HESI OB/MATERNITY EXAM NEWEST EXAM
2026 UPDATE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+ (BRAND NEW VISION)
The emphasis of alternative and complementary therapies, such as herbal therapy, is
that the client is viewed as a whole being, capable of decision-making and an integral
part of the health care team, so this answer recognizes the client's request
The nurse is planning preconception care for a new female client. Which information
should the nurse provide the client?
A. Discuss various contraceptive methods to use until pregnancy is desired
B. Provide written or verbal information about prenatal care
C. Ask the client about risk factors associated with complications of pregnancy
D. Encourage healthy lifestyle for families desiring pregnancy - ANS-D. Encourage
healthy lifestyle for families desiring pregnancy
A primigravida 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 for the nurse to
report to the healthcare provider?
A. Cervical dilation of 5 cm with 90% effacement
B. White blood cell count of 12,000/mm3
C. Hemoglobin of 12 mg/dl and hematocrit of 38%
D. A platelet count of 67,000/mm3 - ANS-D. A platelet count of 67,000/mm3
This is a thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and should be reported because it
places the client at risk for bleeding when the epidural is administered
A woman who gave birth 48 hours ago is bottle-feeding her infant. During assessment,
the nurse determines that both breasts are swollen, warm, and tender upon palpation.
What action should the nurse take?
A. Apply cold compresses to both breasts for comfort
B. Instruct the client run warm water on her breasts
C. Wear a loose-fitting bra to prevent nipple irritation
D. Express small amounts of milk to relieve pressure - ANS-A. Apply cold
compresses to both breasts for comfort
A 30-year-old multiparous woman who has a 3-year-old boy and a newborn girl tells the
nurse, "My son is so jealous of my daughter, I don't know how I'll ever manage both
children when I get home." How should the nurse respond?
,A. "Tell the older child that he is a big boy now and should love his new sister."
B. "Ask friends and relatives not to bring gifts to the older sibling because you do not
want to spoil him."
C. "Let the older child stay with his grandparents for the first six weeks to allow him to
adjust to the newborn."
D. "Regression in behaviors in the older child is a typical reaction so he needs attention
at this time." - ANS-D. "Regression in behaviors in the older child is a typical
reaction so he needs attention at this time."
A 24-hour-old newborn has a pink papular rash with vesicles superimposed on the
thorax, back, and abdomen. What action should the nurse implement?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Move the newborn to an isolation nursery
C. Document the finding on the infant's record
D. Obtain a culture of the vesicles - ANS-C. Document the finding on the infant's
record
Erythema toxicum (or erthema neonatorum) is a newborn rash that is commonly
referred to as "flea bites," bit is a normal finding that is documented; no further action is
required
When explaining "postpartum blues" to a client who is 1 day postpartum, which
symptoms should the nurse include in the teaching plan (Select all that apply)
A. Mood swings
B. Panic attacks
C. Tearfulness
D. Decreased need for sleep
E. Disinterest in the infant - ANS-A. Mood swings
C. Tearfulness
A client who has an autosomal dominant inherited disorder is exploring family planning
options and the risk of transmission of the disorder to an infant. The nurse's response
should be based on what information?
A. Males inherit the disorder with a greater frequency than females
B. Each pregnancy carries a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
C. The disorder occurs in 25% of pregnancies
D. All children will be carriers of the disorder - ANS-B. Each pregnancy carries a 50%
chance of inheriting the disorder
The nurse should explain to a 30-year-old gravid client that alpha fetoprotein testing is
recommended for which purpose?
A. Detect cardiovascular disorders
B. Screen for neural tube defects
C. Monitor the placental functioning
D. Assess for maternal pre-eclampsia - ANS-B. Screen for neural tube defects
, A primigravida at 40-weeks gestation is receiving oxytocin to augment labor. Which
adverse effect should the nurse monitor for during the infusion of Pitocin?
A. Dehydration
B. Hyperstimulation
C. Galactorrhea
D. Fetal tachycardia - ANS-B. Hyperstimulation
A 23-year-old client who is receiving Medicaid benefits is pregnant with her first child.
Based on knowledge of the statistics related to infant mortality, which plan should the
nurse implement with this client?
A. Refer the client to a social worker to arrange for home care
B. Recommend perinatal care from an obstetrician, not a nurse-midwife
C. Teach the client why keeping prenatal care appointments is important
D. Advise the client that neonatal intensive care may be needed - ANS-C. Teach the
client why keeping prenatal care appointments is important
A female client with insulin-dependent diabetes arrives at the clinic seeking a plan to get
pregnant in approximately 6 months. She tells the nurse that she wants to have an
uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy baby. What information should the nurse share
with the client?
A. "Your current dose of insulin should be maintained throughout your pregnancy."
B. "Maintain blood sugar levels in a constant range within normal limits during
pregnancy."
C. "The course and outcome of your pregnancy is not an achievable goal with
diabetes."
D. "Expect an increase in insulin dosages by 5 units/week during the first trimester." -
ANS-B. "Maintain blood sugar levels in a constant range within normal limits
during pregnancy."
A multigravida client at 41-weeks gestation presents in the labor and delivery unit after a
non-stress test indicated that the fetus is experiencing some difficulties in utero. Which
diagnostic test should the nurse prepare the client for additional information about the
fetus?
A. Biophysical profile (BPP)
B. Ultrasound for fetal anomalies
C. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AF) screening
D. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) - ANS-A. Biophysical profile (BPP)
BPP provides data regarding fetal risk in 5 areas
A multigravida client arrives at the labor and delivery unit and tells the nurse that her
"bag of water" has broken. The nurse identifies the presence of meconium fluid on the
perineum and determines the fetal heart rate is between 140 to 150 beats/minute. What
action should the nurse implement next?
A. Complete a sterile vaginal exam
B. Take maternal temperature every 2 hours
2026 UPDATE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+ (BRAND NEW VISION)
The emphasis of alternative and complementary therapies, such as herbal therapy, is
that the client is viewed as a whole being, capable of decision-making and an integral
part of the health care team, so this answer recognizes the client's request
The nurse is planning preconception care for a new female client. Which information
should the nurse provide the client?
A. Discuss various contraceptive methods to use until pregnancy is desired
B. Provide written or verbal information about prenatal care
C. Ask the client about risk factors associated with complications of pregnancy
D. Encourage healthy lifestyle for families desiring pregnancy - ANS-D. Encourage
healthy lifestyle for families desiring pregnancy
A primigravida 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 for the nurse to
report to the healthcare provider?
A. Cervical dilation of 5 cm with 90% effacement
B. White blood cell count of 12,000/mm3
C. Hemoglobin of 12 mg/dl and hematocrit of 38%
D. A platelet count of 67,000/mm3 - ANS-D. A platelet count of 67,000/mm3
This is a thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and should be reported because it
places the client at risk for bleeding when the epidural is administered
A woman who gave birth 48 hours ago is bottle-feeding her infant. During assessment,
the nurse determines that both breasts are swollen, warm, and tender upon palpation.
What action should the nurse take?
A. Apply cold compresses to both breasts for comfort
B. Instruct the client run warm water on her breasts
C. Wear a loose-fitting bra to prevent nipple irritation
D. Express small amounts of milk to relieve pressure - ANS-A. Apply cold
compresses to both breasts for comfort
A 30-year-old multiparous woman who has a 3-year-old boy and a newborn girl tells the
nurse, "My son is so jealous of my daughter, I don't know how I'll ever manage both
children when I get home." How should the nurse respond?
,A. "Tell the older child that he is a big boy now and should love his new sister."
B. "Ask friends and relatives not to bring gifts to the older sibling because you do not
want to spoil him."
C. "Let the older child stay with his grandparents for the first six weeks to allow him to
adjust to the newborn."
D. "Regression in behaviors in the older child is a typical reaction so he needs attention
at this time." - ANS-D. "Regression in behaviors in the older child is a typical
reaction so he needs attention at this time."
A 24-hour-old newborn has a pink papular rash with vesicles superimposed on the
thorax, back, and abdomen. What action should the nurse implement?
A. Notify the healthcare provider
B. Move the newborn to an isolation nursery
C. Document the finding on the infant's record
D. Obtain a culture of the vesicles - ANS-C. Document the finding on the infant's
record
Erythema toxicum (or erthema neonatorum) is a newborn rash that is commonly
referred to as "flea bites," bit is a normal finding that is documented; no further action is
required
When explaining "postpartum blues" to a client who is 1 day postpartum, which
symptoms should the nurse include in the teaching plan (Select all that apply)
A. Mood swings
B. Panic attacks
C. Tearfulness
D. Decreased need for sleep
E. Disinterest in the infant - ANS-A. Mood swings
C. Tearfulness
A client who has an autosomal dominant inherited disorder is exploring family planning
options and the risk of transmission of the disorder to an infant. The nurse's response
should be based on what information?
A. Males inherit the disorder with a greater frequency than females
B. Each pregnancy carries a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder
C. The disorder occurs in 25% of pregnancies
D. All children will be carriers of the disorder - ANS-B. Each pregnancy carries a 50%
chance of inheriting the disorder
The nurse should explain to a 30-year-old gravid client that alpha fetoprotein testing is
recommended for which purpose?
A. Detect cardiovascular disorders
B. Screen for neural tube defects
C. Monitor the placental functioning
D. Assess for maternal pre-eclampsia - ANS-B. Screen for neural tube defects
, A primigravida at 40-weeks gestation is receiving oxytocin to augment labor. Which
adverse effect should the nurse monitor for during the infusion of Pitocin?
A. Dehydration
B. Hyperstimulation
C. Galactorrhea
D. Fetal tachycardia - ANS-B. Hyperstimulation
A 23-year-old client who is receiving Medicaid benefits is pregnant with her first child.
Based on knowledge of the statistics related to infant mortality, which plan should the
nurse implement with this client?
A. Refer the client to a social worker to arrange for home care
B. Recommend perinatal care from an obstetrician, not a nurse-midwife
C. Teach the client why keeping prenatal care appointments is important
D. Advise the client that neonatal intensive care may be needed - ANS-C. Teach the
client why keeping prenatal care appointments is important
A female client with insulin-dependent diabetes arrives at the clinic seeking a plan to get
pregnant in approximately 6 months. She tells the nurse that she wants to have an
uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy baby. What information should the nurse share
with the client?
A. "Your current dose of insulin should be maintained throughout your pregnancy."
B. "Maintain blood sugar levels in a constant range within normal limits during
pregnancy."
C. "The course and outcome of your pregnancy is not an achievable goal with
diabetes."
D. "Expect an increase in insulin dosages by 5 units/week during the first trimester." -
ANS-B. "Maintain blood sugar levels in a constant range within normal limits
during pregnancy."
A multigravida client at 41-weeks gestation presents in the labor and delivery unit after a
non-stress test indicated that the fetus is experiencing some difficulties in utero. Which
diagnostic test should the nurse prepare the client for additional information about the
fetus?
A. Biophysical profile (BPP)
B. Ultrasound for fetal anomalies
C. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AF) screening
D. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) - ANS-A. Biophysical profile (BPP)
BPP provides data regarding fetal risk in 5 areas
A multigravida client arrives at the labor and delivery unit and tells the nurse that her
"bag of water" has broken. The nurse identifies the presence of meconium fluid on the
perineum and determines the fetal heart rate is between 140 to 150 beats/minute. What
action should the nurse implement next?
A. Complete a sterile vaginal exam
B. Take maternal temperature every 2 hours
