HESI OBSTETRICS/MATERNITY
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
A 4-week old premature infant has been receiving epoetin alfa for the last 3 weeks.
Which assessment finding indicated to the nurse that the drug is effective? -
ANSWER-C. changes in apical heart rate from the 180s to the 140s
The healthcare provider prescribes terbulatine (Brethine) for a client in preterm labor.
Before initiating this prescription, it is most important for the nurse to assess the
client for which condition? - ANSWER-A. gestational diabetes
A client with no prenatal care arrives at the labor unit screaming, "the baby is
coming". The nurse performs a vaginal examination that reveals the cervix is 3
centimeters dilated and 75% effaced. What additional information is most important
for the nurse to obtain? - ANSWER-C. date of last normal menstrual period.
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? -
ANSWER-C. monitor bleeding from IV sites.
immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed under a
radiant warmer. The infant has spontaneous respirations and the nurse assesses an
apical heart rate of 80 BPM and respirations of 20 BPM. What action should the
nurse perform next? - ANSWER-A. initiate positive pressure ventilation.
The nurse is preparing to give an enema to a laboring client. Which client would
require the most caution when carrying out this procedure? - ANSWER-D. a 40-week
primagravida who presents at 100% effacement, 3 cm dilation, and a -1 station.
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who is 24 hours postpartum.
The nurse explains to the client that her vaginal discharge will change from red to
pink and then to white. The client asks, "What if I start having red bleeding after it
changes?" What should the nurse instruct the client to do? - ANSWER-A. Reduce
activity level and notify healthcare provider.
One hour after giving birth to an 8-pound infant, a client's lochia rubra has increased
from small to large and her fundus is boggy despite massage. The client's pulse is
84 beats/minute and blood pressure is 156/96. The healthcare provider prescribes
Methergine 0.2 mg IM × 1. What action should the nurse take immediately? -
ANSWER-D. Call the healthcare provider to question the prescription.
A client at 32-weeks gestation is diagnosed with preeclampsia. Which assessment
finding is most indicative of an impending convulsion? - ANSWER-C. epigastric pain
, A client at 32-weeks gestation comes to the prenatal clinic with complaints of pedal
edema, dyspnea, fatigue, and a moist cough. Which question is most important for
the nurse to ask the client? - ANSWER-D. Do you have a history of rheumatic fever?
A couple has been trying to conceive for 9 months without success. Which
information obtained from the clients is most likely to have an impact on the couple's
ability to conceive? - ANSWER-D. They use lubricants with each sexual encounter to
decrease friction.
After each feeding, a 3-day-old newborn is spitting up large amounts of Enfamil
Newborn Formula, a nonfat cow's milk formula. The pediatric healthcare provider
changes the neonate's formula to Similac Soy Isomil Formula, a soy protein isolate
based infant formula. What information should the nurse provide to the mother about
the newly prescribed formula? - ANSWER-D. Similac Soy Isomil Formula is a soy-
based formula that contains sucrose.
The nurse is performing a gestational age assessment on a full-term newborn during
the first hour of transition using the Ballard scale. Based on this assessment, the
nurse determines that the neonate has a maturity rating at 40-weeks. What findings
should the nurse identify to determine if the neonate is SGA? - ANSWER-A.
admission weight of 4 lbs.
B. Head to heel length of 17 inches.
C. frontal occipital circumference of 12.5 inches.
The nurse is assessing a client who is having a NST at 41-weeks gestation. The
nurse determines that the client is not having contractions, the FHR baseline is 144
bpm, and no FHR accels are occurring. What action should the nurse take? -
ANSWER-D. Ask the client if she has felt any fetal movement.
A vaginally delivered infant of an HIV positive mother is admitted to the newborn
nursery. What intervention should the nurse perform first? - ANSWER-A. Bathe the
infant with antimicrobial soap.
A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her LMP was 8/2/06. Based on
Nagele's rule, what is the estimated date of delivery? - ANSWER-B. 5/9/07
Which action should the nurse implement when preparing to measure the fundal
height of a pregnant client? - ANSWER-A. Have the client empty her bladder.
A client who is in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy tells the nurse that she wants to use
herbal therapy. Which response is best for the nurse to provide? - ANSWER-D. It is
important that you want to take part in your care.
The nurse is planning preconception care for a new female client. Which information
should the nurse provide to the client? - ANSWER-D. Encourage healthy lifestyles
for families during pregnancy.
A primagravida client who is 5 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and at 0 station is requesting
an epidural for pain relief. Which assessment finding is most important to the nurse
to report to the healthcare provider? - ANSWER-D. A platelet count of 67,000/mm3.
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
A 4-week old premature infant has been receiving epoetin alfa for the last 3 weeks.
Which assessment finding indicated to the nurse that the drug is effective? -
ANSWER-C. changes in apical heart rate from the 180s to the 140s
The healthcare provider prescribes terbulatine (Brethine) for a client in preterm labor.
Before initiating this prescription, it is most important for the nurse to assess the
client for which condition? - ANSWER-A. gestational diabetes
A client with no prenatal care arrives at the labor unit screaming, "the baby is
coming". The nurse performs a vaginal examination that reveals the cervix is 3
centimeters dilated and 75% effaced. What additional information is most important
for the nurse to obtain? - ANSWER-C. date of last normal menstrual period.
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? -
ANSWER-C. monitor bleeding from IV sites.
immediately after birth a newborn infant is suctioned, dried, and placed under a
radiant warmer. The infant has spontaneous respirations and the nurse assesses an
apical heart rate of 80 BPM and respirations of 20 BPM. What action should the
nurse perform next? - ANSWER-A. initiate positive pressure ventilation.
The nurse is preparing to give an enema to a laboring client. Which client would
require the most caution when carrying out this procedure? - ANSWER-D. a 40-week
primagravida who presents at 100% effacement, 3 cm dilation, and a -1 station.
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who is 24 hours postpartum.
The nurse explains to the client that her vaginal discharge will change from red to
pink and then to white. The client asks, "What if I start having red bleeding after it
changes?" What should the nurse instruct the client to do? - ANSWER-A. Reduce
activity level and notify healthcare provider.
One hour after giving birth to an 8-pound infant, a client's lochia rubra has increased
from small to large and her fundus is boggy despite massage. The client's pulse is
84 beats/minute and blood pressure is 156/96. The healthcare provider prescribes
Methergine 0.2 mg IM × 1. What action should the nurse take immediately? -
ANSWER-D. Call the healthcare provider to question the prescription.
A client at 32-weeks gestation is diagnosed with preeclampsia. Which assessment
finding is most indicative of an impending convulsion? - ANSWER-C. epigastric pain
, A client at 32-weeks gestation comes to the prenatal clinic with complaints of pedal
edema, dyspnea, fatigue, and a moist cough. Which question is most important for
the nurse to ask the client? - ANSWER-D. Do you have a history of rheumatic fever?
A couple has been trying to conceive for 9 months without success. Which
information obtained from the clients is most likely to have an impact on the couple's
ability to conceive? - ANSWER-D. They use lubricants with each sexual encounter to
decrease friction.
After each feeding, a 3-day-old newborn is spitting up large amounts of Enfamil
Newborn Formula, a nonfat cow's milk formula. The pediatric healthcare provider
changes the neonate's formula to Similac Soy Isomil Formula, a soy protein isolate
based infant formula. What information should the nurse provide to the mother about
the newly prescribed formula? - ANSWER-D. Similac Soy Isomil Formula is a soy-
based formula that contains sucrose.
The nurse is performing a gestational age assessment on a full-term newborn during
the first hour of transition using the Ballard scale. Based on this assessment, the
nurse determines that the neonate has a maturity rating at 40-weeks. What findings
should the nurse identify to determine if the neonate is SGA? - ANSWER-A.
admission weight of 4 lbs.
B. Head to heel length of 17 inches.
C. frontal occipital circumference of 12.5 inches.
The nurse is assessing a client who is having a NST at 41-weeks gestation. The
nurse determines that the client is not having contractions, the FHR baseline is 144
bpm, and no FHR accels are occurring. What action should the nurse take? -
ANSWER-D. Ask the client if she has felt any fetal movement.
A vaginally delivered infant of an HIV positive mother is admitted to the newborn
nursery. What intervention should the nurse perform first? - ANSWER-A. Bathe the
infant with antimicrobial soap.
A pregnant client tells the nurse that the first day of her LMP was 8/2/06. Based on
Nagele's rule, what is the estimated date of delivery? - ANSWER-B. 5/9/07
Which action should the nurse implement when preparing to measure the fundal
height of a pregnant client? - ANSWER-A. Have the client empty her bladder.
A client who is in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy tells the nurse that she wants to use
herbal therapy. Which response is best for the nurse to provide? - ANSWER-D. It is
important that you want to take part in your care.
The nurse is planning preconception care for a new female client. Which information
should the nurse provide to the client? - ANSWER-D. Encourage healthy lifestyles
for families during pregnancy.
A primagravida client who is 5 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and at 0 station is requesting
an epidural for pain relief. Which assessment finding is most important to the nurse
to report to the healthcare provider? - ANSWER-D. A platelet count of 67,000/mm3.
