MATERNAL-PEDIATRIC HESI
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Which nursing intervention would be most helpful in relieving postpartum uterine
contractions or "afterpains"?
a. lying prone with a pillow on the abdomen
b. using a breast pump
c. massaging the abdomen
d. giving oxytocic medications - ANSWER-A
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 infant, 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 hold the infant close to her own body -
ANSWER-B
On admission to the prenatal clinic, a 23-year-old woman tells the nurse that her last
menstrual period began on February 15, and that previously her periods were
regular. Her pregnancy test is positive. This client's expected date of delivery would
be
a. November 22
b. November 8
c. December 22
d. October 22 - ANSWER-A
The nurse is counseling a woman who wants to become pregnant. The woman tells
the nurse that she has a 36-day menstrual cycle and the first day of her last
menstrual period was January 8. The nurse correctly calculates that the woman's
next fertile period will be
a. January 14-15
b. January 22-23
c. January 30-31
d. February 6-7 - ANSWER-C
A client at 32-weeks gestation is hospitalized with severe pregnancy-induced
hypertension (PIH), and magnesium sulfate is prescribed to control the symptoms.
Which assessment findings would indicate that therapeutic drug level has been
achieved?
a. 4+ reflexes
b. urinary output of 50 mL per hour
c. a decrease in respiratory rate from 24 to 16
, d. a decreased body temperature - ANSWER-C
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring
client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action will the nurse take?
a. notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately
b. continue to assess the blood pressure q 5 minutes
c. place the woman in a lateral position
d. turn off the continuous epidural - ANSWER-C
A client at 28-weeks gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that she is
experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding which she describes as bright red.
She further states that she is not experiencing any uterine contractions or abdominal
pain. What instruction should the nurse provide?
a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
b. go immediately to the emergency room
c. lie on your left side for about one hour and see if the bleeding stops.
d. bring a urine specimen to the lab tomorrow to determine if you have a urinary tract
infection - ANSWER-A
An off-duty nurse finds a woman in a supermarket parking lot delivering an infant
while her husband is screaming for someone to help her wife. Which intervention has
the highest priority?
a. use a thread to tie off the umbilical cord
b. provide as much privacy as possible for the woman.
c. reassure the husband and try to keep him calm
d. put the newborn to breast - ANSWER-D
A pregnant client with mitral stenosis Class III is prescribed complete bedrest. The
client asks the nurse, "why must I stay in bed all the time?" Which response is best
for the nurse to provide this client?
a. "complete bedrest decreases oxygen needs and demands on the heart muscle
tissue."
b. "we want your body to be healthy, and this is the only way we can make sure that
will happen."
c. "I know you're upset. Would you like to talk about some things you could do while
in bed?"
d. "labor is difficult and you need to use this time to rest before you have to assume
all child-caring duties." - ANSWER-A
The nurse is teaching care of the newborn to a group of prospective parents and
describes the need for administering antibiotic ointment into the eyes of the newborn.
Which infectious organism will this treatment prevent from harming the infant?
a. herpes
b. staphylococcus
c. gonorrhea
d. syphilis - ANSWER-C
A newborn infant is brought to the nursery from the birthing suite. The nurse notices
that the infant is breathing satisfactorily but appears dusky. What action should the
nurse take first?
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Which nursing intervention would be most helpful in relieving postpartum uterine
contractions or "afterpains"?
a. lying prone with a pillow on the abdomen
b. using a breast pump
c. massaging the abdomen
d. giving oxytocic medications - ANSWER-A
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 infant, 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 hold the infant close to her own body -
ANSWER-B
On admission to the prenatal clinic, a 23-year-old woman tells the nurse that her last
menstrual period began on February 15, and that previously her periods were
regular. Her pregnancy test is positive. This client's expected date of delivery would
be
a. November 22
b. November 8
c. December 22
d. October 22 - ANSWER-A
The nurse is counseling a woman who wants to become pregnant. The woman tells
the nurse that she has a 36-day menstrual cycle and the first day of her last
menstrual period was January 8. The nurse correctly calculates that the woman's
next fertile period will be
a. January 14-15
b. January 22-23
c. January 30-31
d. February 6-7 - ANSWER-C
A client at 32-weeks gestation is hospitalized with severe pregnancy-induced
hypertension (PIH), and magnesium sulfate is prescribed to control the symptoms.
Which assessment findings would indicate that therapeutic drug level has been
achieved?
a. 4+ reflexes
b. urinary output of 50 mL per hour
c. a decrease in respiratory rate from 24 to 16
, d. a decreased body temperature - ANSWER-C
Twenty minutes after a continuous epidural anesthetic is administered, a laboring
client's blood pressure drops from 120/80 to 90/60. What action will the nurse take?
a. notify the healthcare provider or anesthesiologist immediately
b. continue to assess the blood pressure q 5 minutes
c. place the woman in a lateral position
d. turn off the continuous epidural - ANSWER-C
A client at 28-weeks gestation calls the antepartal clinic and states that she is
experiencing a small amount of vaginal bleeding which she describes as bright red.
She further states that she is not experiencing any uterine contractions or abdominal
pain. What instruction should the nurse provide?
a. come to the clinic today for an ultrasound
b. go immediately to the emergency room
c. lie on your left side for about one hour and see if the bleeding stops.
d. bring a urine specimen to the lab tomorrow to determine if you have a urinary tract
infection - ANSWER-A
An off-duty nurse finds a woman in a supermarket parking lot delivering an infant
while her husband is screaming for someone to help her wife. Which intervention has
the highest priority?
a. use a thread to tie off the umbilical cord
b. provide as much privacy as possible for the woman.
c. reassure the husband and try to keep him calm
d. put the newborn to breast - ANSWER-D
A pregnant client with mitral stenosis Class III is prescribed complete bedrest. The
client asks the nurse, "why must I stay in bed all the time?" Which response is best
for the nurse to provide this client?
a. "complete bedrest decreases oxygen needs and demands on the heart muscle
tissue."
b. "we want your body to be healthy, and this is the only way we can make sure that
will happen."
c. "I know you're upset. Would you like to talk about some things you could do while
in bed?"
d. "labor is difficult and you need to use this time to rest before you have to assume
all child-caring duties." - ANSWER-A
The nurse is teaching care of the newborn to a group of prospective parents and
describes the need for administering antibiotic ointment into the eyes of the newborn.
Which infectious organism will this treatment prevent from harming the infant?
a. herpes
b. staphylococcus
c. gonorrhea
d. syphilis - ANSWER-C
A newborn infant is brought to the nursery from the birthing suite. The nurse notices
that the infant is breathing satisfactorily but appears dusky. What action should the
nurse take first?
