydramnios. Gestational
diabetes can cause fetal polyuria due to fetal hyperglycemia, leading to increased
amniotic fluid volume. Normal AFI ranges from 5 to 25 cm .
5. A client at 30 weeks gestation is on bed rest at home for increased blood
pressure. She 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
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C. Take your blood pressure now and if it is seriously elevated, go to the hospital
D. See your healthcare provider to obtain a prescription for a histamine blocking
agent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Indigestion-like symptoms in a client with elevated blood pressure can
be a warning sign of worsening preeclampsia, including potential HELLP
syndrome. The nurse should instruct the client to assess her blood pressure first
to determine if urgent evaluation is needed .
6. The nurse observes that an antepartum client on bed rest for preterm labor is
eating ice rather than the food on her breakfast tray. Which is the best response
by the nurse?
A. Remove all ice from the client's room
B. Ask the client what foods she might consider eating
C. Remind the client that what she eats affects her baby
D. Notify the healthcare provider
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Craving and chewing ice (pagophobia) is often a sign of iron deficiency
MATERNITY HESI 1 & 2 QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
1. A nurse is assessing a client at 10 weeks gestation. Which finding requires
immediate follow-up?
A. Nausea with vomiting once daily
B. Breast tenderness and urinary frequency
C. Unilateral lower quadrant abdominal pain
D. Fatigue and increased appetite
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Unilateral lower quadrant pain during early pregnancy is a classic
warning sign of ectopic pregnancy, which requires immediate medical evaluation
to prevent rupture and life-threatening hemorrhage. Nausea, breast tenderness,
urinary frequency, and fatigue are normal physiological adaptations of early
pregnancy .
,2|Page
2. A client at 32 weeks gestation reports sudden, painless vaginal bleeding. The
nurse should first suspect:
A. Placenta previa
B. Abruptio placentae
C. Labor
D. Cervical insufficiency
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding in the third trimester is the
hallmark presentation of placenta previa. Abruptio placentae typically presents
with painful bleeding, uterine tenderness, and a rigid uterus .
3. A nurse is teaching a primigravida about signs of true labor. Which statement
indicates understanding?
A. "Pain will be felt only in my lower back"
B. "Walking will make the contractions stop"
C. "Contractions will occur at regular intervals and increase in intensity"
D. "My cervix will not change if it is true labor"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: True labor contractions are characterized by regular intervals,
,3|Page
progressive intensification, and accompanying cervical dilation and effacement.
False labor contractions are typically irregular and may subside with ambulation .
4. A client with gestational diabetes at 36 weeks has an amniotic fluid index (AFI)
of 24 cm. The nurse understands this indicates:
A. Oligohydramnios
B. Polyhydramnios
C. Normal fluid level
D. Rupture of membranes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An AFI greater than 24 cm is considered polyhydramnios. Gestational
diabetes can cause fetal polyuria due to fetal hyperglycemia, leading to increased
amniotic fluid volume. Normal AFI ranges from 5 to 25 cm .
5. A client at 30 weeks gestation is on bed rest at home for increased blood
pressure. She 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
, 4|Page
C. Take your blood pressure now and if it is seriously elevated, go to the hospital
D. See your healthcare provider to obtain a prescription for a histamine blocking
agent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Indigestion-like symptoms in a client with elevated blood pressure can
be a warning sign of worsening preeclampsia, including potential HELLP
syndrome. The nurse should instruct the client to assess her blood pressure first
to determine if urgent evaluation is needed .
6. The nurse observes that an antepartum client on bed rest for preterm labor is
eating ice rather than the food on her breakfast tray. Which is the best response
by the nurse?
A. Remove all ice from the client's room
B. Ask the client what foods she might consider eating
C. Remind the client that what she eats affects her baby
D. Notify the healthcare provider
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Craving and chewing ice (pagophobia) is often a sign of iron deficiency
